July 17, 2025

Thursday - Hot and Sunny


I woke up this morning as F was leaving. He had turned on the AC before he left and the room was cold! (I found out tonight that he put the AC on at 4:30 in the morning for a bit!)


I went downstairs and F was still there. He was leaving though, so I said a quick hello and goodbye to him!


I went back upstairs and did my usual looking at videos and then falling asleep. I woke up a bit later and got up. I dressed myself and then I went downstairs to get my breakfast. I brought it up to the room to eat.


I had a quiet afternoon. It was hot up here in the room, even with the AC on. I spent time on my computer and even wrote an email to my bestie that I have owed an email to for ages.


I went downstairs to get my lunch a bit before 3 today and did that. I took it upstairs to eat and I watched an episode of The Great British Sewing Bee. It was the lingerie week and it was quite interesting. I did make a nightie and a robe back in the days when I sewed and it was really pretty, but I never really wore it. 


After 5:25 F called me to say he was on his way back. He was planning to stop at a grocery store and he asked if I needed anything. I asked for something for dessert tonight. I went downstairs a little early and got started on the dishes.


When F arrived, he came into the kitchen to talk to me. It was lovely to see him, but he spent so much time talking to me that I couldn’t get on with my work. Every time I wanted to start something, he was in the way! I really tried not to get upset with him. He hadn’t made rice yesterday despite me asking him to do so, and he forgot to bring anything for dessert. That wasn’t a big deal if I’m honest, but just a little sad.


Anyway, dinner was good. We had seasoned beef from the store which I fried, plus some fried onions and zucchini, potato salad, salad and some bibinba rice. Everything was eaten! It turned out well.


I did the dishes after dinner and then came upstairs. I relaxed for a bit and texted my nephew. We communicated for a little bit and then he got tired. 


I went downstairs and took a shower and then came back up to the room and watched an episode of Yellowstone. It was decent today, a bit sad if I’m honest. One of the cowboys was killed by a horse. 


And that’s about it. For the last few hours I’ve just been watching some YouTube and getting things done so I can get to bed. 


Most likely I won’t be blogging for a few days. I’ll either be back on Monday night or Tuesday night depending how things go. Don’t miss me too much!


Until next time….

July 16, 2025

Wednesday - Too hot and sunny, humid


I woke up this morning and the room was hot. F had left the door open for me, which was nice, but honestly, it was so hot that I already needed the AC on. I turned it on, went downstairs and then came back to the room. I did a bit of reading and watching of videos and then I had a short nap. I did sleep a little longer today, but no harm done.


I went downstairs and grabbed my breakfast. I brought it back up to the room and ate. I noticed that there was a movie coming on my cable channel today that sounded interesting. I decided that I’d try and watch it. It started later than I thought, but I did watch it all. It was called Polite Society and it was about two sisters of Indian heritage living in the UK. One of them had dropped out of art school and the other one, the heroine was hoping to become a stunt woman. It was a really neat movie and I quite enjoyed it. The only cast member I recognized was in Murderbot. I liked it!


F called in the middle of the movie and we had a bit of an argument. He wanted to book things for my nephew’s visit but he keeps trying to book “really” Japanese places for my nephew to eat. He’s barely out of his teens and he isn’t used to eating Japanese food. I don’t understand why F wants him to eat full on Japanese food. He might hate it and refuse to eat. If we were going to a place where he could order what HE wants, no problem, but a place where it is a set menu….ooh. His mother doesn’t eat fish at all, so I’m not sure how much fish he’s used to eating! And then, the one place that I do want F to make a reservation for…he’s dragging his feet. Just so annoying. I told him my reasons and he isn’t listening. I want my nephew to come back in a few years…if we give him a bad time, he won’t ever come back. (And my sister might be mad at ME and that is a scary thing!)


After the movie, I went downstairs and made my lunch. I brought it back up to the room to eat. I watched an episode of Major Crimes and enjoyed that. After that, I watched the news and cringed at parts.


