Major Brownie Points

I'm not sure if last night was much more of a success sleep-wise than the night before. 11pm, 1am, 3am wake-ups from Ryu and Shou shouting to the world that at 4am it was infact morning and time to go downstairs. Coaxed him back into our bed where he kind of dozed until Ryu started to wake up at five. I had had next to no sleep though and was not a happy camper so asked hub to get up - which he did. Ten minutes later and Ryu is nutting out and I stomp downstairs, pick him up - he is in the bouncer with hub tiredly trying to make him laugh, get a nappy and go back upstairs. Change his nappy and booby him to sleep in our bed, where I manage to get another hour shut eye. I can not wait for these days to be over - or nights rather. I know that as soon as the sleep thing is sorted there will be something else to worry about but honestly, this no sleep survival mummy lark is taking its toll.

Got the kids off to kindy without too much hassle and came home to make muffins! I couldn't be bothered starting from scratch so used a Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge cake mix. Divided it into thirds and made one batch - 6 muffins. Enough for the visitors and coffee Chiemi and her son when they came before English, but not enough for me to sit and scoff back eighteen muffins by self. As it happens, my friend couldn't come and I ended up having three!

Took the muffins out of the oven and Ryu and I retreated upstairs for an hour and a half. Bliss. It has only been two nights of him sleeping on his own but it felt soooo nice to cuddle up with him. He was all sleepy smiles. Tis amazing he actually got any sleep with me just about sniffing the skin off his neck. Love his neck rolls.

Did some shopping before lunch. Half price frozen foods day do decided to get some chips to go with the fish I had out. Fish and Chips. Doesn't happen very often. I used a recipe from one of my kiwi recipe books but substituted the flour for tempura flour and it was yum yum yum. So light and yet so tastey. For those not in the know - it was...

1 egg
1 tbl oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup of beer (used Asahi superdry)
1/2 cup of flour (tempura flour)

and the end result...

Had some batter left over so made some onion rings and battered shitake mushrooms for beer snacks...


With Granny K away this week I thought I would have Ryu on my knee during English class. But what do you know, hub arrived home five minutes before the start of my 4pm English class. Major major brownie points. Who needs flowers and chocolate and diamonds when you have a husband as thoughtful as that?

OK, so the flowers, chocolate and diamonds would still help.

Speaking of chocolate. For those people not lucky enough to have a Starbucks in close proximity, but who are wanting a caramel eclair latte, I suggest the following combination...

eat chocolates while drinking coffee and seriously, it may have even been better than yesterday's Starbucks coffee break.

Not much else to report - except that eldest son is pulling through and will be driving Granny K back here on Sunday. As he bloody well should be.

Promise more cute baby pics tomorrow. Definately better than fish and chips and chocolate.

SDGH&QL

PS - I should probably add that hub and I had an argument this morning. This morning wasn't really a good morning to try and converse with me at all - but he braved my bad lack of sleep mood and asked if I would like him to come home early tomorrow - Thursday, so could go and pick the kids up from kindy as my English class lasts till half five and it is all go and rushing around. I snapped some irrational and ungrateful remark at him and he got in a huff - as you would expect seeing as I was being totally heartless bitch. I think this made the fact that he came home early today even more betterer-ish.

Me thinks maybe I should 'reward' him for his efforts. Gotta make him think this kind of behaviour will be met with rewards to ensure it happens more often in future!

Three times in ten minutes

The 9pm siren is about to go - and shit what do you know, I think I can hear Ryu stirring in anticipation. Hub had a work 'human rights' meeting he had to go to tonight so wasn't home till just before eight - just as I was coming down the stairs from getting Shou to sleep. It took longer than usual because Ryu was being a fussy bugger - not helped by the THREE announcements from the loud speaker in the backyard. They never do them before half seven. Some bollocks about a doctor visiting the local hall tomorrow so please go and harrass him for drugs, then five minutes later one about a councelling day at the town office hall - where they promise they will 'himitsu o mamorimasu' - keep any juicy shit you tell them a secret. I think the last was about drink driving.

