Bad News

 But first lets start with something good!

Christmas was nice, very simple and rather unusual this year!  Both Mikey and Hannah had to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Felt strange to have people out on those days but it's the 2nd time in 30 years so I really can't complain.  We exchanged gifts, had nice food and watched daft TV.  I could rest a bit, which is always nice!  

The bad news!  I had to go to the hospital today for a blood check, get them every few months since having cancer.  I asked the doctor to include a test for diabetes and today my numbers were far to high.  So looks like I have diabetes.  I'm hoping that it is just because I went mad a Christmas but don't know!  I have an appointment on January 4th with a diabetes specialist.  So back to no sugar and I have to look at cutting carbs.  I really struggle with that.  The Japanese diet is based on white rice, so most meals will have that.  I'm going to buy brown rice, even though it is a lot more expensive than white rice.  Bread I don't know what to do as the idea of whole wheat bread is unknown.  Not eating rice is okay but I love bread. I guess start looking for ideas online.  I'm sure I can find something!

Look out for lots of moaning!  This is not going to be easy!

Lovely pizza, guess I won't be eating this again!

Hannah got a game from David.  She had to make characters.  She decided to make Granddad!

Really looks like Dad!

Snow

 It's been snowing all night.  Looks lovely but very cold. We don't get snow very often.  If we do it is usually on the mountains and only stays for a day. According to the weather forecast this is going to be the next couple of days, maybe a white christmas! That would be something.  I think the the 30 years I've been here we have only had one white christmas.

Front of the house

We've taken in another stray cat while it's this cold.  He's in the cage, sleeping.  Must be happy to be warm!

Fluffy was not impressed by snow!

Fluffys first sniff of snow!

I'm hoping to bake this afternoon.  Do some cookies and cakes for the weekend.

It's going to be a strange Christmas as Mikey won't be here for most of it and Hannah has work all day on Christmas Eve. 

Lunch is almost done.  David has made a nice dhicken stew, very warming!

Ten Years

 Today is ten years since Hisao passed away.

In someways it's gone fast, in someways slow.

There have been good things that have happened but also a lot of struggles.

All of my kids have finished school.  I'm really happy that I don't have to deal with the schools anymore.  I must admit that Hannah's elementary school was very good with her.  She was only 10 when Hisao died and was having a hard time.  Her classroom teacher allowed her to leave the classroom at any time if she was feeling overwhelmed.  There was a room set up to help students that were struggling.  Hannah could go and sit there, the teacher would make her a drink, talk if Hannah needed to.  

All of my kids have jobs, not the best jobs but they are working.  David tried the army but his health was bad,  he ended up with stress fractures on his knees!  Mikey is still waiting to start his magic career full time, was supposed to be in 2020 but we all know what happened that year.  Christopher is working at the local supermarket, he has changed shifts, working the evenings instead of early morning.  And Hannah is still at university and working part time.

Going to England 5 years ago was great.  Nice to see family, meeting my niece for the first time. Spend time sighseeing.  We have a lot of good memories from that time.

We managed to go to places, local museums, parks, the next city a few times.  As Hannah got older she has become obsessed with musicals, so before the pandemic Hannah and I would go and watch musicals.

I'm sure I've missed out a lot of things!

The struggles were a lot as well.  Trying to rebuild our English school, finding our way with the tax office etc,

My mother in law passed away in 2020. Which means all of the land and house is now in my name and I have no idea what to do with it all.

Also Christopher's dog died the same year.  She was 12 years old.  She was such a lovely dog, very friendly.

Next ten years, who knows?  I know I never expected to live through a pandemic or another war.

I am trying to keep postive and look at the good things I have but sometimes it's hard.

Found some older photos, from when the kids were little.

with Hannah, she was 8

in England

Hannah's first Christmas

with Mikey

viewing the autumn leaves

hug from Christopher

and David

with Mom and Dad

Early Christmas Present

 Yesterday I got a lovely present from Hannah. A laptop computer!  She said she would buy one for me but I thought she was joking.  But she wasn't.  It's nice to be able to sit in the lving room and use my computer, before I was in the office which is cold (and too hot in the summer).

