Goodbye 2020

 What is there to say about 2020?

I never thought that I would be living through a pandemic.  These things belong in SF movies or in history.  I remember studying about WW2 in school and thinking that I was lucky not to be born in such a time, that I could never cope with the stress of sending our men off to fight, not knowing if they would return or return whole!  Although the pandemic was not too bad in Japan it still impacted us in a rather negative way.  I honestly don't know how people in Europe, UK or USA coped.  

I started off the new year determined to grow my business.  I really wanted to visit UK in 2021 so a year of hard work I should be able to save enough money for that.  David made new leaflets, we got them printed and the boys started to go door to door.  We got a few new students and I thought things were going okay.

The end of March David left to join the Japanese Army.  That went wrong very quickly.  During his training he got stress fractures on both knees.  He need time to recover but instead did a 10 kilo march in full gear.  He got out on a medical discharge 3months later.  Even now he still has pain from time to time.

March was also our lockdown.  Unlike the UK it wasn't enforced.  All schools closed, public places closed as did most stores, supermarkets and drug stores being the exception. I tried to shop once a week not easy with limited space but some how managed.  We didn't close our school, it's our only source of income and there was little help from the government.  We gave the students a choice, if they felt safe they could come, if not take a holiday.   It was hard, our income went from almost 3000 pounds to about 800 pounds (our rent is 850 pounds).  

April 1st my mother in law died.  Old age, she was 83 and had spent the last 2 years in and out of hospital and in a care home.  We inherited her house and a load of land which we are still trying to figure out what to do with.

Because we were in lockdown and not teaching so much we spent a lot of time cleaning out my mother in laws house.  I had kept so much in storage there, it was really like a trip down memory lane.  I shed a few tears as I remember all the things we did as a family when the kids were little.

One of our kittens got adopted by a lovely lady in the US Navy.  Because of lockdown she couldn't leave the city she was in so we drove almost 3 hours to take the kitten to her. It was nice to get out and see somewhere different.

End of lockdown, start of summer David came back and got a part time job a local convenience store.  Christopher was working at the local supermarket stacking shelves before it opens. 

Then our lovely dog died.  She had been slowing down over the past few weeks, I thought it was the heat and her age. Turns out she had cancer.  The vet said that she was suffering and too far gone, she wouldn't last the night so best thing was to have her put down.  Even now I'm crying about this.

The rest of the summer was hard. Too hot and not able to go anywhere because of Covid 19.  Wearing masks in the heat made me rather ill.

Autumn saw Hannah begin her search for a university.  Because of her homeroom teacher she decided to be a teacher.  Hannah always thought that she couldn't be a teacher because she is shy but Hannah's teacher is also shy.  Poor Hannah worked so hard for her first university but couldn't pass but got into her second choice.

I'm sure I've missed out a lot but 2020 is almost over and 2021 is a new start. I know things haven't really changed, if anything with this new variant of the Covid 19 things could get worse.  But I feel that doctors and scientists have more idea how to deal with it and of course there is the vaccines that are being rolled out.  So 2021 I need to make money, I really want to go back to the UK for a visit.  I need to step up my teaching, especially teaching kids, I've kind of lost the plot there.  I hope to spend more time with my kids, we are all getting older and more busy, with everybody's schedules being all over the place it is difficult to get together.  

Few photos in no particular order!

Photo I found in mother in laws house, hubby with his long hair.

Leaving for Japanese Army

David

 Lovely early morning adventure because of David.

He managed to fall down the stairs, this was before 6am. I was in the living room and heard this awful thud, I went out and David was picking himself up.  I asked if he was okay, he said yes and went to the toilet.  A couple of minutes later I heard another crash.  I went running and David was on the floor.  His eyes were open but unfocused, he was sitting, leaning forward and moaning.  He grabbed my hand so hard I thought he would break it.  He then went down again, eyes rolling back. When he came too his pupils were just pin pricks and again unfocused.  I shouted Hannah, who was awake to get Mikey.  He called the ambulance.  I managed to pull David up and get him to the living room, he sat there feeling rather dazed.  He remembers falling down stairs but nothing after until he was in the living room.  Got to the local A&E, which is small but able to deal with most things.  (It's the hospital where I had my surgery a few years ago.)   Hannah came with me because of all the forms to fill out.  David was checked over and had a CT scan.  Apparently he his head when he fell down the stairs and has a concussion!   Not what I needed at this time of year!

