I reckon I need to check what I've previously written before adding to the blog since the last two entries were almost the same!
Because of the holiday, I managed to go out twice - once with a teacher friend and the other with 4 of the BB mothers. Both were very different nights but both enjoyable.
On the first night out, there were only the two of us so we managed to have a good catch up - I hadn't seen L since last November - and the restaurant we went to was quite posh with lovely food but of course plenty of beer too! I'm glad it was with L because she eats/drinks as much as I do so I came away totally satisfied on all counts! With one thing or another, I never seem to have time to catch up with friends so must make more of an effort.
A couple of nights later it was a much rowdier time with even more drinks consumed! We did order quite a lot of food but I think with the amount of alcohol, we should have had more to eat. The result was 4 rather drunk mothers. I had intended taking a taxi home as I was the only one coming back in this direction but ended up walking the whole way - 40 minutes - which paid off since I worked off the 'what would have been' hangover. I also stopped part way twice, first to go into McDonalds to pee and then next to buy some bread which I ate on the way home.
Now it's back to work with no more holidays (apart from Sat/Sun) until August.
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
I am having an unexpected weeks holday thanks to the swine flu that has started to invade Osaka and Kobe.
On Monday morning, all the schools were told to close for a week and that all kids should be kept indoors so after humming and hawing, I decided that I would also close. I spent most of Monday calling my students who weren't really surprised and since then have been having a relaxing time. I think the number of cases is now just over 150 and there are very few people walking around Osaka - even Umeda - so I'm sure all the kids are feeling a bit of cabin fever. At least mine are older, I feel sorry for the mothers of young children.
On Monday morning, all the schools were told to close for a week and that all kids should be kept indoors so after humming and hawing, I decided that I would also close. I spent most of Monday calling my students who weren't really surprised and since then have been having a relaxing time. I think the number of cases is now just over 150 and there are very few people walking around Osaka - even Umeda - so I'm sure all the kids are feeling a bit of cabin fever. At least mine are older, I feel sorry for the mothers of young children.
Monday, 18 May 2009
Well as predicted they lost to the opposition! It was made even worse because we'd had to be up so early but there's always a next time (although hopefully a later one!)
Here we are all in Swine flu mode with all the schools, cram schools, swimming, piano lessons etc cancelled for this week so I've been phoning my students to tell them English has also been cancelled for the week. Actually I'm quite happy about it since I'll get another weeks holiday but hope it doesn't go past this week or I'll have to start refunding money! So far nobody has mentioned the money aspect and I know all the big places won't be giving any but I think if it goes on, I probably will.
The mask manufacturers must also be rubbing their hands in glee because they can't be found for love nor money. Aya needs to wear one for work so I went searching today but had no luck. Actually I did manage to pick up a pkt of 5 but only because one of my students mothers is a chemist - lucky!
Oh well, better go and try to contact the remaining students I need to phone.
Here we are all in Swine flu mode with all the schools, cram schools, swimming, piano lessons etc cancelled for this week so I've been phoning my students to tell them English has also been cancelled for the week. Actually I'm quite happy about it since I'll get another weeks holiday but hope it doesn't go past this week or I'll have to start refunding money! So far nobody has mentioned the money aspect and I know all the big places won't be giving any but I think if it goes on, I probably will.
The mask manufacturers must also be rubbing their hands in glee because they can't be found for love nor money. Aya needs to wear one for work so I went searching today but had no luck. Actually I did manage to pick up a pkt of 5 but only because one of my students mothers is a chemist - lucky!
Oh well, better go and try to contact the remaining students I need to phone.
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Last night Lisa phoned to say that she'd be home on the last train and that she was probably going to go to Tokyo early this morning (job seeking related) and would I take her to the station at 6am so I set my alarm for 5am, got up and then she informed me that she'd changed her mind - grrr. No prizes for guessing that I went back to bed!
I also got a email to say that Keita has to be at the BB ground by 5.30am on Saturday which means he has to leave by 4.45 and I'll have to be up by 4am. I don't have to be there until just after 7am but unlike today, I better not chance going back to bed! There are going to be a lot of sleepy people on Saturday evening. They have their match at 9.30 and if they win, the final straight after. They'll need to play an outstanding game to beat the first team though as their coach is an ex professional player and they demolish almost all the teams they come across. Not only do they have the pro teaching them, the only team that ever managed to beat them disbanded and so they got most of those players too. Anyway, we still have a chance so here's hoping!
Last week we finally ordered Kana's bed and it'll arrive sometime tomorrow morning. It'll have to come through the visitor's room front door and then through the house so I'm going to have to think of what to do with the dogs - probably the verandah. Lisa is in for a shock as she'll have to get up and vacate the room before they arrive, payback for waking me early this morning!
Only three classes today which means we can all eat together. Off to the shops to try to find some inspiration about what to cook!
