BUSY

 Who knew that getting a kid ready for university would be this crazy?

I don't remember being this busy getting Christopher ready for college.  I think Hannah just likes shopping.  We went to a couple of malls to buy clothes, she basically lived in her uniform or pajamas for 6 years so she needed a whole new wardrobe. I usually enjoy shopping but at the moment it is hard.  My knee is very painful so walking far is hard, also I get over heated because of having to wear a mask.  She also decided to buy make up. Schools in Japan are very strict about make up, hair styles and uniforms.  Graduating from high school is a mark of freedom, a chance to change hair styles, to dye hair, wear make up and even get ears pierced.  So Hannah went mad and bought a load of make up.  She then had a make up session when she got home.

First experiment with make up

With me, looking totally wiped out!

Hannah has managed to find a little part time job at a local cram school.  Cram schools are a big part of Japanese schooling.  Especially in junior high school kids go to school after school to get a jump on entrance tests for high school.  Some cram schools focus on different stages of the Japanese school system.  The place Hannah is working at s for the last couple of years of elementary school and junior high school.  She starts tomorrow with  two hours of training.  She is nervous but I think she'll be okay.  She has been teaching here for the past year or so.  

Two weeks ago was the 10th year since the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant disaster.  It's hard to believe that so much time has passed.  Last night the same area was hit by yet another large earthquake.  Seems that these are after shocks from 10 years ago.  Must be rather scary to live there!  I know I would want to move out!!

Congratulations Hannah

 Hannah has graduated from High School.  There was a shortened ceremony because of coronavirus worries, but it was nice somehow.  I usually don't enjoy these days but this is the last one for public school, just Hannah's university to go.

One thing I don't understand is the choice of music.  As the graduates enter Land of Hope and Glory was played.  This year using a sound track, other times the schools brass band would play, corona worries again.  The graduating students sang a Japanese version of Auld Lang Syne.  When I asked Hannah about this she said it was a Japanese song about saying goodbye.  I think Robert Burns was turning in his grave!

I'm happy to be finished with school.  No more worries about tests, uniforms or hair length.  One problem is that Hannah doesn't have many clothes to start university, she lived in uniforms or pajamas for the past 6 years.  Hopefully we can go shopping soon and get her sorted!

Few photos from the day.  Hannah put filter on hers!

Hannah with her homeroom teacher

with other teachers

Early morning

February..so far

 This month has been rather busy.  Most of the business is to do with Hannah.  She graduates high school next month and is preparing for university.  To that end she has been sorting out stuff from school, so many prints!  The kids have textbooks and workbooks for each subject, about 11 in Hannah's case but the teachers still make prints.  I understand it as I teach as well and sometimes the textbook doesn't go into detail on some  things or I feel the kids need more practice on certain areas.  But the amount of prints Hannah has is crazy.  Also the amount of money this is costing, entrance fee for the university ( about 2000 pounds) a computer (about 700 pounds), I would of waited on that but she doesn't know yet if she will have classes or online classes. Then there is the suit for the entrance ceremony (about 350 pounds).  Good job I've been saving for the past few years.  Plus she will need new clothes, for the past 6 years she has had uniforms, hanging around the house is pyjamas, a couple of nice things to go out in but not much.  I guess a few shopping trips are in the future.

Unfortunately a lot of things in the house need replacing, air conditioners (two have stopped working and one is only works sometimes). The air conditioner work as heaters so have been running a lot this winter.  Also my stove top is broken, need to get that changed soon as it's gas and I worry about it leaking.  Could do with a new sofa, cats have ruined the one I have now.  Good job I like working!!

The weather here is going through extremes.  Sunday was like spring, up 23C, yesterday and today it's snowing, down to -2C last night.  The forecast is for it to warm up again but who knows!

I'll leave you with some photos of the cats!

Fred and Alfie

I wanted to make my bed but.....

Christopher stuck the cats toy on his head

This is the result!

Having a Laugh

 I've realized that I am totally stressed by this pandemic.  There again I guess most people are!  Until December the virus felt far away, I didn't know anyone who was sick and the cases being reported were always in another city.  Now there is a cluster in Hannah's school, too close for comfort.  One thing that helps me with stress is finding the funny things in life, things that make me laugh or at least smile.  Here are a few things that have happened over the past couple of weeks that have done that.

