Enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of first-time parenthood. Progress on the vegetable garden and other ramblings of a gaijin in Japan’s least populous prefecture.
Plenty of snow fell over the weekend. On Sunday I started heaping some on the half buried snowman. The carrot nose and hair we gave him was nowhere to be seen. Despite a late start, it was still light as my fingers grew purple. Maybe with a wooden handle and the warmth from shovelling I could have continued into the evening. Anyhow the mound was complete enough so I headed in. Curry and rice for dinner.
After padding out the top further the next day and a break to let it refreeze, the fun bit started. It was warm and sunny mid morning and I found the carrot.
Kento had woken up. We spent some time together inside peering out, as the snow tumbled like those small polystyrene balls. Inside the quinze (quinzee, quinzhee etc.) it was snug.
I thought I would be uploading a photo of a pristine snowfall taken from an upstairs window. I must have been awakened a dozen times as a slab of snow slid off the roof and landed with a weighty thud on the veranda. Returning back with some milk, Kento bore the brunt of an earlier flurry. Sitting behind the handlebars on the bike, he got most of it in the face as I peddled hell for leather with my own kind of snow blindness. The milk was soon put to use, and he was soon jigging about like Michael Flatley cum Stevie Wonder spinning out mudrās.
By the time I lumbered out of bed this morning there wasn’t much left outside but a wet mess. It is still cold.
I first noticed the autumn beers were out on the shelves in the third week in August. A month on, summer is still to give way. It seems any ounce of creativity or drive I had has been wicked away by the unrelenting humidity (it’s back). Somewhat untimely, as the previous week I started a little teaching and have to dream up engaging lesson plans.
Miho’s wedding broke the monotony of the month. During the reception, I enjoyed watching people rushing around with bottle of beer, introducing themselves, filling glasses and hurrying back to grab another bottle. It was rather like one of those Japanese endurance games, but in suits and kimonos. Rather surprisingly, I felt bright as button the following day.
The garden is much the same, if a little tidier, still waiting for the strong sun to fade. Kento continues to stumble about and is keen on pulling himself onto anything head height.
I’m quite fortunate in that my sister-in-law (pictured) is getting married on Sunday. As a result, places that hadn’t been weeded for a long time have been picked over and the compost bin is now brimming.
Earlier in the week, my wife announced “summer is back” as the heavy rain gave way to cloudless sun. There is a cooling breeze and it’s a lot less humid than previously. I’m looking forward to digging the garden and getting things prepared for the winter veg.
Kento is having his first piece of dragon fruit. He’s been taking his first steps too. Although the gravity of the achievement soon sets him down.
A few hours before my wife’s contractions started, a yamori (house gecko) visited. They are considered to bring good things and to watch over the house. A year on and perhaps by coincidence, we had one appear at about the same time. Last year’s on the left and this year’s on the right.
In the morning Kento opened (with some help), his birthday cards and presents. He got a little excited and was sick on his Thomas The Tank Engine card, it wiped off though.
After a few photos, I had to leave, to conclude securing my first job over here. In the afternoon, I set about making a couple of chocolate sponge cakes. The whisked sponge wasn’t helped with the layer of nashi pear that was stuck on half way through cooking. The other a bit heavier, with butter, managed to rise.
When I was burning myself getting the second out of the oven, the phone rang. It was a school offering a days work. It’s been eighteen months without as much as a whiff.
On a few occasions, we have been able to give Kento an al fresco bath. Over the past month he is become more and more investigative and mobile. Sometimes a little too audacious, here snorkelling before learning to swim.
If he’s not staring at something, contemplating, he’s trying to eat it. Eyebrows and ears are mauled whilst dribble is drizzled on all comers.
My mother usually buys this large loaf to cut up for toast, as the smaller ones tend to be too sweet. At €2 a piece it makes those back in Japan seem like an excessive treat. We are all off west for a week on what might turn out to be a busman’s holiday.
We have been in France a couple of days, following our week in England. The weather at the moment isn’t much of an improvement, but I am relieved to see it’s much the same back in Japan. Earlier today, I received an email from my sister-in-law with a few photos of the garden, which is already beginning to bear fruit (and veg).
Our long haul trip over was relaxed and was helped a great deal with a baby bassinet. When Kento wasn’t sleeping, he was waving at everybody queuing for the toilet – which was for most of the flight.
Tomorrow we begin our trip back to Europe - at least to a hotel near to the airport. I shall be without an internet connection for the first couple of weeks (and a garden for a couple of months). Hopefully be able to resume posting after that, so stay tuned.
Everybody here as been very generous in donating clothes, their own kiddies have outgrown. Here Kento is sitting astride his latest gift. I hope the new waste regulations bring about even more Reuse and Recycling.
