Kelly Azuma

Yesterday (Sunday) was a day for catching up with friends.

Firstly Yasu and I went into Perth city to meet a friend that I studied Japanese with in 1999. We mainly use Facebook to keep in contact but because my friend is also friends with Yasu he wanted to meet up in person.

We had a nice time and chatted about quite a few interesting subjects like theology and Japanese taxes.

Afterwards we went to Jo’s boy’s birthday party at The Beach House Fun Centre in Osbourne Park. It was his 4th birthday. I had also organise to catch up with a Japanese friend and her daughter at the fun centre, who we hadn’t seen for a year due to some miscommunication on my part.

It was really good to see her and we spent the next 3 hours gabbing while Yasu took off to play with her 9 year old daughter. haha. He’s such a big kid!! I guess because she’s Japanese he enjoys talking to her in Japanese rather than English.

We had a great time chatting and in that time Jo came over and we started talking about dancing which Yuka also seems interested in, so we made a time in the school holidays to go out salsa dancing at one of the clubs that have free lessons in the city. As school holidays are in easter it won’t be too far away.

At about 4:30 pm the party ended and Jo asked me if I wanted to meet them in Hillary’s boat harbour for fish n’ chips with them and her parents and I agreed. Yasu had somehow run off again to play and so Yuka and I went to find them and we stood around gabbing for another half an hour haha…reminiscing about ramen.

We finally left the fun centre at 5pm and went up to Hillary’s and had some fish n’ chips which was yummy, then we sat around talking, and Yasu ran off with the two boys to play on the grass for a while and then finally came home.

When we got back at 8pm I was so tired I changed into my pj’s (hello kitty of course) and fell into bed and slept until this morning. Phew!

Tonight Jo has assured me belly dancing is on, so in a few minutes I’ll be making dinner and getting ready.

I also start teaching english to migrants this wednesday at a local women’s medical centre, so that should be interesting and fun!

The last few days have been really yucky for me, and I didn’t know why.

All of a sudden I started getting sick, I felt nauseated, I had headaches, I was tired, I had such bad pains in my stomach, and I couldn’t go anwhere without holding onto a bucket.

From last week all the water coming out of the taps in our house smells like rotten eggs. At first I didn’t think anything of it, and then I mentioned it to my mum who thought it wasn’t normal.

Then on the weekend, when I drank the water, even though we have a water filter that it goes through I immediately felt nauseated and sick. Saturday night was epic in that I was screaming in pain clutching my stomach and Yasu was trying to get me to go to the hospital and I was refusing (I know the usual rigmarole that hospitals put me through, I’m not going there willingly).

Finally I called the water corporation today and they immediately sat up and took notice when I said what had been happening. The consultant told me that it is a fault and what we had been drinking is waste water (as in toilet water) all this time. She said she would send someone out to fix it immediately as we are not meant to be using it, and somehow they must have been doing work in the area and connected the wrong pipes.

What pissed me off majorly was they never asked if I’m ok, or said sorry or anything. So yeah, after Saturday I decided that I wasn’t going to drink anymore of our water and I’ve been ok. I have got a bad rash though from showering in the water.

Today I went out shopping and found a really nice winter coat that I couldn’t afford but I put it on lay-by anyway. It’s so nice to be able to shop in the normal person’s shop instead of the bigger ladies clothes (which by the way have horrible colour combinations like orange and purple dots and fit like a tent).

Halfway through my shopping I was called by my friend Jo and she asked me if I could go and work at her cafe because another girl quit with no notice, so I said sure, why not, I was already there anyway. I quickly went through the register and went to get a bite to eat before starting work.

I went to the sushiya in the foodcourt and got two pieces of inari zushi for $3.80 but it wasn’t very nice and it was quite filling so I only ate one.

I worked from 5:30 ~ 9:30 pm and it was really nice as Jo herself was there and it was actually very quiet most of the night, at the end it got quite busy and I was making coffees but I love that, so I was happy. We work really well together, so…yeah it wasn’t any trouble.

So anyway now I can afford that coat!! It’s about the same amount as the money I would make from tonight so that’s great. After work Jo dropped me off.

Actually Yasu was meant to pick me up. I called him just before I started work and told him we had no rice, he had to go shopping and get some and then could he come past and pick up some easter eggs and a birthday present from me that I had already bought.

