29weeks

Tues 7pm-ish
I just got back from the clinic. Had a 5:30pm appointment, but they actually saw me early, yay. I went into the consultation room, and the nurse measured me up (after having snatched my weight print out - I kinda thought they were "on to me" but nothing was mentioned of my weight this time, just on 1.6kg in 3weeks...so right on track) felt up my legs (no swelling) and then promtly told me to cover my tummy because I would get cold (in the 3 secs between her leaving and the doc coming in). Then, when the doctor did come in, he was like "oh, hi there" greeting me like I was an old friend. It was kinda funny. I can understand tho that some patients must stand out, and I guess the blonde with the super cute toddler(☺) is something people seem to remember....

All is good with me and TJ-baby- I have just worked out that when TJ-baby is attacking me from the inside, it is prob their legs up high on the left side, and their hands down low on the right side. I worked this out when the doc was scanning TJ-baby's head down there. I had been wondering for a while about that. Strong legs this one, lol. Measurements all on 29week range values, and saw its intestines and heart all formed well! Doctor told me at the end of the visit to take it easy from now on (haha, like I haven't been from day 1!) and likened week 30 onwards to blowing up a balloon - at first it takes a lot of effort to get the balloon going, but then it just exapnds on it's own momentum. Basically, from now on I get huge!! And I was feeling a bit big tummied already, ttytt. must post a belly shot!

Am actually feeling more heavy in general - difficulties with my !yoshoi's! and getting up from chairs/sofas/under kotatsu, that kinda thing. I am already nearly 1t 10kg, which is faster to get to this weight than when pregnant with K. Hmmm....


However, since I got no reprive for weight gain this time, I am thinking of trying out some lovely sweets recipes that I have seen on other blogs recently, haha!

Am kinda thinking .....
cut to 11.50pm Wed night, and I have no idea what I was thinking ⇑- I obviously had to leave the post half way through yesterday, and forgot my train of thought...oh well)...

I kinda broached the name thing with J last night. We haven't really thought about names for TJ-baby at all yet. I would like a name that is easy to pronounce in both Japanese and English, but haven't found any that stick out yet.

Also had to pay up the deposit (if you can call 20man a deposit) for the hospital. Ouch.

That was both the pain of having to fork over that much money, and TJ-baby doing aerobics on the inside - must be letting me know that they know I am talking about them✌.

101 things in 1001 days

Reading Kel's 101 things inspired me to try it out for myself- but I have to say that making this list was hard work. In the end I had to cull a LOT of items, like "climb at least a 1700m mountain" and several items relating to overseas adventure travel, lol! I kinda forgot that I am not in my 20s and not footloose and fancy-free anymore ;(

I am still not sure if I have managed to write a realistic list anyway or not - having kids takes a lot out of the playing field. I think that the hardest things will actually be just getting the time TO MYSELF to do half the things (especially the running and swimming.....) But, I can only try, right?

Soooooooooo...... here goes: 101 things in 1001 days.

Start date February 1st, 2010. Finish date October 28th, 2012
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Red means completed, italics means in progress.
Items are in no particular order.

KIDS AND FAMILY

1 . Make a baby album for K for the first 2 years of her life.
2 . Make a baby album for TJ-baby for the first 2 years of their life.
3 . Update facebook photos of K once a month. (0/33)
4 . Take the k to the park at least once a week for 50 weeks (this is for her playtime, separate to just walking R) (0/50)
5 . Update facebook photos of TJ-baby once a month.
6 . Take K out on a special date (one-on-one time) once a month after TJ-baby born
7 . Go to an Aquarium
8 . Go to the zoo near playgroup
9 . Go to Zoorasia again
10 . Take K to a "carnival" (Dora the explorer reference there) or circus
11 . Ride on a ferris wheel with K

