Waiting for the bus with Ah-chan (grandma)
Here comes the Doggy Bus!!
Yuzuki was happy Oliver was there to meet her : )
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
School bus
Yuzuki goes to a local kindy 5 days a week. As my sister is at work she gets dropped off at mums after 4pm by this cool Doggy Bus! Oliver was certainly jealous of her!!
Waiting for the bus with Ah-chan (grandma)
Here comes the Doggy Bus!!
Yuzuki was happy Oliver was there to meet her : )
Waiting for the bus with Ah-chan (grandma)
Here comes the Doggy Bus!!
Yuzuki was happy Oliver was there to meet her : )
Eco bags
We went to a shopping mall on the weekend. The kids had enough of Mako (my sister) and I going into lots of shops and taking our time.
Then we came to this area where they had - "Let's make your own Eco Bag!" They were very excited to see something they can enjoy and wanted to try it. Yeah! Why not!
We carried on with our shopping while the kids worked on the bags.
Yuzuki working hard:
Runa:
Hinata:
He made a bag for Oliver! How sweet!!
It was a great way to keep the kids entertained while us adults spent some whining kids free time (Oliver was asleep in the buggy).
Then we came to this area where they had - "Let's make your own Eco Bag!" They were very excited to see something they can enjoy and wanted to try it. Yeah! Why not!
We carried on with our shopping while the kids worked on the bags.
Yuzuki working hard:
Runa:
Hinata:
He made a bag for Oliver! How sweet!!
It was a great way to keep the kids entertained while us adults spent some whining kids free time (Oliver was asleep in the buggy).
On the weekend
Even though we are sad thinking of the people up North, we had to carry on with our life (our holiday) here.
On Sundays Hinata has a tennis lesson so Oliver and I went along with him. Oliver had a go too.
It didn't go too far...
So he tried with a big ball instead. Yes he could hit it better : )
On Sundays Hinata has a tennis lesson so Oliver and I went along with him. Oliver had a go too.
It didn't go too far...
So he tried with a big ball instead. Yes he could hit it better : )
Sad week
As everyone in the world knows Japan had a very sad week. Last Friday the biggest earthquake Japan ever experienced hit the north part of Japan.
Mum had the afternoon off from work so I was at her place with Oliver, enjoying an afternoon snack and coffee. We were sort of watching TV. Then the earthquake report came on the screen. If you lived in Japan before you know we get these live reports quite often (Japan is an earthquake country - lying on many plates). But this time it said magnitude 8.8 (later they increased it to 9.0) which I have not seen before.
Actually we didn't feel anything where we were, so we were calm and were just checking the updates on the news.
Following the report they broadcasted tsunami warnings. They had three different categories, tsunami warning, tsunami evacuation order, and Huge tsunami evacuation order. And a wide area was covered with the latter warning.
Mum and I weren't sure if we needed to do anything as we were close to the area which got tsunami evacuation order (Wakayama prefecture) but nothing came through from the Osaka government so we decided to stay where we were. Meanwhile, incredible images came though.
The live images of tsunami destroying huge areas, swallowing the boats, houses, and cars and even people.
We just couldn't believe what we were watching. It felt like we were watching movies but it was REAL. And lasted so long.
I couldn't believe it was happening in the same country, we had coffee cups in our hands while people were washed away...
I didn't sleep much that night and spent the next few days just watching news on TV.
One of my good friends in Brunei is from the area hit badly with this tsunami. We were trying to locate her family since last week. Today we were told her parents and her brother's family are all well and safe!! I am so relieved and happy for her.
There are still so many people missing and as the world is watching we are still having trouble with the nuclear plants...
I keep updating myself with the news, but hopefully we can have a good holiday with our family here in Osaka somehow.
Thank you everyone for thinking of us, Oliver, I and my family are all safe.
Mum had the afternoon off from work so I was at her place with Oliver, enjoying an afternoon snack and coffee. We were sort of watching TV. Then the earthquake report came on the screen. If you lived in Japan before you know we get these live reports quite often (Japan is an earthquake country - lying on many plates). But this time it said magnitude 8.8 (later they increased it to 9.0) which I have not seen before.
