Toast Came Back

 Early Monday morning Toast turned up!!

Saturday and Sunday I walked around the neighborhood, checking under cars, in trees and in people's yards but no sign of him.  Late Sunday evening I put more food out, I stood on the porch shaking the food but no Toast, just the stray cat!  So I decided to try the Japanese urban legend and told the stray cat about Toast, Christopher went out and said the same thing in Japanese.  Five hours later Toast came back!  I'm so happy about that!!

He's back!!

Unfortunately, my neck is bad again.  Another herniated disc.  Started Tuesday morning, I was hoping that it would correct itself and I wouldn't need the doctors.  But last night I couldn't sleep, lying down sent shooting pains down my left arm, so I sat on the sofa from 2 am.  Today went to the doctor, got an x-ray, which showed that there is no space between the vertebrae, and it's pinching on a nerve.  Had treatment with a TENS machine and a heating pad, that felt nice.  Got a month's worth of very strong painkillers. I really hope this rights itself soon as I have a lot to do.

Hannah is in her last week of teacher training.  I think she has learned a lot, not just the teaching part but also about living by herself.  She calls every day, which is nice for me.  This morning she called and said that she thinks she is overtired,  I asked why, if she was okay to go to school.  She said that she had put coffee in her cereal bowl.  

Toast

 No not the bread type but our little black cat!  He has run away.

Yesterday as I was letting in my student,  Alan, our other black cat, was trying to get out, so I got distracted.  Showing my student into the teaching room, putting the student's shoes away and pushing Alan out of the way, all at the same time.  I closed the front door and I thought locked the latch but I think it didn't catch properly.  A few minutes later Christopher said that the cats had gotten out.  He managed to get them back except for Toast.  Toast just took off!!  We put food out, looked around the garden, in the outside storage room and under the car but no cat.  I decided to wait until about 6pm, which is dusk here and a good chance that Toast is getting hungry and would be out looking for food.  Christopher and I walked around the neighborhood for a while but couldn't see him.  Came home and put more food out for Toast.  Problem is we have a stray cat that comes and goes, so he was hanging around and I think eating the food.  Christopher and I went out again at 9pm but still no Toast.  I went out again at 12:30 last night and early morning.  

I'm devastated that we have lost another cat.  I read about a Japanese urban legend that says you should ask stray cats to help find your lost cat.  So this morning I saw the stray cat and talked to him about Toast.  I don't know if that will help but I honestly don't know what else to do.

I had to tell Hannah, I didn't want to but she gets back next week and if Toast is not here she would be very upset and angry.  

Toast

I hope he comes back soon!!!

Feeling Nostalgic

 Maybe it's the time of year, maybe I'm just getting old but recently I've been thinking a lot about my childhood and teen years.

This started with a few Facebook groups I joined, talking about our memories, and things that a generation have in common.  Things like certain pop groups that we thought were the best ( The Osmonds), posters we would collect.  Listening to the Top 40 on a Sunday afternoon, waiting for a favorite song to come on.  Fashion that is cringe-worthy, American Tan tights with white socks over them,  platform shoes, I could never walk properly in them.  It's easy to look back and think how great everything was, how my generation had the best of times!  But did we?  

The news could be terrifying. I remember the kidnapping of Lesly Whittle.  She lived in the same village as my cousin's wife.  I was a bridesmaid at their wedding and remember driving past the Whittles house, the mother was outside sweeping the driveway, a scene I had seen on the news for many weeks!!

I'm on the end

Not a good photo, sorry.

I also remember a sugar shortage.  I couldn't understand why, and I don't think I've ever seen an explanation for that.

Another thing I remember was the IRA bombings.  I watched a documentary about this recently and found out that it was only a year but it felt longer.

One thing that I'm grateful for is the amount of information that is available either through the internet or documentaries that have been made. I can finally understand things that really baffled me as a kid. The news could seem strange,  why would a gate with water flowing over it be a big scandal in America.  I found out later that The Watergate was a hotel and office complex.  

Here's to memories and to making more.

I wonder what our kids will remember?