And just to add to things it's snowing and actually sticking.  According to the forecast it should snow over night until sometime tomorrow afternoon.  

Christmas

 First the good news, Hannah got into university!  It was her second choice and not exactly what she wanted, she wanted to be a junior high school teacher, this university is for elementary school teachers.  But she can study special needs education, which is her main interest.   

Christmas was nice!  Christmas Eve I went to a local supermarket to get a few things.  I wasn't doing a traditional Christmas dinner so wanted something special for Christmas Eve, got some nice sushi and beef sushi. David made hamburgers and fried chicken, we had salad as well.  Later we had cheese cake, half price because it was packaged as Christmas cake!

Christmas Eve dinner, not too much so we didn't eat ourselves sick!

Christmas Day was good.  All the boys bought gifts for everybody.  I think this was the first year that everybody had some kind of income.  I got a nice bag from Mikey, a new purse from Christopher and two books from David!  I bought the kids something, clothes and books for the boys and an electronic dictionary and DVDs for Hannah.

Dinner turned out to be a mess.  We thought we had ordered KFC but somehow the order didn't go through.  So at 4:30 David and I ran to the supermarket to find something for dinner.  The reason we were going to get KFC is that both David and I are very tired, so a nice relaxing way to have dinner.  We got some nice steak, and load of vegetables.  David cooked and it was very nice!

Christmas dinner, David also made the cake.

Of course Christmas is not Christmas without some drama! On the way home from the supermarket we found a stray dog.  Poor thing looked awful, coat was all mated and looked like it was bleeding on the face. It still had a chain on so it maybe escaped from somebodies yard.  I wanted to take to the vets and then bring it home.  David called the police, I sat in the car crying.  The police came and said that they would try and find the owners but I am sure it will end up at a shelter and almost all shelters here are kill shelters. I know that we can't take care of anymore animals, 9 cats is rather over whelming!  But it breaks my heart to see animals mistreated like that!  My kids said that it is usually the kids that want to bring home the strays and the parents say no, here it is the opposite!

Eight Years

 Yesterday was 8 years since Hisao passed away!  Some days it feels like it just happened, other days it seems like a lifetime ago.

This year it has hit me harder than other years. Part of it is the difficulties caused by the pandemic.  Most years I treat Hannah to a musical as part of her Christmas presents.  We spend the whole day out, lunch, musical, then the Christmas Market on the way back.  This year there are no musicals and I don't want to risk going to the city as I know it will be crowded. Also I go to Costco for Christmas dinner, again I don't want to risk it.  Even on a week day it is crowded.  

This year I've stayed home, baked cookies for the students, done Christmas parties and tried to not get too down!

Hannah has another test today for her 2nd choice university, hope she passes this time.

It took 3 hours to get this photo!

Not sure where the last two photos were taken!

Half Way Through December

 Poor Hannah didn't get into her first choice for university.  It was a long shot to begin with.  One thing in Japan the name of the school that you have attended is very important.  Hannah's high school a commercial school, which is considered rather low ranking.  Hannah did get the test results that she needed, for 3 years her average was 4.2 (5 is the highest, to attend university 4 is needed), she studied hard for the entrance test but didn't make it.  Rather disappointing. She has a test for another place next week.  The problem is the other university doesn't have junior high school teachers course, which is what Hannah wanted to do.  This other university is for elementary school teachers, but it does have special needs which is what Hannah is really interested in.  

Because of all the drama with Hannah I have only just put up our Christmas tree. I use to do two or three, now only one.  One problem is the cats, the one I put up is in a room the cats aren't allowed in.  Another is just not having enough energy to do anything.  This year I am not doing a typical Christmas dinner.  The only place to get the meat is Costco, which is always crowded and with Covid still hanging around I don't want to risk it.  So this year we are having KFC, typical Japanese Christmas dinner!  You actually have to preorder, stating what time you want to pick it up.  We'll eat around 4 o'clock as Mikey has a magic show at 1 o'clock.