The siren has just gone and it looks like, or sounds like rather, that we might be in the clear.

The new sleeping arrangements weren't that successful last night. Ryu woke up at 11, 1, 3 and when he woke at half 4 I ignored him and he grizzled himself back to sleep. During the 3am boobage stop Shou must have gotten out of bed because when I tried to snuggle back in next to hub in our bed I got a face full of curly hair and a mouth full of teddy's arm.

Let's hope tonight is better, although not a good start.

Despite the not a good sleep last night I still decided to pack Ryu up and go visit Granny K. Came back for an hour after dropping the older sproglets off so could wash some dishes and other mundane but necessary shit like that. Headed off towards the highway and got all the way there only to find big fuck off sign saying was closed due to fog. Must admit, was driving with headlights on and couldn't see much so not surprising. I imagine the hills must have been completely whited out (?). I ended having to go a funny way to the city though, taking about half an hour longer than usual. Every man, dog, and truck that was planning on going on the highway was forced to take the poor people's road along with us - making for slow travel.

We got to Beppu and Ryu was starting to get hungers and I was finding it hard to drive with crossed legs so we called in to Youme town for a pit stop. A bit more chrissy shopping, some trousers for the kids, some yummy bread, and a trip to the toilet and baby room. Got to Granny K's bumholeyole clinic at half twelve. Was signing my name in the book when lady poked her head out of a doorway and then retreated saying 'she's here, she's here'. It would appear that Granny K had informed them we were coming!! They even knew about me doing a new year's tv show with the prefectural gov about five years ago!!

Can't be much to do all day - except talk about your respective bumholes, meddy and foreign daughters in law.

We stayed for about forty minutes, for most of which Ryu was completely adorable and did Granny K proud. Shou and Marina had drawn pictures for her this morning - Marina's was crabs and Shou's was rockets, not that you have guessed that at first glance of course. Both needed elaborate descriptions.

Seeing as I had to head through Beppu again on the way home - owing to worsening of fog and highways remaining closed - I decided to stop in at Tokiwa, for the sole purpose of getting my Caramel Eclair Latte.

The verdict.

Average.

Very much like a caramelly eclairish latte. Nothing to write home about - but then I had driven half the day in rain and fog and spent nearly an hour at a bumhole clinic before getting to it. In that respect it wasn't worth the hassle.

The gingerbread latte is still in the lead but then I haven't tried the dark cherry mocha one yet so that's another something for a rainy day. I bought the christmas blend coffee so will have to have a pot of that tomorrow when friend haven't seen for yonks comes over after lunch. I might even get all Martha Stewarty and make me some muffins.

Hub has decided to forgo his most bestest look forward to fun piss up end of year do - that is next Friday - the 20th. It would have been an overnight thing to Beppu and he would have arrived home not well on Saturday. He said he isn't going cause will cost too much on top of the other ones that are more important - as in work ones. He also said that because he wasn't going to that one then was it OK to go to the one this Friday that he originally had said no to because Granny K not here to help me out, and more importantly here to keep an eye on the kids while they are asleep so I can go and pick him up - in the town three towns over.

It is yakiniku at his boss's house though so a lot cheaper in the scheme of things. He has sorted out a ride home though so off he will go and me and the kids will battle on alone.

Tomorrow should be interesting. Granny K usually looks after Ryu while I am teaching but this week I will have to keep him with me, either learning Swahilli in the other room or joining us as we write letters to Santa. I figure the worse that can happen is that I will have to hold him the whole time and that wouldn't be the end of the world.

Anyhoooo, very boring post. I am going to scrounge a shoulder rub off hub and have an early night.

SDGH&QL

Better day.

Definately a better day, despite a not so good night with Ryu - again.

After blogging last night I put the computer to rest and hub and I had an early night. A lot of winking and a bit of nudging and the world is now a better place.