Even though I don't want to I still have to food shop, I try to be as fast as possible in the stores and only shop once or twice a week.  The other day I came back exhausted from doing a big shop, four different stores in two towns.  I have a hard time walking because of my knee plus it was freezing cold.  Got home and all nine of my cats were curled up on the sofa.  Of course I say hello to them but I came out with "Hello dogs!"  Hannah just looks at me and asks why I'm teaching English!

Then Christopher asked me to sew up his trousers.  He stooped down to pick up a box at work and his trousers split, he spent 3 hours with his arse hanging out!

Then there is David, who has the most incredible stories.  In Japan in all stores you are greeted with "Irashaimase" which basically means welcome, it's said in a loud, cheerful voice.  David works in a local convenience store, he said that he shouts out "irashaimase" hundreds of times a day when he is working!  When he is working a long shift I make him a big breakfast, but Friday was just 6am to 9am so something quick.  I made him a lovely cheese on toast.  He are half of it then said that he doesn't like cheese on toast, he likes cheese and he likes toast but not together.  He went off to work.  The first hour was kind of busy, but at about 7am things have slowed down.  All the other jobs that need doing like checking toilets are clean, emptying bins, checking shelves are full have all been done so David is just standing about waiting for customers.   He is feeling rather hungry by now and thinking about food.  Finally David hears the door open and he calls out, in English, in a lovely loud cheerful voice "I'M HUNGRY".  To say he wished the floor would open up and swallow him is an understatement!  

David!!

Quick Update

 Turns out that there is a cluster at Hannah's school.  Yesterday Hannah got a message from the school that 5 people have tested positive at the school.  The message didn't state if they were teachers or students.  The school will close until Wednesday, which I guess is something but a longer closure would be better.  

Also the local news said that one elementary school is closing for a week after another cluster had been found.

It all seems to little to late.  David went to the local mall to get his hair cut, he came back saying that the place was packed.  I know where we live isn't under lockdown but surely only going out when necessary is the best idea not acting like this virus doesn't exist!  As soon as David got back he washed his hands and rinsed his mouth with a iodine solution.  

Sorry this posts are rather miserable but I am going crazy!  I watch the British news almost everyday. I really don't know how people are coping there!  I think I would hae had a breakdown by now!

It's Creeping Closer

 I'm talking about the Covid 19.   In the past week I've heard of a cluster just down the road from here, at a nursery.  Then the supermarket where Christopher is working had one incident.  And today somebody ay Hannah's school has it!  And guess what none of these places have closed!  The government is trying area by area lockdown, so the next prefecture is in lockdown but nothing has changed.  The main thing is that bars and restaurants have to close by 8pm, other than that it is life as normal!  Everyday the numbers are going up and hospitals are struggling to cope but wanting the Olympics to take place seems to be more important.  Another thing that is totally weird here is the peoples attitude toward health care workers and those who have the covid 19.  Nurses are  quitting because they are being bullied by neighbors.  I read about one family that broke my heart.  This family had lived in the same house for over 30 years and were well known and liked in the community. Their daughter caught the virus while she was away at university, she didn't come home while she was sick.  But the neighbors ostracized the family, even throwing bricks through the windows.  In the end the family had to move!

I will be glad when we can get vaccines.  I know they aren't 100% and wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands will still be needed but somehow it will give me peace of mind!

Just to finish some cute photos of the cats.

This is when it was very cold!

Mama cat

Birthdays and Snow

 This week was Christopher's and Mikey's birthdays!  

One tradition we have is the birthday person can request their favorite dinner.  Christopher wanted a very Japanese meal, tonkatsu, which is breaded pork chops, usually deep fired but I do them on the grill, miso soup, rice and salad.  I also made a very Japanese dish, lots of Japanese vegetables and chicken thigh cooked in soy sauce, sweet wine and sake, very nice and warming.  Mikey wants Toad in the Hole, so I'll do that for him tomorrow.  Christopher prefers Japanese food, Mikey goes more for Western foods.

And we have snow.  We get a little flurry of about 30 minutes every year, that doesn't stick.  This year it's been snowing since Thursday night (it's Saturday afternoon now!) and it doesn't look like it is going to stop.  Hannah's school started on Friday but they sent a message that the school is closed, that means it is very bad as schools seldom close here!  David and Hannah just came back from the shop, it's a few minutes walk from here, of course David feel over!  And they had a snow ball fight!  Top temperature today is 1C, this in an area that gets up to 38C in summer, very extreme!

Near our house

Our Yard

Cats watching the snow

These two photos were taken at midnight but so much cloud the sky looks white

Cats keeping warm