I'm Back

 I haven't been anywhere, just no Wi-Fi for a few days!

On Friday, December 6th, David, Christopher and I moved. We bought 6 of the cats that evening, the other 3 the next day.

This is what moving the cats sounded like. It's about 40 minutes between houses, for 40 minutes we had this chorus!

  The cats have settled very well. So far they haven't been fighting or marking the areas too much!  They have found the only warm place in the house, the engawa.  I went shopping the other day and came back to this.

Waiting for me to get home!

The cats are okay but I am totally miserable!

This house is cold, dark and uncomfortable.

There's almost no natural light in the house. I understand that the design was to make the house cooler in the summer but I would prefer to have some sunlight in the main rooms and put up curtains or screens in the summer. In the old house I didn't need any heating until late afternoon because the sun would warm up the living room enough! In summer I kept the curtains closed to keep the room cool. Since moving here I've only been warm in bed, getting up is so hard because it's so cold. The weather isn't that cold at the moment either, todays high will be about 12C. The really cold time is January and February when it doesn't get over 10C, I honestly don't know how I'm going to deal with that.

Because there's almost no natural light it is very dark inside. We have changed the main lights but need to buy a few more. The lights have to be on all day unless we go out!  

There's no living room either. There are only two bedrooms so the living room is now Christopher's bedroom. Mikey is sleeping the tatami room as it's just temporary. I miss having some where comfortable to sit. I have my reading nook which is nice but too cold to use now. I want a space where we can hang out together, watch a daft movie some time or just to chill!!

I've actually cried I've felt that miserable.

The house is mine and I have a lot of ideas on how to make it a bit better but we have no money at all. We had to get a new stove top, which is nice but there's no money to change out the kitchen, bathroom and toilets, which need doing! 

I would love to extend the dining/kitchen area so we could have a living room but that would cost too much.  Also I'm a bit worried about the wiring, I don't think it has been checked since the house was built, about 31 years ago!

New stove top

I've cried so much since we moved here! I just don't feel comfortable. I feel as if it is all too much for me to deal with.

The bright point last week was Hannah coming to visit. Some forms came for her graduate course that she needed to fill out, so she came to pick them up, and visit with the cats!

Station entrance

Hannah thought this train was cute!

I didn't get any photos of Hannah but she sent these to me.  She enjoys exploring the different trains and buses and has become very adept at using public transportation!

I'm going to go and make beef stew for lunch, nice and warming!

I have to go back to the old house this afternoon to teach a few classes. I'm still cleaning out the place, most rooms are empty.  I'm just sweeping and wiping down the walls.  

I'll try to update more often now we have Wi-Fi!