One Day to Go

Until wedding number one. Today me and Jus mooched around Harajuku, checked out every inch of Laforet, which was great - I didn't realise there was so much in there. I managed not to get the things on my list but tomorrow is facial, manicure, pedicure and checking in to the Hilton for a mini holiday. No worrying about the dishes or the washing or the bins. I have to get substitute wedding rings for us (we are not actually exchanging rings until UK leg, rolling the marriage out little by little!!!), a bag for me, I ordered a bouquet of sakura and some kind of orchid today, to be arranged in an ikebana style. The blossom still looks good. We have to get down to the park and reserve our spot for Saturday, we will do that tomorrow at some point. Everything last minute, but that's the best way and the only way for me. And the manboy. I am now waiting up, just about to have a nice shower then hot bath, for our bingo cards to print off. We are having a bingo game as part of our party. Seem strange - not so, very popular in Japan having games at the party and a lot of fun too. We have polaroid cameras in da house and everyone will have their pictures taken.
So I am sleepy, went out for dinner with Jus and Chris, left Kei at home to organise a bit. We had a couple of beers and izakaya food. Intend to drink a load of water and have a bath. Get to bed and in the morning frantically prepare the flat for our visitor. This mainly involves making it smell good! Sleeeeeppppy. Will let you know the next installment soon.

Nerves

Well, Jus is here and we just went out to dinner in Shibuya at the restaurant above the club we went ot on Saturday night. The day is fast approaching and little last minute changes are occuring that I didn't forsee. I am determined to keep positive as at the end of the day it's just a party - that's all. I do wish we had run off and done this alone. Daily. But then we also want to have a big party with friends. It's late and I am full of nerves about silly silly things, like who will carry a bag of X, Y or Z to where and will they mind. Good God I need to go to bed - it's 2.30. All is well. Should get flowers for myself. Suppose I could do that on the day. yeah....
Am really looking forward to a couple of nights in a nice hotel - Kei isn't, which is frankly disappointing. I just can't wait to feel like I am on holiday or something, away from the house and folders and things like that and just somewhere where someone else does all the laundry and stuff!!! But not Kei - thinks it's a waste of time!! Is it a man thing? I think it's quite romantic personally, granted it's a bit daft, but it will feel like a break. And a bit special.

Gales and Rain and Earthquakes

Tonight was windy and rainy - bad news for the sakura. There was also a trembler, which came when the wind and rain was at its worst. I fear having to evacuate in the rain, would be such hassle espesh in my slippers and pajamas. Saturday will be sunny and cloudy with a high of 16 - not bad. 10 percent chance of rain - I'll hedge my bets.
I had a disturbed night's sleep last night. Kept waking up and feeling guilty for getting a dress that I'll only wear twice and for getting facials and manicures. I was thinking about how I coudl have saved that money for my future - put it away for my pension. I felt like I was taking the food from my yet conceived children's mouths. So I slept fitfully. Today Kei, April and some of the most talented men in the field of IT put my mind at rest. That's right, in consulting/teaching/business we call it 'rapport building'. I call it talking about myself on someone else's time. But you know, these guys were more excited than me when they found out I was getting wed on Saturday. And even more excited that the man in question is a Nihonjin!! I told them a comedy version of my fears of expense and they all just said it's a great day and I should feel good - as did the boy. So that was good. Of course the girls always say that. If I'd been out and spent a whole months wages on a lip cream, they'd be supportive. But the boys - their approval means a lot. So today I feel better. I have a list and it includes the following:
Pants
Wigs
Tarps
cushions
throws
champagne glasses
In green felt tip. Are these the ramblings of a woman, once again, on the edge?...

Weather

OK Friday will be sunny and warm - so let's hope Saturday will be too!!! And let's hope Yahoo weather updates soon as I haven't got my contingency plan in order yet!!! Come on Tokyo - don't let me down. I'm so good to you....

