Wednesday 17th October

The first of the family have arrived!!

It was a 6.45 am start for me to get to the airport and although I didn't drive that fast, I arrived a bit early so could have stayed in bed a bit longer. In the end I was waiting for around an hour before M&D came through. By the end of the night, I don't know who was more tired, me or them!

Today we have been out to Carrefour and Costco because there was nothing to eat so we have stocked up and little did they know, but I was also thinking about what I could buy to have in the house for C & S too.

Today was the first time I'd seen the new house without protective coverings over everything and it's looking really good, my classroom seems enormous and the red cupboard doors and office door look great. I'm really wanting to show it to M&D but will have to wait until Saturday night so they not only get the surprise at the house but also seeing everyone being there. I'm sure they have NO idea although I've almost let it slip so many times. I am totally stressed out having to watch what I say all the time.

A couple of photos of M&D eating noodles and also D standing beside some huge pumpkins in Costco.

Monday 15th October

Well it's been a pretty hectic weekend with one thing or another. I've more or less got the house into order and just need to wash the floors, clean toilets and shower room now. Trying to get everything that will go to the new house for C & S out of sight and into my office is proving the most difficult. I'm sure the people in the Company below me think I'm moving into my office not out of it!

The meeting yesterday went well and then 11 of us went out for dinner afterwards. I was sitting next to a male teacher from Kobe who I met at last years Expo and thought was really quiet but he was good fun. All the food came on big platters and he continually served Lisa and Michelle and I - reckon we all chose the wrong husband! It was so nice to pampered for a change! As is always the case, we all sat together with the Japanese teachers at the other end of the table. Usually it's just by chance but last night we 'planned' it that way! There are so few opportunities for us all to get together that we have to make the most of what we have.

Setsuo seemed to enjoy his trip to Hiroshima (he'll be going again with us lot next week!) although I haven't really had a chance to talk to him about it. Last night when I got home, he and K were on their way to bed and then he was already out before I got up.

K's baseball team won their match again yesterday 2-1 with K getting a home-run so he was a happy boy yesterday! It's just a pity I wasn't there to see it.

This morning when Setsuo and I went to see the house, we decided to ask the paperers to put wallpaper between the shelves of the bookcases as it just doesn't look good the way it is. We talked about it before but they said that it would probably start to peel a bit after a while but at least it will look good at the beginning. Today they are doing the stairs and then from tomorrow the cleaners will go in. Everyone has really worked hard to get it ready in time and I'm really grateful.

Friday 12th October

This morning I HAD to start making inroads into cleaning the house. Every day I've had great intentions of starting after dinner but once that time came, was too knackered to start. Last night was supposed to be the night we started for definite but both Setsuo and Ka didn't get back for dinner until well after 8pm and by the time the dishes were cleared I'd had 2 beers and couldn't be bothered! Anyway, this morning I did A's room so that we can sleep in that (M&D will have our room) and also washed out the fridge and from tonight it's just a case of cleaning the rest of the house. I'll be so glad when both Ka & K have their own rooms and can have the living room/dining room a bit tidier. I just have to train Setsuo to stop hanging his trousers on the curtain hook when he comes home! One thing is that we won't have window sills in the new place so I don't know what I'm going to do with everything that is on them now - there is only so much cupboard space so I'll have to get rid of some of it.

My visit to the dentist went okay and was pain free apart from some slight discomfort when he was working around a nerve. I can see me having a weekly 'date' with the dentist for a good few months to come though. This time I am determined to go once a month for 'maintenance' - the dentist's word not mine!!

This Sunday (14th), I have an English Teachers' Meeting in my classroom from 2 - 5 pm and then we will probably all go out for drinks/dinner later. Setsuo is away to Hiroshima tomorrow and will stay overnight. He is going for a reunion with the people he was in the Navy with so it will be good for him. Problem is, everything seems to be happening with the house this weekend and so I think he is a bit torn with wanting to go but wanting to make sure things go smoothly here. Two of the carpenters will come in on Sunday though so there shouldn't be any problems.

Thursday (2)

The photos are of the 3rd floor. The utility room outside bathroom, cupboard side of kitchen, stairways (minus the floor and hand rail coverings), tiles in entrances of both 2nd and 3rd floors, wall tiles in entrance to bldg.

Thursday 11th October

Well today there is good news in that the electrician has arranged for 2 friends to carry on the work so it will be finished on time. A big sigh of relief that I don't have to scrabble around trying to find hotels for everyone!

Everything else is going to schedule and it should all be finshed by the 18th - the day before C arrives, how's that for fine timing!