That, and Ryu's sleeping patterns and I decided to FINALLY move his bed downstairs - Ryu's that is. Not hub's. Ryu is now sharing a room with our ancestors who have been asleep for so long a few restless nights shouldn't be a problem. I have the kiddy walkie talkie in there but really only plan on going down to him if he starts actually crying in the middle of the night. Up until now I haved tended to roll over and shove boob in his face at the slightest grizzle. His sleepy booby dreams are over. Time to get mummy some more sleep.

I have sorted our room back out and did some furniture rearranging - something I haven't done since I was pregnant. SHIT!!

No, definately not.

So, tonight hub and I will be sharing our bed for the first time in over five months. I wonder if our bed's still up for it. Me thinks it probably is!

Shou will have to get used to sleeping without daddy on the futon by his bed too -which may take a week or two I think. He tends to sleep talk a bit and if this happens to coincide with hitting the edge of the bed (he moves up and up - almost tempted to start him off half way down the bed) then he half wakes up. A 'hey, Shou, it's OK' and he is back to sleep though.

I also found an ATM that will give me cash from home - the post office in Kunimi. I remembered this morning - or rather had this vague recollection that I had gotten money from there before and what do you know. I go there this morning and there is a big sticker on the middle of the machine saying 'use your international ATM card'. Wahoo. Tried not to slit my wrists when I came back this afternoon and logged on to online banking to see how much the rate was! Ouch. But desparate times and all that. I paid a few exciting bills and even have some left over for a caramel eclair latte tomorrow when Ryu and I go to visit Granny K at the bumholeyole clinic. Hell, I might even splurge and get the gingerbread one as well.

Not having Granny K here the last few days hasn't been so bad - I thought I might 'miss' her not holding onto Ryu while I do the kindy run or bath thing. It actually is fine and knowing that nobody is there makes it easier in a way - as opposed to not knowing when and where Granny K will pop up.

The unbloggables have taken a turn for the better and there should be considerably less days of worry and phone calls from now on. Huge sige of relief for everyone I think.

The fire alarm is about to go off. For ten seconds at 9pm every day for the next week! unbelievable! Is meant to help remind us of increased number of fires in winter time - with people leaving heaters and kotatsus on rah rah. Due to speaker being situated in our back yard this does however mean for us as increased number of babies and children waking up at nine - in twenty seconds.

Wait for it...


and there we go.

bastards.

There goes Ryu...


yip, and there's Shou.


Marina my angel sleeps on.

Better go sort the boys out.

SDGH&QL

Spent

Another Sunday over.

It has been a long day.

But photos like this remind you that it is all worthwhile.


The whole kid thing - it can get on top of you.

The whole family thing and unbloggables - that can get on top of you too.

And yet tomorrow is a new day. A new week.

Think I'll crawl out from under the kiddy and unbloggable pile tomorrow and try to to get on top of things again.

What I can say about today though...

A friend came round this morning with her daughters Noa and Ria. Shou was up a few times last night and was pretty much past it by ten but got over the hump and played with Noa for an hour or so.

They left and I somehow managed to scrounge up lunch from the fridge. I had planned on having a wee mummy break and having a cuppa and ringing a friend when everyone else went down for afternoon naps - but things overcame me and I went to put Ryu down and woke up an hour and a half later in exactly the same position and thinking I had only closed my eyes for half a second!

High tiger boy and his father had obviously been asked to vacate their house while mummy and new baby got settled back in. They were having walks in vacinity of our house with hopeful glances at the playhouse so they came in and stayed for a while.

I was on the phone a bit with home and a bit of worry - that brings with it more worry, selfishness, anger, tears and generally lots of sighs and what the fucks? Tomorrow will see the start of another stage and hopefully the start of things getting better. Onwards and upwards.

I'm sure there is lots more things I could think about reporting from today but I'm spent.

SDGH&QL

Edit - I just checked my recent visits and found someone keep putting my blog into the google translation software. Today's blog...

I had planned on having a wee mummy break ...私はおしっこミイラを破ることと...

