Cherry Blossom Adventures

We booked our honeymoon! SQUEEL!!! So excited.

We tossed up whether we would have one or not as we were a bit worried about it cutting into our savings but in the end we thought, what the hell, it will be the last trip we will take for awhile.

So five days after the wedding we are heading to hamilton island and staying here

And we will visit here (White Haven Beach)

And go snorkelling (and Shun will dive) here

I have never been this far north before- The furtherest I have gone in my own state (of Queensland) is Hervey Bay. Seeing the Great Barrier Reef & enjoying 5 days relaxing on beaches as gorgeous as those you see above is going to be bliss. We are both so excited.

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March 31 2008, Inokashira Koen, Olympus 830

Another sakura macro monday. I wanted to get some photos up from my new camera but I don`t think I will have the time. Next week maybe? I have got a great one still on the camera that I want to post…

It just so happens though that a lot of the macro photos I do have are of sakura or other flowers (mainly sakura)- so there might be a few more yet. Last week it was pink sakura (or it might of been ume?) and this week it is the more traditional white version.

During sakura season last year in Japan I took a walk through the park after work to try and get a couple of photos. Inokashira Koen is a favourite park of mine in Tokyo-  for a long while I always lived quite close to it. First as a student and then when I returned to Japan & Shun & I shared our first, extremely small apartment about a five minute walk from the park.

I will definitely miss sakura season in Japan this year :-(- especially with my new camera!

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Time for yet another update on my 101 things in 1001 days list which can be found here along with my previous monthly updates. December was a busy busy month for crossing things off which was a good thing considering I got almost nothing done in November…

17. Choose or make invitations (In progress)

This is in progress. Also choose & paid deposit for suits (which was not on the 101 things list)

37. Learn 10 new recipes (10/10)

Done! I actually learnt a couple of Christmasy recipes in December including how to make shortbread, rumballs, & an amazing stuffing for the turkey. Also, not a recipe as such but I learnt how to glaze a ham!!! (10/10)

45. Try (or learn to like) 5 new fruits or vegetables (5/5)

I can safely say that I can now eat cucumber (it helped growing it ourselves) although still think it isn`t that crash hot & I also tried snap peas for the first time. They are like thick snowpeas? They might be like the snowpeas you get in Japan but they taste different- sweeter. So have tried or learned to like 5 vegies (brussel spouts, cooked carrot, brocolli, cucumber & snap peas!) (5/5)

46. Have another pap smear test

Done- no details needed.

51. Participate in Macro Monday every week for 12 weeks straight (5/12) (In progress)

In progress- 5 down, 7 to go

56. Visit Melbourne

Done, earlier in December. We got to see James, Gen & Alice & had a fantastic time. Like me, Shun loved Melbourne.

57. Eat at at least 10 restaurants I have never been to before (10/10)

Now complete- Melbourne at the beggining of the month took care of this. We ate at a great Italian place on Lygon Street & had great seafood at the casino. We ate at a couple of other super yummy places also but these were the first two!

58. Show Shun what Christmas in Australia is really like

I think I completed this one quite well, with the help of my family of course. We had a traditional Christmas Eve dinner with all the trappings, a Christmas morning breaky with ham & crossiants and present opening followed by a Christmas Lunch with extended family. He got thoroughly spoilt by me, my mum & dad & my brother & his gf. I don`t think he could quite comprehend why he got all these presents though because he kept telling me he was an adult not a kid! hehe!

So basically he knows that Christmas in Australia is hot, we eat a lot including seafood & usually catch up with family while at the same time getting presents! That is what Christmas in my family is like anyway! He had a good time.

60. Learn something about wine perhaps do a wine tasting

We did this in Melbourne with James. It was fantasitc & I learnt a lot about how wine is made, how long it tastes & why it tastes so good! We tried about 50 different types of wine on the day from 4 different wineries! Well worth the day out in the Yarra Valley!

