Best Friends

Y and M get ready to invite their friends to this year's joint birthday extravaganza.

PLEASE come to see HSM3 with me, PLEEEEEASE!!!!

School Update

Weechan is really enjoying her school days this year. She loves her teacher this year so much that sometimes she calls me Miss B by mistake. I am impressed by how her reading skills have come on, and she is slowly getting into the world of homework. She has learned all about dance, materials and transportation so far in her program of inquiry this year, and they always seem to be going on field trips lately. Most recently they were off to the Fire Department's Training Centre, where they had earthquake simulations and lessons on how to behave in a fire, including actually moving their way through a smoke filled room.
Last month, just before Valentines Day, their class hosted assembly, and I got a written invitation from Weechan to come and see what they were doing. First we learned about recycling with a slideshow of their visit to a recycling centre, where they made soap. They also taught us all how to communicate our feelings to each other, especially about love. Mairi and Miki taught us about what feelings the colour of flowers communicate to us. It was really sweet.
It was all finished off by a song. I never thought I'd see the day when my 5 year old was entertaining me by singing the Cure!!
It's Friday, I'm in love!!

Setsubun and excuses

Well folks, after much heckling, I thought I better explain my lack of blogging. If you were here in Hiroshima, you know how hectic the end of the year was for me, and the result was that the start of the new one was spent in bed. However I am even quite amazed myself to find that I don't seem to have even one photo of the period between the last post and Setsubun, which is at the beginning of February.
Apart from everyone in the house being ill at the end and the start of the year, we did manage to have a nice Christmas. Good friends proved their mettle by coming over and risking possible infection anyway, after Mairi dramatically barfed quite literally all over her Christmas presents as soon as she had opened them! I thought it had all been a flash albeit not in the pan (!) as she seemed to be fine all day, when Aunty L quietly informed me that she had found the signs of regurgitated rice balls in the toilet. Quizzed on why she hadn't told me: " I thought you'd make all my friends go home if you thought I was sick".... Not sure whether to find this new found deviousness cute or disturbing really.
I know I took pictures at Christmas, but I don't know where I stored them, as the Macbook keyboard incident meant I couldn't do anything for a long time. When I find them, I will do an after the fact post, but in the meantime, thanks to everyone who spoiled Mairi and me rotten as usual.

We had a between Christmas and New Year leftover dinner with some more good friends, and then I got the cold, and was not really feeling very festive for New Year. It was nice to have Ji-chan come and spend New Year's Eve with us while Ba-chan was away climbing mountains, and we had a traditional Ikegami entry into the first New Year in our new house. That means eating too much, a few quiet sakes, and watching the red and white song contest on the telly.
Didn't seem the most auspicious start to the new year, with Ji-chan and myself with rotten colds, and then we got the news that Ba-chan had slipped on the mountain on New Year's Day and broken her leg.
What with my mum in Scotland, I was beginning to wonder if we were all cursed...

All in all January was a recharging session. I even had to take a couple of days off work, much to my disgust. I didn't go very far or take any pictures at all really and the MacBook was in getting fixed for a couple of weeks too, so that didn't help the blogging either. Anyway, in February things started hotting up a bit again, so I'll fill you in on that next time.

OUT with the demons, IN with the good fortune, as we yell at Setsubun. I mean really!!

Dodgy Conversations

" Mummy, if I die, will I go to heaven?"
"Do you think there is a heaven?"
"Yes "
"Well, if you are a good girl I am sure you will go there then. "
" What is the other place called again?"
" Hell? "
" Yeah, I don't want to go there. "
" No that wouldn't be so good."
" I think *****chan will go to hell"
" Eh? "
" Well she always says she doesn't like *******"



So how do you explain that one then?

