Cold But Trying Think Ahead

 As I said yesterday, the winter here has been very mild, until yesterday!

Yesterdays high was 0 °C! Today it got up to 7°C. Still far too cold.

I really wanted to take a shower yesterday, I went to the bathroom, turned around and decided against it!

This morning, Mikey and then Christopher took showers. I asked them to leave the heater on so I could take a shower after! Even though the heater had been on for almost an hour, the changing area of the bathroom was still cold. There was ice on the inside of the window, even with the heater on!

I know I've said I prefer the cold weather, and I do, I also know that in a few months I will be moaning about the heat! But this year it's felt more difficult to deal with than before.

Last winter was a lot colder, but it didn't affect me so much.  I could get jobs done and do chores almost every day. I really don't know if it's being a year older, that my body has aged, and I can't deal with the cold, or more psychological, that I'm feeling colder because of this house and the state that it's in.

I really am trying to find good things here, even just Kevin outside makes me smile.

This is Kevin, in case you didn't read yesterdays post.

I'm trying to figure out what we can change, what we can afford. There is some help from the city. David said that it is mainly for elderly people to make the house safer. I know that I'm not that old yet, but surely making it safe now would be better than waiting until I have a fall or get heat shock because the changing room is freezing after the warm shower!

We have to make money. That is what I'm trying to think about. 

David wants to set up an English school here, and I think it's the best option for us. I can still teach, not little kids, I don't have the energy for that, but otherwise I'm alright!

David is going to start putting leaflets at the end of this month. The school year runs from April to March in Japan, so it's a good chance to get students. 

I keep telling myself we can do this. I'm trying to be positive about this, but as always, doubts creep in. All I know is that if we don't try, then nothing is going to change. At least we have to give it a good try!

Another thing I'm looking forward to is the spring vegetables that will be available soon. Japanese cuisine is very seasonal; each season has its own flavour. Winter is stews, one-pot dishes, ramen, foods that bring comfort and warmth. Yesterday, David made tonjiru, miso soup with pork over udon noodles, very warming and comforting!

Tonjiru soup with udon noodles

Spring foods are lighter somehow. There are a lot of popular sweet foods, like Sakura Mochi, a sweet rice cake wrapped in cherry leaves.

Also, spring cabbage becomes available, which is nice for quick stir-frys! Also, bamboo shoots, used in takenoko gohan, bamboo shoot rice, take a lot of preparation, but it's really nice.

I'm going to pull out some of my cookbooks and see what I can find!