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Hello to all you Mums out there!!! Happy mother's day UK. Especially Mummy Sue in Wallasey. Ok so this post is a day late, but everything I do is late at the moment and I say 'better late than never!'. I hope all you Mums out there had a lovely day and were looked after by your families. I sadly failed miserably on that count along with my Bro as we live in different continents(Asia and Africa)! So Sorry Suzie that we can't be there to celebrate with you - but maybe one year you can come and spend a month in Japan and we can do Sakura, birthday and UK Mother's Day together. I may even have joined the dark side by then and squeezed out a little pup (mongrel) myself!!!! Don't start knitting matinee jackets just yet though. If mother nature caught any of my behaviour in the 90s she may have put a spell on me to ensure that no future generations have any chance of carrying my genetic material. However if she caught any of my behaviour in the 80s she may give me a reprieve as while all my peer group were out smoking tabs, drinking Merrydown and snogging and petting, I was Wallasey's No1 babysitter - every Saturday night you could find me in one of any number of living rooms of the Catholic Mafia, eating ham butties and drinking Kia Ora while hoping the kids didn't wake up to disturb my private viewing of Dynasty. Once I was watching Bergerac a couple of doors down from our house and all the kids were asleep. It was a weirdy supernatural one with hooded figures. I was so scared I had to call my brother to come and watch it with me. I also used to regularly have waking nightmares about someone breaking in and me having to protect the kids. I had my routes, my methods and everything mapped out as to how I would scoop them all up, get them in one place, then shield them from harm after which I would break the window, throw out a mattress and throw them out one by one then follow them and look after them, ushering them to safety. I really really loved those kids. Still do. I would miss 'Neighbours' to go round and bath them, and play with them while their mum got tea ready. Now they are grown ups. Last time I was at home I went out with a couple of them to the pub and made a fool of myself. First I sang karaoke, then I fell over on the dancefloor of some doddy club. The boy plays in a band and the band were playing in the club that night. Only the next day, when Matt and I looked at the pictures, did we realise that Matt had got up and joined the band and was singing his little heart out with them. Dear dear. So Mother Nature, Gaia, mistress of the uterus. Go easy on me. And if possible could you arrest the progress of the fine lines and wrinkles on my face - the facials and top quality beaauty products are crippling me financially and I still look like someone took a machete to my forehead...

Big Night Out!!!

Ah today has been the greatest day of the past few weeks. We only let the house at about 11.30 pm to go and get our bikes, which we had left at the station last night after we had been for a curry before going out. My good friend April has 2 friends visiting from Blighty so we were heading out to show them a good Toyko night. We arranged to meet up in a cool bar in Shibuya at 9. The bar we were to meet at had closed down so we chose another place - packed so we chose another place - not open until 12. Anyway Kei and I had decided not to rush as things rarely run on time! So we eventually hooked up in the 'British Pub' the Hub. There was actually a good atmosphere in there last night so we had a quick drink then headed out to http://www.air-tokyo.com/. This is the club that was in 'Lost in Translation' and we have been meaning to chickedy check it out for a while. It was a great little place. There is a cafe/restaurant on the ground floor and the club itself is on 2 floors. Some pretty good dance music was played - it wasn't like killer tunes or anything but it was nice enough. I have taken to dancing in the bedroom recently and dancing like nobody is watching and I don't care about looking good. It's great fun and I call it tatami dancing. I tried to transfer this newly acquired skill to the club dancefloor last night. It was hard as the dancefloor was pretty packed and I tend to flail. But i like it. Kei and I had a dance. The visitors from Britain both enjoyed the attention of some males, thus blowing the theory right out of the water that Western Girls can't get no Satisfaction here. I'm getting mine!!!!
April and I had a good old reminisce about the clubbing we did when we first arrived here 5 years ago and also reminisced about a tequilla disaster we had in Shibuya one night about 3 years ago. A and I met in Harajuku and had dinner and red wine, then we called our boys and they met us is in 'La Fabrique' in Shibbers. Another bottle of wine and a few rounds of tequillas later and A and I hit the dancefloor for some 'dirty dancing' (college girl on girl style) as our boys looked on. Not sure if they were embarrased or entranced but they both married us so...
The night finished with handstands against the DJ box and team vomitting in the street - nice. We were talking about tequilla dread when suddenly a tray of tequilas arrived on the table in front of us last night. We looked at each other and were like oh my god oh no. We couldn't even be polite. But 'YAY' they weren't tequila but 6 cointreau shooters. Hoorah - we necked them like Russian sailors then ordered in a round of Volvic. I drank champagne all night cus that's the mood I was in and it was only 50p more than white wine. so why the jiggins not? We finally left at about a quarter to 5 as A's son would be stirring in an hour and well it was quite enough really. I left the club sober, happy and watered jumped in a cab, which cost less than we imagined and decided we would explore Daikanyama more in the future as it is a great district of Tokyo, but not one we have really checked out. I would defo recommend 'Air' for anyone looking for a good night out. It's friendly, cool not overpriced and is a nice size. A bit like a mini 'Womb' but much bigger and far less skanky than 'Ruby Room', which looks like lots and lots of people had a big water fight with Guiness in there.
So today we woke up about 3pm, had some tea and toast and settled in to watch the 'French Connection' in bed. Then I made sandwiches, the spagetti and we really didn't leave the bedroom all day. It was wonderful. I needed it so badly. I have the day off tomorrow and a list of things to do, but my goodness it feels great to have so few committments and then next Saturday - tada! We are really excited to be havign our wedding and it looks like the blossom will be out. Ah it's good to feel relaxed. Then we start the pan global arrangements...

