The lovely rain I was talking about yesterday turned into an awful thunderstorm last night. It went from a nice, gentle rain to a torrential downpour in a couple of hours.
This morning I had a tornado warning on my phone! It's still raining now; that's over 24 hours of almost continuous rain. Plus, more rain is forecast for tonight and tomorrow.
Mikey had to take Hannah back today. He doesn't mind the drive; it's about 50 minutes to one hour one way. But he was worried because of the rain. All the different routes to Hannah's have underpasses. These are railway bridges; the road under the bridge dips a lot. Some are shallower, but all are hazardous when there has been heavy rain. Cars can get trapped there; it's difficult to judge how deep the floodwater is. During one of the awful rainstorms in the summer, a 60-year-old woman died because her car stalled in an underpass; she couldn't open the doors, and her car flooded. The news showed that the car was flooded up to the roof. I know that the underpasses where we live have warning signs as you approach them to be careful during heavy rain. In some areas, there is no other way into the city without using an underpass. Not the best city planning!
Hannah stayed for a few days; she enjoyed playing with the cats. She gets spoiled by her older brothers; they buy snacks and groceries for her. I've enjoyed having everyone at home the past few days; it's nice, but I know that sooner or later they will all move on. That's as it should be, but without Hisao, it is going to get lonely! For now, when we can all get together, I focus on just enjoying the banter and teasing, the laughs and deeper conversations that go on!
Hannah took this photo during the thunderstorm. Mama and Alfie found a box to curl up in!
It's raining; it's been raining since this morning, and it looks like it will continue for a few days. Am I the only one who's happy about this weather?
It's not the dangerous, flood-inducing type of rain, just a constant, steady downpour, and it's very cool! So refreshing after the stifling heat and humidity we've had this summer. Over the past couple of weeks, it has cooled down, especially at night, but the days are still getting up to 30℃!
I feel a lot better with my back and neck problems; the painkiller is strong enough that I actually got a good night's sleep and could make a decent lunch without feeling faint because of the pain.
I made a big pot of soup. No name to this soup, no recipe, just throw in what's in the fridge and hope for the best- my favourite kind of soup.
My no-name soup.
I also put out stuff for sandwiches, including corned beef.
In England, corned beef is normal; I remember having corned beef sandwiches a few times a month. Here in Japan, it's hard to get. It usually comes in these tiny tins, about 80grams, just enough for one small sandwich. I was so happy to find a normal-sized one in a supermarket near where Hannah lives last week.
I think I'll have to go to visit Hannah more often, just to buy corned beef!
The rest of the afternoon I've been reading and dozing! I've enjoyed today, but I don't think I could spend every day not doing things.
Tomorrow Hannah is going back to her apartment. She's been here for a few days; it's nice having her home. She loves to play with the cats; she has the energy to chase them around, which is good for them!
Next week is back to work; I've had a nice holiday. I got to go somewhere, which really helps. I don't like this house. I work so hard to keep it clean, but it never feels finished; there's always something that needs doing.
I'm going to have a nice cup of tea and read a bit more!
I seem to be spending a lot of time going to the doctor this year!
This time, it was because of the severe pain in my back.
I have a herniated disc in my neck. Most of the time, it's uncomfortable, especially when using the computer for a long time. For the past 10 days, however, it's been so painful that I can't sit or move my neck. The pain is in my neck and down my left shoulder.
Then, to add to my misery, my lower back started to hurt, especially after standing for a while; even washing a few dishes has been hard this week.
The clinic I went to today opened recently; it was my first time going there. Everything is very new; somehow, that was nice.
They recommended a bone density test. The test was simple: I just lay on a bed while a machine scanned my body. The results were surprisingly good. Compared to people the same age, my bone density is 120% better.
That was the good news. My X-rays showed a very deformed neck structure. It's curved to the right. I was prescribed some painkillers. I hope they work, as the next step is an injection.
I was offered electrical stimulation therapy to help with the pain. The two young therapists were trying to figure out how to explain to me what they were going to do; they didn't realise that I could understand them until I started laughing at their attempts to find the right English words! Actually, I was surprised at how much English some of the staff had; they weren't fluent, but they tried. I never expect people to speak English; this is Japan, and I should use Japanese, but it's always a nice feeling when people try!
I have to find some kind of exercise to help my neck and lower back. I'm tired of being in pain. Some gentle stretches to start with; then, as I feel better, I can do more. I want to be healthy!
While I was at the clinic, Mikey had a magic show for one of the nurseries he teaches at. Hannah went with him to take photos, so now I have loads of photos of Mikey!
After we wandered around the part of the shrine, we were planning on going up to the main part, by elevator, but when I looked up, I realised that even with the elevator, there were a lot more stairs and walking than I could handle.