Here are a few photos that I took today. The red cupboard doors will go to another company to be repainted as they aren't the colour I was hoping for and also they look a bit streaky. I also wish that they had backed the bookcases with a white wood rather than the natural but it's a small point really and once the books are in, shouldn't be so noticeable. The bottom photo is the toilet in our house, the rest are of the classroom.

Must dash so that's all for now.

Wednesday 10th October

Well today it is a lovely day so I've been washing, washing & then washing!

When I was hanging it out, it felt like Autumn for the first time. It was nice and crisp but not so cold. The coolness didn't last long though and by mid morning I was sweating! I had to do the rounds of banks (paying in and paying out) and then I went back to the shop where I'd bought curtains the other day. K wanted blue ones for his room but there were so many different shades and designs that I bought a cheap pair of pale green to hang in the interim and we'll get him the blue ones when he has time to go and choose them himself. Ka wanted pink so we bought some for the same price (net curtains included in both sets) so she was easy. I also bought dark brown ones for our bedroom and nets to match but they were both expensive. I don't really like net curtains but it is so hot and sunny in the summer, you need something to keep the sun out. Anyway that was the first time around. Today I went looking for living/dining room ones and also I'd decided to get another long pair of the cheap light green ones so that once K has his own choice, we could use them in our room as a spare (we have 2 windows). I bought them and decided on a yellowish colour for the living room/dining room windows - 3 in all - and also bought another set of the dark brown ones we'd picked the other day so that if I get fed up of the colours in either our room or living area, we can change them around. I also went to a sports shop that was next door and bought two t-shirts and two pairs of trainers for me. The trainers were reduced from around 14,000 to 4,000 and 5,000 so even though I don't need them at the moment, I got a bargain!

Today the scaffolding and nets surrounding the building came down and so you can see it properly. It is definitely not the green I had envisaged but quite a nice shade of beige. So much for thinking we'd be going with a change of colour! It also looks very much like a building (as opposed to a house) but since we have two companies in it, there isn't a lot we can do about it.

It's so nice to know that I only have 2 lessons to teach today. Wednesday is so relaxing in comparison with Monday and Tuesday! Yesterday was my last nursery school lesson until Nov 6th and after next week, I will be off for 2 whole weeks - yeah!

On a much more depressing note, I have to go back to the dentist tomorrow.......

Tuesday 9th October

Another rainy day here which means there is a huge pile of washing either hanging in Ka's room or lying waiting to be washed. Hopefully tomorrow will bring better weather.

We've had rather a big set-back to the house - the electrician went to hospital by ambulance this morning because he couldn't speak properly so it could be a small stroke that he's had. I don't know what will happen if that's the case but there is a good chance that the house won't be ready for C & S's arrival. There was another guy helping him but it might be difficult for him to explain everything that's needing to be done and it's the most important part of the work that really needs to be done within the next few days. It's like dejavu from when we were building the house we are in just now - that time it was a different electrician who had heart problems! Anyway, if the house doesn't get finished in time, it doesn't. I'd hate it if the electrician became really ill just because we were impatient.

A bit later (midnight to be exact!)
It turns out that the electrician did have a mild stroke and will be in hospital for the next 3 weeks. Setsuo went to see him this evening and he was so apologetic (even crying) which made Setsuo, and then me in turn, feel really bad. What is a few weeks delay against being ill? He had phoned his friend to see if he would finish off the work before he even phoned the ambulance so maybe the friend will contact us tomorrow. To be quite honest, apart from the fact that everyone may have to stay in a hotel, I am not at all bothered about it since we will get there eventually. I have already told the students (and my landlord) that we will be moving at the end of the month but I can always postpone it. I feel so bad about it all.

Other news is that the toilets and sink units are already in and I prefer the colour of the sink unit (outside the bathroom) to that of the kitchen if I'm honest but that's a secret! I still don't like the toilet in our house - I didn't when we chose it, I preferred a different make but Setsuo wanted one made of ceramic so I went along with his choice for a change! It is an amazing toilet though - when you walk in, the lid lifts up automatically and the seat lifts at the push of a button (I think even the adults are going to have fun with it!!). It also does other things which have become very run of the mill here in Japan but for our visitors from overseas, it's going to be rather cool. If nothing else, you're going to have fun in the toilet!

At long last I have got rid of the two saddles, bridles and other horse-riding paraphanelia that has been in the boot of my car for the last 2 years! There is a space under the stairs in the entrance hall which we are supposed to be blocking off (building regulations) but I have put all of it in there before the 'wall' covering the door is put up. Once the building has 'passed the test' the wall will come down again and we will use it as a cupboard! It's such a shame to just block it off as there is a lot of cupboard space there. I can now go and collect Mum and Dad at the airport in my car too since I have the space for their luggage.

