Other studies update

While my Kumon studies are going smoothly, really (see earlier post), the same cannot be said for other studies.

I have to get back on track, really...

* University of London BA in French exams:
Need to start studying on items that will be tested next May.

* St Boniface exams:
Decided to let it pass for a while.

* Penn Foster AA in Business Management:
Need to go back to my study books ASAP...
Oh, I called about the extention and was told that it had been done free of charge. Cool.

* Ecole de rédaction:
Need to work on the first assignment (in French). I am also interested in their course in English, but this will have to wait. Really.

* NEW: Allgemeinbildung (course in German from SGD)
Course in German about "general knowledge". My level of German is of course not what it used to be, given that I do not live in Europe and do not use the language much.
I registered and will get the first pack shortly. I will have to decide if I wish to continue or cancel. And at the same time, figure how to pay for it from Japan (since they do not accept credit cards), given the fees for international payments...

Kumon studies update

An update to this post.

My Japanese studies with Kumon are going on smoothly. I went yesterday to the classroom to pick up new sheets, from the level BII (= second part of elementary school year 2).

As before, there are stories I can understand without checking any word and others that do not mean much, even with the help of a dictionary.

Using past experience to avoid another failure, I try to go once a week or every other week. And I pay the fee in cash. It is easier to slip if payment is by automatic bank withdrawl or if you only go once a month, like I had done in the past.

I scanned stories and printed them out on separate sheets. I will try to use them to work on the vocabulary, etc.

Gambarimashou...

(a sample of the beginning of a story)

oopps, I did it again....

Just got a letter in the mail yesterday. One year passed since I registered to Penn College AA business first semester and that one year passed. Do I want to extend for 6 more months (and pay a fee) ? Yes, of course.

And will try to finish within the allocated 6 additional months.

Time passes too fast, really....

Ningen doku

a.k.a. company health check.

I woke up early today and am skipping breakfast because of a company health check. My first one. Until now, I had refused, because I was worried of privacy (former company was giving out the forms without any envelope, for everyone to see old results printed on the said forms).

New company is very worried with privacy (especially because there is now a pretty strict privacy law in Japan). I got the forms in an envelope and will also get results in such an envelope.

Basic plan includes: blood & urine test, (back) chest x-ray, heart, eyes, ears, blood pressure. I added a diabetes blood check (to be paid by me).

In October, I also went and had checks done for/at mammography, thyroid, dentist and ob/gyn. I felt a little like a car, going through the bi-annual check up.

I will admit that I had been procrastinating on these checks and felt guilty about it...

Now, I will need to remember and do the thyoid checks twice a year and the rest once a year.

Procrastinating on administrative stuff

It is so easy to just procrastinate on some stuff (think paper-work) until you have no other choice but DO IT NOW. What just happened now...

Funny lines: a perfect world vs a not so perfect world

A perfect world is where:
the police are British,
the cooks French,
the mechanics German,
the lovers Italian,
and where everything is organized by the Swiss.

A not so perfect world (or, better said, a place we may not want to be) is where:
the cooks are British,
the mechanics French,
the police German,
the lovers Swiss
and where everything is organized by the Italians.


By the way, this is not from me.
Now, I just don't quite understand what is bad with the police being German nor lovers being Swiss...
I knew that we Swiss are known for our expensive watches, secretive bank accounts, delicious chocolate, love of rules and laws, but I did not realize that we are known to be so good organizers...

Funny lines: cats and dogs

I will admit that I am more of a cat person (having three cats and everything).

A friend sent me the following---I just love it...


Excerpts from a Dog's Diary

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!

1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!

7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!

11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!



Excerpts from a Cat's Diary

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape . In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now...

Early November update

Can't believe we are already in November ...

Time passed since I last posted about going back to Kumon. I am very proud of myself for my more or less steady study of the Kumon sheets.



I am a little less proud of myself for not studying much else.