David setting up my new computer

My kids are very generous.  They all pay into the household budget, which really helps but they also buy things or give extra money when needed.  They all buy things for the cats as well.

I managed to get most of my Christmas presents, just need a couple more things.  Ordered a chicken for Christmas dinner but still need to decide what to do for Christmas eve!

December

 The first week of December has passed and I haven't done anything for Christmas.  By this time, I usually have a few gifts bought and others ordered but this year I'm just don't feel like doing anything.  I haven't planned menus for the festive season and just to make things more difficult Mikey is working most of the days leading up to Christmas and every day between Christmas and new year, which means no car.  Today I'm going to try and get a few things and then order stuff online.  I just don't have the energy to walk around loads of shops.  I used to love Christmas shopping but the past couple of years it has become a chore instead of a fun thing to do.

Also, I've been feeling rather run down the past week or so.  I think it has to do with the sudden drop in temperature.  November was very mild, the last Monday of November it was 24C, three days later the high was 8C.  I've had to put on the heaters even though I don't want to.  The living room warms up a bit because of the sun on the windows but the other rooms are rather frosty.  David bought electric blankets for everyone, so our beds are nice and toasty!

David has been taking selfies again with the cats!  He used to run away from the camera.  Not now!

Love that they both have the same expression!

Fluffy makes a good neck warmer!

 

Christmas Tree

 Last year I didn't have a Christmas Tree.  I left it too late to buy one, the first week of December all the Christmas stuff was finished.  This year I bought on the beginning of November.  Today Hannah and I put it up.  It's small but looks good!

the tree is up

I have to find the lights and I have other decorations to put up.

Doing this made me a little sad and very nostalgic.  I used to do three trees, the biggest in the living room, smaller one in the room I use for teaching and a small one in the entrance.  I don't bother with the living room or entrance as they wouldn't survive the cats.  Just a small one in the room where I teach.  Now the kids are grown Christmas just doesn't have the same appeal.  It's always been hard here as it isn't a holiday, but I tried to make it special.  Of course, Hisao dying one week before Christmas has made the last 10 years harder!  And this year with the cost of everything it's going to be harder but I'm trying to shift the focus to having fun family time, maybe get the board games down and play them!

I'm now 27 days with no sugar.  Down one and half kilos, not a lot but am feeling a lot better.  Couple of good things, one was I made chocolate chip muffins the other day.  I had one and was satisfied with that.  Usually, those kinds of things sing my name! But this time just one was enough!  Also I managed to walk from the dentist to the supermarket and back home.  The first time I've walked that far in years.  So slowly getting better!

Cost of Living Crisis is Real

 I've been watching Sky News for the past few months going on about the cost-of-living crisis in the UK and how this winter is going to be hard for a lot of people, having to choose between heat and eat.  I naively thought that Japan wouldn't be hit that hard.  I thought it would be the same as during the pandemic when the UK went into total lockdown, but Japan didn't.  We had one nationwide lockdown but after that it was prefecture by prefecture, if the number rose then companies and businesses were asked to close to bring the numbers down.  Because of this the economy wasn't hit as bad as in the UK.  A lot of small and medium size businesses survived and are still running today.  So, I thought it would be same with this crisis, that Japan would be hit but not so bad.  