Hannah

 She is now halfway through her teacher training.  From what she has been telling me her lessons have been alright.  She got a bit frustrated with the kids the other day, she did the presentation and gave instructions on what the class had to do but the kids weren't listening, they asked the same question 3 or 4 times!!  She was patient with them and explained again.  The homeroom teacher said that it was normal for the kids to do that.  Other than that her lessons are alright.  She spends hours preparing and worrying about them but I guess that is normal when you start out!

I think living by herself has been an eye-opener for her.  Just going to university she comes back to meals prepared, laundry done and things in the house done (most of the time).  Now she has to shop for herself, plan meals ahead, remember what she needs and cook.  The other day she called because she had cut her thumb open while chopping onions!!  There wasn't a lot I could do to help, just told her to wash it and wrap it  until she could get a plaster.  I then had to show her how to chop onions using the camera on the phone,  I think when she gets back she will be having a few cooking lessons!!  The next morning she managed to overload the breaker by having the electric heater, kettle and microwave on at the same time. She knew that she had to put the breaker back on by flipping a switch but it's very high on the wall and she had a hard time reaching it.  Took a few efforts of jumping but she managed to get it back on.  

And of course, she has made friends with the neighborhood cats!!  She was preparing her lesson plans on Saturday but took a break to go to the shop. On the way back she met two cats, and spent almost an hour playing with them.  She's a cat magnet!

one of Hannahs's friends

the other cat

She said that the ginger cat was the most friendly!

Bit Of Good News, Lots Of Bad

 The good news is that Alfie didn't need to stay in the vets, he came home the same day.  Also the vet didn't charge as much as he usually does.  Alfie got the full works while he was there, nails clipped and flea treatment but there no charge for that.  He has medicine for the next week but he is already a lot better.  He was purring a lot yesterday and then racing around with the other cats.

Happier Alfie

Where to start with the bad news?

First of all it has suddenly gone very cold.  I like the cold weather, it's a lot easier to deal with than the hot weather.  The problem is in the sudden change, last week it was up to 22C during the day, lows of about 12C at night.  This morning it was just 4C, and now it's only 11C and probably won't get any higher!!!  I really don't want to put the gas heaters on as it's very expensive.  Which leads to the next bad news, still no new students, my income only just covers the bills and rent. David is buying food and cat food, which is good but he needs to save for his own car.  Also I'm wondering what will happen the end of this year and next spring.  Because of the school year starting in April in Japan, junior high school and high school kids start the preperation for entrance exams.  For public junior high there isn't a test but for the private schools there are and for all high schools there are tests, so lot of kids start quitting to focus on that.  Then in spring we lose a few more because of new schedules.  The best would be to start getting new students now to off set the ones that will quit.

The last bit of bad news is that I'm not loosing weight.  I'm bouncing up and down the same one kilo.  I'm not stress eating but also not eating very healthy. I do need to exercise, the most exercise I've had recently was shopping with Hannah and pulling weeds from the garden.  Better than nothing but I need to do something everyday!!

Hannah is doing very well.  She did a math lesson last week, one of the teachers said that the lesson didn't look like she was a beginner.  This week she has to do English and history.  She said yesterday that the kids kept asking the same question about what they had to do.  I told her that the secomd time she explains she should tell the kids that this is the last time she is going to explain the instructions.  These kids will be in junior high school next year and the teachers don't explain things over and over again. 

She is also enjoying her life at the apartment.  She calls to chat every evening and asks about cooking, so I think once she has recovered a few cooking lessons are needed!!!

Sick Cats, I'm Stressed

 The other day we had to take Steve to the vet.  He wasn't peeing and the bit that came out was blood. Looks like inflammation, again. He got a shot and some medicine.  He is a bit better but the vet said that he was stressed because of the other cats.  He is still peeing a bit of blood but he is a lot better.  I'm trying to keep him calm and away from the cats that he fights with.

Today was Alfie's turn.   Not peeing and throwing up.  Christopher took him to the vet but Alfie has to stay in for a few days.  His bladder is full and the vet isn't sure if the vomiting is from poison from the pee or straining to pee.  I know that he is in the right place and they will take good care of him but the cost is worrying me!