EXTRAVAGANCE

12 . Drink the bottle of French Champagne J brought back from France (perhaps to celebrate 5th marriage anniversary?)
13 . Drink the wine (Tempranillo) we brought back from Argentina
14 . Eat Peking duck at "8"
15 . Eat out at Bistro du Moulin, @ Kichijoji without the kid(s)
16 . Eat 焼肉　at "北京" again
17 . Get J to take me to 焼き鳥

JAPAN/TRAVEL

18 . Visit friends in Oita
19 . Visit 2 prefectures I haven't been to before. (0/2) (Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Toyama, Fukui, Mie, Shiga, Wakayama, Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Kagawa or Ehime)
20 . Visit 5 shrines or temples I haven't been to before (esp in Kamakura). (0/5)
21 . Go ski/snowboarding at least once (assuming not pregnant during ski season)
22 . Travel to an overseas country (other than Australia) at least once (would love to go to Taiwan, or perhaps to California and tour the wineries (this is real a dream item! I know that chances are it won't come true, but I can always hope…) )

SOCIAL

23 . Host playdate/morning tea at home at least 12 times (0/12)
24 . Have J's 幼馴染 over at least once a year (0/3)
25 . Have J's friends(manatee) over at least once a year (0/3)
26 . Have J's parents over at least once every 4 months (0/8)

HEALTH/FITNESS/HOBBIES

27 . Get back to pre-pregnancy weight
28 . Be able to fit into my Helly Hansen bamboo pants again
29 . Follow a daily face firming ritual every day for 2 months in succession (0/2)
30 . Get a professional massage at least once.
31 . Get a professional pedicure at least once.
32 . Drink at least 1L of water every day for a month
33 . Drink at least 1.5L of water every day for a month
34 . Drink 2L of water every day for a month
35 . Swim once a week for 12weeks (0/12)
36 . Swim 1.5km in 30mins
37 . Run twice a week, for 12weeks (0/12)
38 . Run 3km ten times (0/10)
39 . Run 5km 5 times (0/5)
40 . Run 10km 2 times (0/2)
41 . Go cycling with J and kids (in bike seats)
42 . Go hiking (maybe Takao-san or around Kamakura) with kids
43 . Go to a tea ceremony (e.g. at a 祭り)
44 . Get regular dental checks, at least once a year (0/3)

DETOX

45 . Have a computer free day at least once a week for 12 weeks (0/12)
46 . Spend a week with no internet (skype an exception)
47 . Spend a week with no TV
48 . Go for a week without buying any chocolate/chips/junk food/dessert
49 . Go for 2 weeks in a row without buying any chocolate/chips/junk food/dessert(0/2)
50 . Go for a month without buying any chocolate/chips/junk food/dessert.

USING MY BRAIN

51 . Study Japanese for at least 30 minutes once a month (0/33)
52 . Read a novel in Japanese
53 . Sit JLPT or JETRO test
54 . Read 5 novels in English (0/5)


DURING PREGNANCY

55 . Do yoga dvd once a week (starting now)

MONEY AND SAVINGS

56 . Start Mon-Sun week budget and refresh self each Monday for 12 weeks in a row (0/12)
57 . Once completed above, continue with 家計簿 every month.
58 . Make a bank book in each child's name.
59 . Use this bank book to make an education fund, depositing at least 5,000 yen per child per month (adjust as budget allows).
60 . Save 10万円 in 500yen coins
61 . Go three whole months (not necessarily in succession) without buying any single clothing item for any member of the family (0/3)
62 . Get our weekly shopping (groceries only) down to 6000 yen (hahaha! Can only try I guess…)
63 . Be able to put away 5000yen a month to pay back money for the car.
64 . Be able to put at least 5000 yen away per month for a travel fund.

EVENTS

65 . Do 七五三 for K (2010, 2012)
66 . Get a professional family photo done
67 . Take a family Christmas photo (0/2)

AROUND THE HOUSE

68 . Start a herb garden.
69 . Grow a nice, grassy lawn
70 . Get rid of anything we don't use and is still unpacked after 6 months (by July 2010)
71 . Go through all clothes and donate to charity or recycle anything we don't need.