I have been really busy at work (working sometimes 6 days a week) and my body (and mind) needed some rest. And my mind has this very bad habit of wandering here and there instead of focusing on a couple of items at a time. Internet is not helping.

I did take time to work on two pants/trousers. That was kind of really urgent, since the old ones were getting old and over-used. It is really too bad that Nissen catalogue (Smileland) does not carry pants/trousers that fit my legs.

Once in a while, I will have these strong feelings of how to keep up my level of German. There are distance learning courses in German from private Germany schools that also deliver to Japan (not all do), but their cost is a little high. And then, there is the time problem. Let's try to keep reading regularly in German and listen to podcasts.

Going back to Kumon (again)

After thinking about it for a while, I decided to go back and register again (for the third time ?) for the kumon kokugo course (for Japanese children).

I got about 100 sheets. Will try and see what I can manage in the next two weeks or so.

You can see some samples here...

I start at level BI, which is elementary 2nd year.

Gambarimashou...

Reading spree

I have been on a reading spree recently, mainly in English.

Re-reading Jane Austen and spin offs (Mr Darcy diary, Mr Knighley diary, etc), Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, novelization of the movie Miss Potter and biography, etc etc.

Reminds me of the good old days, pre-Internet, when I had much more time for reading...

Rested (at least, a little)

This 3-day week-end was most welcome. In fact, I left work early on Friday afternoon. I felt like an empty battery that is just shutting down.

Those 3 days were not as lazzy as they should have been in order for me to fully rest, but I won't complain.

Got more or less enough sleep, although Momo woke us up really early yesterday and today. And even had a late afternoon nap twice this week-end.

Work starts again from tomorrow. Not sure about Saturday schedule. Monday will again be a day off (yeah) and I will have a 2-day long week-end if not 3-day long.

yeah !

Titi - two years anniversary

I repost here the contribution I wrote about my late cat Titi's death second anniversary, on ambjp.blogspot.com

He was no mikka-bozu for me, but a dear companion during 13 years, around the world between Switzerland and Japan...






I wrote the following texts several weeks ago and sent it to the New York Times Modern Love column. They could not use it. Too bad for them.

Strangely, yesterday, I had forgotten about the anniversary. I had been so busy this past week. DH reminded me about it yesterday evening and it made me a little sad.

It was a really difficult time, probably because I was so unprepared and everything was so sudden. He was gone in three days. I do believe that the best I could do for Titi was to be there for him during his last days. I was so miserable that I had any way no other choice. I could literally no go to work. It took me a really long time to recover. I cried over Titi more than over any other event, person or pet.

Two years later, I am really glad to have Momo and Chouchou in our lives. Even if Momo's latest habit is to wake me up with strong and loud miaws. I had so much pet love to give and both cats needed so much of it.

Here it goes...


Two-year’s anniversary
By amb (c)

September 10 is approaching.
I am dreading that day. It will be the second anniversary of Titi’s death. His sudden departure was such a shock that it took me most of these past two years to get over it. And I can’t say that I really got over it.
Titi was my beloved cat. We had lived 13 wonderful years together, between my home country Switzerland and my adopted country Japan.
He had followed me, something unwillingly I think, between those two countries. Switzerland-Japan, Japan-Switzerland and again Switzerland-Japan. Flying was not fun and for his second and last trip to Japan, he had to stay for two weeks in quarantine.
Titi passed away on a Saturday morning. I had just left home for work. I came to believe that he waited for me to leave before finally letting go of life.
For months, he had lost weight. So slowly that my husband and I had not realized how serious the situation was. Or maybe, we were just unable to accept the truth.
He had become very picky with food and would not eat much. But his fur remained as shiny and as beautiful as it had always been. And until the end, I believed that he would be ok. How could it be any different ? A cat’s fur is the mirror of its health, isn’t it ?
That same week of September 10, 2005, on Wednesday evening, I brought Titi to the nearby vet. His behavior was unusual and he seemed to be in pain.
My husband was out of town. At the vet, I called him with my mobile phone and asked him to talk to the vet. Although I could not understand all what was said, I feared for the worst.
And the worst it was. Titi had a stomach tumor and about three months to live. One week if he would stop eating.
The shock was so strong that I could not stop crying for three days. I was unable to go to work and decided to stay home with him.
In the past, he had loved getting reiki energy. I tried to give him some, but the energy would not flow. I knew than that he would not live three months, let alone one week.
And three days later, he was gone.