Instead, we found a lovely, quiet Japanese garden to wander around; there weren't many people there, so it was very quiet. There were a lot of beautiful plants and flowers, but I think the best season would be in the spring for the cherry blossoms.
At the entrance of the garden.
Hannah looks very grown up.
We then left the shrine complex and had a walk down the shopping street. We were hoping to find a restaurant, but there were only souvenir shops.
Hannah did a quick search for local restaurants; we like teishoku, set-meal restaurants. The set meal is a main dish, rice, soup, salad and pickles. Hannah found one that had good reviews just a few minutes' drive from the shrine.
Small, friendly restaurant.
It was already one o'clock by the time we got there. I didn't think it would be busy, but it was almost full.
We were seated in a small room, off the main dining room. It was nice and private and a bit quieter than the main dining area.
There was a choice of main dishes, all very tempting!
I had a hamburger; Mikey had deep-fried pork cutlet, tonkatsu; Christopher had mixed fry; and Hannah had a donburi dish- I think it was eel!
My meal.
Mikey's meal.
Hannah's meal.
I didn't get a photo from Christopher!
On Mikey's tray, there is an orange dish that was almost raw chicken, called Toriashi in Japanese. It was offered with our meals as well, but we changed it for a drink. I can eat raw fish, but the idea of raw meat or chicken makes me ill!
We all enjoyed our lunch, but it was very filling. I was so stuffed I didn't eat again until after 10 o'clock.
The fortune that I bought at the shrine was very interesting. It said that the time is right for business people to start a new business, and that I'll be blessed with money luck. I hope so!
Today is the last day of Silver Week, unfortunately my back is very painful; just making breakfast and obento this morning was hard. I always judge how bad my back is by how long I can stand. If I can stand for over an hour before the pain starts then I'm okay. This morning, however, I was in pain after just 10 minutes; by 20 minutes, I had to sit down. I guess tomorrow I'm back to the doctor!
We have a few days' holiday this week, Silver Week. Usually, I don't go out during these holidays as everywhere is so busy, but I really wanted to see something different. I think I wanted to refresh myself, reset my thinking, and have a chance to relax away from the stress of this house.
Mikey, Christopher and Hannah went with me to this shrine; David had to work!
We picked up Hannah, then drove about an hour to the shrine. Most of the drive was through beautiful countryside, small towns and villages. Very laid-back feeling.
I don't know the name of these birds, but I see them a lot.
Japan is a country of real contrasts: massive cities with incredible services, open plains of farmland and then mountains, everywhere! Japan is 70% mountains, so seeing these massive open areas is always amazing.
It was a bit windy; I loved watching the rice ripple as the breeze went over it!
We were stuck at traffic lights.
Just before the intersection was a level crossing, which came down. I thought it would be a normal commuter train, but it was a special sightseeing train. These are very popular here in Kyushu, and maybe in other parts of Japan as well. These trains are about the journey, not the destination. This one goes along the coastline at a slower speed. Something I would like to try one time!
I noticed a few of these little statue things near schools and where kids cross busy roads. I thought it was a very cute idea.
To warn motorists that kids are crossing here.
You can't see in the photo, but in the back there are little flags that the kids hold up as they are crossing. There's one of these statues on either side of the road, so the flags are left where they will be needed.
These massive columns were on the road as we got close to the shrine.
There was one on either side of the road.
We found an interesting place in the parking lot!
Within the red structure is a place to remove evil spirits from your car. I'm guessing that you would have to make an appointment for a priest to come and do some ceremony. I thought it was an interesting idea.
The shrine was massive. We didn't get to see everything, but what we did see took over an hour!
From the parking lot.
The bridge.
I didn't realise that they had to look into the sun!
There's a small river with a bridge over it to enter the shrine.
The view from the bridge.
The torii gates to enter
The entrance
As you approach the gates, you stop and bow. There are two gates, so you have to stop twice.
Then there's the place to wash your hands and mouth.
There was a good English explanation of this ritual cleansing.
I couldn't get a good photo as there were so many people.
You are supposed to pour water into your hand to rinse your mouth. I didn't bother with that part; somehow the idea of rinsing your mouth and spitting out in public turns my stomach.
We went into one of the main areas. It was very beautiful. Over another small bridge, the stream had Koi fish in it!
Beautiful Koi fish
This was part of the gate to the shrine area.
The colours are so lovely and vibrant.
When we entered the area where one of the altars is, I was surprised at the noise. There are thousands of wind chimes; with the lovely breeze, they made an amazing noise.
Not only a lovely noise, but also very beautiful to look at.
We had to wait to take photos as it was a very popular spot.
There was also an old-fashioned cart on the ground.
The workmen were erecting a bamboo fence around it.
Also, a couple of statues of horses.
As you can see, I'm trying to hide behind Hannah!