Sakura Watch

Today we went to the park and found the blossom is out about 30-40 percent but then found a tree which was out about 5% now so should hopefully be in full bloom next week - pray for good weather. It is in a nice spot in the park and there are 2 lovely big evergreen trees that form a canopy and you can see the rest of the blossom trees. My dress is completed and arrived today - it is lovely. It is hiding behind a purple sheet hanging on our bedroom door until I can transfer it to the hotel when Just and Chris arrive. Pinn mentioned stuff about ironing it. I don't think I will be ironing it. I got all excited and overwhelmed in the park. This time next week we will be dancing at our party!!! So now I can breath a big sigh of relief. Everything besides 2 days of work of cancelled this week so I can put the finishing touches to everything and help the people who are helping me. I got a lovely Cochinelle scarf from a great group of ladies I have been doing showroom training with yesterday as a wedding present - they made me cry!!!! We have been training a lot recently every day infact and you get pretty friendly. Tonight we wil goout with April and Toshi and 2 friends who are visiting and hit the town. Need to get motivated for a big one!!!!!!!!

Napolean Dynamite

I just watched Naploean Dynamite for the 3 rd time this week and I like it more than ever.

Sakura watch...

The cherry blossoms are on the cusp of blooming. They are in bud and some of the trees are already in bloom. What I am praying for is that the wind holds off, the rain holds off and that by next Saturday they are at the stage where they are totally bloomed and they start snowing blossom petals all over our little throng in the park whilst we sip champagne and eat strawberries and cheeses! That is our pre-wedding party thing in Yoyogi Park, my favorite park and the location of many fun times we have had! One week and 1 day to go. 5 days til my bezzy get here. It's going to be a busy week but I am looking forward to putting the finishing touches to the event, like getting flowers and stuff and facials and pedicures and manicures. So Sakura - hold back until next week then shower us in your glory along with the sunshine heralding a heatwave starting next Saturday. Onegaishimasu!!!!

Sento Column

You can read about my sento stuff here

http://www.7seas.co.jp/personal/columns/10.php

If you want to.

And another little column I wrote.