Granny K all Fixed

Granny K had her bumholeyole fixed this morning. They told us yesterday hub didn't need to be there until ten. He was going to drop the kids at kindy and head out of Kunimi by eight. Granny K rang this morning and said they now wanted him there by half nine. Not so thrilled about this new time. Now means I have to finish dressing, brushing teeth, putting shoes on and getting into car of three small children. Well, obviously Ryu didn't need his teeth cleaned but Marina felt that perhaps his head needed a bit of polishing. Thanks for that darling.

I told hub that I bet he arrives all nice and early and what do you know he will have to wait ages while McDreamy Mcbumholeyole Doctor sorts out all his McScalples. Granny K got wheeled into surgery at eleven.

Don't even get me started.

Hub phoned eldest brother and asked if he could please, perhaps, maybe, would be very grateful, if could drive Granny K back here on Sunday next week when she checks out. He pulled the whole 'chotto, mada wakaranai' (um, not sure) Japanese shit. Hub seemed fine about it and just said Granny K could get taxi then train and then he and Shou would go pick her up - now as much as I complain about the woman I know she won't want to be sitting on a pile of donut cushions on the train.

I told hub that if eldest son doesn't pull his weight by bringing her home, AND doesn't go visit her in bumholeyole clinic five minutes drive from his house at least once this week then I am not sending a new years postcard.

Serious stuff.

We send everyone new years postcards - the milkman, hub's teacher from kindy, my god, I even still send one to an old man I met for thirty minutes while volunteering at a triathlon in Okinawa nine years ago. We were both posted at a hair pin bend in the bike course - him because of his medical skills and me because I had claimed to be fluent in three languages - English, Japanese and Spanish. I oomphed up my two years of spanish study into 'fluent' so I could perve at all the nice athletes. My Spanish now would be equivalent of 'hola, sweeetie darling, vino sweetie? darling?'

So anyway, I am in big humph with eldest brother.

Anyhooo, operation went well and she should be up and pole dancing again by tomorrow afternoon.

After I dropped the sprogs off I came home and cleaned and did washing. Solar Panal Man's wife came and picked us up at half nine. I was mainly going for the chats in the car and lunch! Really not much shopping on my list...

longsleeved undershirts for the kids
trousers for Shou (he went to kindy in three quarter shorts this morning)
skivy (turtle neck) for Shou - or Marina. Whoever feels like wearing it on the day.
Some yummy bath soap
Some chrissy decs
A proper measuring cup
some yummy bread
some groceries

We had a good catch up about life. I spent almost the whole way there talking about the unbloggables. A lot has happened in the last couple of days and talking to family on the phone is one thing but being able to talk with someone about it in person is different - helps me sort things out better I think.

Got home about three, followed by hub about half an hour later. I had a minor mummy meltdown at dinner time when Marina kept spitting shit on the floor. Already she knows exactly which buttons to push. It is scary. She doesn't back down after being told off either she just gets her 'face' on - with the big don't mess with me mummy eyes. Shou had his feet on the table and Ryu was crying - all at the same time. One thing at a time children - please. I would be a much happier mummy if you could all give me shit in turn and not all at once.

They are now all asleep - but that was a feat in itself. Shou didn't go to sleep properly until nine. Sigh of sleepy sighs.

Tomorrow is Sunday and I feel like I need an extra holiday day squeezed in there before then - one just for me.

I would love to just fall into bed - but that would mean trying to avoid the sleeping baby. I need me a big king sized bed all to myself - and someone to make me a gingerbread latte followed in quick succession by a caramel eclair latte in the morning.

Hub has just out of the blue said I (as in foreigners) might get ticket to vote In Japan from as early as next year.

Awesome.

Now we also will be partially held responsible for the crap government this country has. He thinks there will be criteria - like length of stay.

Me thinks he might be talking out his bumholeyole.

In which case, might pay to go get it fixed.

SDGH&QL

PS - some very boring pics showing again the gender differences (and cute babies)

Shou playing tunnels with the cushions on the couch.


Cute baby


Fuck mum, go easy on the flash aye


Marina being a nice quiet girl - drawing endless number of damn crabs


Edit - Ryu is five months today. In baby news he is growing well, although exactly how well am not sure as haven't taken him for any check ups in four months. He sucks, he shits, he laughs, he grizzles and he sleeps. Just like his daddy.

