Blog deliberation

So confused as to which one is best!

Tumblr is slick - Blogspot, clumsy but convenient...Gosh, the debates in life!!!

http://leonorasophie-everyday.tumblr.com/

vs

http://leonorasophie-everyday.blogspot.jp/

The big City

 The big city…It’s hard to think I lived here before and loved it!

Am finding the adjustment a little hard, but at least we have a great view across the west of Tokyo!

Christmas has passed with lots of cake! Thank goodness it is not a public holiday as we are still organising the apartment and running around a little on errand. But, there was plenty of cake and I am happy!

No more boxes…am even happier!

Time to get ready for the New Year! Looking forward to 2013…many adventures planned!

ペーパー ド ライバー

It’s a great phrase that actually for once makes sense!!

"ペーパー ド ライバー” in Katakana represents someone who has the licence and doesn't use it. That’s me! So I have opted to have driving lessons to get some practice in!

Had my first one last week, and I surprised it went so well!!

Can’t wait to get on the road again, but might just wait until we settle in the new place!

Phew! So much happening!!! :)

Moving (blog) HOUSE!

Moving back to the city and...moving over to Tumblr!!!....MAYBE...it seems blogger is working for me again...maybe I really AM here to stay!! Hope so - it's nice and easy here :)

Let's see how it all goes! But, at least I can go photo crazy there!!

http://leonorasophie-everyday.tumblr.com/

More on the move later, but for now - bye-bye Kauskabe!!! Sad to go, but new beginnings ahead....on tumblr!!! MAYBE...

Persimmon season again!!

 So exicting - Last week I found three...! persimmons growing in OUR garden!!!
What a shock -we had forgotten about the fruit trees ever actually bearing fruit!!

And, the neighbours gave us some more too (as well as tomatoes from their veggie patch in Ibaraki!), so I am making more jam / compote or something stewed anyway.
This time, I am adding prunes and brown sugar. Forgot to pulp it properly, but realised mashing it in the pot is the easiest one to do!!
Oh, yummy joy!

A very big tomato!

Transferring a UK licence to a Japanese licence.

My experience at the driving centre.

Konosu is my 'local' centre to visit to do the change over. I am lucky to be British today as we are able to take the required documents and have an eye check and get the Japanese licence... so I am told!

Konosu driving centre is a bus ride (5mins) from Konosu station (which in turn is about 20 mins from Omiya).

I went to JAF last year to translate my UK licence, buy it was on the day of the earthquake, so even though I got my licence (after also visiting immigration and attempting to renew my visa), there have been a few hiccups since. This cost us ￥3000.

It is important to check what is needed at each centre as it could differ. I was told, that after the translation, I would need proof of living in UK for three months after getting my licence....when I was 17!!!!

It was time to call my mother and get her to help me dig up this ancient passport. Then, getting it took a while as I did not trust then post, so waited until I could go and pick it up myself.

We had phoned a couple of times to see if my university certificate (which would prove what they wanted to know more than a European passport with countless stamps in would) but to no avail.

I did find out (unlike some others on blogs I had read - see below) that you need the residents certificate - Juumin-hyoufrom your ward office as well. Do not forget this! 

So, I rocked up today, green lights at each crossing, a bus waiting for me at the station..you know the kind of day. Even the receptionist was friendly. I had to head straight to the second floor and wait. And wait and wait. Actually, it was only half an hour, but I had hoped that whole thing would be finished by half past 11.

I arrived at five to 10. It is worth noting that the room is open at 10am, but you can start lining up from 9.40 and you may even get seen.

The policeman who dealt with me was really friendly too. (I think I read only bad horror stories...).

I was however very nervous. I realised that I forgot to bring number two passport (my first and third should have been enough...) and I forgot my university certificate as I had wanted as much proof as possible.

Anyway, he tried to check each stamp in the passport that I used from 1995 and I explained that in Europe they don't always stamp, actually I had to ask for them, but he was worried about entries into one country then nothing out.

