a few setbacks

Hello everyone, well, it's been a week of discoveries, some of them pleasant and some not so pleasant. As per usual, finances have been stretched to the limit, I now have a grand total of $3 to see me through to payday, which is diabolical enough, fortunately I will be paid on Friday.

However, when I get paid, it's pretty much all going to fly through my fingers before I even get the chance to sit down and appreciate not being destitute. I have my Hong Kong trip to pay off, bills and rent to pay, food to buy, blah blah blah. I also have to be mindful of the fact that I won't be paid again before Hong Kong so I must put aside spending money for that. All of this has led me to a desperate measure: Overtime. Ick, the very word evokes the deepest, darkest depression, working a 6 day week is nothing new to many people, but it's not an event I savour regardless. Speaking of Hong Kong, was miffed to find out that when Stu decided to come along at the last minute and was looking for a ticket on the internet he found one for $200 cheaper than mine. Hmph.

Anyway, enough pissing and moaning about money, and onto the neighbours. We seem to be living on top of one of those humourless old men who will not abide by anything as loud as a pin dropping on carpet. Ok, that's an exaggeration, but seriously, the guys a little temperamental to say the least. The other day I was hanging out the washing on our balcony, an awkward enterprise at the best of times, but is was late and I was tired, and I was trying to be as quiet as possible when suddenly the flyscreen came off it's rails and clattered onto the balcony. I realise the sound was startling, but it hardly deserved the uproar that followed. They guy downstairs started yelling and cursing in Japanese, then we heard him go next door to the landlord and repete said curses. Anticipating a visit from said neighbour and landlord, I promptly made myself scarce and let Stu go to the door to deal with the ramifications of this crisis. He decided to answer the door in only his pj bottoms, which he thought would intimidate them, bless, he's about 1 inch taller than me! of course he could do very little but nod and furrow his brow in a grave manner while the neighbour ranted and railed and the landlord attempted to translate in very broken English. Apparently we close our door too loudly (so does everyone, seeing as the doors seem to be as heavy as 3-inch steel while the walls are as thin as rice paper), that we walk to loudly (again, can't be helped when the floors shake if a mouse scampers accross the walkway), and that generally we were smelly, nasty gaijun (foreigners) who should get the hell out of his country. ha, isn't that funny, now I can hear him down below talking on his phone in a voice louder than I would dare to even if I knew he wasn't home. Grumpy old man.

A more pleasant surprise this week was discovering to whom one of my mystery commentaries belonged. The jig is up dad. Why I didn't think of you in the first place is strange, considering the alias you used. Who is Yanglerui anyway? I'm guessinga Chinese cadre of course, but alive or dead. I don't think you should be assuming a dead man's identity, bad karma you know.

The most disappointing discovery this week has been that instead of the Christmas in London I anticipated, I will be stuck over this side of the world, although hopefully not it Japan, but maybe South Korea, which is cheap they say, the cheapest place to get to anyway. I'm so sad about this, my hearts doing little flip flops everytime I think of all those wonderful people in London I could be spending New Years and Christmas with, especially of course Heatherbell and her new bub. Heather from whom I have not heard since I broke this terrible news, so I hope she's not so enraged she refuses to write to me. Please write to me Heather, tell me I haven't completely screwed up your plans. Of course I haven't completely screwed them up, but I still want to hear it from you please.

Vee, I knwo it's pathetic, but I only just looked at your blogspot the other day, it's bloody great, and they're all right, you do look fabulous with no hair, just as you always look fabulous.

Geordy and Pete, I hope everything is improving for you, I'm thinking of you.

Kels and Ben, I miss you and the little ones so much. I hope Charlie and Jack are feeling better and that you guys are able to find some time to relax in between studies and small-children-concerns.

Rachy Rach, I'm thinking of you too darling, how's the new house?!

Nadsie my love, our little workaholic, take a break every now and then ok? I love you.

Webby and Al, I hope Damo's idol dreams are coming true, I'm so sorry, but I can't help in the voting, Japan's mobile coverage is really weird compared to the rest of the civilised world... I'll explain all at a later date. Tell him good luck from me, even though we've never met I'm sure he'll be the best idol to date, considering he actually can write his own stuff.

Jacksie, thankyou for the emails honey, they always brighten my day. Tell Simon I'm doing fine and that I can't wait to be back down at Yorks again sometime soon!

To all the Lamb clan, what's up? I miss you, and I can't wait to see (some of) you very very soon. Pipi, my mind keeps ticking over all the things we can do when you get here, It'll be cold, but it'll be awesome, yeehah!

That's it for now, write more soon, and keep the comments coming, I love imagining the voices behind them.