REST DAY! Absolutely nothing to do today!

I didn’t sleep too well last night. I think from the long siesta during the day. But it didn’t matter as there was nothing that needed doing today. So I was up at the house before 7, and we had breakfast. Not long after, the heavens opened on us, with quite heavy rain. That killed the internet – one of the things with living in the country! Breakfast was a good 45 minute affair, and then I did my teeth and grabbed my laptop so we could look at some photos of Kaoru’s and my adventures over the last few years. Since it was raining quite heavily, it was a good way to pass some time.

Eventually there was a break in the rain. Okasan and Otosan are planning on selling the original house. They’ve been keeping it so when family visit, they would have their own place to stay. But it hasn’t really been used lately, so not worth the extra maintenance work. So Kaoru and I a couple of the dressers up to the new house.

It was then lunch time. After lunch it was time for a siesta – but I was careful not to sleep too long this time! I came back up and had a look at Otosan’s computer. I wanted to add my email address as a secondary email address, and also backup his documents. But to do so required a 6 hour wait by Google before they sent the link. Really throws a spanner in the works, as that’ll be night time. I got the files backed up to Google Drive though.

Then Kaoru and I went for a short walk around the block. We bumped in to Mrs Shitoh and said goodbye to her. I then cracked a beer, and did the always-sad-job of packing the suitcase.

I had a bath to relax a bit, and then we had dinner. After dinner it was the end of the Obon, and we had farewell the spirits with the okuri-bi ceremony. After lighting the fire, we did the “3 times over the fire”, but this time going out of the house. Then ring the bell, and pray.

We went back to the house and Kaoru had a bath, while I showed Okasan and Otosan the remaining photos from our Japan trip (of all the festivals). When Kaoru was done we went to our house to watch TV. We left the windows open overnight as it was cool, and fell asleep to the trickling of the stream. We just had a fan blowing air in the room – I didn’t need an air conditioner!