He was very thorough checking everything, and my heart was beating fast even though nothing was amiss.

He stamped the forms, and we made an appointment for 1pm. Yes, there was more to come and he told me I should be finished by 3.30. I was to buy some stamps for my form...around ￥2400.

Counters 1& 2 are for the foreign licence exchange (and eye tests)

At 1pm prompt, the shutters to the counters opened. We were led through for the eye test, which took ten seconds. You can even answer in English - up down, red, blue. Easy.

Then, I was sent up to the third floor, room 6. I was the only one from the group foreigners; my heart was pounding...it still is...I am sitting in the exam room, so I had to check - I am not ready for a test!

The policeman was due (at 1.45...) to talk to us about safety on the road.

I was wondering which would be more boring...

Well, the guy came and babbled the fastest Japanese to everyone which was crazy; he was obviously up against the clock. Before he began his rant, he did say to me that it didn't matter if I didn't understand it anyway! He then went on to talk about the three people who failed their test today (including one foreigner...hey ho)

Then the guy led everyone out with me...ME at the front of the queue being fast-tracked to the counter to receive my card. I had to collect another ￥2050 worth of stamps and await my card.

After a quick picture, mouth closed (!) I was goof to go! And an hour earlier than expected too!

All in all, it was no a bad experience knowing that I didn't have tests along the way, but it didn't feel like that.

My advice - read around, but be prepared.

Double check your own offices requirements and be sure you have each document ready.

The blogs below helped and didn't help me in my preparation...Luckily, I was OK!!! 

GOOD LUCK!!!

THIS GUY HAD A COUPLE OF CRAZY VISITS TO THE CENTRE, BUT FOR A CANADIAN, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER!!

http://lart.ca/2007/05/01/my-big-konosu-adventure-part-1

http://lart.ca/2007/05/02/my-big-konosu-adventure-part-2-round-and-round

http://lart.ca/2007/05/02/my-big-konosu-adventure-part-3-getting-your-address-right-is-the-most-important-thing

THIS GUY WAS A BIT MORE INSPIRING AND MADE ME FEEL MORE RELAXED BEFORE I WENT

http://www.robertliu.com/archives/429

Dwindling blog entries...

It's so great to be able to jot down the day, the week, the fleeting moments that pass so fast...but when there are too many, no fingers can type hard enough nor fast enough to fit it all in.

And as such, my study of the flowers is not as acute as last year. I still read the labels, but I don't monitor them as closely and I forget much more easily their names or even if they have been 'fed'.

I have embarked upon more studies, enrolled for another Japanese exam (miraculously passed the last one), have entered University again, 'playing with garbage' and of course, looking after hubby and Elbi.

Another challenge for the list is the 'October Daily' - one poem a day for the long month of November.
It worked last year, and when it comes to writing, having challenges that can be reached are important.

So, expect nothing on this blog here!! But do pop by to read a poem sometime!!

http://leonorasophie.blogspot.jp/

Let's Play With Garbage!

Lets Play with Garbage!

OK, I have finally gone 'public' with my new little creation. 

It's all about having fun with the kids, but at no major expense to the environment.

Have a look at the site and do get in touch if you have any awesome suggestions!

Thanks.

The abandoned garden

It's amazing what happens when you let all the mundane things in life take over.

I haven't had half a chance to look after our flowers and plants since the last post. The flowers are drying out, it's too hot to hope that they will look after themselves and I am just watching them die.

However, this will change and soon!! The survivors are doing well...

This year's Anthurium...pink!!

Morning glory! 

Hello!

At the lake! Huge flower - what is it?

Everyone has these outside their house...they grow well, easy to flower and very colourful...but what is it?!

Sunflowers!

Even with a rainy season here, I shall not be beaten!

And to think I was SO excited when the seeds sprouted......

But, now that the flowers are out....YAY!