Our little tree

Pink cat? No just the sun through the curtains

The Catch Up Post!

 I didn't realize it had been so long since I wrote!  I thought a month had passed, not two!

October was busy with tests that our students take and of course Halloween.  Didn't do so much this year, my health just isn't up to it.  Also not so many kids came, maybe because of Covid 19.   But the kids had fun!

Some of the cookies and my Halloween table!

November got busy as two new supermarkets opened.  They offer a a larger range of products, so I've been shopping a lot, not good for my purse!

The other big thing was Hannah's test for university.  The test was 3 parts, an essay, English test and an interview.  She worked really hard but has no confidence that she has passed.  One problem in Japan is the brand idea, certain schools are more prestigious than others, so even if you do badly on the test you get a place just because of your school!  Hannah's school is good but not that high rank.  Still she tried her best and now we have to wait for the results, December 7th is the date that they are announced!

Small Things Make Me Happy!

 A new supermarket opened just down the road from me!  I've been to another branch of the supermarket a few times but that one is a good 40 minutes drive from here, the new one just 5 mins!!!  One thing I love about this supermarket is that they do a lot of import goods at very good prices.  Tins of kidney beans, lentils and mixed beans for 97 yen(about 70 pence).  Brussel sprouts, frozen of course, for about 200 yen (about 1.50 pounds).They have  a lot of things that I want to try, so I guess that is going to be my new place.  Two other supermarkets that I use regularly are closed for remodelling and I can't wait for them to open!  See small things make me happy!!

We are already getting ready for Halloween.  The kids that we teach English to have four lessons in a month so getting the seasonal stuff out early enough is important.  Mikey has this easy reader book with ghost stories in that he reads to the kids, he reads the English and then translates it into Japanese!!  I love hearing the kids squeal and giggle!

Our little Halloween table, need a few more things to put on!

Hannah really amazes me sometimes!  She is getting nervous about her entrance tests for university, which is understandable.  The other day I was teaching a girl that was Hannah's class mate in elementary school.  This girl is a lot more nervous than Hannah!  Hannah talked to her after her class and really encouraged her to have a positive mind set, saying that you have to believe that you belong in the university.  I'm glad that she can think like that!

End of September

 We survived the typhoon.  It wasn't as strong when it hit us but still very strong!  The whole house was shaking, really not fun.  Some places were hit very bad, landslides and flooding in many areas!  Hannah had a day off school which she was happy about!

I've been suffering from painful knees, more my right knee than the left one.  Somedays I can't walk, other days it seems okay!  Went back to the doctors today.  Same thing, loose weight!  I know what to do but doing it seems so hard.  I am really down with the pain and exhaustion, no sleep because of the pain.  When I get this low I eat, which I know doesn't help in the long run.  I would love to start walking in the evenings, 30 minuets two or three times a week.  If I could do that it would help change my mind set a bit.  Let's see how this pain medication works!!

Our cats are doing well.  They can sleep anywhere! One problem we have is Alan, the older black cat doesn't settle at night, he wants to be with somebody.  Some nights he is outside my door scratching away for ages!

The next couple of months are going to intense for Hannah.  End of November is her university entrance test.  She is studying hard but is getting nervous!  I'll be glad when it's all finished!

Typhoo Season

 End of August and September are the typhoon months in Japan.  Although in the past few years we've been having them as early as June!  Where we live we have been very lucky recently as we have only caught the edge of the storm or as it weakens, so rain and a bit of wind.

This weekend we are expecting a monster typhoon. The center pressure is 920hPa, at the moment and it is still over the sea, which means it could get stronger.  I always gauge how bad the storms are going to be by other peoples reactions!  I went shopping yesterday, there was no bread, no bottled water, very little milk.  Things like rope and flash lights had also sold out.  This was at a large supermarket.  This morning I went to my local supermarket.  I arrived just before opening and there was a line around the store!  I managed to get some bread, but it was a real fight.  A loaf of bread has either 5 or 6 slices in it, so I usually get two loaves.  This morning as I got to the bread corner there was only about 5 loaves left! I managed to grab some!

