It's been busy, busy, busy.

Saturday 22nd was a working day and then I got the classroom ready for the party on the 23rd. I had seperated it into morning and afternoon but on reflection, could have had it all in the one go since there would have been plenty of room. The morning one went fine but most of the rowdy kids had opted for the afternoon party so they were a handful and I'm definately having it at a restaurant next year (although surprisingly there was no juice or cake spilt).

The 24th was a mad dash to get all the present shopping done although it was okay in the end. Aya and Lisa got an i-pod touch each as well as other bits and pieces and Keita got various games and baseball things plus I bought a Wii Fit which was really for the whole family but since he had less presents to open, I pretended that it was for him! Kana had just asked for books, a game, a DVD and a blanket so she got those and other bits plus she will need a lot of stuff for going to NZ too. Setsuo and I had decided not to buy each other but I bought him a pair of slippers anyway. Thank you Mum and Dad for all of yours too.

On Christmas Day, we were all on holiday except for Setsuo so just took our time waking up (that was my best xmas present!!) and then just after lunch time, we opened all the presents. Setsuo went back to work for a while and then came home to go out for dinner at 5.30pm. We went back to the Hilton Hotel again but after going for so many years in a row, I think it's time for a change. Hopefully we can find somewhere else by next year if M&D do decide to come over for xmas.

The rest of the time, I've been getting things organised (bankwise) in Setsuo's office and trying to buy some food bits for new year. It's been quite nice not to have to rush around but just thinking about New Year, Kana's preparations and the move is putting a damper on the holiday. Not to mention Setsuo is walking around with his face tripping him - I know he's been busy at work, but it seems like we all have to be affected by it too.

Poor Lisa is getting more and more bored as the days go by since she can't do very much. She even wanted to come food shopping with me today! It's a shame for her, but nice for me to be able to spend some time with her alone. It's doubly bad for her since Aya is out most days/nights, off gallivanting with her friends which must be like rubbing salt into a wound. Surprisingly they are getting on quite well this time - long may it last as it's like walking on eggshells when they don't.

I'll post some photos of xmas day once I'm back in the office.

Last night we all met up here at 9pm and it took all of 10 minutes to get everything bagged for the baseball party! After that it was the usual drinking/talking but we managed to leave by just before 12pm so it wasn't too bad. Tonight is definitely an early night!

Before I left to go out, Lisa phoned to say that while she was at her part time job, during the break she had been sitting with her legs underneath her so her foot had gone to sleep and when she went to stand up, she heard a crack and her foot started to swell. Someone took her home and then a friend took her to the hospital. It turns out that she has whats called 'hakuri kossetsu'. 'Kossetsu' means break but 'hakuri' means 'to peel away' so I'm not exactly sure what it is although she now has a cast from just below the knee to her foot! The doctor said it usually takes between 4 and 6 weeks to heal so I don't think she'll be getting dressed up in her kimono for the 'coming of age' ceremony in January! Just as well we have already had the photos taken.
I was going to cancel the Christmas dinner at the hotel but Lisa said she'll manage as long as we all go and get her food for her. She was going to be coming home on Sunday anyway but it now means that one of us will have to go and collect her (for me after the party or Setsuo, after work).

Today Setsuo took me to pick up all the bags of treats for the party and I also bought about 16 2L bottles of juice so I think we are all set apart from the cakes.

Keita and his friend met up and have decided that unless there are any new options later on, they will go into the local team. A bit of a relief all round (although I think Riku's father was pushing for the boarding school option).