Actually we didn't feel anything where we were, so we were calm and were just checking the updates on the news.
Following the report they broadcasted tsunami warnings. They had three different categories, tsunami warning, tsunami evacuation order, and Huge tsunami evacuation order. And a wide area was covered with the latter warning.
Mum and I weren't sure if we needed to do anything as we were close to the area which got tsunami evacuation order (Wakayama prefecture) but nothing came through from the Osaka government so we decided to stay where we were. Meanwhile, incredible images came though.
The live images of tsunami destroying huge areas, swallowing the boats, houses, and cars and even people.
We just couldn't believe what we were watching. It felt like we were watching movies but it was REAL. And lasted so long.
I couldn't believe it was happening in the same country, we had coffee cups in our hands while people were washed away...
I didn't sleep much that night and spent the next few days just watching news on TV.
One of my good friends in Brunei is from the area hit badly with this tsunami. We were trying to locate her family since last week. Today we were told her parents and her brother's family are all well and safe!! I am so relieved and happy for her.
There are still so many people missing and as the world is watching we are still having trouble with the nuclear plants...
I keep updating myself with the news, but hopefully we can have a good holiday with our family here in Osaka somehow.
Thank you everyone for thinking of us, Oliver, I and my family are all safe.
Friday, 11 March 2011
What a day!
I have done so many trips but boy what an eventful journey this was.
As we expected we had some trouble checking in at Brunei airport. Even though this was supposed to be a contract leave when we get confirmed (not standby) tickets. Well... of course the flight was full and we had to wait till the last minute - means our seats weren't confirmed : (
We had a 3 hour connection in Hong Kong. Usually I need to go though immigration, pick up all the bags, check in again etc etc. But this time as I had (supposed) confirmed tickets, I could just use the transit counter.
Guess what!? The lady at the counter told me Oliver's ticket is valid so she can issue his boarding pass no problem but mine was VOID! How strange. It took them almost 2 hours to fix the problem... which meant no relaxing time at the lounge, no browsing in the duty free shops. I just had to zoom around to pick up stuff for my sisters and rush to the gate.
At least we didn't miss the flight... Plus Oliver worked a charm, everyone was helpful as they thought he was a very cute GIRL!
So after two stressful check in experiences I was exhausted. Finally the plane took off and I was served some drinks. Thought I would have some peaceful time. No no no instead a nice family sitting next to us gave Oliver some chocolate (he has eaten chocolate only once before) and he decided not to like it. He didn't want it so much he threw it up as well as everything in his tummy too.
I had my brand new white pants on. They were covered by his chocolaty throw up... I had to get up again and go to the bathroom to clean myself.
By the time I got back to the seat, it was time for some dinner. Oliver didn't eat much for lunch and he just emptied his tummy. I was really hoping I could feed him somehow.
NO NO NO - half way though the meal a Japanese Uni student passed out beside me. Just fell down in the aisle and didn't move. He looked very very white. I was in shock... how many more things need to happy to us today?
The Japanese cabin crew was busy so she left him with English&Chinese speaking staff. He couldn't understand what she was saying - I was the only Japanese near him so I had to make sure he was feeling comfortable, not getting any worse etc.
(In the end I found out he passed out from one can of beer!!! So dumb!!!)
Finally the plane landed safely and taxied to the gate. I was so relieved (I gave my bassinet seat to the sick guy so was trapped in the very back of the plane) and there was an announcement from the captain "ah... we have a situation, there is another plane parked at the gate we are supposed to park at. So unless the plane pushes back and leaves we cannot get you out... extra 30min on the plane.
What a long day for us, but we made it to Osaka!
Happy Holidays : )
As we expected we had some trouble checking in at Brunei airport. Even though this was supposed to be a contract leave when we get confirmed (not standby) tickets. Well... of course the flight was full and we had to wait till the last minute - means our seats weren't confirmed : (
We had a 3 hour connection in Hong Kong. Usually I need to go though immigration, pick up all the bags, check in again etc etc. But this time as I had (supposed) confirmed tickets, I could just use the transit counter.