Anyway, all night I kept an eye out for him but he never came, and he wasn’t there to pick me up either. When I called him he was in bed. Grrr. I said “why aren’t you here to pick me up?” and he said “I didn’t know I was supposed to”. Oh like what, I’m supposed to fly home? So anyway Jo gave me a lift home and when I got home Yasu opened the door and went back to bed and didn’t even help me with my stuff, which just made me even crosser.

I stormed around the kitchen mumbling to myself and then he comes out and starts yelling at me because he said he thought I said that he was meant to cook some rice but when he got home there was cooked rice in the fridge so he didn’t do anything.

I told him that he was to go buy some rice because we didn’t have any. Anyways, he ended up getting angry at me because he thought he understood me but he didn’t, and he can’t understand what I’m talking about and blah blah blah. And then I said to him, “oh well, so there is no rice for tomorrow night’s dinner then” and then he went into another rant and went into the bedroom and slammed the door. (That’s what I hate most is when I’m angry at him, then he gets angry at me for being angry at him!)

Great. He didn’t even ask how my work was. Men!

I sent him two text messages and called him about it, how much clearer could I be. Jeez. Sometimes he just doesn’t think.

So that’s my rant. Had a good day but Yasu ruined it.

Thanks to my nightly meditations my energy is starting to come back full blast and today I just couldn’t sit still. I ended up mopping the floorboards with a new wood floor cleaner from Enjo, then I sat back down but felt the urge to vacuum, then I had another urge to dust, and then I ended up doing the dishes, cleaning the stove, tidying up and cooking dinner. Phew!

Yasu came home and was amazed at how clean the house was. He had a full days work today, the company got some boats come in, so we’re going ok at the moment. Yay for that! At least that’s one good piece of news in an otherwise doom and gloom week.

I’m still reading Duma Key, it’s such a hefty book! And yes Helen, I recommend it. I think I will still be saying that at the end, but If I change my mind I’ll let you know.

I made some omelette’s with the rest of those mushrooms, cooked some lamb chops, seasoned french fries and served it with some rice for dinner. It went down well but I was really full after that. I watched some Aussie drama on tv, cried my eyes out for half an hour, then resumed reading Duma Key. I guess this meditation business is clearing up some past issues still. I’m a little bit teary recently. Yasu just keeps saying “if you want to cry, then cry, let it all out, even if you feel you have no reason”. So understanding he is.

I called my mum today and was surprised to hear she had taken up bootscooting. I must be giving off dancing vibes…

Ok so Japan won the world baseball championship but do we have to hear about it non-stop for 30 minutes at every news time?

I hate when Japan thinks they are the best at something…. then we never hear the end of it.

Even Yasu is sick of it and he LOVES baseball. He was complaining that it took over the news.

It was hard in this house when Australia vs’d Japan because I have a little bit of “I don’t want Japan to win” and “I want to cheer for my country” going on, and Yasu was going for Japan so I felt I had to go for Aus. But, when Japan won we were like “okay, it’s all over now, lets get back to life”. But I guess the party will be kicking on in Japan for a few weeks at least… I just hope they shut-up about it on the news because I can’t stand hearing about Ichiro one more time. Sheesh.

This morning I was woken by Yasu to tell me he was coming home, he had gone to work in the hope of having some work to do but there was nothing, so he came home again. I didn’t have to worry about his lunch because I always make his work lunch the night before so I don’t have to get up early and make it.

He lolled around for a while watching tv and playing computer games, and I had some jobs to do so we decided to go out and do them. We also stopped into our local shopping centre as I wanted to have a look for a few things in Big W (discount department store). I bought some coloured threads for various sewing projects I have planned, a new body towel, some underwear and some Mike & Ike (which I reviewed here). I was really surprised to find them in Australia, in a department store. Usually we can only find import candy in import stores.

We came home and I bustled about getting ready for belly dancing. I bought some really fresh mushrooms today so I cooked them with a little bit of olive oil, made some mashed potato, seasoned some steak with salt and pepper and then we sat down and ate it. I had to eat mine fairly fast as I didn’t have much time, though I really enjoyed the vegies and steak and so did Yasu as he had seconds.

At 6pm when my friend was meant to pick me up she called me to say she wouldn’t be going tonight as she had only just picked up her husband from the train station and would be so behind as she still had to get dinner for him and the kids.

I was really disappointed. This is the second week in a row she has cancelled, and I know it’s not her fault but a bit of notice would be nice. I could have actually enjoyed my meal at a nice pace rather than scoff it down. The thing is, she knows I cook our dinner before I go, so would it hurt her to call me at 5pm when she knew she was running late. Oh well. I don’t mean to be a bitch, it’s just that when people know, and they leave it to the last minute, it really bugs me.