It all started in 1992. I had moved out of my parents’ home to my first apartment. All my life, I had been surrounded by cats. I had grown up on a farm in the Swiss country side with cats enjoying their freedom and usually not living very long. A nearby straight street was just too tempting. Drivers would speed their car, not giving any chance to any cat that found itself on their path.
I had lost too many cats and had decided that my own cats would remain indoor cats and never go outside.
I had tried to adopt an abandoned cat at an animal refuge, but it did not work out because of some silly rule (I was still a minor). I was venting to an acquaintance who told me that his grandma had a kitten to give away. And very soon, there I was, picking up Titi at the old lady’s place.
I had put Titi in a basket and was driving back home. As soon as the engine started running, Titi came out of the basket and found a nice and comfortable spot under the passenger’s seat. This is the first memory that comes to my mind when I think of Titi.
Two weeks later, I adopted another cat, Maxu. She survived Titi and just turned 15 a couple of months ago. My husband and I always thought that Maxu would be the first to leave, since she was obese, had some asthma and diabetes. But it was not meant to be.
Titi was very happy to have a new friend. But on Maxu’s side, it was a love and hate relationship. At first, she had been afraid of the new home, new owner and new cat. Later, she would love him. Only to start being annoyed by him and just ignore him.
I do sometimes feel sorry for Titi that I did not bring into his life a friendlier companion. Especially now, when I see how two cats can really get along well.
After Titi’s death, I could not bear the thought of having another cat. Until an acquaintance asked for help in finding a new home to new-born abandoned kittens she had found and was temporarily taking care of. The original two kittens I was planning to adopt died, together with two other siblings. We adopted the remaining kitten, Chouchou.
Another acquaintance found kittens near her home, hidden in a garbage bag ready for collection. She could not keep the surviving two and asked for help. We adopted Momo.
Around that time, I had a wonderful dream of Titi. Until then, dreams of my beloved departed cat would leave me in tears. But not that one. I took it as a message to give the love I had for him to kittens in need of a lot of love.
Momo came to our home in June last year, followed one week later by Chouchou. Quiet times with older cats are gone. The two kittens are now over one year old, but still as full of energy and fond of each other as when we first got them.
And I do love them dearly.

You can see pictures of all the cats on ambjp.blogspot.com

UoL studies

Got the results of May University of London (external BA in French) exams today: I passed two exams and failed one. These are third (and last level). I need four "credits" and have now one.
I will need to register for next year and think about which exam to take.

Baking healthy pizza

DH and I watched Ratatouille (Remi no oishii resutoran in Japanese) yesterday at the movie theater. It was a very nice and enjoyable movie. Great scenes of Paris, too.

It kinds of inspired me to bake an healthy pizza tonight. Dough is made of wholewheat, content is pureed canned tomatoes, thin slices of eggplants, zucchini and mushrooms. Little cheese was added, since both my stomach and my liver don't appreciate it.

It was really nice. Our oven is small, I baked two of them separately.

Spending too much time with NDS

I originally purchased my NDS (Nintendo DS lite) to improve my Japanese using kanji learning tools.

Last week-end, I remembered about Mario Kart DS game I once played and bought it. Bad idea. DH and myself have spent way too much time playing with it. Instead of the tons of things I am supposed to be doing (starting with reading the latest and last Harry Potter book...).

Eating healthy

You may wonder what eating healthy has to do with mikka-bozu... It is difficult to stick to it. For one thing, I am eating lunch outside home on week-days and don't want to carry a lunch box with me, for food safety reasons (it takes me about 1 1-2 hour door to door to go to the office). Also, I get bored when eating rice more than 2-3 times a week.