F called around 5:30 and then I went downstairs a bit later to start dinner. It was so hot. Today I was a bit busy. I made roasted okra and zucchini, and cooked chicken in the air fryer. Unfortunately, with the air conditioner on downstairs and upstairs, and the toaster oven and the air fryer…the breaker went off. I managed to finish cooking by leaving off the air conditioner in the living room. It was only for 10 minutes and the room was already cool so we managed.


Dinner was pretty good. The chicken in the air fryer was nicer than in the usual toaster oven. The roasted veggies were nice, but there weren’t enough of them. We also had some cucumber pickle, rice and a salad. 


After dinner I did the dishes. I also had to do up the garbage when I was done. I was so sweaty when I was done. I went upstairs and then I had to change all of my clothes. It was horrible. 


And then, I waited. After 10 minutes I texted F to ask him when he was going to go out. A few minutes later he texted back to say he needed to wait for 2 more points. He was watching sports. I was rather perturbed. He came upstairs around 9:30 and got ready to go.


We both got ready to go out. Unfortunately it was too late really to go to the local grocery store, so we had to go to the big 24 hour place. And, to make things better, F came in with me. I really wish he wouldn’t!


We came back to the house after we finished shopping. I put away the groceries and then headed upstairs.


I ended up watching Grey’s Anatomy tonight. It was an odd episode, with a helicopter in it. I turned it off after it finished.


And that’s about it. Tomorrow I have to make dinner and I might do some laundry if I have time. I’m off. I have to get some sleep soon. 


Until tomorrow….

July 15, 2025

 Tuesday - Hot, sunny and humid, some rain


I woke up this morning to an empty room. F had left for work and he’d turned on the air conditioner for me. That was very nice, but I was a bit cold! I adjusted the temperature a bit and slept on. 


I made a trip downstairs and then came back to the bedroom. I did go back to bed, but didn’t get much snoozing time, the videos were a bit too interesting! I did drag myself out of bed at a decent time, dressed and went downstairs. When I came back to the room, I sorted out my laundry and took a couple of loads downstairs. I grabbed my breakfast and took it up to the room as well.


I spent the next couple of hours doing laundry and bringing it upstairs to hang up. I also washed a small load of stuff for my nephew. We might go to a footbath, so I brought him a small towel. I washed it today as it was in the store before now. 


I made my lunch around 3 and brought it upstairs to eat. I had a nice lunch and watched Saturday’s episode of FBI as I had missed it earlier.


F called after 5:30 and we chatted for a moment. He was on his way back to the house. He said he’d had a big driving assignment today. Poor thing.


I went downstairs to get a start on dinner a bit later. Tonight I made another quick minced pork stew with onions, mushrooms and zucchini. It turned out rather well so I was pleased. I can’t believe it took me so long to start making this! When it was done, I texted F to ask him to come downstairs and help me by putting rice in our bowls. He didn’t answer. I put rice in the bowls and then topped it with my stew. I yelled at F to come downstairs and he did.


Dinner was nice. Along with the stew we had salad, cucumber sticks and K and F had mini-tomatoes. I think it was good.


I cleaned up afterwards and then came upstairs. I vegged on the bed for a while as the AC was on and I needed a bit of a break. I heard F coming up a bit later so I went over to my side of the room.


I went downstairs and made some popcorn for myself. I brought it upstairs and watched an episode of FBI: International. It was okay. Since it finished, I’ve been on my computer and phone trying to get my end of day things done.


And that’s about it for today. I’m not sure what I’ll get up to tomorrow, so, you’ll just have to come back and find out! Until tomorrow….


July 14, 2025

Monday - Hot and Sunny with dark clouds


I woke up this morning a bit later than usual, but went downstairs. I came back upstairs and went back to bed. To be honest, I turned on the AC as it was already 28 degrees in our room and I was drenched in sweat. 


I slept a bit, F came upstairs for a bit and then left. He was waiting for the priest to come, but he didn’t. Somewhere around noon we went out to have lunch. F assumed the priest wasn’t going to come after all.