In June and then again in October prices went up on most food stuffs.  Bread went from 65yen to 95yen, milk up by 5yen, flour has risen by 100yen the same for vegetable oil.  My weekly shop can cost between 3,000 to 5000yen more (18.00 to 30.00pounds more).  This I could deal with.  Then came the gas bill, 3000 yen more but not using any more gas.  Yesterday I got the electric bill, 22,000yen (130 pounds) for one month, twice what it was last year!  This amount is usual in the summer when I'm running air conditioner 24/7.  This time of year it is usually a lot less.  That gives me a chance to save for the winter when gas gets expensive.  I got the bill just as I was going shopping.  I felt sick to my stomach going around the shops. I noticed that a lot of people were shopping with caution.  There are very few safety nets in Japan. Welfare is based on family; you turn to family to help out before the government will help.  Even then government help is very limited. Food banks don't exist, kids can get free school lunches but it's a weird system, you have to pay then get the money back and this is only for elementary schools.  So, I am really struggling, where to save money.  I've been using cooler water to wash dishes, telling the kids not to run water when having a shower, get wet, turn off the water, shampoo and soap up and then rinse.  Now I'm wondering what to turn off to save electricity.  

One good thing is that I haven't turned to food for comfort. I'm so stressed that I feel sick and have the most awful headaches.  I'm trying to remain positive but it's hard.  Kids are good, they help out by giving me money, but I want them to save for the future.  We really don't know what is going to happen.  Back in 2019 did anybody think that we would see a worldwide pandemic that crippled the leading economies and then a war!?

I can still smile the antics of my cats.  They fight and zoom around the house, they curl up in the warmest places.  Alfie is a real lap cat; he will climb on anybody and sleep, one way of getting warm. 

Alfie sleeping on me!

And on Mikey.

Alan and Hannah.

First Eleven Days

 I stopped having sugar on the 1st. So 11 days.  The first few were hard, temptation everywhere but it has gotten easier.  A lot of the temptation came from the left-over goodies from Halloween, they have gone and I don't buy snacks.  I prefer to bake.  But I haven't done any recently.

Results:  lost a pound.  Not much but I'm still eating to many carbs.  I know it's bad but I can only deal with one thing at a time.  Sugar was the easiest to start with.  Also money is tight and what I want to buy, fruits and vegetables are too expensive.  I do buy them but not enough.  It's crazy when a small bunch of grapes cost 1,000yen (about 6 pounds), apples are about half that for 3, oranges are bit cheaper and of course bananas are always cheap.  One good thing is that I am sleeping better.  Before I was getting up to use the toilet 8 to 10 times a night.  I know that this is a sign of diabetes.  Now I can actually sleep for four or five hours, if the cats are quiet!  

I'm feeling rather proud of myself for not stress eating this past week.  The shock of the gas bill and having two students quit was very stressful.  In the past I would use this as an excuse to eat crap.  But I didn't.  I sat and cried, talked to the cats and then got on with what I had to do.  For me that is a big thing. I didn't turn to food!

Shocked

 I got the gas bill this morning.  Usually at this time of year it's about 6000 yen, about 35 pounds.  Which is reasonable for hot water and cooking for a month.  This morning's bill was 9000 yen, about 55 pounds, an increase of 3000 yen without an increase in usage.  I have no idea how much it will be once I start using the gas heaters!  At the moment we are okay as the sun warms up the main rooms and this house keeps the heat.  My biggest worry is the room I use to teach in. I don't want my students to be uncomfortable, but I don't know if I can afford heating!  I'm hoping the weather will stay mild for a few more weeks!

My business isn't doing very well either.  We usually get two or three students every month, this year we have gotten only one new one.  That is really bad.  We advertise a lot; Mikey does volunteer teaching at a lot of community centers, we have an advert in a local magazine and a homepage but nothing.  I feel desperate and it's getting me down! I've been looking to do some online work, surveys but everything is in Japanese and I can't read that much.  I guess just keep looking!

I planned to go to Costco next month for Christmas but now I'm wondering if I can justify spending a lot of money on two or three meals.  I know it's once a year but the money I spend could be used to buy food for a week.  The kids are helping.  Christopher is trying to get a second job; David buys the cat food and shops once or twice a week.  I never thought it would get this bad.  I know my family isn't the only one struggling and I still have a lot to be thankful for.  But it really sucks!!!

How are other people coping?  How are you dealing with Christmas?