His sleeping at night is getting a little better I guess. Not much. He must be starting to get teeth cause is blowing lots of bubbles, has his hands stuffed in his mouth twenty four seven and likes knawing (?) on my tit. Ouchy of ouch. He can roll over and laughs out loud and even babbles on occassion.

He loves watching Shou and Marina but not too keen on having his head polished with Marina's toothbrush.

I get almost weepy when I think that soon I will be starting him on mash and beginning to pave his yellow brick road to toddlerhood. Scary.

Coloproctology

I am presuming that coloproctology is the study of bumholeyoles and fixing there after of holes that need to be fixed.

I took Granny K to the bumholeyole clinic today. Ahem, excuse me, the Nishimura Coloproctology Clinic. Where they have an entrance for woman and an entrance for men. When you check in for your operation stay they even ask you if it is OK to let people know that you are there - ie: if anyone rings and asks something like 'I hear Granny K is in there getting her bumholeyole clipped. Is that true?' and the reception girl has to say 'no, have no patient here by that name.'

We left here at about half nine and headed for the shops and lunch. I asked Granny K if it was OK to leave a bit early so could do some shopping - seeing as was driving two hours each way and all. We got to the complex and I suggested going our separate ways for an hour or so and then schincronizing our watches to meet back up for lunch.

No, no, no. Granny K has noooooooooo shopping and isn't interested in doing anything, and is therefore quite happy to follow me round everywhere. Fuck it. I got so off my shopping guard that I nearly bought a fucking wind up Alpacca. Not sure if any of my five neices would have been happy about getting that in their stocking at Christmas.

She did pay for lunch though.

Granny K.


Not the wind up Alpacca.

I thought that today I would shop for ME - buy me some winter shoes. What did I end up buying?

A pair of shoes for Shou
A pair of shoes for Marina
Three English kids books (well cheap)
Chicken (for dinner)
Honey and Mustard Pringles (yum yum)

I had wanted to go to Starbucks for a 'quiet' coffee just with Ryu. But Granny K and starbucks and me wanting a quiet coffee not really all one of the same so I had to just get a take out. Yay - they have started the winter lattes. I ordered a gingerbread latte without thinking and then as soon as had paid realised they have a new one - a caramel eclair latte. Someone please have one and tell me if is worth driving all that way to have one!

Come 2pm and I dropped Granny K off at the clinic (check in from 2) where the nurse, on seeing Ryu, said she hoped he didn't catch a cold from being there???? I was under impression that bumholeyole patients, unless sneezing out ass, are there for operations and not asprin and cough lollies. We didn't end up accompaning Granny K to her room so left her and headed home.

She rang before and her operation is to be at about half ten tomorrow. Hub will drop sproglets off at kindy and then head over - on his own.

I am going out with Chiemi - Solar Panal Man's wife. We talked about going out for the day a couple of weeks ago. When she rang this afternoon I kind of couldn't be assed and made excuse that hub wanted me to go with him tomorrow. We then got talking and I started feeling all 'well actually I do want to go but have just said I was doing something else'. Emailed before and said hub could fuck right off and drive all that way on his own - seeing as I had to today.

I hate when I do that - suggest something, reneg and make up some shite about why can't do orginally suggested plan, and then want to do what had suggested in first place. Sigh. Is hard being so popular have to keep scheduling and rescheduling schedule. (not)

So she is picking me and Ryu up at half nine - but do I mind sitting in the back with Ryu because her son's carseat is in the front seat.

I know.

Take the fuckin thing out. I hate talking over the back seat.

Ah well.

Is a day out to a shopping department when we have no money to spend. I tried, on the way home today, to find an ATM that would take my bastard international Visa card. NADA. Every machine spat it back out at me - and I even stopped at the airport! In doing so I also left my keys by the ATM and got summonds by the loud speaker.

"Would the gaijin with the big bald baby attached to her tit in the feeding room please come to the information desk on the second floor to collect her keys. I bet you didn't even realise you had left them behind. Twat"

Well,not quite.