Guess what!? The lady at the counter told me Oliver's ticket is valid so she can issue his boarding pass no problem but mine was VOID! How strange. It took them almost 2 hours to fix the problem... which meant no relaxing time at the lounge, no browsing in the duty free shops. I just had to zoom around to pick up stuff for my sisters and rush to the gate.
At least we didn't miss the flight... Plus Oliver worked a charm, everyone was helpful as they thought he was a very cute GIRL!
So after two stressful check in experiences I was exhausted. Finally the plane took off and I was served some drinks. Thought I would have some peaceful time. No no no instead a nice family sitting next to us gave Oliver some chocolate (he has eaten chocolate only once before) and he decided not to like it. He didn't want it so much he threw it up as well as everything in his tummy too.
I had my brand new white pants on. They were covered by his chocolaty throw up... I had to get up again and go to the bathroom to clean myself.
By the time I got back to the seat, it was time for some dinner. Oliver didn't eat much for lunch and he just emptied his tummy. I was really hoping I could feed him somehow.
NO NO NO - half way though the meal a Japanese Uni student passed out beside me. Just fell down in the aisle and didn't move. He looked very very white. I was in shock... how many more things need to happy to us today?
The Japanese cabin crew was busy so she left him with English&Chinese speaking staff. He couldn't understand what she was saying - I was the only Japanese near him so I had to make sure he was feeling comfortable, not getting any worse etc.
(In the end I found out he passed out from one can of beer!!! So dumb!!!)
Finally the plane landed safely and taxied to the gate. I was so relieved (I gave my bassinet seat to the sick guy so was trapped in the very back of the plane) and there was an announcement from the captain "ah... we have a situation, there is another plane parked at the gate we are supposed to park at. So unless the plane pushes back and leaves we cannot get you out... extra 30min on the plane.
What a long day for us, but we made it to Osaka!
Happy Holidays : )
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Off to Japan!
Oliver and I are going on holiday without daddy for two weeks (sorry daddy, somebody has to work...). We are going to spend some time with the Japanese family and the main thing is to bring his cousin Hinata back with us.
It will be still bit chilly in Osaka but will be great to be back there again (we were there at the beginning of the year).
Nice food and shopping for me!
It will be still bit chilly in Osaka but will be great to be back there again (we were there at the beginning of the year).
Nice food and shopping for me!
Oliver's view
We had dinner at a Thai place last night. Oliver finished his meal early and decided to take some photos with my iphone.
Quite artistic don't you think?
Quite artistic don't you think?
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Eating is more fun!
With these gorgeous place mats!
Oliver received them from New Zealand the other day. They were made by Merryn (of course, who else can do this so neatly!?).
He loves looking at them while he waits for his meal to be ready :)
Happy eating!
Oliver received them from New Zealand the other day. They were made by Merryn (of course, who else can do this so neatly!?).
He loves looking at them while he waits for his meal to be ready :)
Happy eating!
Sunday, 6 March 2011
Evening walk
Oliver and I (unfortunately daddy was away working...) went to the Empire hotel this afternoon to celebrate one of our friends birthday. We were invited to join high tea which was just lovely, yummy cakes and live piano music in a luxurious hotel...
There were lots of kids there too. Oliver had a great time running around the roomy hotel lobby with his friends.
Afterwards we all went for a walk outside. It was such a perfect evening for it!
Kids gathered nicely for a photo shoot;
Nice sea breeze and a beautiful sunset, we are so lucky - we can have this without traveling to a beach resort.
There were lots of kids there too. Oliver had a great time running around the roomy hotel lobby with his friends.
Afterwards we all went for a walk outside. It was such a perfect evening for it!
Kids gathered nicely for a photo shoot;
Nice sea breeze and a beautiful sunset, we are so lucky - we can have this without traveling to a beach resort.
Amazing...
Yesterday Oliver's little friend Jasmine had a special 2nd birthday party.
I took my camera with me but having a very clingy little boy with me I could not take many photos to show you.
