Sick!

I got sick. The sickest I've been since I got here. I think it was some sort of virus bug thing, but I felt really awful. 

I knew sensei's brother was coming from Wakayama  to train for a couple of days so it couldn't have happened at a worse time really. 

I spent three days in bed and then had to get up to go and see Seikitchi-San. 

He is SO sweet! He bought me mikan cookies- so thoughtful! I love mikans. 

We trained together- I did the best I could  considering I still felt really unwell. 

Then I'm starting to get back a bit more energy so decided it was time to clean the germs, everything went to the laundrette. 

Including Jeff. 

Poor Jeff. 

Everything's clean and fresh and almost back to somewhat normal now. As am i. Nearly. 

Pizza the old fashioned way

So today, I made pizza. 

That in itself isn't exactly unusual considering I make it at the bar a lot. However today was different because the mixer is broken right now. Seems a small issue, but first- pizza dough needs a lot of kneading and second- we're making more than just one or two pizzas, we're making 40 at a time!

Therefore I did it the old fashioned way- the way granny would ;) 

Now I have really strong arms. 

These pizza are extra special because they are completely handmade. 

I'm proud :) 

Never ever give up.

So things have been a bit hard recently, in all kinds on ways. Not ones I want to share with the world particularly but those who are close know and (I hope!) they understand. 

Seems what I need to do spends a lot of the day staring me in the face. 

Funny thing is, I got this written in Japanese so no one in England could understand it - except me. Now I'm here and everyone understands! Shoganai - there's nothing I can do about it now. I chose Japanese because I love Japan and Okinawa and the culture here. 

When I'm finding the world all too much of a big scary horrible place (I think as we all do sometimes) I like to go to probably my favourite place in Okinawa- the peace park. It is simply the most beautiful, calming place I've ever been. 

It's so big there's so many places besides the main section to go and explore, hide and reflect on everything. 

The idea of the peace park is all about having the 'Okinawan heart and spirit' -it's remembering and learning about the history of the island and life but forgiving and developing resilience to move on and keep going- I think I need to develop one of those! 

I think Okinawan people are incredible and hopefully by being here I can learn as much as I can off them. Which in turn will make me the best person I can be. 

The first step in doing that is to never ever give up. 

Paul ❤️

Recently my England dojo family has lost a member, a piece of our puzzle is now missing. 

I remember meeting Paul in my second ever karate class, we trained side by side for the first couple of weeks and then on the evening of Westy's shodan grading Russell and I got sent next door with Paul for the whole class to  warm up and learn Fukyugata Ni it was like being in the army- Sensei had to tell us to be quiet!  He was strict but kind and funny. 

He taught us in the way only Paul could. He welcomed us into the dojo. 

We got to know each other better at all the coming classes and events and seminars, we got on well and discovered he was probably one of the most genuinely caring people I've ever met who would do anything for anybody. 

Justin and Paul did my 5th kyu grading, he was a harsh judge but it was what I needed then, it was a couple of months before I came to Okinawa for the first time and I needed to take things a bit more seriously- he gave me the kick I needed to do that. It worked. Okinawa went well and the day I came back Sensei gave me my 4th kyu. 

He was the one which taught me early on how to stall Sensei when we wanted a break - simply ask the most in depth historical or technical question that comes to mind- Sensei can't help but fall into a nice long lecture ;) 

Funnily, he would then tell me I need to shut up and train! 

We had our differences and arguments in the 4 years we had training together but I think that's because we were both so similar and so passionate about what we were doing together. Karate. 

He was one of the most supportive people when I told him I would be going to live in Okinawa for a while. He gave me the best 'pep talk' the night before I left - basically he told me to shut up, listen and learn as much as I can and to come back and share everything, to help everyone improve and discover the true essence of karate. I've been trying my best to do that. I'll keep doing that. I will come back and teach anything and everything I can soon. 

It's horrible to think that we will never get to train together again - especially now I've grown up, learnt to shut up, got my black belt and been taught the rest of the kata. 

I remember watching the black belts in the dojo doing the higher Kata and dropping off one by one, as the kata got more and more advanced - even when Paul didn't really remember them he would not drop out. I really liked that about him. 

One of my favourite memories was when he would come to karate late and the downstairs door was locked- he started throwing a variety of objects at the window to get our attention. There were a lot of heads sticking out the windows that night. 

After being in Okinawa I've come to learn how fundamentally important dojo families and loyalty is and Paul understood this without ever coming to Okinawa. Everytime I do Fukyugata Ni I'll think of you, you taught me a lot and I'll continue to learn. 

What can I say, no words describe it all and I don't think it will hit me 100% that you're actually gone until I come back to the dojo and not see you there. 

You were my senpai and my friend, you loved karate and your karate family- we loved you too, which is why there's such a big hole in our puzzle now, a hole that no one else will fit, and so we will remember you and all the good times we had and train hard, as you did and as you would want us to. We will miss you. 

Thank you for being a part in my journey Paul. 

Carrots, cake and the last day of school

So recently I've been so crazy busy, I've been starting writing posts and not finishing or uploading them so I'll just do all of that now. 

There was a day a couple of weeks ago where all I wanted to do was eat cake, now I haven't found a cake I really like that I can buy on the island yet and so naturally this means I need to bake it if I want one. We went to karate in the morning and then James and I went to the reuse shop to try and find a chair to go with my desk, we got one. I also got the coolest new knife set. Very excited to be chopping everything up! 

Then I will go to the bar to make my cake, I wanted to make coffee and chocolate cake but James got choice because I forgot my keys in his car and he had to drive back to mine to give them to me. 

James chose carrot cake. Not exactly a surprise, he doesn't get bored of it. Ever. 

As carrots must be in season and were so cheap I made lots of ninjin shiri shiri for breakfast to go with my rice and soup. 

It's basically stir fried carrots and onions with egg (and I added a bit of bacon). It's good. 

I'm going to add in other bakes I've done recently here too. 

I make the pizza for the bar, today I got a bit bored of all the rectangles and so I made a octopus: 

A leg fell off so I ate it. As you do. 

I've also been trying to eat and make more fish, considering it's so cheap and there's so much of it here. 

I made these chilli and lime fish cakes. 

And I made cheesecakes, two for seli's birthday and one for Habu Sensei. 

I did a triple chocolate one, mixed berry one and a chilli, lime and vanilla one for habu Sensei. 

I think he liked it! He wouldn't exactly tell me if it was terrible anyways!!