Gobusatta deshita!

Its been a while since I was here..
I had promised myself that I would stay in better touch this year and here it is the 23rd August!

Has been a sad year for my family with three of our elder "senators" passing away and one still very ill.
I can't honestly say that I am in anyway at peace with it.  Seems that I am more family orientated that I thought (Wry grin). I'm also becoming quite used to the production of funerals and the relevant booklets, slideshows etc.. NOT what I would like to call a skill!

Having started work again, my exercise time has dwindled away to the 10 min walk to and from the station and my office. :((  Trying to fit in a swim in the mornings when I can, but I've never been much good at getting out of bed and the combination of winter, rain and early morning rising has been at odds with my very warm bed .. the battle ensues!

Work is interesting! A newly created position it evolves on a daily basis. I deal with a great deal of compliance work, teacher training and management of skills administration (just an impressive way of saying I manage the trainers) and I also do the bulk of their network maintenance.  However, I have also been back in the classroom teaching IELTS to a mixed class of Indian and Irish students during the past two weeks.

The 2013 Local Council elections are here again and I am busy preparing my campaign.  This time I have a couple of very interesting people throwing money my way to help.  Should be another interesting experience.  Not sure that my chances are any better than two years ago, but I am certainly better known now, and much healthier that the last time!  I am also quite involved in our local state politics as well, so hopefully there will be some support from that.

Our radio program Konnichiwa  is on every Thursday from 7pm Perth time ( Listen on line). Takako and I are having fun with it.  Don't be surprised if we give you a call and put you live to air!

Well, hoping you guys are doing ok!

Ciao for now.

Cynthia

March 2nd, 2013

February 22nd, 2013

The first week of my new job! Started with a fantastic first day and ended with a round of drinks and nibbles. Lots of work to do, but it is certainly interesting! What will week two bring. Thankful for the job, new friends and colleagues and for the train ride and walk to work!

February 18th, 2013

Fantastic first day! Friendly people with a good sense of humour. Looks like a lot of work in compliance for a while, as well as some rearranging of layouts etc.. but challenging ... and best of all... James Street, Northbridge! Pain free train ride in and out and kicked out off the office sharp at 5pm! Overtime.. not required! Photos and comments in the next couple of days, but for anyone interested.. have survived day one with a buzz! Working 9-5 Monday through Friday! Looking forward to day two!

February 17th 2013

Only a day between the freedom of retirement and the confines of a full-time job. However I am looking forward to being back at a job with a defined purpose to my days. It has been amazing too see how easy it is to fill a day with things to do and I have been surprised at the annoyance I have felt at the thought of having to rearrange my social life around my new job! People do it every day I am told!! Well.. tomorrow is the day! Today I have to get my suits out, polish my shoes, plan what to pack for lunch and figure out how I will get my afternoon nap. Don't suppose they'll have a relaxation room! LOL ... well I'll be back with more news later!

January 31st, 2013

Signed my job offer today. February 18th and I will begin a return to work. So... how will this play out? Fun and games a coming!!

January 28th 2013

Up before 7am, the boys have been fed, I have been fed, went for a walk, showered, read my mail, facebook and have sorted out dinner. Am ready for a new day and it is only 9am. Now what will I do? Maybe I should have paced myself???

LOL ... my desk looks like a typhoon has been through here, so I guess I'd better do some filing!

Hope you all have a great day... Takako and I are off today ..Public Holiday!

January 23rd, 2013

Fantastic week! Drove down to Mt Barker and stayed with the nomads in a wonderful setting. Takako "Mothered" a baby kangaroo and Cousin Karen did really well at her first major coffee event at the Grapes & Gallops!

January 27th 2013

I've had an interesting few days, and yet I am very blessed!

It started on Thursday with a collapse in a public toilet (YUCK!) an Ambulance ride to the hospital and an overnight stay.... only to be told that it was in all likelihood, just an acute gastric episode!

Have been reasonably healthy since returning home to Perth so this was a bit of a surprise! Anyhow am home now and doing ok all considered!

An Australia Day project which I had been working on with a group of very interesting people, came of splendidly, despite the confusion of the day. Announcers who have until now remained quite separate, are slowly staring to get to know each other and through that interaction I can feel a very different kind of energy flowing through the studios.

I have sent off several applications and though I am still very conflicted about finding full time work and making a commitment to staying here for the interim, my bank manager is very anxious that I do hahahah so I guess I will need to humour him for a while.

Takako has herself a part-time job and has made some friends there.. she seems pretty happy. She is also happy to go off and study outside of that so she is also quite busy! That is a good thing.

Our pups are growing exponentially with each passing day and eat! Oh boy!!! Now the task of ensuring that their behaviour is acceptable!! Not an easy task, but working on it daily seems to be the key!

To make matters all the more interesting... I need to fly home to Japan to renew my re-entry permit before May 15th or lose my PR. So my arrival home is imminent albeit short.

A lot to be thankful for!

January 17th 2013

From a tiny puppy into a young man!

Takara is the joy of my life, followed quickly by his little brother Satoshi!

They don't talk back ... but bark at the strangest times. Eat huge amounts ... of shoes, socks and the occasional cardboard box Sulk and humpf like the grumpiest of kids But their cuddles are the best!

Very thankful for my kids ..

January 14th, 2013

Got to remember that I came home to Perth for a reason. I have to remember that what I did to my body in Japan gave me no options. I have got to remember that my future must be different. If not for myself , then at least for those I love.

