Hospital Visit

 Today was the big check-up. Only once a year, thankfully but I'm exhausted from it!

Last September I thought I was finished with these check-ups.  With most cancers if you are clear after five years then you are considered cancer-free. But of course, I can't have normal cancer!  The cancer I had has to be monitored for 10 years.  Four more years to go!

The tests are not invasive.  The worst one is the mammogram.  I love how they swish your breast between plates, then say don't move.  It feels like if I move my breast would be ripped from my chest, so yeah, not moving! After that a CT scan, and echo scan.  One thing that impressed me is that they changed the technician doing the echo scan. For my stomach was a male technician but for my breast was a female technician. I'm old enough not to care but I think for younger patients it might help them to feel more comfortable.  

After the tests came the waiting.  I know that the system at this hospital is good.  All of the tests are done in-house, blood work, mammogram, CT scan, and echo scan are all handled in-house.  It takes about an hour for the tests to be done.  Seeing the first doctor was quick enough.  Everything is fine.  No change from last year, which is good.  I then had to go to the other doctor, the one for diabetes, that is where things didn't really work out. We were waiting for over half an hour.  No other patients were waiting so why the long delay?  I was getting dizzy as my blood sugar was dropping,  finally, we tracked down a nurse and asked what was happening.  

Anyway, all the numbers for my diabetes were okay.  The main number (I've forgotten what it's called) was down a bit but need to get it a bit lower to get off the medicine. My blood pressure is still too high, so I have to keep a record until my next appointment in September.

We were there (Christopher came with me) from just before 9am to 12:30!  This hospital is good, they keep the patients moving through the system but of course, sometimes things get mixed up!

I'm lucky because my afternoon was free so I could rest.  I can't believe how tired just hanging around made me!

Tomorrow is busy teaching and Friday back to the house!

 

Checked The Land

 Big mistake!  

We have about 16 pieces of land scattered around the area. I know of 11, I need to find out the other 5 pieces.

Yesterday David and I went to look at two pieces of land near the house. Totally overgrown.  The one is so bad that the driveway has gone! 

Where the small bush should be the driveway

The land opposite I really like. The view of the mountains is stunning.  I would love to have a house here but it's zoned as farming land so difficult to change. 

Totally overgrown

Beautiful view

In autumn it is really lovely.  We had persimmon trees on here, I would love to try to get them to have fruit again.

But I have so much on my plate with the house and the land there that I can't think about the other land at the moment.

We are still trying to get power and water on. It shouldn't be that hard!  David found what he thinks is the mains water but even he opened it full still no water.  I figured that it might be on a pump so no power no water. He called the electric company, and they sent somebody to check the meter. I hope next time we will have power and water.

I'm wondering what to do about all these ornaments my mother-in-law collected.  I don't think there is anything of value but it feels wrong just to dump them.  I need to get them out otherwise the house won't feel like mine.

I'm really feeling time pressure now.  It's June, and I want to be moved in by November.  But I don't know if I can do anything in the summer.  One idea is to get up early and do some before it gets hot.

On Sunday and yesterday I had a look around some furniture shops to get ideas.  I won't be able to buy anything until next year but just seeing what's available is good.  I will use what I have now but would love to replace some things.  Looking is free so it's okay!!!

Maybe....

 the last roast lunch for a few months!

I love a roast lunch.  I enjoy cooking and of course, eating.  The summer in Japan is too hot for a roast, lighter meals that don't need a lot of cooking are better!

So yesterday I made a nice roast lunch.

Thick-cut pork chops (the usual roast cuts aren't available, but these pork chops are nice), just a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and a bit of rosemary, slow cook in the oven.

I managed to get brussel sprouts (gorilla snot as the kids call them), they aren't my favorite vegetable but made a change from cabbage.  Carrots and peas, roast potatoes and gravy.

Last roast for a while, maybe

There's something nostalgic about having a roast on Sunday!  Reminds me of Sundays growing up!!

Mama seeing what's for lunch

.

Dinner was a typical Japanese summer dish.  Cold soba noodles (buckwheat noodles).  Topped with omelet, ham, tomato and cucumber.  It was nice and light.  I like this but get fed up with it after a few weeks.  The Japanese summers are so intense that trying to cook is nearly impossible.  Just standing near the stove top feels as if you are in a furnace!  Quick cook noodles or salads are the best but get rather monotonous after a month or so!  Since it is still the beginning of the summer I can enjoy these flavors. I'm looking for new ideas!