Keita went to the school and as has been happening lately, they were keen for him to join BUT he would need to take the entrance exam so it looks like that school has to be crossed out too! We all met up again in the classroom to see what the coach had to say but we still don't have many options. He is still keen for them to somehow get to the school in Ishikawa (3.5 hrs away by car and they need to have somewhere to live into the bargain). We were really going around in circles so we've decided to let Keita and Riku decide what they want to do ie try to find a homestay and go to the school furthest away or stay at this local school and join the local team and then start looking for a good senior high school. I already know that Keita doesn't want to live away from home - and who would expect a 12 year old to say otherwise - so our decision is basically made. I know the coach wants to keep the two of them together if possible but it all depends on what Riku wants to do. The kids will 'meet' tomorrow afternoon to talk it out and then we'll get back to the coach with what they say.

Other than that, there is nothing much to report. Tonight some of the baseball mothers will meet here at 9pm to get the bb xmas party presents sorted out and I'm praying everyone will go home early! I am so tired with rushing around and could really do with an early night but I have my doubts that I'll get it tonight. Tomorrow morning it's back to the dentist.....

Yesterday I tried to upload a couple of pictures and wrote a whole load about the weekend but for some reason I couldn't get it to upload and finally gave up trying. Success today! The top one is my 3 youngest students (all just turned 4), middle and bottom ones from Keita's match on Sunday.

A quick recap of the weekend:
On Saturday I went out with the other mothers and had a good night. My friend and I decided we would DEFINITELY leave by 12pm and surprisingly we managed! In fact, everyone left at the same time. So saying we had all had quite a lot to drink and the next morning I didn't feel that great (I later found out it was probably a stomach bug that is doing the rounds and not just the after effects of booze).

On Sunday we went to a baseball match which was over an hours drive away and way up a mountain so it was freezing and also raining at one point. It was a proper stadium where all the kids names were up on the scoreboard and each player was announced over the loudspeaker. If you look at the photo, Keita's name is on the left hand side, under the number 4 (and the number 1 which is his number). On our team, Nomiyama is the only name with 3 chinese characters so it stood out a bit. None of the kids were in very good form though so it wasn't too surprising when they lost the game and also the chance to advance to the quarter finals. Once we got home and had something to eat, Keita also came down with a sore stomach and so was off school yesterday.

He was also off today too so that the coach could take them to the other school. This morning Riku was supposed to come to our house around 9.30 and the coach was going to collect both of them at 10 but at 8.30 his mum phoned to say that he'd caught the bug and couldn't leave the toilet so I thought the coach might cancel but he said he was still going to go with just Keita. Keita wasn't very happy at the thought of having to go alone but off he went albeit nervous. Once they left, I went off to the nursery for my English class and when I was finished I checked my phone and saw that the coach had tried to phone me twice. Turns out that Keita hadn't taken a blank ball (to be signed) so they came all the way back for it (I hadn't heard anything about needing to take the ball). Setsuo said there was another guy in the car too and I think it was the Manager of the University Baseball team (the school they are going to today also has a senior high school and a university attached). I don't know what time they'll be back but I doubt it'll be very late. Poor Riku, he was the one who was most keen to go.

Christmas preparations are proving almost impossible to get done. I've ordered the cake and snack bags for the party and bought sweets, paper plates etc but still need some other bits and pieces. On Sunday, my friend helped to bag the presents so at least on the party front, things are progressing slowly. I just wish things were going as well on the home front. I have absolutely nothing bought - not even xmas cards - and have decided that the 24th will be our shopping day. Hopefully Aya, Lisa and Kana will all come with me. Once Christmas is over, it's time to start getting Kana organised for going to New Zealand and again there will be a lot of shopping needing to be done. Somehow in amongst all that, I have also to find time to go through cupboards and try to pack as much as possible. Woh is me!

Today I've had quite a lazy day because my dentist appointment was at 11.30 am and I decided not to come into the office at all this morning. Sometimes I wonder why I'm always here at 9am since I don't really do that much, I suppose it's just because I am able to do nothing whereas if I'm in the house I feel as if I should be doing something.

After the dentist appointment, I went and did the shopping and also bought a packed lunch for Setsuo, his father and I. (His father is desperately waiting for his pension to arrive so I've had to give him money every couple of days to tide him over. I don't mind doing it, but if we give him a lot at the one time, he just ends up buying loads and then can't eat it before it goes off.)

