Pervading the pinholes

Somehow I'd miscalculated the time it would take for all four of us to get ready in the morning and consequently we were all rushing around and of course accidents are bound to happen in such chaos. At one point I spilled hot tea all down my front and had to change quickly and then we had a problem starting the car.
Sharp intake of breath.

I had been invited up for the third Yoshie in-house shoot and I wanted my children to see me working in front of the cameras so that they had an idea of what it is like behind the scenes. Hitomi had bought herself an audience ticket. The morning session, nine until twelve thirty was six thousand yen for one adult ticket (US$75 - 80), the children were allowed in free. There were six models for the morning shoot and a lot of photographers organizing themselves to spend time with each model on the various sets. Out in the audience Hitomi and the girls were easy to see since most of the audience is usually men. There are some younger girls out in the audience and perhaps they are getting a feel for the behind the scenes or just accompanying some of the guys.
I'd bought for myself a small beehive wig that was popular recently with Jessica Simpson but it proved to be uncomfortable with my long hair brushed up and bunched up inside it and so after session one where I got changed and had some hot tea (it was really cold out in the studio sets) I let my bangs down a little at the back. It had an 'interesting' look but it felt a lot more comfortable.
Again I must offer my many thanks to the wonderful photographers on the day for their kindness in giving me copies for my own collection.

Saturday evening was a night in. Chizuru came over for a dance lesson with Hitomi and the girls helped me in the kitchen preparing our evening meal of pork in breadcrumbs, steamed vegetables and rice in a dish we call 'butadon'. I did the pork, Sumomo steamed the vegetables and Riko operated the rice cooker and both girls together made the savory soup. They love helping out in the kitchen and also they get to learn about basic food preparations, something they were not allowed to do in their last home.

 I think everyone enjoyed themselves as we all sat to a happy table.
The girls want to learn to cook and to dance and to sing, like most children they want to learn and do everything. Encouraging signs all around!

I was going to talk to Yoshi with a view to ending the modeling because of my new commitments and one or two other things on my mind but there are a couple more items lined up this month and so maybe not yet... Let me hold back the march of time and allow me to have my many moments as I can.

Chi's a Singer

Oh what a showgirl!
We were invited out to watch our friend Chizuru sing since singing is what she does other than modeling. The stage was set as we sat in the hushed audience... and wait a minute, why won't they be quiet?
Actually they did quieten down when she sang and that was not a courtesy that every act received.
She's good and projects real emotion into the song but it isn't enough.
That's her view not ours!

She was talking with Hitomi in the back seat while I was driving us all home the other evening when the subject quite naturally turned to dance and how Hitomi used to take and then assist in a dance class and slowly their plans were made.

Hitomi is going to coach Chizuru to be footloose. It won't be strictly ballroom and perhaps no so much of the dirty dancing but if she can step up and all that jazz then nothing stops her from a stomp in the yard on those white nights. Bring it on Chi and save the last dance for me!

I seem to remember a dream and that progressed from home photographic studio into the real thing and now the dream is dance. Nanako, Hitomi's sister came over one afternoon and Hitomi used her as a test run guinea-pig student.
"I'm going to teach you to dance!" She says in her hypnotic and mesmerizing way.
"But I can dance!" She timidly replies.
"Not like this...." and the game plays out!
Even when the children came home they were so captivated that they too wanted to join in and join in they did - but later! Hitomi went to make dinner and I put the music channel on and we all danced.... danced? Moved chaotically to Toxic is a better description. It would be detention and crack across the knuckles if Miss Hitomi caught us moving so bad!

There may be trouble ahead

Happy New Year
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But while there's music and moonlight and love and romance, let's face the music and dance.
The New Year came upon us as we as a family were all in the restaurant eating our traditional osechi with the Red and white singing contest on TV. My brothers Kenjiro and Hiro and their families were all gathered together. I am really happy to say that this year, Hitomi's sister, her boyfriend and her parents all joined us at the restaurant for an extended family celebration. In one moment that I will never forget, Hitomi's Father, who has not always looked upon me with a favorable eye, held both my hands and wished me a happy New Year. I smiled and wished him the same. Oh I could have hugged him really but knew that would have been terribly impolite. I really hope this is finally his acceptance. Having had a few beers inside him he became quite a jovial character.
For as long as Hitomi and I have been together we have seen the white team (males) win the kohaku (the TV singing contest held each New Year's Eve). This year the red team won. You girls rock!
Dad owes me 100 yen (just over a single US Dollar) - we bet on the outcome and dad said the whites would win again!
The girls stayed up all night to welcome in the New Year and they along with their cousin, Kiyoshichan, were singing along with the songs on TV and texting their friends a New Year wish on their new phones. Even baby Yoshiro awoke at 23:45 as if he knew it was a special moment.
He fell asleep again by 00:30!
The girls gave me and their uncles a small clay turtle each that they'd made in school, a lucky charm as they wished us a wonderful New Year. We gave them their New Year Treasure, small envelopes containing money which is very similar to the Chinese tradition. We phoned Dad who was staying at our eldest brother's home to wish them benign blessings for the coming year.

At one thirty I asked the girls if they wanted to sleep since Hitomi and I were going to offer prayers at the temple. They asked if they could come with us and I allowed it because I believe that close family should share the first visit.

We made our donations and offered our prayers and took our charms and fortunes.

Mine said that trouble is a storm on the distant horizon and if I am skilled at the navigation of life, I will sail around it and remain in calm seas this year. Hitomi and the girls also received positive outlooks for this coming year so the future looks bright.
We all went home to sleep.


The restaurant was closed on New Year's day but Rina, I and Hitomi were down there in the restaurant kitchens making tea and rice cakes and stew for our first family gathering of the year.

I want to wish every single one of you a wonderful New Year, may it be happy and prosperous.