I only manage to get this one - the Gruffalo cake which Jasmine's mum Pippa made for the birthday girl!
Everyone was so impressed with how talented she was to bake such a gorgeous cake and of course it tasted very nice!
Oliver recognised it was The Gruffalo from the book and kept going back to see - wish I could get the expressions on his face on camera.
The kids had a ball playing on the bouncy castle, trampolines and just running around. Oliver was holding onto my leg half the time but when it got less crowded he started to wander around by himself - phew...
Another great birthday party - the pressure is on!
I took my camera with me but having a very clingy little boy with me I could not take many photos to show you.
I only manage to get this one - the Gruffalo cake which Jasmine's mum Pippa made for the birthday girl!
Everyone was so impressed with how talented she was to bake such a gorgeous cake and of course it tasted very nice!
Oliver recognised it was The Gruffalo from the book and kept going back to see - wish I could get the expressions on his face on camera.
The kids had a ball playing on the bouncy castle, trampolines and just running around. Oliver was holding onto my leg half the time but when it got less crowded he started to wander around by himself - phew...
Another great birthday party - the pressure is on!
Thursday, 3 March 2011
Two dogs
We have been working hard teaching Oliver WORDS, of course both English and Japanese. He knows lots of words now but has trouble putting them together.
But today he finally said TWO DOGS, two and dogs together! Yeah!
Oliver and I will be away in Japan for two weeks from next Friday. I am sure he will pick up lots more Japanese words once we get there. So exciting!
But today he finally said TWO DOGS, two and dogs together! Yeah!
Oliver and I will be away in Japan for two weeks from next Friday. I am sure he will pick up lots more Japanese words once we get there. So exciting!
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
On-board reception
Matthew and I had a special date tonight - The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) training ships held a reception. We dressed up nicely and went out.
The venue was great - they attached two ships and you could walk over from one ship to the other. One of them had a helicopter on board.
There were so many officers trainees on board. Their aim for the night was to make the guests feel very welcome. Everyone was very keen to talk to us and I learned new things about the Navy and Army in general.
The food was fab - all specially brought over from Japan. At some point I found them a bit overeager and felt embarrassed. When we said, "oh there is some fresh sashimi on that table" - then an officer went to get the whole plate for us, and same thing when we said, "oh desserts" - then the whole selection came to our table. But they were all yummy so I am not complaining!
At the end of the reception we were given a souvenir each ( It's a Japanese custom to give a gift to the guests), a very cool Sake Masu - the traditional cup to drink Sake (A bit ironic to give away in a dry country?) with the Japan Navy logo and the name of the ship.
It was certainly a great night, proud to be a Japanese : )
The venue was great - they attached two ships and you could walk over from one ship to the other. One of them had a helicopter on board.
There were so many officers trainees on board. Their aim for the night was to make the guests feel very welcome. Everyone was very keen to talk to us and I learned new things about the Navy and Army in general.
The food was fab - all specially brought over from Japan. At some point I found them a bit overeager and felt embarrassed. When we said, "oh there is some fresh sashimi on that table" - then an officer went to get the whole plate for us, and same thing when we said, "oh desserts" - then the whole selection came to our table. But they were all yummy so I am not complaining!
At the end of the reception we were given a souvenir each ( It's a Japanese custom to give a gift to the guests), a very cool Sake Masu - the traditional cup to drink Sake (A bit ironic to give away in a dry country?) with the Japan Navy logo and the name of the ship.
It was certainly a great night, proud to be a Japanese : )
Sushi Guru
A while ago my friend Boel asked me if I wanted to show people how to make sushi. I have done it once in the past here in Brunei (you can see it from her previous blog post) so accepted the invitation and tried to do my best last night at JIS.
It was organised by the Parent-Liason-Group at JIS (where Oliver goes to his toddler group Geckos). They advertised for 20 slots and to my surprise it was full and they were all excited and enthusiastic!!
The school kitchen was fantastic (flash food technology class room - fully equipped), I felt like I was doing a cooking show on TV! People were taking photos and movies. I even had a great assistant - Boel with me.