On the way back I saw people tying down car ports and cleaning yards of anything that can fly away.  

I'll let you know how it was next week.  My biggest worry is loosing power or water!

David

 At the end of March David joined the Japanese Army.  Unfortunately his career came to a halt with a medical discharge!  About 2 weeks into basic training his knees were very painful. He went to the base doctor, who took x rays, couldn't see anything, gave David some strong pain killer and sent him on his way. The next day David did a 10K hike in full gear.  His knees were so bad after that that he couldn't walk.  He was taken to the large hospital in the city where he was given an MRI.  He has stress fractures, one on the knee, the other was on the inside of the tibia, which why it didn't show up on the x ray. The doctor said that with rest it would take 6 weeks to two months to recover.  But David couldn't rest.  So even now 5 months later he is still in pain, he can't run or jump and is wary of riding his bicycle.   He came home and got a part time job while deciding what to do.  He is working at a local 7-11.  He said that a lot of his co workers are foreigners so he is helping them with their Japanese!

Saturday was David's 26th birthday!  Christopher bought him some books and Mikey got him some games.  I wanted to cook a nice meal but I'm also having problems with my knees and standing for any length of time is very painful.  I'm going to the doctors this afternoon to get stronger pain medicine!

David doesn't like his photo being taken, we managed to get a few silly shots!

David with a bag on his head!

with one of the cats

David really loves the cats and is very good at taking care of them.  But the other day he grabbed one of the kittens and wiped the sweat from under his arms on it.  The other cats came sniffing around and started to gag on the smell!

Selfie and a selfie of Fred

First Week of Summer Holidays

I didn't really plan to do anything this past week.  But it turned out to be very busy!

Tuesday I had to go to the city to renew my "Alien Registration Card"  I'm guessing that each country has a system to track legal immigrants in the country.  This is Japans way.  I have a permanent residence visa, so  can stay in Japan but every 7 years I have to renew my card.  It's very quick to do but the drive to the city is about an hour, then finding the immigration office took time.  Still it's done.  I then did a bit of shopping.  There's a nice import food shop that I like to go to, managed to buy some Weetabix.  When I got back we went to another city.  Library and craft supplies shop.  Hannah needed some material to make a mask for home economics class.

Wednesday I did nothing.  Tired from Tuesday.

Thursday Hannah invited a friend to watch a musical together.  I made cakes for them to enjoy.  I had to go to the city hall and to mobile phone shop.  City Hall was very quick, mobile phone shop took forever!

Hannah's DVD and cakes

Friday Mikey, Christopher, Hannah and I went for a nice drive.  I wanted to see the sea.  The drive was lovely, through small towns, villages and countryside.  Our poor car really struggled on the mountains so we couldn't use the air conditioner.  

Some of the sights we saw.

I don't know what the white building is but looks lovely

The writing under the left octopus says takoyaki.  

Takoyaki is a popular snack in Japan.  Little bit of octopus cooked in a dough and covered with a sauce.

Japanese countryside

Took about 2 hours drive to get to the seaside but it was worth it.

First glimpse of the sea.

Reminder of social distancing

This photo is amazing.  Those bags belong to young mother.  She was on her phone, her daughter (elementary school age) went on down to the sea, the mother put her phone in the bag and went to join her daughter. I could never imagine doing that in the UK.  First the daughter going off by herself, then leaving her bags with nobody to watch them!  Japan is a very safe country.  In the cities one has to be aware but I never feel afraid to walk at night like I do in the UK!

Hannah, Christopher and Mikey

We didn't stay long.

On the way back drove past a lovely castle.  We didn't stop as my knee was very

painful.  Maybe next time.

Also a forest of trees planted next to the sea.  The idea is to keep strong winds form the sea hitting the city.  Some of these trees were twisted because of winds, very beautiful, the photo doesn't so it justice.