Kids rule

I have been teaching a cheeky little chappy for about 2 years now and I really like him, his Mom and his little brother. He is a 'returnee'. This means a kid who has lived in a different country and then moved back to Japan. He lived in London for about 4 years and returned about 3 years ago. So he attended primary school and stuff in the South. As such, he can communicate pretty well, but it's easy to lose your 2nd language. So at first, with returning kids, their English (or 2nd language) actually gets worse. So week by week it just got worse and worse. I think that and trying to fit back into Japanese (or any) school after a long absence meant that at first he was quite reticent to use his English. Which had been at a similar level to a 6 year old Brit when he left Blighty. Then suddenly, about a year ago, he got this wild spurt of enthusiasm and started communicating like mad. By this point I had bought enough Christmas and Birthday presents to be well popular and his mum would leave both of the kids with me in the playroom. I actually love the company of children, so it was fine. Sometimes the attacks from the genki junior bro were pretty fierce, but I really like them, they are cool. No airs and graces in that house.
Anyway today was the birthday party. Youngy was 5 on Tuesday and Oldy will be 10 on Saturday. For the last few month, since the company through whom I used to teach the kids went bust, I have been totally flexible since they took me on privately. So now I also teach the young one. He's doing pretty well. He can count to ten, knows all his colours and is really good at 'thank you'. He still attacks me every week. Sometimes with weapons. Glow in the dark weapons. Me and Oldy have been reading a simple version on Charlie and the Chocolate factory together every week, so I bought him the DVD for his birthday. I love that film and I hope he enjoys it. I got a little cake and some candles and his Mum brought it in right on cue. I love birthday parties. I had a really good cup of English tea I reckon his Mum must have a stash from the UK years. Plus she works in the UK field. Youngy has taken to drawing me pictures every week and giving me them as presents. Today he gave me one with a little willy and little (ahem) balls. I said thank you, but when his big brother saw it he went mad and started calling him a perve and stuff in Japanese. Undeterred Youngy drew me another one, again with bits and pieces. His brother again called him a perv and said he was shameful and stuff!!! The picture is cool though. It also had a belly button and little boobs!!! I put it on the fridge because I think it's funny. Kids are funny. A difference of 5 and 10 is now starting to show itself. Oldy is getting more mature and embarrassed, where youngy is 5 and just at the stage where he is all curious and likes pulling moonies and stuff and saying the Japanese word for willy (chin chin).
It is such fun being with kids. I wonder if they see me as an old hag, like the high school kids do, or whether they see me as big kid who comes round and talks English at them and plays games and dances and stuff. Today took me from business consultation with some of the cream of the IT industry, to business in English training with one of the biggest car companies in Japan to dancing in the living room of 2 kids, with a suit on and getting beat up by a 5 year old who draws me pictures. With privates.

Oh No

Sometimes I hate the computer. I just wrote a really really long post that I really enjoyed writing and a little box came up in Japanese and I clicked Ok and I think the box must have said 'You know how you just spent the last 45 minutes writing that post. Well you probably want to erase it because it took you ages and you really enjoyed writing it. On account of this - do you want to erase it? It will be gone forever. Even if you desperately click on the arrow keys above left of your computer screen, you will not recover the tremendous reminiscent prose about your first nightclub experience, in Birmingham and your excellent friends from Trewan Hall and the detail of the make up, clothes and hair you used to have. Definitely want to erase it?' Me. OK. Bugger. BUGGER.

Kei is moaning at me - has given me 3 minutes...

I had a nightmare last night. I woke up with a start. I know it was wedding related, but I'm not sure what it was exactly. I felt scared and panicked. Anyway he is currently in the throws of making a CD for our party (background music or 'BGM' as he calls it and dancing music. Dancing at a wedding is virtually unheard of in Japan. And a 4 hour party. This is incredible news. The usual 2 hours seems enough apparently. Not for me. There will be dancing and time when you can relax and enjoy yourself. I am particularly keen to dance with the kids I teach. On of them has a whole routine to 'Hey Mickey' that he showcased in the toy room/our classroom last year - it was brilliant and intense. I so want him to dance with me. Kids dancing at weddings rule. I'll just have to see.
I went to the sento last night...my time is up the boy is shouting - sento story next time...boy moaning moan moan 'I said 3 minutes blah blah...he's punching me

Wedding plans?