The kanji says horse, but I don't know what that has to do with the shrine. Inari shrines are associated with foxes, rice, household well-being, business prosperity and general prosperity. Other Inari shrines I've visited have had statues of foxes. I'll have to see if I can find out why there are horse statues at this shrine.
I thought I could write up everything today, but there are still a few more things to write about: a lovely Japanese garden, lunch and the fortune I got!
I have a class, so I had better get ready!
Come back tomorrow to see if the fortune I got was good or bad!
I recently found out that a lady I worked with many, many years ago passed away. Apparently, she has been sick for a while.
I'm saddened by her passing, but it has made me stop and think about my life and health. My friend was in her early 70s, so if she had been sick for a while, she might have started to get sick at the age I am now. That's a very sobering thought.
My Mom passed away at the age I am now, just 64 years old, but she did smoke and never ate very healthy. My Dad is 88 years old and now in a care home. I'm not sure what is happening with him, but he keeps having bleeds in the brain, which I guess, at his age, some kind of health problems are to be expected. Looking at my parents, is it just DNA that one had a long life and the other a short life, or do lifestyle, exercise, eating healthy and being social play into longevity? It's something I wonder about.
My health isn't great but it isn't that bad. I'm still struggling with my weight, but I'm still not consistent in my efforts. I know this is a mental/emotional problem. I see food as comforting, especially sweets, chocolate, bread, any kind of bread, etc. I know they aren't comforting; I know that eating them doesn't help at all, but it's so hard to resist, especially when life throws curveballs! David made me laugh; we were watching Star Trek when the Borg attacked. Their line is "We are the Borg; resistance is futile." A few days later, David came home with some cakes; he put them on the table and said, "We are the sweets; resistance is futile". So true!
I need to get a grip. I'm not getting any younger, but there are still so many things I want to do.
One thing that I realised the other day when I was talking to one of my students is that my thinking about my age is really stuck in what I learnt as a child. When I was growing up, women retired at 60; it was as if their lives were over and they were just waiting to die, just keeping house, going to bingo, maybe dropping in on friends for a cup of tea and a chat. A sad life somehow; the best years were gone. Now, however, I'm reading about ladies who are starting again at 60, going for adventures, trying things that they didn't have time for when they were younger. I want to have this mindset.
These are just some of the thoughts that have been chasing around in my head, plus ideas for new designs; no wonder I can't sleep!
Sorry, just rambling here. So many thoughts, so many things that I should be doing! Can you believe I got distracted by a dirty floor? I went to ask David to hang the laundry. I noticed that near the back door, the floor looked stained; as I got closer, I noticed that the cats had been peeing there. When I opened the door, the bottom of the door frame and the outside step smelled really bad. I got some very hot water, a scrubbing brush and cloths. David did the outside while I worked on the inside, plus I wiped down the cupboards. I wasn't planning on doing that, but I'm glad that I got it done!
I hope to go out tomorrow! Let's hope the weather will be good!
In May, we have Golden Week, a few days of national holidays that run consecutively. It's one of the busiest holidays for many Japanese people. I actually don't enjoy going anywhere, even shopping, as it gets crazy busy.
September also has a few holidays, and every few years they run consecutively. This year is one of those years. These holidays are called Silver Week.
This year, Respect for the Aged Day falls on September 21st. September 23rd is Autumnal Equinox Day, and the day between becomes a Citizens' Holiday, extending the holiday period.
This isn't an annual event; these holidays happen every year but don't line up like this very often. The next one will be in 2032.
I'm hoping that the weather will be nice on Monday, as I want to visit a shrine in Saga Prefecture.
The forecast is for cool, cloudy weather, but that was the forecast for today, and it's been raining almost all day!
There's a lot to be done at home, but I think I need a day away. I know I go out every week, but that's for work; I just need to see somewhere different. The house is a mess; it smells bad. I keep cleaning, but with nine cats in a small area, it's really difficult to keep it as clean as I would like. I'm totally stressed by the mess; every day I clean, I do the floors constantly. Because the cats have been sick, I've had to clean up cat vomit many times every day. It's not the usual vomit; I think their throats are irritated, and they are spitting up mucus (I hope you aren't eating as you read this, sorry!). I know there's no choice, but it is now getting to me.
I'm determined to get this house sorted. I know part of the problem is that my health and energy levels aren't that good, but if I don't try, it will never be a nice place to live. David and Christopher help when they have time, but with them working 5 days (or nights) a week, they don't have that much time. Also, I don't want them to be just working and then doing housework; they should help, but they need some free time as well! I let them do the jobs I can't do, anything that is too heavy for me, especially in the garden.
Yesterday I was playing with Google Photos. You can create different images with your photos!
This is the original photo.
This is what Google Photos came up with
The black-and-white one is weird; it doesn't look like Hannah. The painting one is nicer!