Tough Few Days

 All started last Friday. Dentist appointment, need I say more.  Forty minutes of being drilled and poked, having the mold taken 3 times!  Wasn't really painful but did feel like I had been punched in the face!  Friday evening, I was munching on some crackers, lovely cheesy taste until I broke a different tooth.  This tooth already had a hole in it, at the back, so I guess it wasn't that strong, but it just snapped off, leaving a jagged edge that keeps catching my tongue or inside lip.  Planned to go to the dentist today but Sunday I got hit with the most awful allergies.  Hours of none stop sneezing and the most incredible headache.  I won't go to the dentist when my allergies are bad.  I have a fear of him drilling away and I suddenly start to sneeze!  In my imagination the outcome of that is a lot of blood! My allergies have calmed down a bit so I hope I can go tomorrow!

Also, the cats are driving me crazy.  They are fighting a lot and the zoomies are back.  During the summer it was too hot for them, so they all became very calm but now the weather is cooler they are up to their old tricks.  Last night I didn't get to sleep until 4am, either cats fighting or crying and scratching at my door!  Hope tonight is better!

Keeping warm

David and Mikey getting a selfie with Alan

One good thing, through all this I haven't binged or eaten any sugary stuff.  Tempted but managed not to!  

My Journey to Health

 I've decided to think about losing weight as a journey to a healthier me.  If I think about dieting all I get is negative thoughts.  If I think about being healthier, having more energy, regaining my mobility and not having to worry about diabetes I feel powerful.  If I think about dieting, I get the image of being deprived.  It's a mind game I know but for me the biggest obstacle is my thinking.

I started yesterday at exactly 104kgs.  First goal is to get under 100kgs.  I know I need to lose a lot more but breaking it down into smaller goals helps.  Also, if I can get the money, I am hoping to go to Osaka in March with Hannah to watch The Phantom of the Opera.  Plus do some sightseeing but all that involves walking a lot.  I've been watching these videos of itineraries of the best places to visit in Japan. Just watching makes me tired but some good ideas!

Talking of videos, I watched John Lewis Christmas 2022 CM this morning.  Made me cry!  

I watched it twice, both times I cried.  Let me know what you think!

To Diet or Not To Diet!

 I know have to lose weight.  I know that even a 3 to 5kg drop would help a lot.  I also know what I should be eating and not eating and that I need to exercise.  But it so hard. 

I've struggled with my weight my whole life.  The smallest I've been was 48kg, eating disorder, the biggest was 113kg, about 7 years ago.  I've bounced between these extremes for 40 years!  I started this year at 108, this morning I weighed 104!  

January, I stopped sugar.  February, I caught Covid.  March and April I was still knocked about by Covid, just extremely tired all the time.  By May I felt better, had energy again but my eating was all over the place.  Then summer with the heat and the inability to cook or prepare anything healthy.  Now the weather is finally cooling down and I'm back in the kitchen but not making healthy meals.  Some days are better than others, 90% is from scratch but a lot of carbs! So, I'm going to try and do another month of no sugar and watch my carbs.  It's going to be hard, so look out for a lot of moaning.  I would love to drop another 2kgs before my doctor's appointment the end of December, also bring down my blood sugar levels!  I've been on the border line of having diabetes for about a year!

Wish me luck!

Mobility

 Something I never thought about, my mobility.  I've been overweight most of my life.  I've been obese these past 15 years or so and morbidly obese the past 8 years (about).  Through all that my health has been okay, blood pressure, cholesterol, no diabetes, heart health okay.  I never worried about being fat, it's not fun but if all the blood tests are okay and I'm not going to drop dead tomorrow then so be it!  But about 3 years ago I started having pain in my right knee.  Went to the doctors and was told that it was osteoarthritis, basic wear and tear on the knee.  I was told to lose weight.  The doctor wasn't happy when I asked why only one knee was painful when both knees carry the same weight!  He never answered that!  So, I've been trying to lose some weight, from my highest I've dropped about 9kgs!  Taken a few years but at least it's in the right direction!  But walking to the dentist last week shocked me.  It's just a 5-minute walk but took me twice that long, I just couldn't walk at a good pace.  Hannah walked off, she said she was walking slowly but I was too slow.  I was wearing my knee brace but even that didn't help much.  After I was so tired but had to shop.  I noticed that in the supermarket when I use the cart it was easier to walk.  So, I bought myself a walking stick.  Makes me feel very old but if it means that I can move more I guess it's good.  