We went to F’s friend’s restaurant and had the lunch of the day. It was huge. Seriously huge! We had stewed fish, sashimi and a pork and bean sprout stir-fry. And then there was the miso soup, rice and pickles too. We also got some mugi-cha and after we were given some iced coffee so it was a huge meal!


F wanted to go and see his doctor and I didn’t want to go back to the house. I wanted a day out. F very nicely dropped me off at S-Mall and then he went back to the house to get ready to see his doctor. 


I did a bit of window shopping and a bit of actual shopping too. I discovered that two of the major shops in the mall will be closing this month to do renovations. It’s a bit strange. The mall is already so small, without the grocery store and the drugstore, why would people go there? I bought a few things at the grocery store. They are trying to sell off all of their stock at the moment!


I had an ice cream at Baskin Robbins and that was lovely. Following that, I decided to do a bit more shopping. I was in the drugstore when my phone  rang. I answered but there was no voice. I assumed that F must have finished and was on his way to meet me. I found a point halfway down the hall where I could see the doors and meet F.  I only had to wait a few minutes before I saw him walking into the mall. We waved and met up.


We went into Doutor and had an iced coffee each. Mine was decaf, but was good anyway. We spent some time talking and also on our phones. Finally, we made a plan for the rest of the evening for us. I  suggested doing our shopping soon and maybe getting a bento for K. F was okay with that. 


We left the mall and went to my usual grocery store. I went shopping and bought quite a few groceries. We got a bento for K and stuff for lunches and breakfasts. I picked up quite a few dinner ingredients as well. We checked out and as I was packing, realized that F hadn’t bought K something for her breakfast tomorrow! He went and got her something and went through the checkout again.


We came back to the house and I unpacked the groceries. F got in my way, but wasn’t too bad for a change. He got K up to eat her bento and just after that, the doorbell rang. It was the priest!


He came in and did his stuff at the butsudan. I was in the kitchen ignoring the whole thing. The priest left a few minutes later and then F gave K her bento and some miso soup. 


We left to go and have our dinner. We wanted to go to the restaurant in Kushibiki so we drove out there. I was worried about the time, we were leaving a lot later than we originally planned. It turned out I was correct. The restaurant was closed when we got there. 


We tossed around a few ideas and then F suggested Misono. I like it, I don’t love it, but it was fine tonight. We went there and F had a tempura rice bowl and I had the chicken cutlet without rice and miso soup. Mine was very nice, F liked his too.


On the way back to the house, we stopped at a drugstore to get some slippers. K’s slippers have fallen apart and she is still wearing them. We found her a nice pair and then decided to buy our toilet paper at the same time too! 


We came back to the house and I discovered something bad. I’d left K’s breakfast on the table as I assumed that her bento would be enough, and it was now gone. She’d eaten two extra onigiri that were for her breakfast. Yikes. F was planning to go out and get something else for her, but I said why not give her Wednesday’s breakfast sandwich for tomorrow and he can pick something up on the way back to the house tomorrow. He decided to go with that idea.


I went upstairs and turned on the AC. It was 8:30 or so and it was 31 degrees in our room. I had to run the AC again. It is still hot in here, much later.


I think I had a short nap and then F came up to the room. I decided to go and take my shower so I went downstairs and did that. I came back to the room and watched an episode of Murderbot. It was the last episode! It was good, but a bit sad in a way. I enjoyed the series a lot. I’m happy to hear that it has been renewed. Yay. 


I turned off the TV and then got stuck into my computer stuff. And now I’m here. It was a good day. It was nice to get out and spend time by myself and do a little shopping, even if it wasn’t too much. 


Tomorrow I’m back to cooking dinner and trying to survive in the hot house. Wish me luck with that! Come back later if you like and hear all about my day. Until tomorrow…. 

July 13, 2025

Sunday - Hot and Sunny


I woke up fairly early this morning. I think F saw me move and then woke me up by grabbing my hand. I wasn’t too impressed! I went downstairs and then came back to bed. I looked at my phone for a while and then went back to sleep. Later F went downstairs to make brunch for his mother. He was supposed to go and get his hair cut this morning, but instead took his mother to the temple. He made arrangements for the priest to visit the house tomorrow or something. 