We used to get bento boxes delivered in the office, but after I realized that oily food was making me sick, I stopped using that service and their really oily foods (not to mention that I slowly got bored of their rice).

These days, I buy a sandwich and eat that for lunch.

Yesterday, we went to Tokyo's Kanda and ate very healthy vegetarian food (mainly potatoes, burdock, carrots cooked in different ways. Very healthy, but no protein---I was again hungry soon afterwards.

Today, we were wondering and pondering about lunch and decided to go back to the nearby healthy buffet restaurant. They have a special deal with an empty lunchbox that you fill in once only (as opposed to several times with a standard buffet set.

My dish was in fact vegetarian (salad and veggies only). But both DH and I prefer that restaurant to yesterday's. Sometimes, too healthy is just too healthy...

Here is a picture of today's lunch box:




Oh, I did find a picture of what we had at the Kanda restaurant. It was taken in Spring, but content is very similar.

Baking

Yes, out of the weekly bread baking for Sh, I sometimes do some baking.

I had some left overs of delicious Swiss milk chocolate from Migros (my favourite). Its date had expired and taste was not great. In such cases, the best is to make a cake with chunks of the said chocolate. Comes out really nicely.

Now, because I can't take much oily foods anymore, I did a "low fat" cake, without adding any oil of any kind (except for chocolate and cocoa powder).

It was a little dry, best eaten with tea or coffee, but still nice.

Recipe goes like this, more or less: 5 eggs, beaten with sugar to taste (30-50 gr), add about 250 gr baking/cake flour, some salt and about one teaspoon of baking powder. Cocoa powder to taste (30-50 gr or so). 150 gr of chocolate broken into pieces. Grease the cake pans and bake for about 45 minutes (180 C).

The result (I made a small one to taste if it was good enough to bring to the office):

July update

Yes, already July. Can't believe that half of this year is just gone.

Some update about things going on in my life right now:

* Part time work as a relo consultant:
Going well, I think. Got a raise. Was a little more quiet earlier this year, but rather busy these days. In fact, I am working on many Saturdays. We just moved office yesterday.
We try to improve our services and knowledge as much as possible. I recently purchased a book about improving one's small talk ability. Kind of needed, since we spend so much time with clients.

* Volunteering for AFWJ:
Journal Editor job was over in April, but I still needed to go (fly) in May to Hokkaido to help with the June Journal. Hopefully, only help over the Internet will be needed for August Journal.
Webmaster job is going well. Not time consuming, that's good. I did some changes to improve members' presence.

* University of London BA in French exams:
Sat three exams of the 3rd (and last) level in May, waiting for the results in August. I started checking guides for 2008 exams---at least the ones I already have (Zola, philosophers). I will get additional guides for other exams later this autumn.

* St Boniface exams:
Got caught up with time and did not manage to finish the admission exam on time. Will go for the next sessions, deadline Oct 15.

* Penn Foster AA in Business Management:
Need to go back to my study books ASAP...

* Ecole de rédaction:
Have been working on my introduction and really need to finish it and send it out...

* Sewing pants/trousers:
Need to go back to my sewing machine ASAP, since the last summer trousers/pants "died" last week...

* Using French:
French speaking work colleague great for regular practice. Some French clients here and there.
I am getting several French magazines through the Internet, at kiosk rate (and not expensive overseas rate) through www.virginmega.fr (presse). I get to read about 4-5 magazines a month. Not bad at all.

* Using German:
I recently had some German speaking clients at work. Great for practice, really.
I listen very regularly to German and Swiss German podcasts. These did wonders to help me keep up with the languages.
I did some reading in German as well. Should do more. Really.

* Using Japanese:
I have to admit that I am now using less Japanese than while working at the hotel. But when I need it, I would need to be much more fluent. Bummer.

