I finally managed to clear out the spare room and it is now ready for Mum and Dad arriving tomorrow! The new futons arrived on Friday night and the bedding I bought a couple of weeks ago looks lovely in there. The boxes are mostly in our bedroom but out of the way and at the top of Keita's cupboard (which he wasn't using anyway). This morning Kana helped me with the classroom decorations so although there isn't as much as last year, it looks a bit more festive. I still need to get the hanging santas hooked into the ceiling but apart from that it's finished. Now I just need to tidy the house a bit and hopefully that's it.
Sunday was MY last day at the BB for the year - hurray! The other mothers have to go on the 23rd for the year end clean up and ceremony but I have my Xmas party that day so can avoid it. The boys have practice until Dec 28th and then it starts again with a big party for past players on the 3rd January. I have to be there to help out - we need to provide food for around 200 - but might enjoy being out of the house by then!
On Sunday there were 4 matches (2 each for both 1st and 2nd years) and Keita was in the 2nd years 2nd match but got hit just below the knee from a return ball so didn't pitch for long. Both teams won both games. Although he hates Aya, Lisa or Kana coming to see him play, Kana and Setsuo sneaked in once he got started. It was so funny seeing all the boys walking past Kana just to get a look at her! When I asked Keita if his team mates had said anything, he said all the 1st and 2nd years had kept on about how pretty she was. I think he must have enjoyed all the comments because it's the first time he's been happy about anyone going! Since Riku's mum had said how pretty Aya and Lisa were (she's never seen Kana) the coaches and other mothers have been trying to get me to bring them so Kana was the centre of attention all the time she was there!
After bb, it was off to my friends restaurant (not the same one that opened last week) for our year end party. I ended up drinking too much - and am paying for it today - but we managed to get home before midnight at least.
Now it's just one more week of lessons, the Xmas party on the 23rd, the family Xmas dinner on the 25th and then the office year end party on the 27th and that's me until January 12th.
Monday, 15 December 2008
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Kana is home!
When I got back from BB, she was in the classroom with 3 of her friends who'd also gone to the airport to meet her (Setsuo brought them all home). Aya didn't go to the airport but she came over to the house when they got back. At night we all went out for dinner to our next door neighbours (from the last house) new restuarant. It had opened the night before and even though I'd gone with my friend the previous night, we decided to go again. It was the first time we'd all been together since last Christmas so it was nice and rowdy! It really feels that Kana has never been away.
The new restaurant (Izakaya) is quite near and I think it's going to be a regular watering hole for me! Her husband is a good cook and the food is much better than the average chain-style Izakaya. Aya and Lisa have also arranged that when they go, their bills will come to us - ouch!
Before Kana arrived, I managed to get all the boxes in her room tidied up but couldn't really do much since she has to go through it all to see what she wants to keep. At the moment, it's a shambles but knowing Kana, she'll have it tidy in no time. Even though they are just home, they had school two days later and now she'll have club practice until the end of the year too. She seems quite happy about it though.
The spare room is still a mass of boxes so that's what I'm going to have to do from now until Monday. With a bit of luck I'll get it finished on Saturday although lord only knows where the boxes are going to be moved to.
I've also finally sent off for the Xmas presents for the party on the 23rd but still have no decorations up. That's something else that needs to be done over the weekend or there'll be no point - I only have one more week of classes and then the party. Poor kids - everyone elses decorations have been up since the end of November!
When I got back from BB, she was in the classroom with 3 of her friends who'd also gone to the airport to meet her (Setsuo brought them all home). Aya didn't go to the airport but she came over to the house when they got back. At night we all went out for dinner to our next door neighbours (from the last house) new restuarant. It had opened the night before and even though I'd gone with my friend the previous night, we decided to go again. It was the first time we'd all been together since last Christmas so it was nice and rowdy! It really feels that Kana has never been away.
The new restaurant (Izakaya) is quite near and I think it's going to be a regular watering hole for me! Her husband is a good cook and the food is much better than the average chain-style Izakaya. Aya and Lisa have also arranged that when they go, their bills will come to us - ouch!