Soba noodles with toppings and dipping sauce

June

 If you have read any of my posts from the past few years you will know that June is full of many emotionally triggering days.

My husband's birthday is next week. A very bittersweet day for me. I want to celebrate his birth but at the same time, I still miss him.  It's hard to imagine what he would be like now.

The end of the month, my Mom passed away. She would be 84 now, 20 long years since she passed. 

Also, June is when I had my cancer and mastectomy.  Six years ago.  I still have to see the doctor for another 4 years!

And the month that our lovely dog Lucky passed away.

It's also halfway through the year.  I'm wondering if I have fulfilled or at least made a start on any of the goals I set for this year.  What can I change or do to make the rest of this year fruitful?

Then there is the weather.  The end of June and the beginning of July is the rainy season.  The past few years the rainy season has become a time of disasters.  What used to be gentle rain is now torrential rain that doesn't help to water the ground but rather washes away the good topsoil.  There are floods almost every year and landslides.  The house we are moving to is at the base of a mountain that has had a few landslides over the past 15 years or so.  So far none have been close to the house but it is a worry.  After the rainy season is my least favorite time of year.....summer!!

This year I have decided to look for good things in this month!  I've asked some of my students to tell me what is good about June!

Today has started off good.  David's sickness was caused by him having toothache!  It's not good that he has toothache but at least it's something that is treatable. Apparently his tooth suddenly started to hurt while he was working, and being very tired made him throw up.  He found a dentist nearby and made an appointment.  He didn't really note the name or address of the dentist, just the general area.  He said that when he was driving he noticed that there are many dentists with similar names. He went into 5 different ones before he found the one that he had made the appointment at!  I think he is having a root canal, so a few more appointments, but he is okay now.

Selfie on my phone

If I leave my phone lying around David takes selfies and sends them to Hannah!

The other good thing is that Mikey has a paid magic show today.  He has another one later in the month.  I hope that he can get a few more and he can start to make some money from this!

I really hope to find good things to write about. I need to be more positive. I can't change what has happened but I can make changes now for a better future!

May

 May started terribly, got a bit better but ended on a low note!

The first 10 days or so of May were awful for me.  I had shingles and thought I was dying.  The pain was so intense.  The worst part was that I couldn't lie down.  Standing eased the pain, sitting was tolerable but lying down was the worst. I honestly wondered if I could sleep standing up.  Time and heavy painkillers got me through that. By the time I had recovered the holiday that I had at the beginning of May was finished. That upset me as I had plans.  We try to go to the other house two or three times a week but because we have classes in the afternoon and evening we can only do a few hours. I had planned to spend at least two full days there. Also, I wanted to sort some stuff here, start throwing out things we no longer need, and pack up other things.  For most of the holiday, I had planned on doing nothing, just relaxing, reading, watching TV, and, at most preparing some lessons.  When I first got sick I thought I could at least read, but the pain was so bad that I couldn't concentrate. I watched a lot of stuff on YouTube but again found it hard to concentrate.

I think I was lucky that the shingles I had was rather mild. I don't think I could have dealt with a stronger case.  I've recovered okay but still feel very tired.  I guess that will take time to feel 100%.  I stopped exercising and haven't really gotten into it again. I do a bit of stretching at night but haven't started doing the videos I was using before.  That's my next goal.

The middle of the month saw me playing catch up. One thing I had planned to do was to wash all the heavy blankets and get them put away.  The weather didn't help with that!  It has rained a lot! I've managed to get most done but still a few more to go!  

At least at the other house I could get one room completely cleaned out and the large furniture in the other room moved out.  I hope in June to get things cleaned and then start thinking about what we can afford in the way of reforming.  The one thing we must do is get the toilet situation sorted out.  Other things we can do as we have money.   

The past few days have been hard for Hannah.  Last November she did her one-month teacher training. The feedback she got from the teachers there was very positive.  They pointed out where she could improve, her voice isn't very strong, so she needs to work on that.  But over all the teachers were impressed with the level of professionalism she showed.  When she got her grades she got a 'C'.  She was rather puzzled by this. Her friend who was at the same school was late one time, didn't hand in her report on time and had other problems but she got a 'B'.  Hannah also got a 'C' on her lessons that she did at university, again no explanation as to why they are marking her so low.  The feedback from the students and teachers was again positive.  She spoke briefly to the teacher yesterday, who said the low mark was to encourage her.  I told her to go again.  She is confused, she doesn't understand where she went wrong and what she needs to do to improve.  The teacher said that during her training she didn't communicate with the students but the homeroom teacher praised her and said that Hannah helped a lot to keep the class together.  The homeroom teacher wanted Hannah to stay.  Also, Hannah received a card from the students saying that they really enjoyed having her in the class. If she hadn't communicated with the students they would not have written such positive messages for her.