ORGANISING

72 . Organise the playroom so it's easy to clean and keep (relatively!) tidy.
73 . Do something about the 押し入れ in our bedroom.
74 . Follow weekly cleaning schedule for 4 weeks in a row (0/4)
75 . Follow weekly cleaning schedule for 3 months (0/3)

COOKING

76 . Learn to make 10 recipes by heart (0/10)
77 . Cook fish for dinner 2 times a week for 12 weeks (0/12)
78 . Attempt to make 漬物
79 . Make a pie crust that I am happy with!
80 . Make at least 15 recipes out of oven recipe book

BEING HANDY

81 . Sew ties in doona covers (so doonas don't slip about) (0/4)
82 . Take up pants that are too long
83 . Take up curtains / fix curtain with hole in it
84 . Learn how to sew something simple.
85 . Remake a piece of my clothing into something K can wear

PERSONAL

86 . Write a list of things I am grateful for once a month (0/33)
87 . Get a psychic reading
88 . Apply for permanent residency
89 . Write a letter to Aunty E, Uncle M, and Uncle G at least 2 times a year
90 . Go to the hairdressers at least once a year

OTHER

91 . Finish South America traveblog
92 . Start making 年賀状 at the beginning of December every year (0/3).
93 . File all received 年賀状 by the end of January every year, updating addresses on computer list (0/3)
94 . Start writing Xmas cards at the beginning of December every year (0/3)
95 . Make a blog list of all the countries I have been to, and dates of travel (referring to passports and photos)
96 . Make a blog list of all mountains I have climbed in Japan
97 . Make a blog list of the places in Japan I have visited (use photos as reference)
98 . Import all photos from old computer to current computer, AND save on disks
99 . Save all digital photos on facebook or Picasa or similar on-line photo storage site
100 . Update how the list is going on my blog at least 6 times (0/6)
101 . Donate 500 yen to charity for every unfinished task at the end of this challenge.

Livid

(i) an outdoor music festival held in Brisbane (and Melb and Sydney). I saw Weezer,　Ash and several other acts there in 1996

(ii) Me, half an hour ago when K PISSED on my persian rug.
I know she is just a kid, I know she makes mistakes, I know it is "just a rug", and I *know* that getting angry at toilet mistakes is a no-no, but I was SO LIVID that she stood there, saying she wants to go to the toilet, and proceeded to piss (turns out it was more of a leak, but I didn't know that at the time) on the expensive rug that Uncle S gave us. I yelled, I screamed, I was simply LIVID.
She was put to bed for a nap with no books read to her (and actually fell asleep in about 10mins) - we had made up by this time (lol) and I am calmer now, (thanks to some おみやげ J brought back from his business trip to KitaQ
☆　九十九島せんべい, from Sasebo, which I thought he had got to make me all 懐かしい but he didn't even realise they were from sasebo, OR that I had been talking about them like a week ago (for some reason)
☆　笑笑（しょうしょう）かりんと饅頭, surprisingly nice! from Kagoshima
(he obviously didn't pay much attention to place of origin when buying, lol)

But man, it was the one thing I have been nervous of with the rug - well, both her and R actually. I even move the rug when we have guests over so it is not in the walkway, in case people spill food or drinks on it. *sigh*

Anyway, is probably a good thing she got down for a nap so easily and early, as we are going to neighbours for some playtime this afternoon - was supposed to be AM, but Y, who goes to preschool wanted to play too, so W-san asked if we could come in the afternoon when he gets back. I don't like going out in the afternoon, esp since K's naps are late, and she sometimes doesn't wake up until 4:30pm!! It just means that I am running around trying to get dinner ready (right, right, it should be already prepped and just have to add the final touches, but it ISNT, so I need my afternoon kitchen time!!) But at least I have stuff defrosting and the rice soaking (brown rice) so I am kinda half way there.....no? J will be late anyway, so I might just whip something simple up for K then do dinner prep while she is eating. At least that way I get to sit here at the comp, and now go watch the latest GA episode!