Fingers Crossed

Just an update on my Mum's situation. Most of you will now know that we had a bit of unpleasant news towards the end of my Mum's stay here last year. For those who don't, she was diagnosed with Stage 2 Uterine cancer, and we all had a bit of a scare.
We'd both like to thank everyone for all their good wishes and for taking such an interest in her progress. Just to let you know, she had surgery at the end of the year, from which she is now gradually recovering. She can't get around much yet, but people have been very good about popping round and helping her out. Thanks for that from me and Fi to those who have. It's always hardest to live with my choice to make my life here at times like these anyway, but it makes it easier when people pitch in and look after her, as they always do.
Anyway, they seem to think they have got it all, as far as they can tell, and at the moment she is waiting to get a CT scan, and then it will be radiotherapy every day for 5 weeks, probably starting next week or so.
As I understand it, the treatment is mainly preventative, so here's hoping that will be the end of it.
I wished for your good health Mum when we pulled the wish bone of both the turkey and this small chicken. Unfortunately Mairi won both times, so the wishes will no doubt have involved some pink frillly superhero, but my fingers are crossed that all will be well.

Bye Bry

Spent a peaceful day in Iwakuni with B during her week here.
Much though most people who encounter us think we can't stand each other, it was really nice to have someone to relax with for a few days. I really have managed well throughout my life to have none of my best friends in the same country as me at any given time, but having B here was a nice reminder that for real friends, distance and time mean very little. We meet up every few years and carry on the conversation where we left off. Or in our case, quite often the argument! Haha.
Conclusions:
1) We really must organise that Miyazaki grand reunion
2) Do not believe a word of what she tells you went on here. I did not foist unnecessary attention on my unharmed child, while my scalded husband writhed in pain at the side.

Anyway, here are a few Iwakuni shots. Very picturesque place.

Rare mother and child shot.

Happy Birthday Shez

Far be it from me to reveal the age of a lady, but then, a picture speaks a thousand words, doesn't it.

On the occasion of their mother's birthday, the Rice girls and we Ikegamis indluged in some trickery and skullduggery, to the end of making her a cake.
In the interests of time, I had the actual sponge ready, but the rest, they designed and made by themselves.
Et voila!

Quite effective really, but we didn't go for the full complement of candles in the interests of fire safety.

May you have many more, S!

Aunty B Eats her Words

As we mentioned, 2 weeks after Granny and Aunty Fi went home, Mummy's friend Aunty B came to stay. B lived in Japan 15 years ago for 3 years, and this is her first time back. When she was here the first time, she was a raving vegetarian, but has since seen the light, and wasted no time trying to eat all the things she couldn't when she was here before. Okonomiyaki went down well.

I mean it really was quite lterally "bring on the dripping slaughtered carcasss" time.
So much for principles. Haha.

There really is nothing like Yakiniku though!

The last trip to Mitaki was so nice, we decided to retrace our steps with B too.

2009 is the Year of the Cow, or Ox, by the Japanese Zodiac, so we took a coo along to try and get a New Year Card shot. You'll have realised by now though that we didn't get a perfect one though and resorted to a cowless one instead.

Wasn't for the want of trying though.

Only in Japan

B


Needless to say more bottles of wine were consumed in 10 days than in the previous 10 weeks.
Very old habits die hard.

Wild Things on Festive Eve

This, dear fans, is Mummy's interpretation of the instructions for a costume which came home from school with a week's notice.
The theme of the evening was variations on Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak. Mummy was freaked out enough at the idea of trying to recreate one of those monsters, but no, I had to be, and I quote, a "girly monster with a 1920's Jazz theme".
!!
??
!!
Well this was me.

Lisa's new sister Marika seemed impressed by the whole thing.

The Dream Catcher chorus rang out.

And soon it was our class' turn.

Me and Moto made quite a couple, don't you think?

Mummy's friend Aunty B came to visit us for a week, and she came to watch my show too. Thanks Aunty B for coming, and for making these great cakes to share with everyone!!! Haha!

A Weekend with Fluffy

Our class has an extra member. He is Fluffy the dog. Everyone takes it in turn to bring Fluffy home with them, and then report back to the class what Fluffy did during the weekend.
This weeked he came to Koi. We decided that Fluffy might like to join us on a walk around our neighbourhood.

He liked the fake flowers near our house, and the fried egg outside a local restaurant looked tasty too.

We hope he enjoyed our hospitality.