First I showed how to make tamagoyaki, the Japanese egg rolls. The bench was quite high and I felt like nobody can see what I was doing until they told me they can see through the mirror!
Then everyone had a go with their own sushi mat and made a sushi roll each.
Then we made some Gyoza, I loved the atmosphere, everyone was happy to be involved and asking lots of questions - made me feel less nervous : )
To be honest I wasn't sure how this class would turn out but I am pleased I did it and hopefully I can do it again!
Anybody interested?
It was organised by the Parent-Liason-Group at JIS (where Oliver goes to his toddler group Geckos). They advertised for 20 slots and to my surprise it was full and they were all excited and enthusiastic!!
The school kitchen was fantastic (flash food technology class room - fully equipped), I felt like I was doing a cooking show on TV! People were taking photos and movies. I even had a great assistant - Boel with me.
First I showed how to make tamagoyaki, the Japanese egg rolls. The bench was quite high and I felt like nobody can see what I was doing until they told me they can see through the mirror!
Then everyone had a go with their own sushi mat and made a sushi roll each.
Then we made some Gyoza, I loved the atmosphere, everyone was happy to be involved and asking lots of questions - made me feel less nervous : )
To be honest I wasn't sure how this class would turn out but I am pleased I did it and hopefully I can do it again!
Anybody interested?
Special visit
We received a very special invitation from the Embassy of Japan the other day to come and welcome the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) training ships that arrived in Muara Port yesterday morning.
The defense ships, JS Hatakaze, JS Isoyuki and JS Setoyuki, sailed straight from Japan and are staying in Brunei for a couple of days.
This was our 2nd time to participate in such a special event. The last time was when Oliver was only 3 months old so I was hoping he would be excited to see great big ships in front of him. But guess what ? Instead he was very clingy and cried a lot to start off with. (I suspected maybe the brass band music was what upset him - after Chinese New Year he is not keen on loud music...)
Group of us waiting for the ships to arrive:
Yes, they are here!!!
It was such a hot morning, we were all sweating but waited very patiently until the ships parked properly on the dock. I was amazed how well they parallel park!
Girls proudly gave flowers to the captain:
Then they invited us onto JS Hatakaze to give us a tour of the ship (It was a relief we were back in the aircon!!).
After being served some nice cold Japanese tea on board Oliver was in a much much better mood. He even went on the tour with one of the officers! Yeah!
We were shown the bridge, the deck with huge guns/cannons, and the control room:
Oliver failed to pay attention to all the details...he just loved walking and running around on the deck.
When he found two more great big ships in front of him (I guess he couldn't comprehend that he was on one of those), he got excited and start to whistle loud!!
It was a great day out and I hope he will remember it somehow...
Matthew and I are invited to a special on-board dinner tonight, it should be a great date night for us : )
The defense ships, JS Hatakaze, JS Isoyuki and JS Setoyuki, sailed straight from Japan and are staying in Brunei for a couple of days.
This was our 2nd time to participate in such a special event. The last time was when Oliver was only 3 months old so I was hoping he would be excited to see great big ships in front of him. But guess what ? Instead he was very clingy and cried a lot to start off with. (I suspected maybe the brass band music was what upset him - after Chinese New Year he is not keen on loud music...)
Group of us waiting for the ships to arrive:
Yes, they are here!!!
It was such a hot morning, we were all sweating but waited very patiently until the ships parked properly on the dock. I was amazed how well they parallel park!
Girls proudly gave flowers to the captain:
Then they invited us onto JS Hatakaze to give us a tour of the ship (It was a relief we were back in the aircon!!).
After being served some nice cold Japanese tea on board Oliver was in a much much better mood. He even went on the tour with one of the officers! Yeah!
We were shown the bridge, the deck with huge guns/cannons, and the control room:
Oliver failed to pay attention to all the details...he just loved walking and running around on the deck.
When he found two more great big ships in front of him (I guess he couldn't comprehend that he was on one of those), he got excited and start to whistle loud!!
It was a great day out and I hope he will remember it somehow...
Matthew and I are invited to a special on-board dinner tonight, it should be a great date night for us : )
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