After lunch, I had the year-end meeting with Keita's teacher and was surprised to hear that his average test score is around 85% for all subjects. I knew he was good at maths, japanese and sports but didn't realise he was doing so well in social studies and science. So saying, if you look at all the kids test scores, he is still basically average! In all the 6 years he has been at the school, his grades have never really changed - here it is 3, 2, 1 (equivalent to ABC) and he has mostly got all 2's with an odd 3 now and then - usually for sports or crafts! Anyway, his teacher sang his praises and showed me what Keita had written for the graduation album - all about his dreams to become a professional baseball player which didn't surprise me much.

On another note, Lisa phoned this afternoon to ask if I would pay for her ticket to Spain in the spring holiday. I didn't say yes or no which was just as well because in the next breath she also told me that she thinks she won't have got all the credits she needs for University this year although it won't mean repeating a year. She was worried because we'd said that if she didn't work hard enough, she wouldn't be able to keep her flat - we'd make her come back home to live. If it is the case (that she doesn't get what she needs) then maybe it will make her work a lot harder next year or even for the remainder of this year.

Meanwhile Aya has handed in her notice at work but will work until her contract is finished in March. Her boss is away in the UK for a month so still doesn't know but I think Aya is quite relieved that she's finally got it out in the open. She is still wanting to go back to the UK but I don't know if she has any idea of what she wants to do when she gets there! Now we have to try to think of where to put all the stuff that was bought for her moving to Tokyo - fridge, cooker etc.

Tomorrow I'm off out for a year end party with some of the baseball mothers and then it's Setsuo's company's one the following Saturday (which is also the day Aya will come home and I'll finish teaching for the year). I'm looking forward to all of them.

Thursday, 13th December

As you can see from the photos, I got the Xmas tree up and another few decorations too. I should have added an extra set of lights (I only used 2) but it should be okay. Hopefully Setsuo will come and put some hooks in the ceiling so that I can add the hanging Santas as well because it looks a bit dull compared with previous years. Because I'm not supposed to be in the building yet, I've not put lights up at the windows which would really make all the difference.

Last night I got a phone call from Keita's friend's mum to say that the coach had phoned. This time he wants to take them to another school about 1 hour away. It's a lot nearer but the catch is that it's one of the top schools with really high academic standards so I doubt if Keita (and from what his mum said, Riku too) would get in and even if they did manage it somehow, I think they would really struggle with the work and maybe end up disliking school because of it. I've said that I don't mind him taking (another) day off school to go but haven't asked Keita yet. He really dislikes being absent from school and so may not even want to go. The coach is supposed to be phoning again tonight to say what day he wants to take them so I'll need to ask Keita what he wants to do.

Yesterday I went and transferred money to what will be Kana's bank account in New Zealand and then today I had to do the same for the insurance for her. It was 142,000 for the 11 months but at least if anything happens like it did with Lisa, she'll be covered. I have a feeling that I'll get off much lighter regarding spending money this time around since she will be in the country and when I looked on the internet, there isn't even any public transport in the town so I hope she gets on with her host family or she will be up the creek!

Today is another light teaching day and I especially like the last class - it's a group of girls who have (mostly) been coming since I started up again and they are a joy to teach.

Wednesday 12th December

After posting about Bingo yesterday, he seems to have perked up just a little so I've put off going to the vet.

When I typed in the date for this blog, the fact that Christmas is just around the corner and I've yet to do anything about it suddenly hit me! I haven't even put up the Christmas tree in the classroom yet although had planned to do it this morning/after lunch but then my student phoned to say she could come after all (she had previously said she wouldn't manage until the new year).

I have NO idea of what to buy for everyone and with the new house and Kana going away next month, funds are not that great either. Setsuo and I won't buy for each other but I'm hoping the kids will give me a list of things that they would like so I can start to at least plan on what to buy.