A went back to Tokyo this afternoon. We didn't really get to spend so much time together since I was teaching until late both yesterday and today but she'll be back next weekend with work and then again for the party on the 26th so it's not too bad. She managed to go out with friends on Sunday night so hopefully felt as if it was worth coming back.

Sunday 7th October

I'm totally, totally knackered today! Last night after a baseball meeting for all parents and coaches, 6 of us went out for a drink and it was another 12.30 affair. When I came home, I saw a pair of heels at the front door and thought it was L but got a shock when it was A - she had decided to come home and surprise us and it worked! It's the first of 3 times she'll be home this month. In 2 weeks time, she has to come to Osaka for work and then the following week she'll be here for the anniversary party so we're going to see quite a bit of her. L was supposed to be coming back today too but decided against it - I think she was partying last night too!

Last night at the pub one of the coaches was saying that K is doing really well and even he had goosebumps watching him pitch yesterday (the coaches were at the same place as us although sitting at a different table). Yesterday the score was 8-0 and then today they won again 1-0 against a team that had won one of the finals so they were a pretty tough team to beat. K has so much strength that when he is pitching well, the opponents have no chance of hitting the ball so can't even get to 1st base!!

This morning I went back to bed after seeing K off at 6.45 and woke at 8.30 to Setsuo ringing my mobile phone to tell me to go to the house to see what I thought about the colour the painters were doing the hall railings. I could have used some choice words about what I thought about being woken up but dutifully went and asked the painters to darken it a bit! After that we went and bought curtains for all the bedrooms (now we just need the curtain rails!) and then went looking at sofas. We found one we liked but had to come home to 'measure up' but went back later and bought a 3 seater and also a 2 seater. I was going to wait until nearer the time we moved but Setsuo insisted we have them so that everyone has somewhere to sit! It makes sense and we were lucky to find one we liked, I just didn't want to have to rush around and buy something we may not have really liked. We also bought 6 futon sets in the same shop so they will all be delivered on the 19th just after lunch time so hopefully we will be back from collecting C & Co in time. I also bought a big rug for the living room but we'll only use it there while everyone is over and then probably put it in the "guest" room since the dogs will have it smelling in no time. I'm not sure how long the sofas will last either since they are a dark beige leather but we'll at least try to keep the dogs off them although they'll no doubt have a field day while we are out the house.

Today I realised that my RED kitchen is not red but a dark rose pink colour, I don't know whether I'm relieved or disappointed but at least I like it! However, the classroom cupboard doors have been painted and they definitely are a vivid red and look really good. I'm having problems finding curtains I like for the classroom but I'll take my time and maybe find something. If not, I may just order the ones I found even though they were expensive.

All this having to make decisions is becoming tiring. At the beginning it was exciting but now I'll just be happy when it's all over. Between running from here to building to English Class I should be as skinny as a rake, but instead I'm continuing to put on weight. I'm sure everyone is going to be very surprised when they see me as I doubt I've never been this size for a good few years. I'll probably put on more while everyone is over but after that, I really have to do something about it or I'll never get into ANY clothes I have! Nights out with multiple beers is probably the biggest reason but at least they are fun!

Saturday 6th October

Just a very quick blog today to add the photos of the new kitchen which is part-way in and also some of the cupboards and doors on the 3rd floor. The kitchen is actually a bit redder than it appears on the photo.

Friday 5th October

Well I didn't quite make it home by 12pm (although 3 of us were trying!) but it was just half an hour later so that wasn't too bad. I ended up on the computer for an hour before going to bed so I was tired this morning. The nights are cool now so it's easier to sleep and harder to wake up - even for Setsuo who is usually up at the crack of dawn.

I managed to find time to go and get my hair cut this morning and had to fight to keep my eyes open. There must be something about having your head/hair touched that make you sleepy. K ALWAYS falls asleep at the barbers and today I could understand why. Anyway it's now quite short - shorter than I really wanted, but at least I won't have to go back for a while. On the way, I had to fight the urge to go and look at the kitchen. There are so many workers there at the moment and since the painters are doing the staircase/hallways I doubt I'd be very welcome. There is still a chance that Setsuo will call and ask about something or another so I may still go!

The big countdown is now on! There is only 10 days till Mum and Dad arrive, 13 until C & Co and 14 until S & Co. The paperer and the guy sealing the verandah have to finish before the air conditioners, sinks and toilets can go in, then it's time for the cleaners who have to finish before the carpet tiles in the classroom can go down, so they are also under pressure. I also only have 10 days to buy bedding, a few kitchen things like kettle, toaster etc, curtains and light fittings not to mention get our house into some kind of order - Yikes!! It's going to be one big panic! One thing I have managed to get done is to book Spike on 'his holidays' from the 16th until the 27th. We'll take him early morning on our way to the airport to collect M&D and then he will be delivered home after we've taken S & Co back to the airport on the 27th. Just hope he behaves for everyone after that or he will need to go for another week! It's such a shame because he is such a loving dog, just too over excited/protective of us all.

