Update long overdue

Hi everyone,

No promises for how interesting this blog will be as there is nothing much happening here.  Although, I feel like I could give birth to alien spawn and consider it still 'nothing much' when everyone up north is going through such trials.  I feel shallow worrying about our little concerns when there are still thousands and thousands living out of school halls, unable to let their children drink the water and without heat, in the freezing cold. 

Compared to that, our little ups and downs don't seem such a big deal. 

So what have we been up to?  Working (Jeff) and not working (me - although I actually did work last week), helping out at English class and trying to save money.  That's us in a nutshell! 

We were supposed to be at a hanami (cherry blossom viewing) party last weekend in Onomichi, but it got postponed because the blossoms are late this year - a bit disappointing.  This weekend we were supposed to spend in Hiroshima staying at Nishikawa-san's apartment (or 'aparto' as they call it) for another hanami party.  Which also got cancelled, this time apparently because Nishikawa-san and Sonoko-san were too busy.  Next weekend we are supposed to have a hanami party in Shobara, but I start to see a pattern here... 

Instead, on Sunday we went to Okayama city.  We had been told that there was a pub that served meat pies - the food Jeff had been craving since hitting Japan - but it turned out to be a bit of a wild goose chase as they only have them occasionally, for big events.  Luckily we had a really nice walk around a huge garden on an island and took photos of Okayama castle.  The garden looked a little the worse for wear at the end of winter, but the ponds, moss and plum tree blossoms made us (and by us I mean me) determined to go back again later in the season.  It would look very different - but very beautiful - in each different season, so I'm keen to visit often.  We concluded our Okayama trip by visiting the book store that has a decent English selection and stocking up at the imported food store (three bags of muesli?  Check.  Seven boxes of peppermint tea?  Check.  White chocolate covered pretzels?  Check - oops!!).  Altogether we had a nice day, even if Jeff was snuffling his way round looking a little like that famous reindeer. 

Time for me to go make some lunch now.

I hope you are all keeping well and that NZ is recovering from the quakes.

Charly