Morning Walk

 After our little drive yesterday I was too tired to cook dinner. Christopher stepped up and made kashiwa meshi, it's a local dish of chicken, vegetables and rice cooked together. It's usually made into rice balls. He made that, some soup, potato salad (from potato's leftover from lunch) and some quick Japanese radish pickles he put together the day before.

Last nights dinner

Nice, warming and filling!

This morning I dragged myself out of bed at 7:30! That was hard, the room was so cold but Christopher had made breakfast, the dining area was nice and warm, plus a nice hot cup of tea was waiting! Made it a tiny bit better to get up.

I wanted to get some straw from the storage shed on the other land. I thought it would take about 10 minutes to walk up there but it was a lot closer than I remembered it being!  I was hoping to get 1000 steps each way but it was only 600 steps, still a good walk, especially since it's up hill a bit.

Frosty morning

The road up to the other land

I have no idea what plant this is but looks really nice

The reason I wanted the straw was to make a little box for our visitor. He's been sleeping in our storage room. I thought a box with straw would be warmer for him. I don't know if he's a stray or belongs to someone!

Steve checking out the visitor

Lunch was homemade chicken soup.

I went shopping with David, the weather went very cold late morning, the wind really picked up! The soup was just the thing to get us warmed up again!

lunch

This evening I went shopping again. The supermarket I usually go to was closed until 12 o'clock, so I couldn't get any meat! I went to a different place this evening but the meat was basically sold out. The place I went to this evening was in the opposite direction to where we usually go, more countryside.

very countryside

While we were shopping the sunset and the moon came out, just a crescent moon but very beautiful.

lovely moon tonight!

A Little Drive

 Today started rather late. I'm really having a hard time to get out of bed early. I like to be up about 7am but since we've moved here it's been closer to 10am. Not good! The house is just too cold and my bed is so warm and comfortable!

I managed to do a nice lunch. Roast pork chops, mashed potatoes, vegetables and Yorkshire Puds!

Roast dinner

Yorkshire Puds came up nicely

I usually do this kind of lunch when the weather cools down, but this year it was still too hot in October. November and December were busy with the move so this is the first chance I've had. I enjoyed it, kids did too!

After lunch Mikey said that he was free so we could go out somewhere. Christopher and Hannah wanted to go to Book Off,  recycle book store.  A quick search on Google Map showed a few stores about 30 minutes south of where we are living.

It was a nice drive through industrial areas and farm land. Took a few photos on the way.

Intersection, very quiet, maybe because of the holiday

An old ice cream shop!

Tea Farm

 

The tea farms were massive, maybe plantation is a better word for them!!

We didn't get anything from Book Off. 

Hannah and I went to a clothing store that Hannah loves. She bought herself a lovely dress and a couple of tops to go with it.

Hannah trying on her new dress and top

I almost had a disaster in a convivence store.

I was looking for some change to pay with when a 10,000 yen note flew out of my purse (about 50 pounds). It floated to the ground and slipped under the counter! My last bit of money until I start work again! The clerk managed to get for me. My poor heart!!! Christopher thought it was funny!!

Mikey was coming out with these crazy jokes. He asked "What does WHO stand for"  I answered "World Health Organization"  Mikey "No Wonka's Home for Oompa" 

Help! Three times a week I'll be trapped in the car with Mikey, going back to the other city to teach, about 40 minutes each way.  I'll be subjected to these kind of jokes each time!!!!

Happy New Year

 We didn't do much for New Years Eve, just hung out together. That was enough for me! Just having every one here for a few hours was nice!

In the afternoon Mikey and Christopher went to the old house for the last check. Christopher sent some photos, the subject line for the Gmail was "Thank you for 15 years".  When I thought about it I realized that as much as this move has been hard for me, I think for the kids it must be harder. They grew up in that house and that area.  They went from kids and teenagers to young adults under that roof!  Looking at these photos makes me sad. 

From the entrance, down the hallway

Stairs

Upstairs corridor

living dining area

The room we used for teaching

This is the same room, one year ago!

Hanging out playing a card game together

One thing I've realized is that this house doesn't have communal areas. In the old house there was the living/dining area, and the rooms we used for teaching. When we weren't teaching we could use those rooms to hang out in. Here there is the tatami room and the dining area. I guess this house was designed for two old ladies who weren't interested in being together.

Today we had a nice lunch!

Yaki niku lunch

Mikey was out with his friend. Last chance to meet up, his friend is moving to another area of Japan.  I think it was nice for Mikey to talk with his mate. They've been friends for many years, doing a lot of magic shows together!

I sent Mikey a photo of our lunch, so he could see what he's missing. I wanted to say " Lunch" but of course I messed up.

Looks like I'm asking if he's lunch!!

After lunch we decided to go out into the yard for a bit. The weather was nice, very mild, no wind so the sun feels good. I managed to sweep up a load of leaves, twigs and other bits and pieces that can be burnt!  It felt good to be outside, even just for 10 minutes!

Hannah wanted to learn to read a bike. She lives near her campus but for shopping and going to work a bike would help a lot. I told her to practice driving, save and buy a small car!!

Hannah and David, Christopher was trying to hide!

This evening I had to run out to the supermarket to pick up a few things for dinner! On the way back the sunset was very beautiful.

First sunset of the New Year!

The photo doesn't do it justice!

New year, lots of new challenges ahead. I haven't made resolutions or set any goals, maybe a bit later when things have settled down more. 

Hope everyone had a wonderful New Years holiday!!