January 10th, 2013

Your Type Eight EnneaThought for the Day:

"Do you dismiss a daily spiritual practice as a waste of time? Try three acts of kindness, such as giving someone a compliment, providing a helping hand to a stranger, or allowing someone else to get in line ahead of you. Let that be your practice for today."

Seems to me that this generation dismisses spirituality in preference to their iPhone, galaxy tablets or whatever is the buzz at the time. It is a race to get the best apps, to have the trendiest gear and the best paying jobs where you do the least amount of work!There is little time for what little spiritually might be at the bottom of the inherited DNA.

However, today, I am called on to try three little acts of kindness ..

My challenge to all of you is to try three little acts of kindness with me.

1. Turn off the mobile phone when you are sitting down with someone for a coffee.

2. Buy a book and read it cover to cover before you watch any more youtube videos.

3. If you must argue with someone, meet them face to face and talk it out .. there is so much more to facial responses that the little smiley marks can convey!

January 7th 2013

My "EnneaThought for the Day" said the following ...

"Today, notice if you are playing the role of the "Field Marshall" or the "Rock"--the leader and foundation of your family and professional circle. Can you see that acting like a rock builds a wall against caring, intimacy, gentleness, and self-sacrifice?" (The Wisdom of the Enneagram, 298)

I remember being younger and more foolish and thinking that the Simon and Garfunkle song "I am a rock!" was the best way to live my life. Strong, independent, dark, and a bit mysterious. No one could reach me and thus no one could hurt me. It was safe and I was at liberty to enjoy any part of life that I chose to from the safeness of my island fortress.

Well ... some of you will remember how that all turned out! Phft!

Today I am reminded that there is a real cost of that "liberty"

There was no rock or field marshall at my home today! Nope.. today we had intimacy, gentleness and caring! Along with the sounds of two excited puppies charging helter skelter from one end of the house to the other. Barking, yapping and whining for attention, cuddles and food!

So.... all is right and good in the world!

January 6th 2013

So the forecast for today was rain! Yay!!

Into my shorts and on with the gloves ...30mins later the lawn is covered in fertiliser pellets of the most stinky kind!

Then came the rain!

Pitter patter raindrops! Pitter patter raindrops.. and then it was gone! I had to get the hose out and stand in the sun for an hour to soak the stuff in!

Tonight's news says "Chance of a thunder storm tomorrow" So I think I might schedule the painting of the front driveway and steps! Should be a good day for it!!

Nighty night! Big day tomorrow!

January 5th 2013

Well it seems I have arrived at the age when I must start saying goodbye to my aunts and Uncles as they pass from this world to the next. With quite a number of them in their 80's and 90's I've been quite fortunate to have been able to spend time with them.
"Kids these days..." would often begin the conversations, and they would end with"..but then we were all like that once!"
Yesterday, my Aunty Bella went on to God and back into the arms of her husband Hillary who had left some years previous. She had missed the bus on the 4th of January, a date when her father, mother and elder sister had all gone on ahead. Still, my Aunty Bella was a feisty, independent woman who no doubt was inclined to chose her own time and place.
Rest in Peace! I will miss our chats!
Cynthia

January 4th 2013

Got the lawn mower out today and mowed the front and back lawns. Great feeling to look at them all cut at the end. The best part is that as the weeks go by I am getting stronger and stronger and pushing the mower about is taking less and less time! The best rehab for body and soul! I was always an out in the garden kid, but 20 years in Japan had pretty much "cured me" of that. Two years back in Perth and I am again gardening ... and enjoying it! Roses in full bloom now as well the fruit trees. Mangos, figs, grapes and oranges all working their way into ripeness ... Takako's sister and a couple of friends heading over here in February.. The figs should be ok to eat by then and maybe the mangos! Guess they will enjoy picking the fruit straight off the trees!

Caught up with Midori, Malcolm and Joey at in Perth today. We chatted like nothing in the world was any different! That we hadn't seen each other for several years, that we live on different continents, that she is now newly married ... it was just like old times... and Malcolm is a great guy!! Congrats to you Midori!

Takako, Joey and myself. What an infectious grin! This young lad has just grown up into a loving boy! Where are you from Joey? "I'm from Japan!" Yes, you are! Spending time with him was just great!
"Do you have any games on your iPhone?"
"Nope"
"Ok then, let's down load some"
"Ok"
"Just go to the apps store and search for Sonic ..."
Lost and over my head ..
But yes.. realllllllly good to spend time with young Joey!

Ahhhh... my two boys! Takara 13 months and Satoshi 13 weeks. Beautiful, playful, noisy but they are Takako's and mine and we wouldn't live without them now! Until next time!

2013 & My Glass Jar

January 2nd, 2013 It was a great day for friends and family. Takako and I caught up with Midori, Malcolm and Joey for lunch, and then with my Aunts Janet, Ivy, Nancy & Bella in the afternoon. Also caught up with and was able to share a cuddle with Geradine, Alan & Lydia. Being the techy that I am (LOL) I also was able to set up a wireless internet connection for Aunty Jan and give her access to the family FB page as well as to Skype! Feels great to get that sorted out for her! Had a lovely meal with Aunty Jan, Dad & Takako. All family ...All good! January 1st, 2013

2013 is my year of living and loving my life in a positive way! To help me do that I am planning to fill my "Glass Jar" with positive memories as my year progresses. Something wonderful each and every day until I find myself back here for 2014! For today my positive memory is cleaning up my kitchen under the guidance of younger sister Deb! Everything looks much less cluttered in there now, so maybe tomorrow's positive thing will come out of the food I might cook in there ... who knows ... you'll all have to wait and see! Cynthia