Days in Australia and Japan

busy December

2011-01-06T13:09:00.004+09:00

We were back to OZ from Japan on 15th Dec.
Since then we had been busy until new year's eve.
Next day after our arrival I had an aroma class.
Then on the weekend I had two reunions with Japanese friends.
Jon had an appointment with Dietitian and I also had appointments with GP and hospital.
On Christmas Eve which is Stuart's birthday
we went to Italian cafe and gave him special golf balls.
I had Christmas lunch at Deborah's house.
There were nine people including me. I was impressed Deborah's cooking and beautiful table setting as well.
On the other hand Jon went to Julia's apartment at that time.
We could not eat Christmas dinner because both ate big lunch.
On boxing day we went to Albert Park and ran for long distance.
I cooked turkey on new year's eve.
It was my first time but really tasty.

Pan Pacs

2010-11-08T12:41:00.004+09:00

We are now in Gold Coast to take part in the Pan Pacific Masters Games which is held every two years. This year 11,000 competitors from twenty six countries have signed up and compete in the thirty four kinds of sports. It is a big event. I ran the 3km race at track and got a poor record. I have no clue for this result. Next day we joined the 4km cross country race and both got a bronze medal. But I thought it was just by luck because my time was very slow. I am afraid that my time is getting slower.

Dinner party

2010-11-06T08:07:00.007+09:00

We invited two couples for a dinner party at our place the other day.
Jon made tuna roll for starter.
I made table setting beautifully like a restaurant
and cooked many dishes such as salmon for entree,
apple salad for fresheners,
pork and chicken for main,
beans salad and mushroom stir fry for side dish,
coconuts cake and spicy dates cake for dessert.
I was busy in the kitchen but really enjoyed cooking.
In despite of one couple's arrival was very late,
I think everybody enjoyed chatting, eating and laughing at this party.

Season was over!

2010-09-14T19:42:00.003+09:00

Last Saturday it was our last race in cross country season.
From April there were thirteen races.
Jon and I joined all of them and were given a title Spartan.
In that evening the dinner party was held,
where we were given the medals of Spartan.
And also they announced most improved runners
and I've got seventh.
Considering the records of this season,
in some races I ran slower than last year
but some faster.
Over all this season was not too bad for me.
Thanks for my coach, Jonathan.

Birthday girl

2010-08-25T21:22:00.004+09:00

It was my big birthday yesterday.

From the morning till the midnight Jon gave me lots of surprising.

At the breakfast table I was given car number plate, TAMAMI and sport watch, Gamin.

We replaced it and drove to Deborah’s house to have a cake late afternoon.

For dinner he booked Maze by Gordon Rumsy in the Crown.

We enjoyed a great meal, service and atmosphere.

I would like to be healthy and run with Jon for another fifty years.

Winning!

2010-01-23T10:42:00.003+09:00

I’ve got the victory at 6km race in Coburg on 17 Jan.

Jon ran with me as a pace runner and pushed me to the first.

I received the trophy which is very interesting figure.

Busy day!

2009-08-21T21:04:00.003+09:00

It was a busy day.
Until 1pm I had school as usual and then we had lunch with Merriwyn. She gave me a beautiful silk scarf and an interesting card for my birthday present. I liked them very much. Thank you, Merriwyn. After lunch we went to the Home Show in the city. We have a plan to renovate our kitchen, laundry and work room one day. Therefore we collected information today.

SAKURA

2009-07-29T20:15:00.003+09:00

We have cherry tree in back yard. It is in full bloom now.
Japanese often compare the cherry to human life
such as its peek period is very short
and the way its petal fall is gracious.
Last April we also enjoyed the full bloom of cherry tree
in Tokyo with my sister.
I remember the crowded Palace where we had a picnic lunch watching cherry tree.

Merriwyn

2009-07-19T11:01:00.009+09:00

Last night we were invited to dinner at Merriwyn's home,
who is Jon's cousin and an interior designer living in Windsor.
At her place there is lots of stuff from Asia
and she beautifully co ordinates them with deco furniture.
First we had chat with Merriwyn and her boyfriend, Peter in the living room
having Champagne and dip,
then we shifted to dining room where was lit by candles.
I noticed a Japanese belt (obi) which was used for the table centre.
She served three course meals with formal dishes and cutlery.
Her cooking was marvellous,
each dishes had very delicate flavor.
We really enjoyed meals and chat with them until over midnight.