At the same time, Hannah is having pain in her right hand. She's left-handed so we couldn't figure out why she was having pain in her right hand.  She thinks it might be because of using her phone too much. She has to go to the doctor if it doesn't resolve itself.

Then this morning David came home early from work. He's been sick, throwing up.  

What a way to end the month.  And we all know how hard June is for me!!

Mikey and Sam

Mikey fell asleep on the sofa.  I like that they have the same pose!!

Finally

 Big Drum Roll

I got one room cleaned out at the other house.  I can see some progress!

Still a lot to do.  Still a lot of problems but having a room done is a big achievement. I never thought I would get this far.

First room

This room is the larger bedroom, the one I'll be using.  I want to get a small sofa bed for Hannah to use when she comes to visit. I can finally start to see what I can do in the house, see myself living there, and plan what to do with the rooms.

View from the room

The land next to us is empty at the moment but there is a possibility that houses will be built there.

We are still having problems with the water not being turned on.  I need to find the water meter because the main water switch will be there as well. But I have no idea where it is. I looked around for about half an hour but couldn't see it. I have the basic house plans but no schematics for water or electricity.  

And the bees are back.  Not that many but the area will need to be spayed again.

This morning was good.  Didn't do as much as I would have liked but got something done.

I guess just keep on doing bit by bit.

 

Money

 Again we are struggling. Even with the kids working, Mikey 3 jobs, Hannah two, David night shift, 12 midnight to 9am and Christopher at the local supermarket and whatever freelance writing he can pick up we still are struggling.  

There is never anything left at the end of the month. We can't buy anything, my shoes are falling to pieces, I got my hair cut but couldn't afford a color.  We all need new clothes for the summer but have no idea how to afford them.  I feel guilty because I spent a fortune at the doctors this month because of shingles.  The only luxury we have are the cats.  There is nothing saved for the other house.  I know once we move there I'll be saving the rent but half of that will be spent on renting the community center to teach and gas to go back and forth.  The rest will go to pay off loans. 

We haven't had any new students these past few months, no calls nothing. Part of that is I feel everyone is struggling.

I don't understand economics.  I read about what is happening but I don't understand.  But I see what is happening around me.

The minimum wage where we live is 692 yen, that's about 3.45 pounds.  To put it in context a litre of milk is between 100 yen and 200 yen, 10 eggs cost 170 yen, bread is 150 yen for 6 slices.  Chicken breast is 70 yen for 100 grams, and pork is about the same.  I shopped on Monday, bought some meat, vegetables, fruit, and milk, three bags of groceries cost just over 9000 yen,  44.90 pounds.  That was just enough for two days!!

Japan imports 94% of its raw materials for energy and 62% of its food.  With the yen getting weaker that means prices will go up. Plus there is a 10% tax on everything!  

The government keeps on about the aging population, which is a real problem.  The pension is too small to live on, so many old people keep working, taking the place of young people.  Even though my mother-in-law paid into the system from 17 years old she only got 50,000 yen a month (about 250 pounds).  Until she was hospitalized when she was about 80 years old she had to work.  The welfare officer told me that my mother-in-law had diabetes because her diet was so poor.  The problem was she could only afford carb-heavy foods. Meat, fish, fruits and vegetables were very few and far between.  This is the plight of many elderly people, no real pension, no savings, and no real income. 

Welfare as it is understood in the UK doesn't exist here. Your family is expected to help you out.  A few months ago I was struggling to pay our national insurance so I went to the city hall to see if something could be done.  The first question I was asked was if the kids could help. I explained that they were helping but we had a lot of new things to pay for because of moving. I was then asked if our relatives could help out, I explained that we have no relatives here.  Only after that did the officer make inquiries to see what help I could get.  

I really don't see what my future will be. I have to put a lot of money into the house, no choice. I would love to have money to travel but that is becoming more and more a dream!  

I got so desperate that I set up a GoFundMe account but the site only has PayPal or Bitcoin as its payment options.  I chose PayPal, but the site says they have problems with it in Japan!  They suggested that I use Bitcoin!! I don't know anybody who has Bitcoin and I have no idea how to use it!  

Fluffy on a tray

Just a daft picture to catch your attention!