* Studying Japanese:
** I stopped Kumon for foreigners.
** I still had some leftovers of Kumon for Japanese native kids (see pics below) and started working on the 2nd year elementary school sheets. I will continue for a while before deciding to go back officially with the nearby school (and paying the monthly fee).
The sheets really forces one to read them (obvious part of the exercice). It also contains an amazing amount of new vocabulary. Sometimes, I understand part of the story, sometimes, nothing at all. And very few time, almost everything.
I do sometimes wonder if Japanese kids really understand all the items contained in those sheets or if they are just doing the exercises.
** I have an endless collection of textbooks and was wondering and pondering which one to concentrate on. I chose the one featured in the bottom (shin bunka...). There are four books, two for post-beginners and two for intermediate-advanced (without furigana reading on kanji). I am going over the first two, for vocabulary/kanji revision. I finished about half of the first book.
** I am trying to get myself started seriously on reading (Japanese), but with the usual (for me) troubles. One of my bookshelves really looks like it belongs to a Japanese elementary school student and not to a foreign lady...
** Nintendo DS and related companies are coming out with useful tools for Japanese and intermediate non Japanese students/reader. A new study tool (aka game) came out this week to help elementary school students work on their reading. It targets school children with a short attention spam and have therefore short exercices. I started yesterday and still have to get the grip of it.
Several study tools containg text (books) will also be on sale later this summer. Unfortunately, the first one coming out does not have furigana over kanji. Which makes it really difficult to use for a non native reader.
Two others such tools will contain furigana and I have already pre-ordered them at amazon.co.jp...



Here are the pics I mentioned earlier:

The new DS game (front)
and back

A page of Kumon for Japanese native kids:

The textbook I am going back two (covers of the first two books)
(extract from the current page, about half of the 1st book)
(extract of the beginning of the 3rd book--no furigana reading over the kanji)

Finally doing some more sewing

Things changed a lot in Japan during the past couple of years. Among others, Japanese ladies waist is expanding, at least for some of them.

Nissen mail order giant has now a special large size catalogue called smileland. You can access it online too, www.smileland.jp

It is all in Japanese, though. Good way to put one's learning into practice ...

I have bought plenty of jackets, shirts, etc. Unfortunately, my legs remain much longer and larger (or stronger) than the ones of a standard Japanese lady.

Which means that I still have to sew my own trousers/pants.

Life is now a little more quiet (lots of stuff going on in the background, but nothing super urgent) and I found myself again enjoying my sewing machine's company this week-end.

Music (ipod and podcasts) and cats are part of it, of course.

Opps, already May

Opps, I did it again. No post for a long while.

UoL exams are over, thanks God.

Not that I prepared for them (3) as much as I should have or would have wanted to.

I had to fly unexpectedly to Hokkaido to help the new Journal Editor and her June Journal. Saved the day (and the Journal). Everything should go fine now, it is at the printer.


Some projects I have been working on recently:

• www.afwj.org homepage update (I am the new webmaster)
• my own homepage update (still a project, not yet online)
• knitting, knitting, knitting. Founds some nice wool at Hokkaido's Daiso store (100 Yen store).
  

Some projects I should really be working on ASAP:

• Translation certificate program admission exam (next deadline is June 30)
• Penn Foster courses (math, marketing, business 101, etc)
• French writing school Ecole de redaction first homework/introduction

But for now, I will just go and get some rest in front of TV... with some wool and knitting needles... the day started pretty early and was kind of rough...

P&P (Pride & Prejudice)

Japanese satellite Sky Perfect (aka ska-pa) showed again the 5-6 hours BBC drama Pride & Prejudice. I had seen in the tiny little ska-pa monthly magazine that it would be shown earlier this year, but I had forgotten to record it.
As for other shows, it was again shown in March and I finally did record it. And watch it. It was rather long, about 45 min x 6. But very enjoyable. Ah, Colin Firth ...
I watched and watched again my favorite parts, of course. And read the same favorites parts in the book.
And rented again the 2005 movie. Which of course just goes over the best parts, given the much shorter time of a movie vs a 4.5-5-hour drama.
I did even find on YouTube records of favorite parts of this and other dramas/movies. I won't be putting link, since they most probably infringe all copyrights.
Last but not least, I discovered on Amazon.com that sequels to P&P had been written. Some better than others. I bought on amazon.co.jp the paperback edition of "Mr Darcy's Diary". It was nicely written, showing Mr Darcy's perspective and struggles. Very enjoyable, really.
Another similar book that also seems interesting is "The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy", published in UK. Unfortunately, it is a little expensive (over 4000 Yen). And it is not as if one would find it in a Japanese library ...