All in all a very nice day out.

I have one more week of holiday,  again no real plans.  I hope to do some cleaning, plan lessons for nest term.  Plus I realize that I need to study Japanese, which I haven't really done in ages.

Les Miserables

 One outing that I look forward to in the summer holidays is a trip to the city.  Hannah and I usually go shopping, have lunch and watch a musical.  Most years there are at least two to choose from.  We have watched Les Miserables twice, in Japanese. This year all the theaters are closed.  It looks like most theaters will not be opening until 2021.  So I ordered "Les Miserables 2019 concert".   We had to pre order it, we've been waiting for 3 months for it too come.  It arrived yesterday, Hannah and I settled down to watch it, turns out our DVD player no longer works!  So today we went and bought a new DVD player.  Because of this coronavirus everybody got some money from the government, to help stimulate the economy.  I wanted to save my money but that defeats the purpose!  I was glad to have a little extra to buy something that we need.  I usually have to save for a couple of months!

This concert was really good.  I love this musical.  It has so many powerful songs.  One line in the last song says "To love another person is to see the face of God"  That always gets me!

Now it's summer

The heat has started! Today is up to 35C , about 95F.  The whole week will be about the same!  It is so tiring, even at night it's hot!  

Next week I'll start my 2 week holiday.  Nice not to feel time pressure.  But no where to go!  I usually go to the city with Hannah to watch a musical but of course this year all theaters are closed.  We sometimes go to a nice restaurant to celebrate David and my birthday but not this year.  Restaurants are open but I don't see any social distancing policies in place.  Some have clear plastic hanging between tables but too many people inside and with the numbers of covid 19 cases rising I don't want to risk it.  

I am hoping that during my holiday I can take time to get some things done.  I need some new work sheets made, so I'll get Hannah to make me some.  Also try to work on getting my business facebook page better.  I wanted to advertise in September but am wondering if it might be better to save money and start again in the new year. 

This coronavirus has really done a number on a lot of businesses.  Not only the obvious ones, smaller restaurants, hotels etc.  But also event companies that depend on summer festivals for most of the yearly income.  This summer is going to be very quiet, almost all festivals and firework shows have been canceled.  Mikey was looking forward to few weeks of events, doing magic shows, but until September everything has been canceled.  

Our cats spend most of the day looking for the coolest place.  I found two of them sleeping in the shower room!  The corridor and stairs seem to be their favorite place!

I managed to treat Hannah to a few little things.  She has done very well at school the past few months. She is preparing for university entrance tests, a lot of work and stress so getting a couple of treats helps.

cute little ring

small pouch, just the right size for her phone

and of course a mask with cats on it

Summer???

Yes, it is summer but I think the weather has forgotten that.  First time in years that it has been on the cool side this time of year.  Todays high should be around 30C, the past couple of years the highs at this time were in the upper 30Cs.  But it is so humid, we are still having a lot of rain, it's pouring down right now and there are thunder warnings for this area, which is why I have an awful headache!

This summer is not going to be great.  Hannah has only 2 weeks holiday, the school is making up the time lost because of coronavirus shut down.  Also she has to really study to prepare for her university entrance tests.  She is hoping to get in on a recommendation from her school, which means an interview and writing an essay.  If not she will have to take the test.  One  problem is that the entrance tests are changing and she is not sure what to focus on!   The course she hopes to study is education, she can get license to teach junior high school and special needs kids!

We are not planning on going out anywhere.  Looks like the coronavirus is back, there are lots of clusters about and I really don't want to risk it!  I also have two weeks holiday, planning on cleaning (as always), preparing some worksheets for the kids classes, studying Japanese ( I need to improve my Japanese so I can teach better) and reading as many books as possible!  I have thousands of books on my kindle to read. 

The past few summers Hannah and I have gone to the city to watch a musical. Of course this year that isn't happening.  But I preordered the new Les Miserable in Concert DVD, it should arrive just as our holiday starts.  I'm looking forward to watching it with Hannah.

More photos of Lucky!