My walking stick.

Halloween tree at the local mall!

I made scotch eggs the other day.  Easy to make, cheap and filling.  Except for Mikey we had them for lunch.  Mikey had his in the evening.  When I cut his open it looked like eyes.

scotch egg eyes!

Dentist

 At the beginning of the pandemic, I broke a tooth!  It didn't hurt so I decided just to wait.  The first covid viruses really scared me as it seemed to attack the lungs.  Being obese and having asthma I really didn't want to risk exposure.  One pet peeve I have with the dentist is the light.  The dentist or nurse have their hands in my mouth, they adjust the light, hands back in my mouth, then on to the next patient without cleaning the light.  I imagine all the germs, bacteria and viruses having a lovely party on the light! Which is why I didn't want to go during the pandemic. Now two years later the hole is bigger and joined by another hole.  Also, the past couple of weeks I've had pain along my jaw line where there are no teeth!  This morning Hannah and I went off to the dentist.  Hannah wanted a checkup and clean.  Her teeth are fine, no cavities at all.  She was told to go back in the spring!  Me, on the other hand, ended up with x-rays, local antithetic and lots of lovely drilling.  Did I mention that I'm afraid of the dentist and I have a very sensitive gag reflex?  Awful feeling, lying there, gagging and wondering how much his watch cost and if it was hygienic.

Hannah and I walked to the dentist.  Just a few minutes' walk.  But with my knee it took a bit longer.  I'm glad I walked.  I wanted to challenge, to see how far I could go.  One thing I love about living here is how convenient it is.  Within walking distance is a supermarket, drug store, doctors and dentist.  I can't drive so being able to walk to these places gave me a feeling of independence.  But the past few years I've lost my mobility and wasn't able to walk far at all.  I've lost a bit of weight which has helped with that!

Next to the dentist, liquor store

lovely October day

I always wondered how many people go into the liquor store after the dentist!

Steve

Steve, our white cat, ended up at the vets Saturday afternoon.  Saturday morning I found pee with blood in it!  Having nine cats meant following each cat when they went to the toilet.  Hannah volunteered for that job!  When Hannah found out it was Steve we were worried as he had kidney stones as a kitten.  Our usual vets were closed but Hannah found a new vets, just a few minutes' walk from our house.  So in the afternoon Hannah and Christopher took Steve.  Hannah said that Steve hated the echo scan but was alright with the injection!  No stones so it's either stress or infection.  The vet gave meds for this week and we have to watch when he pees.  Also we have to collect a pee sample.  I say we but this seems to be Hannah's project.  Steve seems to be doing better as he was zooming around this morning.     

Steve

New Oven

 I finally got a new oven a few weeks ago.  I really tried to do without one, but it was hard.  I prefer meat grilled, baked or roasted.  Not having an oven meant a lot of frying and steaming of meat.  Also grilled veggies, crustless quiches and of course all the lovely baking, cookies, cakes and pies.  (No wonder I have a weight problem!!) 

New Oven

One problem is the display doesn't have a back light.  During the day it's okay but in the evening it's difficult to see, I use the flashlight on my phone!  It has all the basic functions, oven, microwave, grill and steamer.  I have no idea what the steamer does or how it works as my other ovens didn't have that function.  I'll try it out over the weekend!  So far I've made banana oat muffins, crustless quiches, coffee cupcakes, and toad in the hole!

Toad in the hole

Hannah made banana choco chip muffins. Those went very fast, no chance to get photos!