Just lucky some nice person had handed them in and I didn't have to run outside and try and stop some big ugly person trying to break into the family wagon.

So that was our day - throw a bit of unbloggables in there though. SIGH.


Nighty night.

A whole week without Granny K - late night baths and frolicks without having to worry about her walking in.

Wink wink.

SDGH&QL

Edit - see you that wink wink and raise you some nudge nudge!

Letter from Santa

My English kids came this evening - they got hand gelled at the door and told to cough in the general direction of 'away from me'. The first years were on house arrest last week with swine flu and they are back at school now but the second years are getting it - but only two away and the school year doesn't get sent home until three are out with it. So far the primary school and kindy are OK.

Ryu had a stellar morning sleep today. I even got some buns made - the non DNA type. I have enough of those. Three is plenty. No, I got me some yeasty ones - not sure if that sounds much better though!! I tried making Chelsea Buns the other day but the yeast I used was past it and it didn't get all frothy - but I tried it anyway and then the dough didn't rise AT ALL so I hiffed it. Bought some new yeast and today we were away. They were fairly nice but I think next time will leave out the raisins as they just about exploded.

Bloody things take time though. Have to wait for things to rise three times. First the yeast in warm water, then the dough and then the kneeded, pasted with goodness and rolled into shape dough. In total you end up waiting about an hour for the damn things before you even put them in the oven. Thank god hub maintenance doesn't take that long to rise. But then if I expected hub to rise three times in a row then perhaps it would take an hour - or perhaps maybe even two or three days. He is getting on after all.

A friend, who had a baby a couple of months ago, was coming round to collect some of Ryu's hand me downs. She offered to come over here and I just presumed that she would come in for a coffee with her little boy. Come 10am and the house was tidy, coffee in the pot and cinnamon goodness smells coming from the oven. She stopped at the genkan (door), handed over some cake to say thankyou and then made off with the bag of clothes. I was a bit dissapointed as thought I might get an hours gassing, some coffee and a hold of a smaller baby than Ryu. Humph.

Nevermind, had some nice coffee and watched rest of crap movie on sky with Ryu. We had a lovely lovely, almost made me want to have another baby, nap this afternoon. Ryu was the perfect picture of cute babyness and we fell asleep in the afternoon sun for an hour and a half. Love that.

Otherwise very normal day. Afternoon English class - where two of the girls decided there was an invisible friend with them - made for an interesting class. I asked if they wanted to send a letter to Santa so they could get a reply. They do, so that is next week's class. I spent some time looking sites up and decided in the end that for Shou and Marina I will just write them but for my English class I really need real ones with overseas stamps.

I decided that Shou's letter would go something like this...

------------------
Dear Shou.

I heard from your mummy that you've been a good little boy this year - well, you tried at least. It's hard being good all the time when your little sister tempts you so much - to sit on her, hit her, squash her, and tell her to bugger off. Mrs Claus and I are certain you will be able to try a bit harder next year.

We had an emergency meeting with the elves and reached the decision that you do however deserve a gift from all of us here at Lapland. In your letter, while everything did infact look like snakes and airplanes, a little elf tells me that it was infact pictures of what you want for Christmas.

1. Fire Engine (are you sure you want another one?)
2. Power Ranger stick of some kind
3. Long Crane

It will take the elves and I a wee while to search for a stick of some kind and a long crane.

But they don't call me Santa for nothing you know.

Mummy tells me you have been:

1. good at brushing your teeth (that's good cause we will send lots of sweets)
2. good at playing and inventing stories
3. excelling at putting on your angel face right before getting told off

Number 2. and 3. are great skills to have. Keep up the good work.

Go to bed early (for once) on Christmas eve and I will come and leave gifts under the tree.

Lots of love

Santa

PS - leave us a glass of beer and some crisps for the reindeer will you. Will need the lift after trying to get down your fuckin skinny chimney.

PPS - tell dad not to worry, I won't park the reindeer on the damn solar panels.

----------------------

SDGH&QL