I also got a email to say that Keita has to be at the BB ground by 5.30am on Saturday which means he has to leave by 4.45 and I'll have to be up by 4am. I don't have to be there until just after 7am but unlike today, I better not chance going back to bed! There are going to be a lot of sleepy people on Saturday evening. They have their match at 9.30 and if they win, the final straight after. They'll need to play an outstanding game to beat the first team though as their coach is an ex professional player and they demolish almost all the teams they come across. Not only do they have the pro teaching them, the only team that ever managed to beat them disbanded and so they got most of those players too. Anyway, we still have a chance so here's hoping!
Last week we finally ordered Kana's bed and it'll arrive sometime tomorrow morning. It'll have to come through the visitor's room front door and then through the house so I'm going to have to think of what to do with the dogs - probably the verandah. Lisa is in for a shock as she'll have to get up and vacate the room before they arrive, payback for waking me early this morning!
Only three classes today which means we can all eat together. Off to the shops to try to find some inspiration about what to cook!
Monday, 11 May 2009
Another month gone by without a post.
April was pretty hectic trying to get the students timetable sorted out - I now have 3 night lessons which isn't great - but finally I got there and the new kids started last week. Like last year, the only times I had to give them were two back to back lessons so I now have all the new kids on a Friday (last years are on Thursdays), an existing class after that and a JHS class at night to boot so I'm knackered at the end of the day.
I was off for 8 days during Golden Week but since Keita had baseball every single day, there were no long lies but surprisingly there were no matches planned for the 2nd year team so at least I didn't have to be there every day. They had a tournament over the weekend though and won 6-0 on Saturday (Keita pitching throughout). On Sunday Seiya pitched the first game and won 1-0 so Keita was in again for the second game and again they won 1-0. Next week is the semi-finals but they are up against the strongest team in the area so will be very lucky if they get into the finals. We'll see.
Yesterday was also Mother's day so there was a big bouquet of carnations waiting for me when I got home and the 6 of us also went out for dinner. Kana wasn't very happy about eating out (as usual) but cheered up and the four of them had Setsuo and I in stitches with some of their conversations - all I'll say is that it must be hard for Keita being the only boy!!
The weather has been really hot the past few days which was maybe good for those going to the beach etc but for us stuck on a baseball ground with absolutely no shade, it was torture. I'm already dreading the summer.
Poor Kana is still having to go to school early and come home late because of exams. No wonder kids go wild once they get to University, they have about 6 years of partying to catch up with.
Talking of Kana, for the past couple of months I've known she has a boyfriend but she's been secretive about it all. Lately I've found out he is the same age as her, went to the same JHS, lives nearby (but still no idea where!), is on the basketball team and is 180cm (almost as tall as Keita). With both of them in school clubs, I've no idea when they every find the time to meet up!
April was pretty hectic trying to get the students timetable sorted out - I now have 3 night lessons which isn't great - but finally I got there and the new kids started last week. Like last year, the only times I had to give them were two back to back lessons so I now have all the new kids on a Friday (last years are on Thursdays), an existing class after that and a JHS class at night to boot so I'm knackered at the end of the day.
I was off for 8 days during Golden Week but since Keita had baseball every single day, there were no long lies but surprisingly there were no matches planned for the 2nd year team so at least I didn't have to be there every day. They had a tournament over the weekend though and won 6-0 on Saturday (Keita pitching throughout). On Sunday Seiya pitched the first game and won 1-0 so Keita was in again for the second game and again they won 1-0. Next week is the semi-finals but they are up against the strongest team in the area so will be very lucky if they get into the finals. We'll see.
Yesterday was also Mother's day so there was a big bouquet of carnations waiting for me when I got home and the 6 of us also went out for dinner. Kana wasn't very happy about eating out (as usual) but cheered up and the four of them had Setsuo and I in stitches with some of their conversations - all I'll say is that it must be hard for Keita being the only boy!!
The weather has been really hot the past few days which was maybe good for those going to the beach etc but for us stuck on a baseball ground with absolutely no shade, it was torture. I'm already dreading the summer.
Poor Kana is still having to go to school early and come home late because of exams. No wonder kids go wild once they get to University, they have about 6 years of partying to catch up with.
Talking of Kana, for the past couple of months I've known she has a boyfriend but she's been secretive about it all. Lately I've found out he is the same age as her, went to the same JHS, lives nearby (but still no idea where!), is on the basketball team and is 180cm (almost as tall as Keita). With both of them in school clubs, I've no idea when they every find the time to meet up!
Monday, 13 April 2009
We ended up not needing to go to Awajishima after all. They played a good game but by the end of the 8th round (Keita pitched for the full 7 - the limit they're allowed) it was still a 2-2 draw so had to do 'chuusen' which they lost (members from both teams pick coloured balls from a bag and the ones with most of a certain colour win). At least it wasn't a 'real' loss and we also got to sleep a little longer the following week!
Lisa went back to her flat the day after I wrote my last post too so the house is in better shape although I still haven't done anything to the room since she is still coming back now and then. She was here overnight on Saturday but left after going on a picnic with her friends on Sunday.
