Where did that one go???

I know it's a cliche', but where on earth did that year go?

It has been such a big year. I can't believe that in the beginning of the year I was living in Australia, preparing for the wedding and for the move over here!

We're now fully settled into our lives here. Of course there are some stresses that come from living in a foreign country, especially when your language level isn't great, but mostly, all is good. We both like our jobs. I'm getting a little over a couple of my private classes and we might look at doing something about them next year. Wayne's loving Iaido and on January 14th next year has his first grading. Please send him good vibes that day ;)

I do get homesick some days. Mostly its missing my dear friends back home. I miss just being able to catch up for some hot chocolate and yummy cake at the Three Monkeys and having a good, girls chat.

One not-so-good consequence of me living here though is my weight. I was kind of hoping it would just melt off living here and eating all the delicious, healthy Japanese food. I even bought the book "Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat" before I came here. Well, it hasn't worked that way! I find that I'm eating more comfort food than ever. I'm even eating KFC and McDonalds on a semi-regular basis, which I never did back home! Stopping eating the comfort food has been hard, so I'm now looking at reducing the need for comfort - which for me I think means cutting down on my private classes, studying more Japanese and getting to the gym more.....

This Christmas should be a great one. Wayne and I head off for the snow in Hakuba late on Saturday night. We'll wake up surrounded by the white stuff on Sunday morning. We're both trying snowboarding for the first time. I'm a bit nervous about it, but excited at the same time. We're meeting up there with two of my cousins (one is flying in from Australia, the other lives in Tokyo). We've hired a big house with eight beds, a traditional Japanese hearth and a private hot spring!

After we get back, my brother and his wife arrive after spending Christmas with my parents in England. We're doing the traditional Japanese thing of welcoming the New Year at the temple. We've also been invited to a traditional New Year lunch at a friend's place.

I hope everyone out there has a wonderful Christmas filled with love and laughter and hope to see you again soon!