So I started this thing up to share wedding plans with people, but I have not much to report. Yesterday Kei and I went out and got bingo prizes (yes, that is Bingo!!!) and I was fitted for my dress again. My dress is beautiful. But somehow between the dressmaker's house and my house the dress morphs from it's lovely incarnation - flowing lines, simple cut, gorgeous detail and me slender, pale and all English rosy (albeit a lined and wrinkled 15 years on the booze 10 years on the fags kind of English rose - like a dried flower). What it morphs into is basically mmm how can I put it - Bella Emberg in Princess Diana's dress (God rest her Queen of hearty Princess of the peopley right Royal slapper soul). How it gets to that I don't know. I even decided I hated it today. When only yesterday I loved it and was overjoyed with it.
We just watched the Exorcism of Emily Rose. It was good and scary. And good. We have watched loads of films recently and Amazon delivered a slew of new films to our doorstep this week. Including
'Napolean Dynamite' - bloody marvellous.
'Taxi NY' - rubbish.
'Sideways' - good but makes a hero out of a filandering barstool. I do not approve. Kei loved it.
'Truman Show' - classic and good.
'Liar Liar' annoying Jim Carrey at his most Carreyish (he doesn't deserve and 'esque') and features child actor, all of whom I am suspicious. Plus the child actor has a really big thick purdey cut which is hard to maintain for continuity and it changes slightly in the same conversation sometimes.
'The French Connection' Classic, cool. Haven't seen it since big Stew made me sit down and watch it with him about 10 years ago. And very glad I am too. He has a good taste in films Big Poppa.
'Serenity' by Joss Whedon of Buffy. I liked it although I am sure down inside that it was rubbish. But I liked it. It neither moved or annoyed. Nothing astounding. The SFX had something of 'Blakes Seven' about them. It was super TVish.
So there - we are now up to date on the wedding plans. As you can see I am in the denial stage. I chant the mantra 'just a party just a party' every night over a glass of red. There is a little nagging feeling that I may have another mini breakdown. I have to avoid this. Then all we have to do is actually get officially married at some point!!!! Can't wait, but I am enjoying the suspense.

OH YEAH and I'm hoping you can leave comments now as I have changed my settings. I need to learn how to put pictures on here because it's a bit boring just now.

AAAh that's better...

After a relaxing weekend I'm feeling better. We cancelled all appointements besides margaritas in a Mexican restaurant on Friday night and leg and bikini wax for me on Saturday. We did some shopping for wedding things and I had my final fitting for my dress, which is looking lovely. Pinn is a truly gifted woman. I mean we literally met, I showed her a few things that I liked, she drew up some original designs, we talked them through, chose one and now, some weeks later - there it is. And it looks just like the picture!!!
So I'm entering the calm phase now I hope - all jobs are delegated, dress is ready, prizes and champagne have been purchased, Kei has (yummy) suits, guests have replied, the order of the evening is sorted out and that's about it. At the end of the day - it's just a party with a frock. All I need now IS A BLOODY BREAK!!! I have some time off next week and a little afterward, but my oh my, would I like a holiday. I think I shall have to insist that Kei and I hit an onsen, alone, in the countryside for a night or two soon before we start on the plans for the next celebration in England. And I'm still half considering going to Brisbane (Aus) for a couple of days in May for a friend's wedding and just to get away! And go to shoe shops that have big bird sizes. We'll see - that may be a little ambitious...(DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT)

GOSH Awesome

This new webby stuff is keeping me up. Anyway today, also as promised, I have created a little Flickr account, the address is http://www.flickr.com/photos/sigsyintokyo/ so check it out. There are a few pictures in there. I am currently in the experimental phase and will tinker round a bit more soon as I want to blog and upload photos of wedding dress progress for the Sue. Hey Matt - you enjoying this? Why don't you start a little Blog from Africa?
I have noticed that when making blog entries I'm not that bothered about spelling, but when i write in my personal diary, I am fastidious about spelling and use a dictionary. Astonishing.

A Tribute...

Today is the funeral of my old friend Dave. Too sad. Too tragic. RIP.

Conspiracy...

So it is blowing a gale and raining like a typhoon, but it is too early for typhoons and not nearly warm enough. I am really looking forward to Japanese summer this year. I used to dread it - it is humid and stifling, but it is also creamy and warm. And you eat eel to keep your energy up. And you can put like 2 items of clothing and a pair of flip flops on and be out the door in a few minutes. This is great for me because everything I do is in a rush.
Anyway we went to Chanel today to get out little makeover. We got royal treatment due the last visit. But that's another story. So as we two girls sat and purchased things our men would definately not understand or approve of, my mate (who has been a key figure in piecing me back together this week) was musing over how she needed to pay by credit card for the essential eye shadow set in magenta and lipstick, which is a slightly different shade from the one she had in her bag. This credit card payment would then be evidence of her purchase to her partner. Who would not understand. That girls who work hard and fall apart need purple eye shadow sets and lipsticks in shades barely distinguishable from one another. ( They also need waterproof mascara, bright pink lip gloss and barely there tinted face makeup). In anticipation of possible purchases, to prove that I was no trampy beggar fresh from the Rimmel counter (sorry Lorna) in search of an expensive freebee at Chanel, I had drawn out a nice chunk of my savings. I offered to buy her stuff, her man would be non the wiser and she could pay me back the next day. Disaster averted, relationship spared stress, friendship strengthened. I heart my friends. And conspiring. (And apparently I might need waterproof mascara on my wedding day incase I cry. Which I definitely will. So there)