Baking

I did some baking this week-end: apple/banana healthy pie


Crust made with 300 gr flour (about 200 gr wholewheat and 100 gr white flour), some crisp vegetable oil, salt and water.

One apple grounded (?), 2 squashed ripe bananas, 4 eggs, some sugar, some cinamon. Mix everything, put into the shapes (I used silicon baking tools) and bake for about 30 min @ 180 C.

Same recipe can be used for salty pies, for example with veggies.

This time, I forgot to buy "creamy" textured cottage cheese (easier to use than the standard one---and still very low in fat, in case you care)

Knitting for the cats

Here are some of the covers I have knitted for the cats these past months. They are very much appreciated.

baby hat

You may remember the baby hats I made during the New Year's holiday, in connection with a campaign at work.

I did some similar knitting for the newborn baby of a friend.

Result is really cute, if I dare say so....



The pattern, if anybody is interested, can be found here:

Adjust based on the baby's size.

update

Procrastinating here (should be doing something else, really)...

OK, things I want to concentrate on during the following months:

• Start of my new volunteer activity as AFWJ's webmaster (from April)
• Hand over the AFWJ Journal position and stuff (mid April)
• UoL exams in May
• Study the 3 AA courses I have now received
  

Things I would like to do (as in more regularly)

• Creative writing in French
• Practice Reiki, use crystals
  
• Knitting --> am actually doing it more or less regularly
  
• Sewing clothes, using Pattern making software
• Study Japanese with Kumon
  
• Read more German books, mags
• Finish BA in French --> will take me 2-3 more years maybe
  
• Start Boniface Translation course --> planning to apply this spring
  
• Painting, drawing, bookcoloring
• Expand my freelancing
• Read more French books, mags --> found a site where I can upload French mags for a fee (http://www.virginmega.fr/)
  
• Try to read Japanese books, magazines
• Update homepage + blog --> updating blogs regularly (=good); will work on the homepage once I get the new software
  
• German diploma (maybe the Zentrale Mittelstufenpruefung) --> goes in the "long term project" category
  
• AFWJ Journal (February and April 2007) --> February done, April soon done
  
• Use French regularly --> kind of doing it at work now
  

Things I would like to do someday:

• Learn to play guitar
• Learn to play piano
• Learn Italian
• Learn Spanish

Actually looking forward to summer

Yes, I know, nobody sane would be looking forward to Japanese summer (it's so hot and humid) ...

But I do have good reasons:

• Hay fever, to be more precise: Japanese sugi tree allergy
• The air is so dry in winter: my skin, eyes, throat, lungs etc are just in need of humidity
  
• Super busy March with my last AFWJ Journal (April edition)
• April looking only slightly better, with handing over of the Journal editor job to the new volunteer (including writing up the making of a Journal)
• Starting on my new volunteer job as the AFWJ Webmaster (will get the software, files and others later this month) and getting to know the new software
• BA in French exams in May and ideally study for the exams before the exams themselves

Since I have to FOCUS, I decided to postpone (again) the application to the translation certification program. I will get there, eventually.

busy busy busy ...



PS oh, by the way, I did finish my poncho. Looks not bad. And is warm too. A little too casual for work, though (it was originally meant to be worn on light spring clothing.

(picture taken on the old kotatsu that never worked and that should really be thrown away---isn't Momo cute, checking the poncho ?)