Suffering

 Every summer I get wiped out!  The extreme heat and humidity are hard for me to deal with. Even with air conditioning it's hard.  I want to go places during the summer holidays, but never do as I have no confidence that I would be alright to enjoy myself.  I look forward to autumn, cooler days and especially cooler nights.  Not having to use the air conditioner at night is such a relief.  But every year I get hit with allergies!  The past couple of years weren't so bad but this year has been awful!  The past few weeks I've been waking up at 4am with a runny nose, then start sneezing and sneezing.  This goes on for an hour or so.  I take over the counter medicine but doesn't work.  I end up with awful headaches, pain around my sinus area and my ribs aching from sneezing so hard!  On Saturday I went to the local doctors and got some stronger medicine.  Just one tablet at night before bed.  I've only taken it twice so can't decide if it's working or not!  But I haven't been sneezing as much as usual, so I'm hoping!

Mikey managed to burn his arm last week!  He had fried sausages and was moving the fry pan off the stove top when the fat splashed out and caught his arm.  Looked awful and I'm sure it must have hurt but he didn't need to go to the hospital!

Mikey's burns!

A few days later David was frying something and Mikey quipped, I don't like that sound.

I don't need a weather forecast to see what the temperature is, just seeing how the cats are sleeping gives me a good idea!  When it's hot they sleep far apart, as it cools down they snuggle together.  The past few days they have been getting on the sofa and curling up together! Also they love to get on peoples laps, one way of staying warm and not using the heaters!

Mama on Hannah

snuggled up cats!

Congratulations Hannah

 Hannah passed her road test!  Next week she has to go to the drivers license center to take her written test, then she will have her drivers license!  Finally!  She should have finished this in the middle of September but between a typhoon and being sick the test date kept being put back!

One of my friends was asking about driving schools here in Japan.  There are two ways to get a license, one is by going to the driving school for lessons when you have time, these can take a few months depending on your schedule.  The other is an intense residential course, which takes two weeks.  Both Mikey and David did it that way, so Hannah decided to do the same.  I feel it's easier as you are focused on driving and nothing else.  The first few days you learn how to drive on a course belonging to the school.  This is off road but has the same basic lay out as roads, with the road signs and crosswalks to navigate through.  Once you have got the hang of it you take a test on there and a written test to get a drivers permit to go on the streets.  You are then allowed on the streets basically practicing every day.  I think Hannah had between two to three hours of practice a day.  Also, there are videos to watch about road safety.  Just before the road test you get to drive on the highway.  Hannah enjoyed that, zipping along at 100KPH!   It's expensive, especially the residential course.  I think Hannah paid just over 2000 pounds.  This was her money from working at the local cram school.  Now she is saving to get a car! 

Hannah with another cat that followed her home!

Sorry

 I haven't felt like writing recently.  Too many thoughts in my head, to many things happening.  But I will try to get things down now.

Queen Elizabeth's death really shocked me.  I know she was 96 and looking rather frail in the latest photos but I never thought she would pass away.  She was always around, always in the news or magazines.  Just always there!  When the news first broke about her being under medical supervision and that her family were all arriving at Balmoral Castle it was oblivious that something important was happening.  When her death was announced I sat and cried.  When the Prime Minister spoke and called Prince Charles King Charles, I actually had to think who it was.  It has always been Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.  Now we have a king.  I was also amazed the Royal Family and the love they showed for the Queen.  The time of public mourning must have been difficult for them.  To go out and greet people when one is grieving is difficult.  

One thing from all this is the ability for news anchors to waffle.  From the time the statement was given that the Queen was under medical supervision to her death was a few hours.  Because of the time difference it was the middle of the night here.  I stayed up watching Sky News and BBC News.  I was amazed at the way the news reporters found things to fill in the no news time.  Basically, saying the same thing in different ways!  