Aya and Daisuke are off to the PIC in Guam at the end of the month and I'm envious! Everyone I know seems to be going somewhere or other. My 'holidays' will have to consist of baseball games for a bit longer but at least I'm starting to enjoy going although still don't really like watching when Keita is playing. It's good when he's doing well but nerve-wracking when not!
Kana has been out of the house by 6am for the past couple of weeks with club practice so unless I'm really tired, I try to get up and make her a packed lunch. She says she doesn't mind buying something but I feel I should especially since I'm always up when it's Keita and baseball. Between the two of them, I sometimes feel like a zombie though and I'm glad I don't work until the afternoon!
Lisa went back to her flat the day after I wrote my last post too so the house is in better shape although I still haven't done anything to the room since she is still coming back now and then. She was here overnight on Saturday but left after going on a picnic with her friends on Sunday.
Aya and Daisuke are off to the PIC in Guam at the end of the month and I'm envious! Everyone I know seems to be going somewhere or other. My 'holidays' will have to consist of baseball games for a bit longer but at least I'm starting to enjoy going although still don't really like watching when Keita is playing. It's good when he's doing well but nerve-wracking when not!
Kana has been out of the house by 6am for the past couple of weeks with club practice so unless I'm really tired, I try to get up and make her a packed lunch. She says she doesn't mind buying something but I feel I should especially since I'm always up when it's Keita and baseball. Between the two of them, I sometimes feel like a zombie though and I'm glad I don't work until the afternoon!
Thursday, 2 April 2009
The days seem to be flying past lately.
Lisa has been home for most of the past 6 weeks and although it's nice to have her here (mostly), it'll also be nice when she goes back to Uni and her own flat. She is still as untidy as ever - but only when she's here, her own place is neat enough - and it's starting to get on my nerves. Also she had tonsillitis last week and made everyone aware of it. I'm just getting over a cold too so she had me frazzled! Once she does go back and I get the room back into some kind of order, I'm going to make it into a kind of sitting room so Keita or Kana can have friends round without needing to worry about the dogs.
Teaching wise it's been pretty tiring lately with all the trial lessons and trying to sort out a new timetable. I can't finalise things until the end of this month when all the new J High kids decide on clubs/juku days but I'm slowly getting there. In all, I think I lost 1, asked another to leave (only because she never came and because she was so far behind I was giving her private lessons which she often didn't come to either) and around 10 new 7 year olds. For the next couple of months it'll be hard until they all settle down but hopefully we'll get into some kind of rhythm faster than last year's new kids did.
This weekend is the start of a tournament for the older boys team and Keita and two friends will join them. If they win the match on Sunday (home ground) then they'll have to go to Awajishima next week which will mean a really early start as they're slotted in for the first match at 9am and since the government reduced the road tolls to 1,000 yen no matter where you drive to/from, all the roads have been jam-packed.
This Sunday is also the ceremony for the new 1st year boys and seemingly they are all pretty good. I think there will be about 17 -20 joining so the weaker ones from Keita's team will have to watch out or they'll be ousted!
Aya and Daisuke are thinking of going on holiday at the end of the month but haven't decided where yet although have been thinking about Saipan or Guam since both places are near and they don't have that much time off work. These days flights are much cheaper - I took my Thai friend to the Travel agents to book her ticket home (first time in 11 years!) and it only cost around 45,000 yen.
Lisa has been home for most of the past 6 weeks and although it's nice to have her here (mostly), it'll also be nice when she goes back to Uni and her own flat. She is still as untidy as ever - but only when she's here, her own place is neat enough - and it's starting to get on my nerves. Also she had tonsillitis last week and made everyone aware of it. I'm just getting over a cold too so she had me frazzled! Once she does go back and I get the room back into some kind of order, I'm going to make it into a kind of sitting room so Keita or Kana can have friends round without needing to worry about the dogs.
Teaching wise it's been pretty tiring lately with all the trial lessons and trying to sort out a new timetable. I can't finalise things until the end of this month when all the new J High kids decide on clubs/juku days but I'm slowly getting there. In all, I think I lost 1, asked another to leave (only because she never came and because she was so far behind I was giving her private lessons which she often didn't come to either) and around 10 new 7 year olds. For the next couple of months it'll be hard until they all settle down but hopefully we'll get into some kind of rhythm faster than last year's new kids did.
This weekend is the start of a tournament for the older boys team and Keita and two friends will join them. If they win the match on Sunday (home ground) then they'll have to go to Awajishima next week which will mean a really early start as they're slotted in for the first match at 9am and since the government reduced the road tolls to 1,000 yen no matter where you drive to/from, all the roads have been jam-packed.
This Sunday is also the ceremony for the new 1st year boys and seemingly they are all pretty good. I think there will be about 17 -20 joining so the weaker ones from Keita's team will have to watch out or they'll be ousted!
Aya and Daisuke are thinking of going on holiday at the end of the month but haven't decided where yet although have been thinking about Saipan or Guam since both places are near and they don't have that much time off work. These days flights are much cheaper - I took my Thai friend to the Travel agents to book her ticket home (first time in 11 years!) and it only cost around 45,000 yen.
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