62. Go to a show with Shun

Also happened in Melbourne beginning of the month when we saw Wicked! My brother & Gem saw it while they were in NY & thought it was fantastic and they told us it was a must see while we were in Melbourne. Shun & never really been to a broadway type show like this & he found it facinating. Seeing live shows always makes me want to go more & more. The ads for Billy Elliott were up while we were down there & now I really want to see that too!

69.  (Buy) A proper DSLR camera!

Well my parents bought it for me but I have one now! & I love it.

70. (Buy)The Rei Shimura series by Sujata Massey (In progress)

In progess- have read the first two and purchased the next 5 on amazon- awaiting there arrival. Another 2 to buy after that I think but will wait until I return to Japan (already have too much stuff to ship back, eek!)

73. Meet at least five other bloggers in real life (3/5) (In progress)

Up to 3 now! I met T from TJKR several times throughout December.

80. Reach 400 posts on my blog

Done!

85. Read 100 books in 1 year

Technically I could of crossed this off for November as I realized I had read 100 books then (From November 2007 to November 2008) - approximately 25 of these books were children`s books & the others were a mixture of fiction, YA fiction & non-fiction.

87. Organize my itunes, delete double ups and make at least three new play lists

This is now done- it is all now organized & I have about 8 great new playlists some made using genius which is part of the new version of itunes. It is great. Getting a shuffle (while on sale) to use while hooping & walking really motivated me to do this. I also deleted over 100 double-ups. Next step, organizing some music for the wedding ceremony since we only have a band at the reception.

91. Finish the 888 book challenge

Done, as previously mentioned. I am proud of myself for getting this done, making a list of books & pretty much sticking to it. I have to say though if I hadn`t been able to change some of the selections (with the international move & all) I would of been a bit stuck. The reason I didn`t rejoin this type of challenge for this year is for two reasons- one another international move & am not sure if I will be able to take all my unread books from my shelves with me & can`t remember what I left behind in Japan & secondly while I want to continue to read a lot I know I should start focusing on getting some Japanese study done especially in the second half of the year if I have any hope of passing JLPT.

93. Go to the cinema 20 times (4/20) (In progress)

Still in progress- saw another movie at the cinema yesterday. Technically this is in January but I thought it best to record it in case I forget.

100. Make a budget and stick to it for six months (0/6) (In progress)

In progress- we have made a budget & savings plan for the rest of our time in Australia & written down how we would like things to go when we return there. We will both be saving a certain amount each month at least & some of that will go towards my ticket home, a honeymoon if we decide to go on one & some other wedding related costs but the rest of it will be put away for when we return to Japan.

Well there it is, my update for December 2008. I count 19 things in progress & 52 completed. I am more than half way through my list!! Woo Hoo!

Back to work tomorrow, so this posting everyday thing which seems to have been happening over the last week will probably come to an abrupt end. Hope everyone has enjoyed their holidays, I think there will be a lot of us returning to work tomorrow- my alarm is already set for 5:30am (I took a longer holiday so I have some hours to make up meaning 9.5 hour days starting at 7am at least for this week)

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Things went smoothly today- we took Dad to the hospital, waited until he got settled in and hooked up (Wasn`t about to let him do another runner!) and we went to see a movie.

On the way back to the hospital Shun said…

“There are a lot of vet animal hospitals in Australia hey”

me- “Yeah, same in Japan though. There is one near your house?”

Shun- “What? An animal hospital you mean? Yeah, but what I mean is that the chain “vet” is very common here…it was even in Melbourne”

me- cackling & laughing “Shun, Vet means Animal doctor- it isn`t the name of the animal hospital! It is short for vetenarian”

At least we could have a couple of laughs today….(The movie we saw, while very good was a bit serious. I enjoyed it but perhaps a comedy would of been better. Extremely well done though- we saw “Slumdog Millionaire”)

Dad has two or three treatments left in the trial. Next week he will have a CT Scan and biopsy to see if the lumps in his lymph nodes are shrinking and the week later he will have a bonemarrow biopsy to see if the cancer is still in his marrow.