Dali

2009-06-29T19:57:00.002+09:00

The other day we went to Salvador Dali Exhibition at National Gallery. It is holding more than 200 collections in painting, sculpture, jewellery, cinema and photography. I have not seen his works before and did not know he worked film making with Hitchcock.
I enjoyed it very much.

Soccer

2009-06-21T20:12:00.002+09:00

On 17 June we went to MCG to watch a soccer game, Australia vs. Japan. There were about 70,000 audience, which are mostly supporter of Australia. Australia won by 2 to 1. Both countries
have already got the ticket to 2010 World Cup in South Africa. If possible I would like to go there and watch the games.

Long weekend

2009-06-11T06:15:00.004+09:00

We went to Anglesea on the long weekend.
It takes nearly two hours driving from our place.
We usually change over at half way.
Even though the weather was chilly
there were lots of people.
We browsed around in the farmer's market
and bought honey and went to the art show at community centre.
They were selling the local's works which are paintings, pictures and crafts.
We also enjoyed jogging on steep hills as usual.

Sandown 10km race

2009-05-30T16:46:00.003+09:00

We had a 10km race at Sandown Racecourse.
The course was almost flat but it was windy today.
Though I have got a personal best
I am not very happy.
Because I thought I could run much faster.
This time Tarquin drove us there.
He is amazingly thin and very fast.
Maybe I am too fat that why I run very slow.

school excursion

2009-05-15T21:09:00.004+09:00

I went to the Ian Potter Art Gallery on a school excursion.
First we viewed indigenous arts.
Our teacher explained Aborigine's 'Dreamtime' and also 'stolen generation'.
Next we viewed early day's Australian arts
which are The Pioneer by McCubbin and Shearing the Rams by Tom Roberts.
And finally we viewed young student's arts.

After the excursion Jon came to the gallery.
We ate big pizza for lunch
and looked around the gallery together.
We became members of National Gallery of Victoria.

Cross country in Lardner Park

2009-05-13T20:57:00.005+09:00

Last Saturday we joined the cross country race
in the Victorian State Championship.
Stuart drove us to Lardner Park in Warragul
for over one hour.
There was a beautiful stock farm.
But it was a difficult race for me
because the course was wet and hilly.
I ran 19minutes 26seconds for 4km,
which was 10th of my age group.
Jon ran for 8km and got a good result.
We are very happy.

Old Scotch AGM

2009-04-30T15:40:00.003+09:00

The other day we went to Annual General Meeting of our running club.
I had great time with old and new pal.
This year an Olympic gold medalist, Steve Ovett was the guest.
Everybody enjoyed his talking.
But it was too fast for me to understand.

English school

2009-04-23T19:24:00.004+09:00

We came back to Australia last Tuesday.
Since next day I have been to English school.
The class starts from 8:45am to 1pm.
I get very busy now.
In my class there are about twenty students from all over the world.
I noticed their strong accents from each countries.
Most students are very active.
They try to speak English even if their English is not perfect.
I knew I am bit quiet.
I would like to utilize this great opportunity
and brush up my English.

short trip in Tokyo

2009-04-14T18:04:00.001+09:00

Yesterday we stayed at serviced apartment in Aoyama, Tokyo.
That was the prize of Most Improved Woman in 2008.
We've got two bedrooms and living room and kitchen.
Internet and paper were available in their comfortable big lounge.
We explored around fashionable Aoyama area and had a dinner at the barbecued chicken shop.
This morning we walked from Aoyama to Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi.
We really enjoyed this short trip in Tokyo.

Sakura

2009-04-04T20:30:00.004+09:00

We went to see the cherry blossoms in Yasukuni shrine area.
As it was a warm day there were so many people.
After eating a bento box
we walked around the Palace.
There we saw beautiful cherry blossoms and a lot of people again.
And we enjoyed free Japanese tea and rice cracker at National Theatre.

Aroma lesson

2009-03-29T19:17:00.003+09:00

I have an aroma therapy lesson here in Tokyo also.
Yesterday it was advanced class for body treatment including Chinese massage and reflexology.
They enjoyed to make relaxation gel and treatment oil by hand.
I hope they will try to give massage to their family at home.
This time I had set up one and a half hour for this lesson.
But actually it took over two hours.
I might rearrange the content.