We have tentatively decided on January 27th for moving day so that means that most of the Christmas/New Year holiday will be spent clearing out cupboards and trying to pack at least the small things. We'll use a removal company for the furniture or heavy things but even so there is a LOT of work to be done and no doubt I'll be in a panic and tearing my hair out nearer the time.

Just a couple of photos to let you see the boy in action! I took the photos on Sunday when they were playing in Takatsuki and they went on to win 3-1 and so have got into the next round. The next match will either be Saturday or Sunday so I'm hoping it's Sunday so I can go and see them play.

On a sadder note, I don't think Bingo is going to be with us for much longer. He is finding it really difficult to stand up and when he does manage, he can't lift his head at all plus he is going around banging into everything because he can neither hear nor see. I'm going to take him to the vets tomorrow morning just to see what he says. Here they very rarely put animals to sleep so I'm not holding out much hope of him suggesting it but it is pitiful watching him. Aya will be back on the 22nd so in a way I hope he manages to last that long but then again, it may be easier for Aya if she just hears about it rather than having to see it.

Saturday, 8th December

This week seems to have come to an end really fast. After Monday and Tuesday is over with, the rest of the week just seems to fly and although I have a lesson on Saturday afternoon for the next 4 months, it's actually quite easy since I've put one of the morning ones into Monday. Today for the first time in ages, I was able to get home at lunch time to eat a decent meal - up until now, everyone else had always eaten so I just snacked.

The Xmas party reservations have been trickling in and although I thought I was going to get off with just a morning one, there is now over 60, plus about 10 mothers and another 10 students that still haven't confirmed one way or the other so even though my classroom is big, it's not quite big enough for over 70 so it's going to be 2 parties again this year. Next year it will definitely be in the restaurant so we can do it all at the one go!

Tomorrow there aren't enough cars to take the kids to their baseball match so they will have to use my car as well as Setsuo's - just as well we were intending on going anyway. I just hope it's a bit warmer than it's been lately although I bought 3 fleece sweaters the other day when we went to buy Setsuo's trousers - a bargain at 3 for 980 yen! I've been wearing one of them today and even though I just have the one layer on, it's quite warm but just to be on the safe side, I'll be wearing my 'granny shirt' too!

Thursday, 6th November

Carol if you are reading this, Happy Birthday!
As usual I've left it too late to send a card (no excuse since I have a box full of them upstairs) so hope I'll be forgiven for sending an e-card. Not really meaning to be cheapskate.....

Nothing exciting to tell other than I had a boy come for a trial lesson on Saturday who has decided to join and also another brother and sister will join in January. Neither have been for a trial lesson - one of my student's grandmothers introduced them and the mother decided that they would join after coming to the classroom and staying for only 5 minutes - I hadn't even started the lesson so how she knows that it'll be okay is anyone's guess. Hopefully it will work out. I usually prefer the kids to come for a trial lesson so that I can see them and get a feel for what kind of kid they are before agreeing to it (although I've only ever turned 2 away due to a 'hunch').

I finished 'The Tenderness of Wolves' and enjoyed it although as I already said, I found it a bit hard going at the beginning. Last night I started on 'Spilling the Beans', written by Clarissa Dickson Wright (of Two Fat Ladies fame) Amazon's synopsis reads

Clarissa was born into wealth and privilege, as a child, shooting and hunting were the norm and pigeons were flown in from Cairo for supper. Her mother was an Australian heiress, her father was a brilliant surgeon to the Royal family. But he was also a tyrannical and violent drunk who used to beat her and force her to eat carrots with slugs still clinging to them. Clarissa was determined and clever, though, and her ambition led her to a career in the law. At the age of 21, she was the youngest ever woman to be called to the Bar. Then disaster struck when her adored mother died suddenly. It was to lead to a mind-numbing decade of wild over-indulgence. Rich from her inheritance, in the end Clarissa had partied away her entire fortune. It was a long, hard road to recovery along which Clarissa finally faced her demons and turned to the one thing that had always brought her joy - cooking. Now at last she has found success, sobriety - and peace. With the stark honesty and the brilliant wit we love her for, Clarissa recounts the tale of a life lived to extremes. A vivid and funny story, it is as moving as it is a cracking good read