(my messy crafts room/corner in the back---this room hasn't seen me much these days---it will soon be time to work again on summer pants/trousers --> one more item on the TO DO list)

Knitting

I have been knitting on and off for years. I can't remember when I started. I was maybe 6 or 7 years old. My mom taught me.

In the past, I have knitted using wool, but our cat Chouchou gets crazzy around wool (as in "wants to eat it and/or destroy it"), so I switched to non wool materials.

Recently, I knitted baby caps (see below).

Poncho is becoming fashionable in Europe and I was looking for a modele to knit one with turtle neck (I have several v-collar sweaters that are just too cold for winter/spring and thought that a small poncho might look nice on it.

I found some models in English, but explanations are difficult to understand when you are not used to them. It is a language of its own.

I found some instructions in French and will try.

Mid February update

I really don't like seeing time fly that fast. Really...

Anyway, so far, what has been done:

• We neutered our no-longer kitten Chouchou (see ambjp.blogspot.com for updates on the cats)
• I finally received two more courses from Penn Foster -- two heavy 500-600-page books, one about Math and the other about Business (it is a business management AA program). I opened the guide books and tried to fill in the answers of the Math exams (two long exams for this course). About one third of the questions are pure math/algebra and, SURPRISE, I know how to answer them. It is true that I did follow, long time ago, a business school program during my apprenticeship
• I opened my UoL study books and am trying to read the four novels required for the "Love and society in the modern French novel" exam. Had registered and paid for the exams end of January, of course. British Council fees are NOT cheap.
• Purchased an iMac and did upload all the software and files from the AFWJ volunteer position that I will be handing over in April
• Started working on the admission exam to the Certificat de Traduction

I have some deadlines coming up in the next couple of months:

• March will be busy with my last AFWJ Journal
• send my admission exam to Boniface by mid March or wait for the next deadline
• once the pdf file of that AFWJ Journal is at the printer, I have to start working on the detailed job explanation for the next AFWJ Journal Editor, who will come to me mid April for tutorial/handing over
• new AFWJ webmaster position starts end of March. Need to learn how the software works. Could use that software to finally update my freelance homepage (not in a hurry)
• UoL exams in May
• work as usual, of course.
  

busy busy ...

oops ... already end of January !

Where did this month go ? really ...

Anyway, I was super busy at work, then working on my second-last Journal and some more work.

Out of that above mentioned Journal, I did achieve a couple of things:

• register for 2007 UoL exams (and pay for the Tokyo British Council fees)
• unlock/unfreeze my Penn Foster account (by waiting for, filling in, scanning and emailing the agreement form without which nothing happens)
• check UST Boniface's translation admission exam dates and realize that the old version is GONE. The two-and-half pages newspaper article is MANAGEABLE. Just have to work on it and send it by mid March
• buy some more DS Nitendo "games" and discover a new fun game called hanzie in French (one of the versions in Japanese is Picross)
  
• increase my collection of Japanese textbooks
  

New Year's holidays

I will admit that I was very lazy during our 5 days holiday, but I did achieve some aims: finished sewing two pairs of trousers (pants), did send out the baby caps (see below) and started working on the February AFWJ Journal (my second last).

Creativity for a (good) purpose

Not quite "mikka bozu", but creativity related. Which is a good part of my life anyway.

Just before the holidays, we received an email at work reminding us of a campaign my company is supporting: knitting caps for new born babies (http://www.savethechildren.org/campaigns/caps-to-the-capital/ and http://www.warmupamerica.org/home.html).

An information had originally been posted on the company's Intranet, but I did not see it (it was just before my short trip back home earlier in December).

I was able to knit six little caps in a couple of days. The caps are so small that I barely needed two hours to finish one.

This campaign is now over (deadline for sending the caps is today---I will be going to the main post office 24 hours window after posting this).

Here are pics of the caps:




Warm up America Foundation is doing other campaigns, if you are interested in using your creativity skills for a good purpose. Check http://www.warmupamerica.org/home.html for more information.