Frank and Josie's House

I honestly meant to write this about two weeks ago but I got distracted. Some friends of ours moved away from Japan and back to the U.K. and therefore we were busy seeing them as much as humanly possible. The good bit is they live fairly near family so we will see them again....when we’re allowed to actually see people again that is. Isn’t COVID-19 just rewriting this whole year? Well luckily I’m here to distract you!!! Takayama travels - part 2 (in case you didn’t guess from the title above). After our travels to the  teddy bear museum and the folk village I spoke about last time   we needed a little rest the next day. Sooooooo much walking. So we had a day exploring the town of Takayama itself.  It’s a beautiful little town and has a specific area that has been preserved in it’s original state. In some streets you can only tell it’s 2020 by the road surface and people on their mobile phones (all wearing face masks and socially distancing, of course). It’s a lovely ...

Last week the older kids had half-term. It’s wasn’t half-term in the Japanese school system so, because it would be quiet, I decided to take the kids away for a week. This was partly to keep them busy, partly to explore this beautiful country which we are lucky to live in and partly to give husband-mine a break so he could concentrate on work and his friends because he’s always putting us first (he’s a good boy). So the youngest was excused from pre-school and we packed our bags and the car and off we went. I had thought about getting the train as I’m not always keen on being the sole driver on long journeys as I get really tired driving a long way and also find it a little boring. But, knowing we were going to be walking the whole week (and we did - oh so much walking) I chose the car for flexibility and ease and comfort in the midst of a pandemic. Also, this meant that I could plan a couple of outings on the two long journeys, one going there and one coming back. I’ve so many places ...

Good morning/evening/afternoon* (*delete as applicable), Today I am preaching self-love. I don't usually preach as I'm never sure it has the desired affect but today I am. Why? Because I've changed , man! (Insert appropriate sufer-dude accent here). Actually I feel like I've woken up. For years, and I really do mean years, my husband has been telling me to "take it easy" or "take it steady, my love". Whenever I say I feel like I've failed at something he simply looks me in the eye and says "Chronic illness!". In short he does his best to encourage a little self-love and self-care every now and then. For years my poor husband has been taking this stance with me. He never makes me feel guilty for not washing up or doing the washing because he knows my energy levels have a mind of their own. In fact I make myself feel guilty. Sometimes he even comes home and tells me off for having done housework. He knows that if I spend energy on mundane...

Dear Santa/ Father Christmas/ Pére Nöel/ Saint Nic/ Holly King, I know I Don't usually write to you but this year is special. I have been a faithful elf in your service for many years now and all I ask in return is one thing: I would love to spend Christmas with my family in the UK. I would love to hug my parents and sister. I would love to tell my nieces and nephews how much they've grown. I would love to see our kids play with their family. When we decided to move abroad one thing we knew we were sacrificing was contact with family. Sure we speak to them on the phone and regularly on whatsapp etc but there's nothing quite like seeing someone you love in person. One of our concerns, Santa, was that our parents are getting older. We knew Japan was far but given the deal my husband got from his employer we thought getting flights 'home' wouldn't be an issue. Little did we know, when we chose to remain in Japan for Christmas last year, that a pandemic was about to...

There’s so much going on in the world right now that I’m going to focus on one thing today: crochet. It’s been so bloody long since I’ve posted about just crochet in one post that I felt like have a little moment in my own crochet world. I have finally finished the crochet unicorn I promised for my eldest (you know, the equine crazy lass) for, wait for it, CHRISTMAS! So it’s a little late but I’ve been informed by my children that it’s not my most delayed gift. Here she is (name yet to be decided) So this little cutie came about due to my big girl’s love of the equine world. I think she would actually be a horse if she could! She definitely wants to own one and keeps telling us so but as we have nowhere to put a pony (let alone afford one) I thought I’d give her a different equine creature - a unicorn. I came across this pattern in a pattern book free with a Mollie Makes issue and it seemed the perfect gift for Christmas, you know, magical gift at a magical time of year. But I massivel...

Hi there, It’s been a couple of weeks and a couple of weeks in which loads has happened. Firstly my husband has had to see loads of colleagues and friends leave work. Due to the downsizing of the company many expats have returned or will return to their home countries. A lot of people within our community here have been affected by the downsizing. A few are looking on the positive side with one of our closer friends determined to make the best of it. Being in a furlough situation in a country they love which they haven’t finished exploring yet means this family has taken the positive view that it’s a golden opportunity - they have an income and are able to explore a new and exciting country. Whether they’ll stay until the end of the furlough is unknown, as is so much, but for now they’re purely positive which is great to see. Another couple we know have bought a camper van and are off. I’m a little jealous and I know my husband is! A lot of people just aren’t sure. Having never been in...

Hey my beautiful, eldest daughter, This is my open letter to you. I want you to be able to go back and read things again and again. Plus, I know you prefer reading to listening to me! So I thought I’d get it all down digitally and then you can look at it whenever you like. And you never know, it may help somebody who’s just like you. Why am I writing this now? Because you’re going through a lot of changes, not just physically but mentally too. You’re becoming a wonderful young woman and it’s fabulous to see how amazing you will become. This is partly for you now and partly for future you. I love who your role models are currently. J.K. Rowling has another fan and has shown you just what girls and women can do. Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood are your friends and peers. Emma Watson shows your the woman behind the girl you currently are. Your love of horse riding has led to another role model and idolisation of  Esme (an equestrian YouTuber).  I’m sure there are others you ha...