Before Kana arrived, I managed to get all the boxes in her room tidied up but couldn't really do much since she has to go through it all to see what she wants to keep. At the moment, it's a shambles but knowing Kana, she'll have it tidy in no time. Even though they are just home, they had school two days later and now she'll have club practice until the end of the year too. She seems quite happy about it though.
The spare room is still a mass of boxes so that's what I'm going to have to do from now until Monday. With a bit of luck I'll get it finished on Saturday although lord only knows where the boxes are going to be moved to.
I've also finally sent off for the Xmas presents for the party on the 23rd but still have no decorations up. That's something else that needs to be done over the weekend or there'll be no point - I only have one more week of classes and then the party. Poor kids - everyone elses decorations have been up since the end of November!
Monday, 1 December 2008
Saturday I was up bright and breezy to get Keita out of the house by 5.45 and then I cleaned up until my class at 9.30. It was such a happy feeling going in there knowing that from now on, all my Saturdays are free! The 2nd year team lost their morning match (Keita was to play in the afternoon) so got knocked out of the tournament. It was good in a way though because it meant they got home with an hour to spare before needing to be at the hotel for the ceremony. I'd ordered Keita a pair of shoes a few weeks ago and because this ceremony was coming up, I'd kept them in the cupboard. Mistake - they are now too small for him. Wouldn't be so bad if I could pass them on to someone else but no-one else has feet that size! He did wear them on Saturday night but says they are too tight for running in.
The ceremony went smoothly and it was a good night. Three of my friends went on to another pub afterwards and although I was tempted, I knew I had to be at the BB ground by 6.30am the next morning so was a good girl and came straight home. Two boys who used to be in the same team and have now gone on to play professionally (Seattle Mariners and Seibu Lions) were also there.
Seibu Lions player
Seattle Mariners player
The Seibu Lions player sitting next to Keita - you can see how tense Keita was!!
Yesterday it was the two final matches of the 1st year team tournament. They won the first one and when Keita starting warming up for the 2nd match, there were loads of coaches, and boys all lined up watching him. He went in as starting pitcher but didn't have such a great game and ended up being pulled out half way through (they were tied 4-4 at that point). They finally won the game and tournament 6-4 so at least he didn't have to feel too bad about it although he did say he'd got a telling off from the coach!! I felt a bit sorry for him because he must have been under quite a bit of pressure with so many waiting for a replay of last weeks match but at least it means too much success won't be going to his head!
Keita was in bed and asleep by 7.30 and I followed not long after at 9.
The first year team after winning the tournament (and before they were properly posed for the photographer)
Spike and Daisy have started sleeping on two cushions that I put out for them. Spike was trying his hardest to push Daisy off the one lying in the sunshine!!
The ceremony went smoothly and it was a good night. Three of my friends went on to another pub afterwards and although I was tempted, I knew I had to be at the BB ground by 6.30am the next morning so was a good girl and came straight home. Two boys who used to be in the same team and have now gone on to play professionally (Seattle Mariners and Seibu Lions) were also there.
Seibu Lions player
Seattle Mariners player
The Seibu Lions player sitting next to Keita - you can see how tense Keita was!!
Yesterday it was the two final matches of the 1st year team tournament. They won the first one and when Keita starting warming up for the 2nd match, there were loads of coaches, and boys all lined up watching him. He went in as starting pitcher but didn't have such a great game and ended up being pulled out half way through (they were tied 4-4 at that point). They finally won the game and tournament 6-4 so at least he didn't have to feel too bad about it although he did say he'd got a telling off from the coach!! I felt a bit sorry for him because he must have been under quite a bit of pressure with so many waiting for a replay of last weeks match but at least it means too much success won't be going to his head!
Keita was in bed and asleep by 7.30 and I followed not long after at 9.
The first year team after winning the tournament (and before they were properly posed for the photographer)
Spike and Daisy have started sleeping on two cushions that I put out for them. Spike was trying his hardest to push Daisy off the one lying in the sunshine!!
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