it's morning already?

wow, posting on my blog before 9am! I must be procrastinating doing something else, right?!? (like anything that involves moving, is *my* guess, lol)

I got very little sleep last night - what with a coughing and spluttering toddler, crazy winds, a baby doing the congo in my tummy, and a very sore back (腰 and 肩) and just aches and pains all overmy body, most likely thanks to the extra effort I have been putting in the housework this week: scrubbing balconies to the point where you could eat dinner off them and washing all the windows and shutters (ok doesn't sound like much, but it has taken it out of me for sure) as well as our big day out walking around Kamakura on Sunday which I think is now catching up to me. I have had a sore back for a lot of this pregnancy, and things like vacuuming and washing the bath really do make it worse. I try to sit on the sofa arching my back to relieve some of the pressure, but it hasn't helped much. (Maybe I need more sofa time, lol?)

anyway, so K has had a bit of a cough for the last 2 days - mostly flem that she can't "move" herself, and of course when she lies down it gets worse. 2 nights ago she threw up she was coughing so much, but last night was not so bad actually, and I think she might be pretty much over it today, but the cough is still there a bit, so a day at home today, me thinks. Works out well for me with my lack of sleep and sore back, I didn't really feel like traping off to playgroup anyway, ttytt.

And the icing on the cake this morning was when I came down and opened the shutters in the living room and saw the balcony that I had laborously cleaned yesterday morning was just filthy!! With the big winds last night,as all the dust and dirt from the hatake behind us (and most likely our own backyard which is still just dirt, waiting for us to lay turf or plant grass) had been blown onto it. Thankfully it was nothing a few buckets of water thrown over it and a quick scrub down couldn't fix, but it just makes my effort yesterday seem a waste....and of course, the big windows in front of the balcony are already covered in K's handprints and kisses again - it was only seconds after I finished washing them down. *sigh* I guess I am just feeling a bit pregnant and sorry for myself today. At least it is warm again (how nice was yesterday - 15deg inside with all the doors and windows opened to air out the house! Came down this morning and it was 15deg already in the living room, so looks like another nice day, although a bit more cloudy today.

Since I am going to wallow in pregnancy pain pity today, we are not going to do much, except take the pile of shirts to the dry cleaners, maybe pick up some veges from the supermarket, then come home and eat ham and salad sandwhiches on the yummy herb bread I made last night.

*****20mins later:
and now I seem to be getting a headache. Looks like my only friend today is the sofa.

****50mins later:
the nagging voice inside me saying "the dog needs to go for a walk" got to me, so we took R for a walk, then jumped in the car to do the shopping, then got home and swept out the garage as the wind had also brough the leaves and dirt in, then scrubbed down the garage to get rid of the extra layer of dirt, then came upstairs to find R had shat on the balcony (same one that I had now already cleaned twice) so I had to re-clean for the third time. aaarrrggghh.

I attempted to vacuum before lunch too, but the freakin' vacuum cleaner head is broken and I can't fix it (perhaps a sign??) so the cleaning frenzy stopped there.

I am not normally a clean and tidy freak (and usually find many ways to procrastinate so that I don't have to clean) but for some reason today and yesterday I am really wanting to clean - surely the nesting instinct hasn't set in yet - I am only 26weeks fgs!

*****several hours later
after lunch (the herb bread was yummy with ham cheese, lettuce and sd tomatoes) and some play time and skype time, K went for her nap, and I did settle on to the sofa for a cuppa and some downtime. Now I am feeling a bit better and less whiney. Bring on the evening mayhem, right?!?!