In our little world things have been ticking along.  In my last post I said about Hannah going to driving school.  The course is 2 weeks long.  She passed the first test to get her driving permit but hasn't taken the final test.  Because of yet another typhoon.  Her test was supposed to be on September 19th.  From September 17th we were under a typhoon warning.  At first, I thought Hannah could just stay at the hotel and follow the driving schools schedule, as they would schedule things around the storm.  A couple of things happen that changed my mind.  One was Hannah sent me a link for the hotel she was in.  I thought it would be a big building that could withstand a strong typhoon, but the building was small, no shutters on the windows and the area was in a basin, meaning that flooding would be possible.  Also, as I was checking this typhoon, I realized that it wasn't a small storm and that we wouldn't get just the edge of it (which is what usually happens) no this was a super typhoon.  The Japan Times stated that it was as strong as a category 5 hurricane.  So, Saturday evening Mikey and I drove 90 minuets to get Hannah.  I'm glad that we got her back.  She would have been okay at the hotel, but the typhoon was scary and being alone makes things worse, at least for me. Again, we got lucky as there was no damage to the house, but we lost a good part of one of the trees out front.  

Because of the typhoon David bought an animal cage for our outside cat, who has been named Ten.  I know that cats can find shelter when the weather gets bad, but we worried about this cat, he had an awful open cut on his cheek and he looked rather weak.  He spent three days inside.  When our cats were out of the room, we let him out to roam about.  He is such a lovely cat!

Ten in his cage

Hannah will be going back this weekend to finish her driving course!  Hope she passes her test!

I will try to write more!

Why?

 At the end of July, beginning of August Hannah spent time researching the best driving school.  She read a lot of reviews, compared pricing and accommodation.  She finally settled on one just outside the city.  She made her reservation, paid for it, even got a discount because she paid early.  This week we went shopping for a few things that she might need.  She should leave early Tuesday morning!  I say should because that is the day a typhoon is supposed to sweep through here. If the typhoon doesn't get any weaker it is going to be very bad, maybe no trains, possible floods and landslides.  The driving school is going to call this morning, if they think it is going to be bad then they will ask that Hannah goes earlier, either Sunday or Monday.  I don't understand that, going a day later would be better!  If she goes early, she will have to stay in the hotel, by herself, through a bad storm.  Not the best thing.  If she goes early, I'll tell her to take her kindle, she can watch movies on it!  There's a TV in the room but Japanese TV isn't that good!

So, I want to know why this always seems to happen.  I've spent the past month convincing myself that Hannah will be okay going by herself.  She's 20 and rather grown up, it's just an hour's drive from here.  She has promised to message me every day, I have to send cat photos to her.  We can face time and if things go bad either Mikey or David will drive to pick her up. So, I wasn't overly worried, a little worried but I could cope with that.  But now a massive typhoon is coming on the day she leaves.  Why couldn't it come earlier or later?  I keep telling myself not to worry but that isn't working!

And of course, the cats are up to no good.  Found Fred on my kindle the other day, he had his paws on the screen.  Somehow, he downloaded the Peter Pan movie!

Fred with my kindle!

August

 Tomorrow is the last day of August and I'll be glad to say goodbye to it!

This year has been hard.  Money is tight (I know some people have it harder and I really shouldn't complain) but paying about 125 pounds for electric was hard. Luckily the weather is changing and the past few nights I haven't needed the air conditioner.  A lot of students have taken the month off, this is the first year in two years that traveling was allowed so a lot of people took advantage of the summer holidays to visit relatives that live far away. 

 We are still under corona conditions, movement isn't restricted but wearing masks is normal and expected. This is one reason we didn't go anywhere this summer, just going into a shop wearing a mask makes me ill.  I'll be glad when wearing masks is not required.  We are now in the 7th wave and the media constantly saying how many new cases there are makes people panic.  We need more information on this virus, people need to understand that it is still bad but not as lethal as the first wave.  

Looking forward to cooler weather.  I want to start cooking more, not just cold noodles or salad.  Need to get a new oven so I can start baking and making roasts, miss my yorkshire puds.