So then I had to go and get redressed into my old house daggies and I had no idea what to do. I picked up a book I had gotten out of the library called Duma Key by Stephen King. I had no idea he wrote this one when I found it, and although I’ve kind of gone off Stephen King since his accident (I thought his writing took a turn for the worse), Duma Key seems like he’s gotten back on track to the way he used to write, and I’m enjoying it.

So Yasu and I just did some more lolling around. It has been really nice to spend time with Yasu today, and tonight. And I just thought it was going to be me at home by myself, but I’m really pleased he came home and spent the day with me. I guess we are just like two peas in a pod. The good thing is we don’t really get on each other’s nerves when we’re at home together, and if we do, the house is big enough so we can go separate ends. haha I love him more and more I think, he’s such a cutie! Sorry, I can’t help it.

Today dawned bright but mild. I got up at 9:30 am to get ready to go to the Save The Faeries festival at City Farm.

We got there around 10:30 am and met our friends inside the gate. First up was face painting for the two boys. B wanted a kitten painted on his face but was persuaded by his macho dad to have a lion painted instead. It looked good though. D has a fascination with spiders, he’s just learning to talk and that was one of the first words he said so he had a small spider painted on his cheek.

The Faerie who was doing the face painting was a fellow student at the belly dancing class I go to and I got her to paint a flower on my cheek. I think our friends were embarrassed about me getting my face painted with a flower but I just thought of it as honouring my inner child, at least Yasu thought it was cool.

Yasu and I had a look around at the market stalls and I picked up this beautiful sterling silver ring with an amethyst stone, and I put it on and it was a perfect fit! I was so amazed, it’s really pretty and winds around the finger. Yasu asked me if I wanted it for my anniversary present (7th april) and so I agreed. He bought it for me and I put it on straight away. (Will post a pic of it later).

Then we bought some organic lollies that are gluten and sugar free but taste so yum! They are butterscotch flavour and the lady who makes them does the whole operation herself which is impressive.

We went inside and saw AKWAABA doing their drumming thing, but our friends went back outside as one of their boys doesn’t like noise. We stayed in there for a while and then went out and had a drink. I bought Yasu a gypsy chai which has fennel in it, a verry licorice like flavour, very interesting and he liked it. I had an ice drink called a ‘bangelore bliss’ which had soy milk, and cardamom amonst other things. At first it was nice, but the cardamom built up and it was too strong so Yasu drank the rest of it. Nice to try though.

After that we watched Junkadelic, a local band that use instruments made out of recycle receptacles. Then Faerie Cara came on and told Faerie stories and Yasu and I did the chicken dance together which was fun. The kids were playing hula hoops up the back while other little girls and boys sat down up the front and listened to the story.

Faerie Cara – Faerie/Entertainer/Belly Dance teacher extraordinare

At 2pm a few ladies got up and performed belly dancing which was really cool and gave me an insight as to what I can do when I get really good at belly dancing. The costumes are absolutely fabulous. I think Yasu was impressed with it too, he said he enjoyed it. By that time our friends had gone home as their two young boys needed an afternoon sleep. We stayed on until about half 2, then we left as well. On the way home we started feeling sleepy and when we got home we laid down for a bit of a nanna nap.

I woke up at 7pm and came out to find Yasu on the phone to his mum. Another family tragedy – his Grandma (89 years old) had fallen over in her house and hurt herself, and has to be moved into a group home. Grandma has Parkinson’s disease and now she is so weak she doesn’t even have the energy to open her eyes. I sat down and balled after that news. Me and grandma have a special relationship that was forged the first time I ever went to Japan. I can’t bear the thought of losing her though I know the time is near.

Yasu’s dad is still not working, he’s undergoing rehab on his thumb which has been reattached. His sister still can’t find a job, she will at least, get unemployment benefits for 3 months while she looks. Ahhh life. Yasu commented that 2009 is not a good year for us so far. I’m generally a positive person but if I hear any more bad news from Japan I’m going to agree!

Apart from that we had a good day together, and I really enjoyed our weekend. I think we re-connected a bit more. Of course we’re really close but when your husband works 80-90 hours per week it’s hard to sit down together and spend some close time. Now that Yasu has no work, we may be poor but at least we’ve got time for each other. I don’t mind so much as money has never made my world go ’round.

I’m hoping to see my mum this week, and get busy sewing. I have lots of ideas for skirts whizzing around in my head after today!