Kamaku-ra

Yesterday we had an impromptu trip to Kamakura....since nothing had been planned, we didn't leave the house until near 11am, but we are now quite close, so got there in time for lunch - picking somewhere to eat in Kamakura without any "research" is always fun, but we chose one of those restaurants that advertise on boards all over the street - it was cheap (for a touristy spot) and filling, about 1000yen for 定食 with halfネギトロ丼halfしらす丼　for me　（J had いくら・さけ丼）some udon, a few bits of tempura and pickles. I gave K my noodles, and half my 丼, really only in the hope that I would have left room to pig out afterwards on the yummy snacks around, but as it turned out, we never really found a "yummy snacks" place...J and K shared some だんご but that was it. We walked up the main shopping street with all the touristy shops, then stopped by Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and gardens there, where K ran around the whole grounds. I had hoped it would tire her out, but she was still wide awake and asking for ice-cream (the bribe we used to get her to sit back in the pram) hours later still. So we went looking for a nice cafe kind of place that does お茶 - for some reason, whenever I go to temples or shrines or 祭り I just get the urge for 抹茶. But we can never find a nice place to have a 和 style coffee break. There was one joint that did ocha, and the gardens next to the Tsurugaoka shrine, but you had to pay to get into the gardens first, and welll that just wasn't what I was looking for. I remember a cool little 和cafe in Beppu, that had 和desserts, like やせうま　（which is just thick udon type noodles with kinako on it). That was the kinda place I was searching for. *sigh* Anyway, since we are so close now, I will be sure to research for next time in case J comes out with an impromptu "Let's go to Kamakura" again.

So in the end, we ended up at Mr Donuts near the station (I know, I know, was only there 2 days before, oops) and then caught the train home again, home by about 4pm. It was a nice day of ぶらぶら, but I was a bit worn out by the end. And I slept WELL last night, as did K who missed her nap, so was out to it by 8pm (early for her).

Also, it seems that I change my pronunciation of Japanese towns when talking in english, so K now says that we went to Kamakuuura, just like a foreigner, lol.

25weeks3days

Some serious menu planning (eating like a rabbit for 3days) and efficiently chosen clothing (I looked like I was about to hit the beach, lol - and I even re-weighed myself without my thin hoodie, which cut another 300g off!) and I came in at 2.2kg for the last month and 3days....not bad at all! So there was no weight mentioned this time. As it turned out, it was a different doctor, who didn't say very much AT ALL (not even the "this may be a little cold" before putting the gel on my tum-tum) so I probably needn't have worried. Oh well, it was fun for a few days. And I got to reward myself with a Mr Donut morning tea break afterwards - seriously! We got out of the doctors before 10am, so went to the small shopping centre close by to pick up some groceries, and shouted K and myself to some donuts and (gasp) a cup of coffee!! I don't really drink coffee (and have avoided it more so than usual during pregnancy), but every now and then I just feel like one, and when Mr Donuts offers free refills, well, I just couldn't resist. How good is THAT! (mental note to self to go to Mr Donuts more often). So K and I shared 2 donuts (only because as soon as we sat down she decided that she DIDN'T want the one she picked out from the pack, but she wanted MINE, but I managed to convince her to go 半分子 with me, since she had the plain one, lol) then she said she wanted a drink of milk, so we got her a kiddies drink (105yen, again, too coool!) and a pink donut to share again and sat for some more. Was nice. She didn't eat lunch when we got home, but hey, once in a while ain't bad, right.