2009-03-12T20:19:00.003+09:00

Last Friday we came to Tokyo. Unexpectedly it's been bit cold.
We ran half marathon and got personal best on last Sunday.
Jon pulled me as a pace maker.
I appreciate him.
Last night we enjoyed Rod Stewart concert in Tokyo.
He changed costume four times.
It was very colourful.
He always moving on the stage.
Hardly to believe he is sixty four years old.

Mayumi-san!

2009-03-01T19:51:00.006+09:00

We met Mayumi and Rodger at BB
and had great time.
Mayumi has been my friend since twenty four years.
Today we knew Rodger is a fanatic Demon supporter. So the four of us may go to the MCG in April.

driving license

2009-02-27T14:59:00.002+09:00

Today I got it.
I do not need international driving license here any more.

I'm enjoying.

2009-02-22T15:34:00.003+09:00

I joined 12km race in Coburg
and got PB since '08 March.
I am very happy but I want to run faster.
I keep training everyday.

2009-02-16T10:07:00.003+09:00

We visited Anna and Rohan's house.
Their BBQ equipment is huge!
It looks like a restaurant stove.
They served grilled tuna and salmon.
It was really yummy.
We enjoyed chat till the night.

VISA

2009-02-04T12:12:00.003+09:00

I've got a stamp on my passport.
I became real Aussie.
It took long time since applying on last August.
Now I feel easy.

2009-01-13T19:44:00.002+09:00

Today there was aroma's one day lesson.
They enjoyed hand made bees wax cream.
The class finished successfully.

homemade lemon muffin

2009-01-12T13:58:00.003+09:00

I cooked lemon muffin following the healthy desert book.
It has no butter and uses honey instead of sugar.
It was ok but more honey and lemon would be nice.
I might try it again.

2009-01-10T20:23:00.004+09:00

Today we had Shield Competition of Victoria Championship. I ran 3km at track in Box hill
and got personal best.Very happy!
We met many old Scotch and young boys.
I enjoyed small chat with them.

2008-12-31T18:34:00.002+09:00

That was a wonderful ceremony.
Nori-san's friend and Izumi's friend joined.
After this we had blackout until next afternoon.
That was also unforgettable.

2008-12-26T06:30:00.001+09:00

We had dinner with Nori and Izumi at steak house enjoying nice sea view.

They have wedding ceremony on Dec. 26th in Honolulu. Exciting!

2008-12-23T09:53:00.001+09:00

We are in Honolulu now.

My sister Izumi is coming here tomorrow.

She has wedding ceremony on Friday.

Looking forward it.

I met Santa!

2008-12-09T18:08:00.002+09:00

Tonight we went to the plant shop where Christmas night sale was held on. They gave big discounts and also offered sausage and glass of champagne. We bought seven pots of colourful flower. Tomorrow I would like to put them in our garden.

yesterday's dinner

2008-12-08T12:54:00.003+09:00

Yesterday we had dinner with Jon's sister, Deborah and her boy friend, Gordon at Italian restaurant near here. They said they were very busy in these days. Certainly Gordon looked a bit sleepy. But
he enjoyed talking about history with Jon.
Deborah looked very elegant in purple outfit.
The food were not bad but their service was so slow.
It made me irritated.

lunch with M-san

2008-12-05T07:40:00.003+09:00

Yesterday we had lunch with Merriwyn, cousin of Jon. Last month she visited Japan and stayed at our place in Tokyo. She says I like Japan and want to visit again. Sounds nice!

2008-12-03T08:15:00.002+09:00

Aroma class finished yesterday.
It was four times in row.
All participants are Japanese living in Melbourne.
Hope they enjoy aroma therapy from now.

Reunior Nambanners in Melbourne

2008-11-30T19:45:00.003+09:00

Today we had a meeting with some Nambanners
in Melbourne. Chiba-san, Peter, Jon and Tamami
got together at BB on Chapel street.
We had a good time to share.

Japanese movie

2008-11-29T17:13:00.003+09:00

Yesterday we went to view Japanese movie, Taste of Fish.
It was really interesting scenario of humanity.
Lots of laugh and cry.
It has English subtitle, which was nice for Jon.
Both we could enjoy it.

new hair colour

2008-11-27T20:50:00.002+09:00

I put colour on my hair today.
Exciting!
It was first trial for me.