We are watching Dirty Harry together now (last night we watched jaws)- two classics from the 70`s I had never seen before. Dirty Harry I guess because of the violence and jaws I never saw as a kid because my mum was afraid it would make my brother & I afraid of the water.

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• I did make a couple of resolutions & I wrote them up all nice & pretty  in my new journal for 2009 along with some inspirational quotes. I wouldn`t usually start a new diary for the new year but my moleskine was a couple pages away from finished so I saw the chance to start using my fab new diary which has a black & red pattern with babushka dolls on it. Yes I am a nerd. Anyway I am already going off track, my resolutions were to lose at least another 5 kilos by eating healthier, more regular exercise (ie, more than twice a month which is the standard I do at the moment I think) including regular walking (with Abbey) and hopefully some hooping & aqua arobics. I want to have lost the weight by the wedding and gotten into a routine by then that can follow on when we return to Japan (so walking & hooping mainly!). My next resolution was to be more responsible with money by combining our accounts and saving a little bit each month…for me not spending money willy nilly is something I really need to work on especially since there is only so much tupperware & books I can send back to Japan. Next resolution is a secret but one that will come about eventually. The last two were to learn to use photoshop (as it is on my 101 things list and something I have wanted to learn how to use for a long time) and find an apartment in Chiba/Tokyo within three months of returning to Japan and make a home for us that we will both love. What are you resolutions? And did you keep the ones you made last year?
• I have met up with T from TJKR several times over the last couple of weeks. At the park, at her place, at my place and it has been so nice getting to know her (and her hub & bub)- it is so random that her parents house is just around the corner from my dad`s place and we went to the same highschool (although we were not there at the same time). Shun has loved interacting with their daughter K as well- he is so good with kids although kids are usually scared of him at first (as K was- I think it is all his hair!!!!) I have loved playing with K also, she is such a little darling and I can not beleive how well she can talk for 20 months old! Amazing! I will miss them when they go back to Japan on Sunday but luckily where we live in Japan is not so far from each other, only about an hour by train.
• Shun & I sat down and had a big chat about money the other day, wrote up a budget and how much we want to (and need to) save before leaving Australia. Some of that savings will go towards my plane ticket back to Japan, and some of the wedding expenses like honeymoon (We might be bypassing a honeymoon), suits & part of the reception. The rest (and we hope there will be some extra left over) will go towards finding an apartment back in Japan as many of you know getting set up in an apartment is ridiculously expensive with all the agent fees, key money & bond you must pay. Not to mention movers (we have stuff in storage at his parents place & all of our big white goods are with my friend Cat). The aim is for Shun to return to his job on 1 July as planned (although due to the recent economic crisis he is a bit worried his job won`t be there for him to go back to but I am positive it will be okay), earlier if he can since we will be back in Japan from end of May & I will look for a part-time job or full-time job (with 25 hours or more) probably in a preschool or kindergarten. Hopefully I won`t have too many issues finding a job but we will have to wait & see. There are not as many international schools in Chiba though so might have to rethink this. We also talked about how much we will want to try and save once we return to Japan and move into an apartment and also what we would be willing to spend on rent. It was so good to discuss it all, make plans and see where we are at in time for the new year.
• Today was a bit of a tough day- we started by taking dad to the hospital for his treatment. He had said all day yesterday and this morning that he didn`t want to go and wasn`t going and that he was quitting. But this morning he got in the car and we took him to the hospital. He doesn`t like us to come in & I usually just drop him off but usually go in when I go to pick him up. Shun and I had some wedding related errands to run, our last week day before we go back to work on Monday (see next dot point). When we got home about 1pm Dad was watching TV. Turns out he had gone into the hospital for about half an hour, was still waiting, and so he left and caught the train home. He didn`t ring & ask me to pick him up, he didn`t answer the couple of times I called before lunch time & there he was at home when we got home. Apparently a nurse, his trial nurse & his doctor had all called him but he had decided not to go back. They have given him a chance to come in tomorrow however if he doesn`t go he will not be able to return to the trial as it is an important part of it that he has treatment EVERY Friday. At this stage he says he is going but I am not sure- I got a call from his trial nurse and she asked me if he was coming (It took them 5 hours to track down my number)tomorrow. I told her I would try….Today has been exhausting- At this stage not sure what the outcome will be.
• As for good news- we found suits for Shun, the groomsmen & my dad. Also went to the invitation place and choose what we wanted so just waiting for a quote and to confirm if we send them that they can input Japanese text if we send it through to them in a word file (copy & paste)-
• As it is new years we have had several phone calls with Shun`s parents & family. Yesterday we called them to say the ritual “akemashite omedetou gozaimasu” & as I write this Shun is on the phone with them again because today his grandmother, brother & sister-in-law are also there. I have just finished another round of “akemashite omedetou gozaimasu” & now Shun is talking to his dad`s about whales & wombats- two things he wants to see in the four days they are in Australia in May (one the day they arrive, one the wedding, the day after the wedding & then they leave the next morning- it will be a busy couple of days- I guess we better start planning.)