I got up at a decent Sunday time, dressed and waited for us to go out to have lunch. It was well after 1 when I texted F and asked if he was going to take me out anytime soon. He texted back that he was cooking edamame and would go as soon as he could! Apparently his aunt had dropped off a bunch of edamame. He was supposed to take some to his sister’s house as well, but couldn’t get hold of her.


Finally, F was ready to go out. We basically had to go to Gusto as most of the good places were already closed for lunch. I had the lemon and shrimp and avocado pasta and it was very nice. I also had a salad and the drink bar. F had the spicy grilled chicken but as usual didn’t like it that much!


After our lunch we visited Yamaya where I bought the 1 thing I promised F that I would buy and he bought a lot of stuff! 


After that, we visited a Daiso and I picked up a few things for myself and my nephew’s visit. F got a couple of things too. 


When we finished at Daiso we went back to the house and vegged for a while. I watched a lot of YouTube and then F made dinner for his mother. I also texted my nephew who has arrived in Tokyo. He was on a train so I guess he was checking that he had my number and that he’d be okay in Japan. I’m sure he will!



We went out after K got her dinner. We went to China House and I enjoyed the meal. I had the yurinchi set meal and I asked F to split a fried rice with me. He did. He had another chicken dish, but one with vegetables. His was okay but he felt it was too salty. It was a bit salty. 


After our meal we went to the grocery store to get a few groceries. F picked up stuff to feed his mother and I got coffee creamers for my tea! I also found a jar of mango chutney on sale and got that too. Yay. I’ll enjoy that with my sandwiches for the rest of the month.


We came back to the house and I signed up for a point card on line. It was a bit difficult, but I managed by using the translation app on my phone. 


I watched an episode of Gotham. It was a really good one again. I’ve really enjoyed this show so far. It’s well written and the characters are quite good too. I’m not quite finished the first season, but I’m getting close. 


That’s about it for me for today. Since midnight I’ve been working on my computer stuff. F is off work tomorrow too as he is expecting the priest to come. If he show up in the morning we might go out for a nice lunch. 


Oh, and I should advise you all that since my nephew will arrive up here on Friday, this blog won’t be updated between Friday and Sunday night. I’ll probably be back on Monday night next week. I’ll be back tomorrow too of course, but I’ll be out and about next weekend. 


Come back later if you like and hear all about my day. Until tomorrow…. 

July 12, 2025

Saturday - Hot and Sunny, cooler in the evening


I woke up this morning around 7:30 again. I went downstairs. F was still in bed sleeping and I came back to bed and was quiet for a while. He woke up just after 8 and went downstairs to cook breakfast for his mother and get her ready for her Day Service. 


I slept on for a while and then F came back to bed and we snoozed for a bit. Around 11:30 we started talking about lunch and what to do. I had suggested going to Fujishima today for lunch. They have reasonable lunches in a nice setting. Today we got the table by the garden window which was lovely to have while we ate. We both had the same meal, the ginger pork one. It was pretty good.


After lunch we headed back into Tsuruoka and were going to go to Komeda for coffee, but I wanted to buy a birthday card first. We decided to go to Hachimonjiya first. We drove over there and I bought a couple of birthday cards. Then, I thought we were still going to Komeda, but F suggested that since we were outside Starbucks, we might as well go there! So, we did. I had a decaf iced coffee and F had his usual frappucino. It was nice to sit inside in a comfy chair and watch the world go by.


We were going to leave, but then F remembered he wanted something for his car. We went over to the drugstore and he found his cleaning stuff. Then I suggested a couple of munchie things for me and then he got some for himself. Finally, I suggested a cooling wipe packet for my nephew who’s arriving next week. F got himself one too!


We went to 3 of the 4 businesses in that area. The only one we didn’t go to was the hot yoga place! I think that’s pretty funny.