An hour later..........

Well I did go to the house (I knew I would!) and what a difference in just one day. Now all the doors are in as well as K & Ka's closet doors and the kitchen is a nice colour! I don't know what the whole thing is going to look like but at least I like the colour. The hallway is a yellow/beige (more yellow than beige) and looks quite nice too. The only thing that isn't so great is that the hood above the cooker comes out over a very small part of the window so I wonder what I'm going to do for curtains there. The windows were already in before we decided to alter our plans and move in so it can't be helped and it's a small price to pay I suppose. Another things is the doors we ordered for the toilet and room where you strip off before going into the bathroom have 3 squares of glass in them which look lovely but they are quite 'see-through' so I'm going to have to find some sort of sticker to put there to block the view. No problem when it's just family but........

A couple of complaints but all in all I'm happy about everything. The wallpaper was a really good choice - it's very plain but has a hint of colour to it so it is nice and warm looking whereas white would have been very stark. Considering it was a very quick decision, it was a good one! Once the painters have finished - I think they only have the banisters to paint now - I'll go and take some more photos.

Tuesday 2nd October

October - I can't believe it's already October! So many things to do and so little time..........

Since it was raining on Sunday, all the sports days were cancelled so all the local schools held them today. It must have been a real headache for parents trying to get the day off work at such short notice and I can just imagine most of the local offices/supermarkets etc working with only half of their staff! Setsuo took time off and I went with a short 'time-out' for my nursery school class and Setsuo's sister and brother-in-law were also there. Actually when I went in the morning, I saw half of my nursery school classes were also there so it must mean that a lot of them had brothers or sisters at the same school! It turned out that a lot of the kids had taken the day off so the nursery put the two classes together. It wasn't really a problem, but since I usually only plan for 30 minute lessons (ie 2x30 minutes) I had to come up with a 60 minute lesson on the spur of the moment but we managed! After the lesson was over I went back to the sports festival at watched until the end and then I had to go to the new building to finalise the colours for the hallway. It's always a pleasure to talk to the painter.

Well, it's now the 4th - I gave up half way through the last post and went to bed.

Today was my day at the dentist. It turns out that my tooth can be saved after all and all the rest weren't as bad as I thought. Today he drilled all the rotten part and has put medicine in to kill the nerve (I didn't think there was one since I've had no pain) and I'll go back again next week. I now have a lovely bright white 'filling' so can't afford to smile much! The anaesthetic started wearing off around lunchtime and it's uncomfortable but not that bad. Nowadays, they don't inject it, I think it was a 'rub in' type which just shows how long it's been since the last time (almost 5 years I'm ashamed to admit, and don't deserve to be getting off so lightly).

House-wise, the outside is now painted and it's a bit disappointing since I'd got geared up for a greenish colour whereas it's more brown. It's still a nice colour but not what I expected. A lot of the wall-papering is also done and the kitchen arrives tomorrow and should be finished by Saturday but I'm going to try to stay away until it's completely in! The sink units for both upstairs and down will go in next Tuesday. Last night I was trying to pick out curtain material to get them made in time for everyone being over but I've decided to use what I have in the house for Ka & K's bedroom. I'll need to buy for ours since we also have the balcony door to cover and we have ordered screens for the guest room, bathroom and utility. I'm getting pretty fed up with choosing things. It was great at the beginning but the novelty has worn off a bit. I saw some nice material that would look good in the classroom (I've decided to go with curtains) but since getting them made is expensive, I'll look in the shops first to see if there are any ready-made that I like although I doubt I'll find what I'm looking for.

Tonight we have a baseball meeting in my classroom from 9pm. The meeting usually takes around 30 minutes and then everyone drinks! Normally it would be okay but tonight I am determined to get back home by at least midnight. Last time it was 3am and I was like a zombie the next morning!

Photos of outside entrance hall

Finally I've been able to get the photos up. For some reason it took 4 attempts.

Anyway, the two photos are of the outside entrance and gives you an idea of what the tiles will look like. The opposite wall and inside will have a lot more tiles but that was all they had done by yesterday. The ceiling is a kind of stainless steel corrugated effect (Setsuo's choice) It was really hard to choose the the tiles because of the colour we'd picked for the outside - had we picked brown, there would have been hundreds of tiles that would have gone with the colour but since we chose the green, we were more limited. Still, we both like them which is unusual for us! I can hear the tilers working away and the painters are also here again and should be getting the outside ready to paint since it isn't raining today. The kitchen too should be going in by the end of the week which I'm looking forward to seeing.