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Happy New Year everyone!!!!! I hope 2009 brings you happiness, good health, love & adventures.

I have started playing around with my new camera and here are a couple of photos I have taken- straight out of the camera, no touch ups- most are of Abbey because she is a willing model.

She adores my dad- I doubt she would let me put sunnies on her!

31/12/08- Photo of me & dad before I headed out for NYE celebrations

Frangipani`s across the street.

Boats in the harbour- I took this on the move from the car window. Relax, I was not the one driving!

Shun, down near the water, having a smoke. Due to the heat we have been taking Abbey down for a swim most days to get her used to the water & to cool her down.

Abbey hated the water at first but now she loves it.

This is across the road from my house, we live right near the mangroves. High tides that come all the way in  like this only happen every 2 months  or so for about a week.

All of these photos were taken within a km of where I live. I look forward to experimenting more with my camera. I got some great photos of T & J`s little girl K but thought I better ask T`s permission before I post any of them.We had dinner with them the other night at T`s parents place which is 100 metres down the road from my Dad`s place where we live. She is so cute though! I could gush all day…(So could Shun…it is K-chan this and K-chan than for hours after we see them!)

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Saw this on Jen`s blog - My year in review. Please take & do yourself if you wish. Happy New Year to you all.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

Hula hoop with a giant hoop & get engaged.

 2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Last year I didn`t make resolutions just for 2008, but I wrote a life list at the end of the 2007 which then turned into a list of measurable goals for 1001 days (started April 1st) and that list is still continuing and I am stoked that in the past month I have managed to do quite a bit from that list. I will have new years resolutions for this year & I will probably post them on here- honestly any excuse to make a list of some kind & I am there.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Strangely enough, no- but if I do this meme next year then that will have changed. Oh actually Shun`s friend from Uni, Sasa & his wife Sachi had a little baby girl.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Nobody extremly close to me but like I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, a guy I knewwhen I was in highschool & uni died unxpectadly in November & finding out about that was a bit of a shock. Sadly,an old neighbour died unexpectadly as well leaving behind two teenagers & a husband.

5. What countries did you visit?

Sadly just Japan & Australia.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

Self-control

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

February 22nd- The day we got engaged.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Umm, tough one. Maybe coming back to Australia and finding a job so quickly. I came back on a Wednesday or a Thursday morning & started the following Monday in a temp position with reasonable pay. Another achievement was saving enought money to pay for things like wedding rings, photographer etc etc…

9. What was your biggest failure?

Losing my cool with my father (and/or Shun at times) & my lack of willpower to save money.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I had a stomach ulcer in Jan/Feb caused by stress.Apart from that nothing major.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Tickets back to Australia, hula hoops, phone calls to Japan & dinner with old friends.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My father, for giving up alcohol (at least 90% of the time)- he was sober straight fo 3 months though.