So all is good with TJ-baby - about 907g according to the ultrasound pic, right on track. We left home just before 8:20am, coz the traffic in the morning here is crazy - there are 2 lanes going down the hill, about 1km until we turn onto the start of the expressway or straight ahead to the next station area. In the mornings, the road to the expressway is always backed back to OUR traffic lights, so I usually jump into the right hand lane and try to cut in at the last minute. Seriously, can be like a 15min difference if you just stay in the left lane. A bit いんちき maybe, tho..... Anyway, got to the docs before 8:40am, so we were the first ones there, K likes playing with the toys there anyway, and I prefer to get there early and try to get out quickly. Had my checkup (all of 5mins) then was called back for 採血. It seems every time I go they are taking more tests or blood from me - never remember doing it this often when pregnant with K. I was also getting a bit worried because each time the appointments are costing close to 8000yen, or more, and that is WITH the little discount tickets from the city. When I asked the clinic originally they had said that it would be more like 4000yen or something each visit, so I thought I was be taken for a ride, but today it came out at only 3900yen (lol) so I was happy - more money to shout myself Mr Donuts with, right!? Next appointment is in 3 weeks time.....guess I am over the halfway point now, so they are just gonna get more frequent until I am down at the docs every other day, lol.

I also have to pay the 2nd down payment/２次予約金 probably next time, 20万 I think it is, yikes! Better start searching behind the sofa for loose coins or sell my body or something to pay for that.

Apart from the pretty constant back pain (not dilapidating, but ever existent) and some nightly headaches, things are going well though! I am probably not "enjoying" being pregnant this time, but that is only because I am not 100% focused on the pg. That said, I am not NOT enjoying it, so that is good at least. We came home and I decided to end off a lazy week with a lazy afternoon on the sofa reading "Shopaholic and Baby" and eating salty senbei as I figure I can only use the "I'm pregnant, why not" excuse for a few months more so better make the most of it now.

Oh, and it seems each time I go my current pg status (how many weeks/days pg I am) changes again, just by a day or 2. Not sure if that means that my EDD changes too or not, lol. but today I was recorded as 25w3days, even though I counted differently....oh well.

the big weigh-in

is coming up on Friday (25weeks check-up). So I am trying to remember to get myself into pre-weigh-in eating mode for the next few days, in a bit of a damage-control effort. That means smaller meals (only half a bowl of rice last night, compared to eating refills, lol) and snacking on fruit......

This is not dieting, btw, just not scoffing food in 24-7 like I have been - I don't know a time I have ever eaten so much (except maybe when breastfeeding K, lol).

It makes it hard when we just did a Costco run on the weekend.
And I bought the muffins. (yum).
And we had pizza!

I have tried to restrain myself the last few days, honestly, but those choc muffins are just so damn good!!!! At least the rest of them are frozen now, which takes me a whole extra 30sec to get them out, maybe a deterrent?

I feel like a jockey before a big race - hope I make the weigh in, lol.

K-isms for today

me: "what are you doing?" (K is in the other room, and it is very quiet)
K : "anything"

(said in a whiney voice) "my nose is running away"

me: "let's call nanna" (meaning on skype)
K: (yells out in loudest voice) NANNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

things I've done this week

not really exciting, but:

finished reading a BOOK! ( (Mr Toppit) (and I only started it over NY too)

had friends over for playdate and lunch, and made filo pastries - yum!

found the big park closeby (on 2nd attempt, today with J - we looked it up on google map before heading out!)

tried new cake shop (up behind station) - average

had neigbours over for a playdate, and sussed out some info on local pre-schools

found an English preschool close by (and also double the price of local schools, sigh)

watered the garden everyday (the cycad, lemon tree and fan leaf palm we planted after NYs are thanking me)

managed to leave the house 9/10 times without my phone. If only I was trying to make a statement.,....unfortunately, I am just forgetful....

made lemon slice, mushi-pan, and just bought some peanut butter from Costcos to make peanut butter cookies. Enjoying the baking (but may HAVE to stop until after my next docs appt)

finally got set up for online banking for my Japanese a/cs (then got slightly depressed when I saw all the "outgoings"....

watched very little TV, neither online US sitcoms nor J-TV. About to make up for that now with an episode or two, maybe Gary Unmarried, for want of something better until the next ep of GA airs next week.

skyped with my BFF finally - we kept missing each other over Xmas and NY.

and acted in several "My Little Pony" skits, with director K (hehe)

a decade gone by

Got back from the inlaws Sunday night - had a quiet new years thanks to an altercation with J on the night of the 30th that meant that I didn't talk to him at all until about midday on the 1st, as we were lining up 3 and 4-deep (yes, for 40mins to get to the alter) for hatsumode , when I guess it hit me that I was being silly and this was no way to start a new year. Anyway, it is already 5 days into the new year, but I have only just realised that it is the start of a new decade (my, how informative blogs can be!) and just started thinking about NY resolutions (which I never really make anyway, but perhaps will try this year...)