Also with all these things happening I really don't know how I will cope living at the other house.  Here everything is within walking distance.  Supermarket, drug store, doctors, dentist and even the city hall are within 5 minutes walk.  The vet is opposite the dentist.  The other house has nothing nearby, to live there you need a car!!  Very inconvenient.  When we lived there before I walked to the supermarket, took 2 hours altogether!!  I can't drive and I have desire to learn (and no money).  Mikey and David can drive but we only have one car and again no money for a second one!! Christopher needs to get his license but again no money, most of his wage goes to paying for his scholarship and phone.  This is the problem for a lot of young people in Japan, wages are very low but the prices are very high.  The minimum wage is about 1000 yen an hour, about 5 pounds.  There is no overtime pay, some places may pay a little but a lot of places expect you to work overtime for nothing.   

So as always, I'm trying to find a way to make more money.  The only way I know is to teach but we are not getting any new students.  I have to find a way to do that!!

Steve

Alfie

Cats

 The cats are missing Hannah.  She usually feeds them and plays with them a lot.  She also sorts them out at night! With nine cats there are fights and almost fights every day.  During the day it's easy just to separate the figthers until things have calmed down.  At night it's easier to put the ones that usually fight in different rooms.  Recently Alan, Steve and Frodo are in the corridor and David's room, the other 6 are in the living room.  That works out nicely and most nights I can sleep until about 5am when they start demanding breakfast.

The other night we had them sorted out and everything was quiet until 3:30 in the morning.  I could hear cats fighting, so I called to Hannah to go and sort them out.  After shouting for her two or three times I remembered that she wasn't here. So I got out of bed to see who was making the noise.  I went to David's room (he was at work) and saw Mama cat, which I thought was very strange, when I went to bed she was locked in the living room.  I decided to go downstairs to use the toilet.  When I got downstairs I saw that the front door was open.  Panic, how many cats had got out.  I went to close the door when the stray cat that we feed came charging down the corridor and ran out.  He has similar colouring and marking to Mama cat so it was him I saw upstairs.  I counted the cats, everybody was there.  Steve, the white cat was covered in seeds and bits of leaves.  So I think he went out but found it too cold and came back in and the stray cat followed him.  It's now just after 4am,  I'm tired and wanted to sleep more.  But the upstairs cats decided that it was breakfast time!!  They sat outside my door crying for food, they sound as if they have never been fed!!

All great fun!!!  I miss Hannah at these times as she has more energy to deal with things!!!

Mama

Steve

These photos were the next day, Steve was so tired!!!

Hannah is doing well.  She gave her first lesson today, math!!  It's the one subject she really struggles with and is glad that it is over and done with.  She calls in the evening so we video chat for about half an hour.  She called earlier asking about making dinner, which order should she cook things as she only has one gas ring to work on.  She seems to be okay, tired but I guess that is normal.  Here she only has to go to university, and do her part-time jobs, there she has to take care of everything in the apartment and go to school.  I think it's good for her but the house seems quieter without her.  David took some selfies (again) he said I could send them to her!!

David's selfies!!

Goodbye Hannah.....

 ....for one month.

Hannah has started her month of teacher training.  She decided to rent a small service apartment near the school rather than commute over an hour each way.  Even though I felt she should save her money and come home each day I could see that after just one day she was exhausted.  Her training started last Thursday but the apartment wasn't available until Monday.  To get to the school on time she had to get the 6:30 train, and she got back at 8 p.m.  When she got back she was so sick from being tired that she couldn't eat dinner and just went to bed.  One day like that is okay but a whole month would be too much.

Yesterday Mikey and I drove to her apartment to drop off her stuff.  Our biggest suitcase and 4 large boxes of stuff, just for one month!!!  Besides clothes, she needed her textbooks and basic pantry items to start with.  The apartment is furnished and has basic kitchen appliances.  The rent includes utilities which is a big help.

From the entrance, the kitchen on the left, the bathroom and toilet opposite

Tiny kitchen

the one-room half has a bed

 

The other side has a sofa, table, TV and DVD player

a

small bathroom, toilet is separate

Of course, as we were moving her stuff in a white cat came wandering around, so Hannah wants to make friends with it!!!