We went back to the house and I went upstairs and turned on the AC. F was downstairs waiting for his mother and possibly doing something with his fish. 


Later on, we talked about when to leave for the mall. We decided that we should leave around 7pm.  I was on my computer and did a few things that I usually do around that time of day. F went downstairs to cook dinner for his mother and then when he was done, we got ready to go out.


We drove out to the mall, found a decent parking spot and then went in. We bought our movie tickets and then went over to get our food. F had the okonomiyaki and yakisoba pack and I had a bibinba. Mine was great. I got my free drink for having my movie ticket so that was good.


We went back into the cinema and waited for either a big line to form at the concession stand, or our movie to be announced. We bought our popcorn and drinks and then went to the cinema. Today we saw Superman and it was fun! It’s been a long time since a Comic Book Movie actually felt like it was fun. I was happy because Nathan Fillion was in it and he was quite funny in this. 


After the movie we came back to Tsuruoka. On the way F asked if I wanted to go to a convenience store. I didn’t really, but would go if he liked. He decided not to go, but then tried to turn in when we passed the last 7-11! We didn’t go. 


Back at the house, F set up the rice cooker for his breakfast with his mother and I went upstairs. It was too late for my TV show, so I just watched some YouTube. It’s been a quiet nice. It’s actually cool enough that I don’t have to turn on the AC tonight. Well, strictly speaking, I turned it on and then turned it off 3 minutes later when I realized I didn’t really need it!


That’s about it for me for today. I really don’t know what I’m going to get up to tomorrow. Come back later if you like and hear all about my day. Until tomorrow….


July 11, 2025

 Friday - Hot and sunny


I woke up this morning as I was freezing. F had left the room and had turned on the air conditioner for me. Well, it was working really hard and I was cold. I woke up and decided that I should take a trip downstairs. I grabbed my glasses but they caught on something and fell into the gap between my bed and side table. The one I haven’t cleaned between in ages. I grabbed my glasses but they were covered in dust and cobwebs. Bleck. I cleaned them off as best as I could and then went downstairs and washed them. I used the ‘loo and then came back upstairs and went back to bed. I watched some videos and then fell asleep again.


I got up fairly early today and then dressed. I went downstairs and then came back upstairs to my room. I grabbed my laundry and took it downstairs and put it in the washing machine. Then I went into the kitchen and put my breakfast together. I brought it upstairs to eat. 


I hung up my laundry in the room and then started my movie de jour. Today it was The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1. It was…okay. It was all about the wedding between Edward and Bella and then what happens after the wedding. 


I went downstairs to grab my lunch and brought it up to the room. I watched an episode of Matlock and enjoyed that for the most part. I ate lunch and it was very good too. 


F called me after 5:15 and said he was on his way. I went downstairs a little bit earlier today to get a start on dinner. I made pasta with a lemon olive oil sauce and we also had salad and sliced precooked chicken. F and K got mini tomatoes again too. 


I got dinner on the table very close to 7 pm and we were finished fairly early. I cleared the table and then washed the dishes. I listened to a couple of podcasts, but I didn’t get my movie one finished as I didn’t have that many dishes!


I went upstairs around 8:30 pm and then just crashed on the bed under the AC for a few minutes. An hour later I went downstairs and took a shower. 


I came back up to the room and started watching the second part of Breaking Dawn. It was….okay. The film had too much of a “It was all a dream” thing going on. I didn’t like that bit of it. Some bits were funny, some were exciting, but really it was just a bit meh. It finished and that was a good thing. It’s been interesting rewatching all of these movies so close to each other. I’ve realized that they are better than I remember, but they really aren’t great. I place the blame at the original novels which were not very good. She had a few good ideas, but the execution in the novels isn’t done well. 


I turned off the TV and got stuck into my computer. F fell asleep somewhere along the way and I should get to bed soonish. 


That’s about it for me. I’m hoping that we’ll go and see a movie tomorrow night, but who knows. We could also go on Sunday as F is off work on Monday. We’ll see!


Come back later if you like and hear all about my Saturday. Until tomorrow….