Next month Hannah is going away for two weeks.  She is going to driving school.  She'll stay at the place and have lessons everyday.  This is how Mikey and David got their licenses.  She has saved the money from her part time job to pay for this.  She wants ( and will need) her own car in the future.  As a teacher she will be sent to a school,  you don't get to choose where you teach or what grade to teach.  If her first school is in the countryside she will need a car, even in the city, with public transport, teachers carry so much stuff that a car is necessary.  

Sixty

 I turned sixty yesterday. I guess that is old.  I saw this meme the other day that said "My minds thinks I'm 25, my body thinks my mind is an idiot".  That about sums it up for me.  

Didn't celebrate.  Just couldn't be bothered.  Spent the afternoon looking at photos with Hannah.  She scanned some so I could put them on here.

Five years old.

I remember having this photo taken.  I'm sitting on Mom's trolley and the edge was biting into my legs.  The sweater was one Mom made.  I think there is another photo of me and Steven but not sure!

school photo, maybe 14

Maybe 16

On holiday with Mom, Steve and Alan.

The last photo was taken on a beach, maybe Wales.  

With me bros!

first time in Japan (in my 20's)

with Mikey and David (in my 30's)

In England (in my 40's)

The last photo was taken on the last trip before Mom died.  It was a nice trip but emotionally exhausting.

Playing with filters!(and 50's)

Holiday

 This week is my summer holiday. No classes until Saturday then free until next Wednesday.  Sounds great but I'm having a hard time.  We aren't going anywhere, even shopping I get sick and dizzy. Went to the mall Monday evening with David, after 10 minutes I was soaking wet with sweat. My face was the worst because of wearing a mask!  So I've decided that I don't have the energy to deal with that.  I can't explain how uncomfortable it is, just one breath and sweat is dripping off my face. I use the gel I bought, it helps, a bit!  So staying home, which is okay but I feel like I should do something, clean, prepare for classes, study Japanese but I really don't want to!  Today was awful. Woke up with a bad headache because of a thunderstorm.  It has rained all day, more forecast for tonight.  I slept late, didn't make lunch, then watched TV all afternoon.  I always feel that I should do something useful.  Is it wrong to not want to do anything?

One problem is cooking.  It's hard when it's hot!  In Japan cold noodles are popular, so I've been trying out a few.

These are somen noodles.  They are very fine and cook up in 2 minutes.  Served with minced chicken cooked with soy sauce, mirin (Japanese wine) and grated ginger, omelet, cucumber, tomato, steamed asparagus and corn.  There is a dipping sauce to give the noodles taste, we usually just pour it on.

This is cold ramen.  Again easy to make!  With chicken, boiled eggs and tomato.

I'll be glad when it is cool enough to make soup and stews again!

David's Birthday

 Yesterday was David's birthday.  We couldn't really celebrate because of work schedules.  Hope to do him a nice lunch next week.  I got him a few more T-shirts that he needed.  He never asks for anything which makes buying things difficult.  Also since he has been working he buys what he needs, which is good.  He is also very  generous.  He paid for Hannah's new phone and bought a TV for the family.  He buys the cat food and litter, plus puts money into my bank for the rent.  I keep telling him to save money, which he does, but if he sees a need he has no problem using his money!

He is working nights, better money.  But it's a long shift, midnight to 9am.  He said that most nights aren't too busy, it's an internet cafe.  Serving food and drink, making sure the rooms are clean and that the computers and karaoke machines are working.  Of course he comes home with interesting stories. Last week a group of young men got kicked out and banned (there is a membership system), they were rude to other customers wanting to use the billiard table, trying to push the other customers off instead of waiting.  The other night there was the hour long argument with a man who wouldn't wear a mask,  finally one of the staff called the head office and somebody told the man to wear a mask or leave.  One thing that David doesn't understand is the amount of money people spend there, he thinks it's waste, I tell him that the money they spend pays his wages!

Selfie practice

with our three oldest cats

I am wondering what this next year will bring for him!