I treated Mikey and myself to a nice dinner on the way back.  

Dinner

I was surprised at how automated everything was.  To order you used an iPad and a robot bought your food.  Mikey's was bought by a waiter as the plate was very hot.  As much as I enjoy these robots, especially when two were trying to get past each other and ended in a standoff as they tried to figure out who should move where, I missed having a waiter or waitress to try by bad Japanese on.  Also using the robots cuts costs but that isn't reflected in the price, and if I'm going to pay for a meal I would like to speak to a person!!

I promised myself I wouldn't cry but of course I did.  I know this is good and natural but it's hard.  Hannah is still my baby, they all are!!  But she needs this experience and I know it's good for her but still hard!! I'm so grateful for modern technology, I could send Hannah messages and this morning I called her to wake her up (she asked me to do that).  

Influencers

 This is a generational thing I think.  I really don't get the hype behind watching somebody else's life. Surely we should be living our own best life, not just scrolling through social media to watch what someone else is doing. There again I hope some people are reading about my life, kind of hypocritical I know!

I will admit to watching some videos that are of people's lives.  One is a Japanese lady in her late 60's.  She makes videos about her parent's house and garden that she takes care of.  The videos are nice and gentle, she talks about growing old and keeping healthy, the call of the garden center and all the plants she wants. Everything is in Japanese but with English subtitles.  It gives me a chance to learn Japanese in a relaxed way.  The other lady I watch is a young mother of five children, she makes videos of the meals and obentos she prepares.  She uses vegetables that I've seen but never used, also everything is budget-friendly, I can get a lot of tips on saving money while still preparing healthy meals.  Again it's in Japanese with English subtitles, I've found that I understand a lot more of what she is talking about than the lady with her garden!!   

What I don't understand is the people making videos just to be a nuisance. There have been a few here in Japan that are giving a bad name to other YouTube creators.  One such guy was arrested for trespassing on a construction site.  He was filmed walking onto the site without a care for his safety or the safety of the workers.  Before that he was filmed making fun of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, shouting in crowded trains and getting into people's faces.  All this just to get a few clicks.  Another guy tried to ride the Shinkansen for free, he also walked into a hotel restaurant, and got a free breakfast.  Again just to get people to watch.  He at least apologized but I think he was more sorry for being caught.  This has led to a few places banning filming which is a shame.  Japan is a beautiful country and should be documented by people living and visiting here but because of a few idiots, it is going to get harder to do that.   

Complete change of topic!

Another accident with a cat.  Frodo this time, he was on the top of the cat tower and managed to fall off, not only did he fall but he took down part of the tower with him!!

Frodo on top, his nose is a bit red!!!

October

 I can't believe it's already November! 

October was a very busy month.  The first week was preparing students for the English Proficiency Test.  Lots of moaning from the students, most are upper elementary kids or junior high school kids.  They were tired because of sports day practice at school so moaning and saying they are tired is normal.  We managed to get them to focus, which got great results, about 90% of them passed.  The ones that didn't just missed by a couple of points.  I'm very proud and happy about that!!

The last week was Halloween parties, lots of games.  Mikey found some scary stories to tell the older kids,  some of them got really scared but they enjoyed it.

I enjoyed playing games with the kids as well.  After the intense classes this was a nice break, but back to more study lessons..... until Christmas!

Mikey with one of the girl's classes, this got very noisy but lots of laughter

The 28th would have been Mom's 84th birthday.   Twenty years since passed away.  I still think about her a lot.   Every time my kids do something I think that it's something I would have called Mom about!

I never think of her as she was when we last saw her, just a year before she passed, in my mind she is like this

I think in her 30's here!!  

So November, just two months until the New Year.  I still have a lot to do, especially getting the other house ready.  Step by step!!  This month is going to be hard as Hannah will be staying in the city to do her teacher training.  She starts tomorrow but couldn't get an apartment until next week.  So she'll be here over the weekend and move on Monday!!  She is looking forward to living by herself, I'm not!!!