I Heart Friends

So I got to my IT training and had a little breakdown (luckily I had not applied any makeup in anticipation of possible breakdown). My manager and senior consultant colleagues asked me how I was and I said 'I'm having a mini breakdown' and cried. Hard. With noise and shakey shoulders and everything. Cue action. The kind of action you get from excellent friends. F"#k IT training, we will consult you - do you want a drink? Cup of coffee? No, tea, a nice cup of tea - I'm English we drink tea at times like this. So she's gone about 15 minutes and i'm wondering where she's gone while saying how ashamed I am at getting so behind with paperwork and crying in front of people (prefer not to do that these days - in the 90s the floodgates were always open and in the 80s Careless Whisper could have me weeping in any church disco). So she gets back with tea, in a teapot, in the best china, with chocolates, strawberries and flowers and other snacks and we all sit around and compare how hard it is being full time driven working women. In a different country. It is marvellous too - believe me, really great and I love it but at times when things are getting on top of you and you're looking for a particular form among a big pile of forms all of which are written in Japanese, this can be enough to push a girl over the edge. I nearly smoked a cigarette. I found a pack in the form search. I threw them in the bin then covered them in daikon and carrot peel to render them unattractive. Anyway I am home now. Big sigh. I have had a couple of glasses of wine, talked to me bestie and resolved that this weekend I will go to yoga (supposedly a stress buster, but oft a series of strangely shaped humilitations) and to a bathouse for sauna and detox. tomorrow I will go to Chanel with friend for makeover - that is a story in itself. So anyway, my dress is looking great, I need to watch the mid rift and get my legs waxed and get rid of some of this stress. Maybe instead of tucking into a glass off wine or a beer as soon as I'm through the door I should go for a run. Get those endorphins pumping and sweat a bit. Then have a glass of wine or beer...life is good I heart my friends.

I promised wouldn't but...

Everything is more difficult in a foreign country. Especially in a country where a dictionary is all but useless because well the words are lines and lines and lines. It is so easy to let things pile up and then get pulled under by them. It is also easy to take too much on because it is a land of opportunity and there are always little doors opening and inviting you to make just a little bit more money, and a little bit more money and so on. Add to this organising a wedding or two. Working during the holidays to try and pay for them and the related shenanegans. Doing a tax return when you have 5 different jobs and can't for love nor money find the paperwork that you know you opened weeks ago. It could be anywhere in the paperwork of the 4-5 jobs you do. Inside those 4-5 jobs are more mini jobs because each job requires preparation, text books and input from yourself. Then of you are doing more than one of these jobs in a day (like today) thenyou have a bag that is really really heavy, which makes your back ache because you have to go up and down about 100 flights of steps in the 10 different stations you will pass through in the course of the day. Today for example I have booked myelf back to back - IT training in 5 mins (late), try on wedding dress in a location over an hour away, go to private student's house over an hour away from that location, go to Shibuya to English school where I am picking up extra classes to pay for a small portion of mentioned wedding dress. Get home 9.30 - do more prep. Look for paperwork. The result of all this is me, sat here weeping and wondering how long I can keep this up. And feeling guilty and defeated if I think about cutting any of this out.
I promised myself I wouldn't Blog this kind of moany post, but my God I feel like my stuffing is coming out and I am my own worst enemy. Something has to go.

As promised Mama...

for the longest time now I have been thinking about starting my own Blog. Mainly to keep my family and friends updated on what I am doing, but also because I read other people's Blogs and really enjoy them. Now seems like the perfect time to start as in 3 weeks time I am getting married to my boyfriend of 3 years Keisuke and in the final stages of preparation people can be updated about what's going on. (ooh there was just a little earthquake...)
So I'll start to learn about how I can do my Blog and see what direction it takes. This is also specially for my brother, who loves blogs and loves to read people going on about themselves. So here we go - my first post. Let's see what shape my little journal takes on...