End of 2011

2011 is coming to an end in 7hours and
couple of vacations...some planned some not so planned. (but Singapore was a blast)
New outlooks on life, new friends made....Still there are some people who can stay over there in the corner...but enough about that.

All of the horrendous happens that have effect the world this year. The 3 I will mention have effected us deeply or people we know.
The terrible floods in Australia and a special family losing a wonderful husband and father.
The terrible earthquakes that have hit Christchurch.
The terrible and terrifying earthquake and tsunami. While I was not in the country G and J were.
I have NEVER been so scared in ALL my life.
.... I remember seeing G and J for the 1st time after I got back to Yokohama... (I got on the train after I returned here..that also gives me nightmares...EVERY Japanese person in Japan was on that train...REALLY!)

We have had people come and stay, from Yeti moo, Miss Charity and SoM.
We went to the US and 'did the east coast' I have to be honest doing a 'tourist' holiday was giving me chills and not in a good way...but....It was awesome.I loved Washington...wont be going back, been there, seen it, got the plane ticket out!
Seen Meet up with Mr. Queenie and one of the little Queenies...which was fantastic,Then gong to stay with Queenie and family was one of the highlights. We also met up with Texas girl and her family...another plus.

Hummm so what else.....

Oh yeah we had the Rugby World cup...Where my wonderful country came 4th.
We spent an enjoy few weeks watching all the games. To say I was proud be Welsh would be an understatement.
I believe I might have been a little vocal....especially with a certain Welsh player...who does not even look Welsh!!!! but I won't get started on that again...most people in Japan heard my option of that durning the world cup.

I have found out that I am lactose and wheat intolerant. I mean...REALLY!!! in Japan...Is there ANY NEED!!! I hate rice and I hate soba noodles...DON'T eat fish!!!!
I love cereal with ice cold milk, I love poached eggs on toast, I love soft boiled eggs and soldiers. That is only the beginning of what I love...I mean ANY NEED!!!!! I don't like Japanese food....I don't like the smells of the Japanese foods, no mind eating it.
So I either deal with give EVERYTHING normal up in my diet or suffer the daily pain.....
I am going with the pain!

I am still in love with my Kindle, But I have like a 100 actual books to read...but they don't look interesting...they don't catch my attention...
not so in love with the Mac...but getting there! Well I am trying to get there. REALLY I am.


I have started to do a lot more craft towards the end of this year.
I have made enough Washi Eggs to Faberge worried...So there!
The I had some lovely wooden tea boxes delivered. To which G comment...'why do we have wooden boxes here, can't get ride of the word and paper we have' I told him in no uncertain terms that we were NOT getting rid of them. I would be covering them with beautiful washi paper.
That all went down like a lead ballon.....But Not as much as when I asked him to come help me lay the top picture on top on the the larger tea box while he was watch the football. He did come help and the end result was lovely...the top picture...not the help!

An Indian restaurant has opened up here in our area...I am shaking m head...I know this might become our second home....Sigh....

I have seen people ask on Facebook if anyone has any New Year resolutions...I don't have ANY.
No point really, I will break them within the hour, so why bother...I mean come on...lets be realistic here.

Magic of Disney, my backside!

Well I did take 4 angels to Disney....And I was right, there would be something to write about!!!!
Well I get up early and realize that I don't have enough cash on me. EVENTUALLY find a place to use my ATM card...might have helped if I had not used the wrong pin on another card...I mean REALLY Wend???? Any need?
We eventually get through the traffic and arrive...I am sure the price of parking has doubled...but not prepared to bet my life on it!!!!!
We start walking away from the car and some old guy (in some sort of blue unform with a clipboard...so he must have been important) starts talking in Japanese. The kids tell me that they can't wear their 'Stich' outfits in Disney..(I forgot to mention the 4 kids were dressed in their Disney Stich outfits) I am like hummm whatever! So we walk towards the park to buy our tickets. Then 2 tiny Japanese Disney workers kinda pounced on us!!! REALLY they did. They start talking in Japanese...then when they seen the BLANK look on my face, they asked if I speak Japanese...'Hummmm, NO!'
So she wrings her hands a lot and they tells me the kids are not allowed in dressed as they were....Hummmm WHATEVER!!!, I REALLY mean WHATEVER!!! She tells me it will take away from the atmosphere inside Disney Sea. After being stuck in traffic for a lot longer than I expected, this was not what I expecting to hear. So I tell her to get a manager. Her and her little man friend speak into they microphone ear pieces and then 2 people come over....Still dressed in 'Special' Disney outfits....
They all start talking in Japanese....Hummm hello, I am here...So after about 30 seconds I was like hummm "hello, ENGLISH' So this lady starts talking to me but with her yes closed....she explains to me that the kids were not allowed to wear the outfits inside the park. So i look around and EVERY Japanese person has a outfit or something...mainly cape type Disney outfits...So I say'Right tell her her to get that off!!!' They replied 'No, No, No, there not outfits'
Hummmm well it's not everyday wear even for "special' people. I then see some guy walking in with a HUGE hard suite case.....So I point this out, but it seems that's fine. So I point out that there seems to be a rule for the Japanese and another for us Gaijin's."Oh no' they said. ' Hummm oh yes' I also point out that I have seen NOTHING stating that they can't wear the outfits.
She tells me that on the website it states that outfits can't be worn inside the park...Hummm I reply that this is not true and where. She tells me it's not in English it's in Japanese.....REALLY she did. She then says if they take off their outfits they can go into the park. The kids had summer clothes under the outfits. So I told them(Disney) they would, but they would have to provide warm clothes for the kids. So again lots of humming and R-rings. I also remember on of the kids needs to be in Tokyo by 6.30 so this means I need to get back back to Yokohama so they can catch the train into Tokyo. Well she then tells us they can go in this ONCE. I told her the que is huge, and the kids are missing out and we have missed fast past places....I want to be taken to the front of the que and I want fast passes.
Well she gives us 1 past pass each. She takes us in and explains NOBODY will question us as she is the BOSS!!! No way, not in that outfit!!!! So let me tell you....
DON'T dress up for Disney outfits , its not allowed...But you can wear a stupid chipmunk cape because that is allowed
If you do wear them, and have four kids dressed up in the same Disney outfit, Japanese people love it and STARE and many ask to have their pictures taken with the kids.
Now one thing that impressed me was how many people asksd me if they could have their pictures taken with them. When I took pictures, a few others took their pictures as well.

So Santa came to our house today....Oh boy we must have been very good this year!
one of my gifts was a new laptop...A Mac....I am going to tell you...I am frightened of it...REALLY I am. While I am typing this up on the new Mac right now, thats ALL I have managed.
I love how light and slim the thing is I love how fast the thing is...But I have NO IDEA HOW TO USE IT!!!! and while I have NOT started shouting at yet, I have no idea how we will EVER become friends. REALLY I don't. I am scared!!!!!

We spent a lovely day with some LOVELY friends at a local hotel for christmas lunch, then we went back to one family's house were we swapped secert Santa gifts and the kids also opened gifts.

Some people are awesome.
Dont like everyone, but I do LOVE these guys!