I do agree that it's interesting and witty but was a bit disappointed as I got to the end because of her pro-hunting views. If you aren't likewise minded, it gets a bit annoying and boring after a while which was a shame because I'd enjoyed the rest of the book.

Tuesday, 4th December

Yesterday's lesson went okay considering it was a new mixture. I'd given the 'new' kids the wrong time though - an hour earlier - and although caught the girl before she left her house, the boy arrived. Rather than have his mum take him back and then bring him once more, I had him join the nursery school class and then stay on for his own one too. He had great fun and said he prefers that class to the 'study' one!

Yesterday we got 3 very expensive steaks as a New Year's present so Setsuo was happy to cook them for dinner and I didn't bother going home for the 30 minutes between lessons. By the time I got home, I was starving but when I started to eat, the temporary filling fell out of my tooth! Luckily the dentist had already taken the nerve out or I would have been up the creek since it was around 9pm and I doubt if I'd have found a dentist at that time. I went back this morning before my nursery school lesson and he refilled it for me. I had thought that I only had today's and next weeks classes left at the nursery but I found out that there is a 3rd before I'll be finished for the year.

Can't think of anything to write (the above was written this morning and I'd left it in the hope that inspiration would strike but it hasn't) so I'll leave it here and go and have an early night with my book - I'm reading Tenderness of the Wolves and although it was dificult to get into at the beginning, I'm now enjoying it.

Monday, 3rd December

These photos are from the other night. I'd cooked hamburgers and was going to shred some cabbage to go with it but since the cabbage leaves came off whole, I decided to have them as a 'plate' just to make it a bit more interesting! Everyone was surprised when they saw their dinner and the 'plates' didn't go to waste either because I rewashed them and used them in a soup the next day!! (Trying to get a decent photo of Keita was nigh on impossible because he kept making funny faces - this is the best there was).

After I posted the last blog I went and looked at my hair and it is very dark brown. Since I haven't dyed it for a while and my 'normal' colour had been back for a while, I don't know if it's that much darker than what I've been using but there was a big difference between the before and after. I also went and got it cut yesterday - as usual, I'm not keen on it but I usually get used to it and start to like it after about a week.

When I went to Kana's school on Saturday (I've decided just to use names since this blog is only open to those I invite anyway!) we got the whole schedule from now until when they return on Dec 7th 2008! Things that need to be done SOON is get her insurance and NZ bank account organised. Money again! The insurance is the worst but since Lisa well and truly got her money's worth from hers, I don't mind paying it this time. The money that has to go into the NZ bank account will be her spending money so I don't have to put that much in at the beginning. Since she will be further from the shops than Lisa was, and isn't so much as a spender anyway, I can't see her needing as much as Lisa did but time will tell.

Yesterday we went and bought an umbrella stand for the entrance hall - just as well since it's raining today! - and then went and got Setsuo some trousers. We called round to watch Keita playing baseball for half and hour and then I did some shopping and then that was it for the rest of the day. Nothing exciting at all.

Keita, his friend Riku and another boy have been chosen to play in the 'All Star' team for this area but the first match will be the day of my Xmas party so I won't be able to go and watch it. Hopefully they will get through to the next round so that I can go to that one.

Another Monday and another long teaching day. Two students who usually come on Saturday will join one of the classes today (two from that class will go into a Tuesday one and two from that Tuesday one will go into a later class the same day). It'll be hard for a couple of weeks but hopefully it will all work out and I'll have one less Saturday class to teach so can finish earlier. We'll see how it goes.