The memories of the decade type reflections has been doing the rounds, it seems, so figured I may as well have a go - if only for my own failing memorie's benefit. It turned out quite long, it's funny what you remember!

2000 - Had just broken up with M, whom I had been going out with during most of uni, and even stayed together when I came to Japan on JET the previous July. He came to visit over Xmas and NY, but we broke up during his visit. Was consoled by Japanese
T whom I kinda fell hard for, until he cancelled a weekend away to Shikoku several months later an hour before we were supposed to go. Spent many a Fri night at Pub Chaya, the local hangout, or weekends away in Fukuoka (met a "Sgt Pluggit - his REAL name - at one of the "cocks" in Fukuoka, lol) Bought my blue mountain bike with hybrid tyres for all the weekends of cycling over the hills to Kamae and back. Did first charity cycling 100km in 3days. Started getting into triathlons - would do the bike leg in team events.
Spent Christmas in the UK with L and her family. It snowed on Xmas morning!! Hopped across to Ireland, hired a car and drove around Galway, Kilkenny, The Blarney Stone, etc. Stayed at L's grandfather's old house in (cant remember name of town) and was stared down like I was a madman at the bar when I tried to order a contreau lime and soda, lol (ended up with a guiness). Fell asleep the first night at the house with what felt like someone whispering in my ear. Turned out her grandmother had died in the bedroom, and legend has it that her ghost still sits in the window there (right where MY bed was!) Spooky!

2001 - Started attempting 10k marathons - did one in Ume (freakin' cold - it started snowing!) where I came 2nd last(the follow-up car was behind me, lol) Did mini triathlons in Miyazaki "Seagaia" and Ibusuki (Kagoshima)- still hated the running part! Went holidaying to Thailand in Sept with L (as flight to Canada/US got cancelled after September 11, so my holiday to visit H in Canada was cancelled) Back to Aus for Christmas. Got back together with first love, briefly. Went to the New Years Black Tie ball together in Bris.


2002 - Started seeing H in my section at work (kinda enjoyed the hush hush, secret winks, holding hands in the work car, lol) HE took me to Shikoku, lol! FIFA World Cup - brother and L came over as we got tickets to the Mexico-Italy game at Big Eye. Actually went temporarily blind in one eye after a night of drinking cheapo whiskey at "The Hit Parade" in Beppu while my bro was visiting, leading to the new nick-name of "one-eye". Finished JET in July, and went travelling around China for a month before catching the train from Beijing to Ulan Bataar and spending 2 months volunteer English teaching at a bank in Mongolia's capitol. Stayed with young family, and ate and ate and ate for 2 months! Back to Australia in Nov. Sat 日本語能力試験 in Dec. Started looking for work back in Japan (hoped to get to Fukuoka)

2003 - Went to a psychic fair in Canberra with friends in Jan and was told that I had an afinity with a foreign country, somewhere like "holland" (lol) and that there was a man with black hair on the phone telling me to "come". Got a phone call from uni in Beppu a few weeks later, telling me to come over for a job. Started in April, recruiting international students, same time as M-chan, got on like a house on fire - we spent our Golden week holiday in LA, and she came back to Aus for Xmas that year. Did some travelling for work - Hawaii was a bonus trip!! Spent many a week night at yaki niku place next to our bldg, or yakitori joint just a short stroll (enough for one or 2 chuhai cans) down the road, or at Nori-chan's bar, or at that other bar with the round ice cubes that I can't remember the name of, but that we had a crush on the "master" . Also had many cheese and wine nights at 90210 on the balcony watching the hostesses across the road come out of their building and be shuffled into the awaiting minivans for transportation. Went out for Halloween dressed as the Kano shimai. We even caught the train to Oita looking like that!! Was known for my love of American dogs (not a euphemism, the ones you buy from conbini) after a night out. Met J during this time, and we got together when I came up to Tokes for a weekend with some friends to watch the rugby world cup (on tv at a sports bar, lol). Started　遠距離恋愛