Monday

Pre-typhoon, cloudy Tuesday morning

Pre-typhoon, rainy Tuesday afternoon

Wednesday morning in post typhoon sunshine!

Thursday!

The pots of sunflowers are growing well (large & small seeds) and my sunflower patch....well, I shall have to wait and see. Yesterday, they were fine...

Pre-Typhoon

Post-typhoon

But, today, not so! These little critters were on there today chomping away....

Caterpillars

Can you see the kemushi peeking out??

And, last week, I caught the old kemushi having a go at a leaf...It's a wonder these have survived at all! The garden is so enclosed that it's a delight for woodlice, ants, mozzies and so on...eeek!

.....A few days later and I think the typhoons have passed!

The sunflowers at the front are blooming nicely and the ones at the back are actually bending and stretching towards the sun! Let's hope they flower as that was where last year's sun(non)flower was.....

My neighbour wasn't convinced about planting seeds in pots.....!!!

Oh, how I love the sunflower!!!!!

A feather in your (shower) cap

OK, so I don't write a post (been too busy) for ages and I come back with THIS>!>!>!

small size

regular size, just like a shower cap!!

But, it is great!

Ian discovered these the other day just in the 100yen store. It is eco friendly, saves on the old cling film etc, but, in short, it is basically A SHOWER CAP!!

It does the job and does it well AND protects the environment so who are we to complain!!!

Annular Solar Eclipse / 金環日食

Like an eager kid, I prepared my personal cardboard pinhole! -  Fortunately, in true 'Lee' style, it was Hello Kitty packaging!!

The day began sunny enough - this was at 0640, when I woke so fast thinking I had missed it! Seriously, I don't get out of bed that fast for work... 

 It quickly clouded over, allowing us (kind of) to look at the sky, but not give us a great view of the sun and moon together.

But then, here and there, little breaks in the cloud provided the answer to my prayers!

The moon in action!!

If you look closely enough...

Reflection on the rice field...Er, you had to be there!

Through the power lines!

Through the funny glasses

Eighteen years ago, I witnessed the full eclipse in Cornwall, England. The whole place went dark for five minutes and the cows went to sleep and the birds stopped singing. This morning, it was more of a sight to behold than a sound not to hear. We didn't have glasses (didn't know about the eclipse until the last minute!), so, I made the pinhole, but it wasn't bright enough for shadows. Our neighbours and some fellow dog walkers shared their specs with us and we were lucky to share in this unique moment in history.

Animal Walk Tokyo!

This year, the money went to help the animals at SALA (Save animals, Love animals) and we were lucky enough to meet some of the dogs staying with SALA right now.

The second AnimalWalkTokyo was a great success (Read about last year's HERE).

The turnout was once again a good one and some similar faces were there too.

Marley

Lucky Marley!

The first creature that caught my eye was an Elbi look-a-like! So I was happy, although again, I wished I could have brought him in! Marley (the 17kg Frenchie) was lucky to bag a ride with mama at the back of her bike!! It gave me more ideas for Elbi, although I should probably limit myself to the pram!!

The walk was a lot quicker than last year even with the inevitable stops for snacks. It was nice to see families and newborns even enjoying the event.

So well behaved!

Maku 7 months old.
A rescue dog from Fukushima, now with Sala.

Hello :)

Marley guarding the donations box

There was tight security - Those funds were precious.

To round of the walk itself, cookies were on sale for 200 yen a pop. They were delicious and each cookie sold would pay for a meal for one of the dogs at SALA.

Catching up with V, left and finally meeting a wonderful animal lover and tireless volunteer, K

To accompany all the chit-chat, the catch ups and the barking, there there was some delightful music form a husband - wife duet (whose performance name I forget....doh! They are at  'What the Dickens?' tonight...). It made for a wonderful morning in the breezy sunshine!

And for me, it is a day out in Tokyo! These days, it's a rare occurrence; it's so far from home and, like Marley, I get tired easily!!

Pooped!