THE UP SIDE TO A SPRAINED ANKLE AND BROKEN TOE

Yes, there is an upside to a sprain ankle and broken toe. For the last month, my life has been one huge stress bucket.

Our old car finally gave up the fight, and went to car heaven. So we had to get a new car, yes this is exciting, yet stressful because I had to over-extend myself to the max with getting a loan. The loan gobbles up most of my wage each fortnight. At the moment it is a stress for me trying to make ends met.

Then, my Father comes over, to tell me he and my step-mother have broken up. After 30 years! So at 79, Dad suddenly had to find a home and furnish it within a week. Of course the day the truck was booked to move everything it poured down with rain.

There are other things going on within my family, but cannot talk about them here. So when I get stressed I get sick. Coughing now for almost two weeks. Which in turn makes me over-tired and cranky. Which means I have stopped sewing, so I have even stopped getting that help from making a little extra income.

I cut off about... a lot.. of my hair, from below my bra line to above my shoulders. Yes, I cut my hair when I am stressed. Jarvis told me he hates it, and I look like a boy. Then, I go to work and my boss tells me like I have had a rough couple of nights. Even my boss thinks I look tired/crap!

Holly Molly.

Anyhow, so walking home from work Monday night I ended arse up. One sprained ankle and one broken toe. How is this good? Yesterday and today, I have forced myself, just to take time off. I have been reading blogs. I read a book last night. And yes, today laying in bed with my foot up while Jarvis is at the park with Justin. I actually even wrote this blog post!

So tell me, how do you de-stress?

Side Note: Image was created a life time ago. Pre-photoshop. Film was developed and then printed. Image cut up and re-constructed. Photocopied onto perspex. Perspex used as negative, and image re-printed. 

WALKING AWAY

I deleted Facebook off my phone at the beginning of the year, and messenger mid-Feb. And I don't miss them at all. Oh, don't get me wrong, I still am addicted to Instagram, oh all the pretty pictures... And yes every few days I jump on my computer and have squizz at FB. But, I am so happy they are gone off my phone.

I would find myself getting annoyed at my phone, all of those annoying notifications. Making the phone demand my attention. I HATED how every time someone made a comment in messenger a 'bubble' would pop up on my phone. I, we, tried several ways to stop it. But, if several people where chatting in a group conversation I would have these bubbles all over my phone.

I would leave group conversations just to avoid this. Then, I got questioned a couple times why I was leaving conversations. In the end I thought, too much. Delete.

Now, I am left wondering what other annoying things could I 'delete' out of my life?

What little things annoy you, that if you thought about it, you could easily walk away from? 

Note: I know the title is from a song, but cannot think of it...

Image was taken with my Fisheye2 Lomography Camera. With film that expired almost 20 years ago

TOURIST TUESDAY: DAY SIX. SHINJUKU AND SHIMOKITAZAWA. NIGHT

All three of us woke a little flat on day six. Not Sure if it was because we had such a good day the day before, or because it was our first day of grey weather.

We had breakfast at a cafe in Harajuku, first meal I did not eat. I ordered an omelette and it came out cold and floating in grease.

Another train ride to Shinjuku, which is one of the 23 city wards of Tokyo, but the name commonly refers to just the large entertainment, business and shopping area around Shinjuku Station. Shinjuku Station is the world's busiest railway station, handling more than two million passengers every day.

But the time we had walked through my tummy was feeling gross. Justin headed straight for Big Camera (Big Camera is one of Japan's leading discount electronics retailers. It has two large stores in Shinjuku: one in the Odakyu Halc Building near the station's west exit and one east of the station near the Isetan department store.) Whereas I headed for the nearest toilet. Thank you Maccas at Shinjuku. Justin bought enough film to fill an entire shelf of our fridge back at home.

Justin and I joke at least once every holiday I get an extreme upset tummy/bowel. Only exception has been in Bali. Nup, never had Bali belly!

Back on the train to Shimokitazawa, where we found a great cafe to have lunch. The neighbourhood is often compared with the backstreets of Ura-Harajuku smaller shop units and restricted vehicular access Shimokitazawa has limited appeal to larger domestic and international fashion merchandisers, enabling independent retailers to survive.

The numerous cafes and second-hand and vintage shops, Shimokitazawa is

popular with students and followers of Japanese youth subcultures. Or people like me, who just do not like normal retail shops. I only bought one vintage cardigan. Justin bought a little (a lot) more.

After a late nap we headed back on the trains to visit Sensō-ji. Senso-ji Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Tokyo. It is one of the oldest and most significant temples of japan.

We got to see a Geshia wandering around with her client. Stunning costume. Plus the temple at night is absolutely stunning. Unfortunately I did not get a shot of her. But if you head over to Justin's Facebook page you can see the image he got.

The rain pushed us back onto the train, and back to Harajku, Crepes on the side of the road were a stand in for Justin's birthday cake. 

 Elevator Selfies of the day.

DEAR CANCER

Dear Cancer,

you are an ugly, mean thing. So eff off and stop picking on my family.

thank you

Me

SLIDING DOORS MOMENTS

Do you ever have a moment when you have to make a choice and you freeze at the door trying to make the decision?

ABANDONMENT

I have a fascination with abandoned houses. What is even more exciting? A whole row of abandoned houses.

Image take with ten year old film (may even be older) Kodak Ekachrome 160T Tungsten. Colour Reversal Film.

KLEPTOMANIA? SHOPAHOLIC?

I lost my credit card the other day, after the initial panic, I cancelled it. Pain in the butt, no card for three to four working days, but no big deal. The main thing I was concerned about was... had the card fallen out of my pocket and did someone now have it?

Someone once skimmed my card, and bought up huge in the USA. My card clocked up almost five grand worth off Apple appliances. I got the call from the bank when I was at work asking if I was in the States shopping.

So the fear was trying to, yet again, prove that it was not me shopping. But then last night when I went to get Jarvis's pjs out from under his pillow, I found my card. He has a long history of putting any shoes left laying around in the bin, putting Justin clothes (that Justin leaves laying around) in the wash, and once before he put my glasses on the bookcase. But this is the first time he has taken a liking to a credit card, not even sure if he knows what they are used for.

Has anyone else, ever had their child, their two year old child, take their credit card?