2004 - Lots more travelling for work - Sri Lanka with M, India/Dubai by myself, Hawaii again, alone this time!! Vietnam with M, Kyoto, Brisbane (timed it in with a bit of a visit home). Came up to Tokes several times during ski season to go skiing/snowboarding with J around Nagano/Niigata etc. Used to meet up either in Tokes or Oita about once a month or so for weekends. Did lots of travelling together during these weekends from as far south as Yakushima to as far north as Aomori in summer. J came home with me at Xmas to meet the family, and we started looking at diamond rings in Aus (but still there was no offficial proposal, lol).

2005 - Parents came to visit in Feb, and J and I decided to think about getting married, so I moved to Tokyo in April to live with him, got job as local staff at Aus embassy. Told pop we were getting married and he tells me he can't believe it. Dad and him have a fallout and never speak again. Had small wedding party in Tokyo in Oct for Japanese friends and family. Back to Aus in Oct for friend's wedding, then for our own wedding in Nov. I manage to see Pop at the hospital just hours before he passes away a week before our wedding. Hard week leadup to wedding, but absolutely fabulous day, we had a ball, had so many rellies come up to be part of our wedding day. Short 3day honeymoon at Buderim. Xmas and NY back in Japan. ★ラブラブ★　

2006 - Did some more casual work with embassy, while planning our REAL honeymoon: 3 months backpacking around South America March-May. Absolutely amazing trip!! Got back to Japan, more casual work, started tea ceremony lessons again with an amazing sensei, got R-chan, then got pregnant the next month and quit embassy as couldn't hack the train rides in peak hour into central tokyo. Went back to Aus for Xmas, J couldn't make it.

2007- Moved out of granny flat beside PIL house to apartment near Shinjuku (had to quit tea ceremony lessons, boo-hoo, I miss them!). K born in April. Hard year for J work wise as he attempted a new venture with long hours. We hardly had any time together, except for after midnight when we would pig out on conbini junk food together. Had some dental work done (pg messes with your teeth, right!). Had visits from my parents when K was born, my brother and L when K was 3 months old as well as best friend H. Took K on her first camping trip when she was 4 months old (Tanzawa in the middle of summer). We went back to Aus in Sept for a month to show off K, and for C's wedding.

2008 - Moved again, J got new job, I had a hard start to the year with some kind of depressed mood for several months after K stopped breastfeeding (bloody hormones!!). Visits from my parents, friend C, neice K. Started trying to get pg at end of year. I went home for Dec, and J visited for a week over Xmas and NY. Had a great NY down the coast with H.

2009 - Miscarriage and J changed jobs (again yikes hope this doesn't happen EVERY year) in April. Bit of a hard time. We started looking into buying rather than renting a new place. Bought in July, moved in end of August. Went to Cairns with PIL and my parents in Sept, K and I stayed on for the rest of the month. Found out I was pg while in Aus. Spent the last half of the year slowly getting bits and pieces for the house together. Had first Xmas in new house, with roast turkey! K got her own bed, and is actually sleeping in it.

What a decade. Am sure there is lots more travelling in there somewhere, but I will have to actually sit down and go through photos/passport records to work out when and where: my failing memory is real!! I think one of my ny resolutions should be to record where and when I have been places... (kinda started it last year but ran out of steam quickly...they dont call me 三日坊主 for nothin!)