Cat, who got a job with a Japanese company (Ricoh!)

My brother who got good grades ( credits & distinctions) in his third year of civil engineering.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

My father.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Unfortunately probably on crap. Oh  & flights, wedding rings, travel to Kobe & books.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Getting engaged & I am already excited about our wedding in May & moving back to Japan. I also got excited about Shun arriving in Australia in July.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Probably “Sweet About Me” by Gabriella Cilmi

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? 

happier I believe

ii. thinner or fatter?

Stoked to say thinner.

iii. richer or poorer?

again stoked to say richer- which for me is a big accomplishment!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

write & save

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Spend money

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

Well Christmas is over but I spent it with family. A lovely Christmas Eve dinner with mum, dad, Paul my brother, his girlfriend Gemma & her parents & of course Shumpei. Turkey, Ham & Prawns! Yum. Christmas morning we went back to mum`s to open presents & have a yummy breaky. Then back home to Dad`s to prepare for my Aunts for lunch. Great day.

At night we went to see T & K  of TJKR fame. T & I shared some wine & Shun had a beer while K enjoyed the festivities by playing in her baby pool then doing a couple of dances for us!

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?

I was already in love.

23. How many one-night stands?

0

24. What was your favorite TV program?

Probably Private Practice & Grey`s Anatomy. Closely followed by Hero`s, Lost & Prison Break.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I don`t believe so.

26. What was the best book you read?

Losing Kei by Suzanne Kamata or Bar Flower by Lea Jacobson

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Along with everyone else probably Kings of Leon. Plus, Birds of Tokyo, Sara Bareilles & The Script.

28. What did you want and get?

An engagement ring.

29. What did you want and not get?

Good health for my father.

30. What were your favorite films of this year?

Mama Mia

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

On the actual day I got cuddles & a card from my kindy students. I also went out to dinner with friends for Italian food, drinks & karaoke. I was 23.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

For the word Cancer to be erradicated from the English language & my father`s body.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Inexpensive.

34. What kept you sane?

Shun & Zoloft (hehe, same as Jen)

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

No idea.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

Not so much stirred me but the US political election kept me interested.

37. Who did you miss?

Before May my family, between May & July, Shun. After July, I missed Cat & James the most.

38. Who was the best new person you met?

Sarah & Nay, without  a doubt.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

No matter how much you want something it doesn`t necessarily mean it will happen.

Also probably that been in the middle sucks.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

“I don`t get many things right the first time…”

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As 2009 is just around the corner, it also means that our wedding is getting closer and closer. Just over four months now which means we are starting to have to think more and more about the finer details including table settings, decorations, invitations & music.

We have a band for our reception but have opted against having anything at our ceremony. My brother (and probably the venue) have enough sound equipment that we should be able to hook up some music for the walk down the aisle and for after.

After much thought, and searching, and more thinking, I think we have found the song that myself (with my dad) and my bridesmaids will walk down the aisle too.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World- Israel  Kamakawiwo`ole

I have always liked the originals to both these songs but together, and sung by Israel Kamakaiwo`ole, they create an amazing vibe.

Here are the lyrics

OK this one’s for Gabby
Ooooo oooooo ohoohohoo
Ooooo ohooohoo oooohoo
Ooooo ohoohooo oohoooo
Oohooo oohoooho ooooho
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Once in a lullaby ii ii iii
Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true ooh ooooh
Someday I’ll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me ee ee eeh
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney tops thats where you’ll find me oh
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
And the dream that you dare to,why, oh why can’t I? i iiii

Well I see trees of green and
Red roses too,
I’ll watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Well I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white
And the brightness of day
I like the dark and I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, “How do you do?”
They’re really saying, I…I love you
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow,
They’ll learn much more
Than we’ll know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world (w)oohoorld

Someday I’ll wish upon a star,
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top that’s where you’ll find me
Oh, Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
And the dream that you dare to, why, oh why can’t I? I hiii ?

Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo
Ooooo oooooo oooooo

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March 23 2008, Imperial Palace gardens in Tokyo, Olympus u830

Taking photos of sakura has got to be one of my favourite things to do with my camera- I will miss it next year in 2009, for the first time in 3 years but I hope to be out taking many a shots in March 2010.

For Christmas I got one of these…

I am quite possibly in love (Don`t worry Shun is aware- he is used to me falling in love with electrical equipment because in the time I have known him I have fallen for another camera, my mac, the coffee machine we had in Tokyo and now the Olympus E520 you see above.) I haven`t had much chance to experiment with it yet- although I did go take some photos down by the bay the other day when we walked down for fish and chips.

Hopefully next Macro Monday I will have a macro photo from my new camera. I would love to get a macro pancake lense although it will be awhile. My birthday is in February though!!!

I am not, by any means, any kind of professional photographer. I basically just pick up a camera and press the button- I do love it though and have always taken a lot of photos. I hope to improve on my photo taking skills over the coming months so you might be seeing some more of my photos.

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Near the end of last year I signed up for the 888 challenge- which challenged participants to choose 8 books in 8 categories for 2008. 8 overlaps were allowed meaning a total of at least 56 individual titles needed to be outline. Due to a mid-year international move my list changed slightly throughout the challenge however the ending was the same- I read all the books on the list below!

Completing the 888 challenge was also part of my 101 things in 1001 days list- so I will be able to cross it off! Reading 100 books in a year was also on my list and between November 2007 & November 2008 I completed this also. I keep track of all the books I read in my diary & in a word document so that I can remember when I read certain books. Sometimes I forget to add some though (usually kids books that I read in the bookshops or to the kids when I was a kindy teacher)- I would of read over 100 books in that year but based on the lists I kept I technically reached the 100 recorded books in mid November. I only started recording the books I read in about August of 2007 but I am glad I am doing it now.

Of all the books I read in the last year my favourites would have to have been the following.

Losing Kei- Suzanne Kamata

The Salaryman`s Wife- Sujata Massey

The Babymoon- Melanie La`Brooy

The Kite Runner-Khaled Hosseini

Bar Flower- Lea Jacobson

The Book Thief- Marcus Zusak

Overall, I read many great books over the last year and have about 4 books on the go at the moment (2 Non-Fiction, 1 Novel, 1 book of short stories)

I am debating about whether to do the the challenge again next year but with another international move planned it is hard to write a list of books to read over a year not knowing whether you will be able to take the books on your list with you etc. So I think I will give it a miss- but I on the lookout for a good mini challenge for the new year so let me know if you find any good ones.

So, what are the best books you have read during 2008? What do you think I should read in 2009?

Below is my list from the 888 challenge!

Favourite authors- Chose this category for obvious reasons

1. An offer you can`t refuse- Jill Mansell(Jun)
2. Change of Heart- Jodi Picoult (Jun)
3. Wife for Hire- Janet Evanovich (Cross over-mar)
4. Cage of Stars- Jacqelyn Mitchard* (Jan)
5. Prisoner of Earth- Jeffrey Archer (Cross over-Nov)
6. Dear John- Nicholas Sparks* (Cross over- Mar)
7. Lean Mean thirteen- Janet Evanovich (Cross over-Jan)
8. Black Cat- V.C Andrews (Cross over-Feb)

In a series- Chose this category since I have started a couple of different series but need to catch up on them, plus also already had a couple of these books on my shelves

1. Broken Flower- V.C Andrews* (Feb)
2. Scattered Leaves- V.C Andrews (Oct)
3. Lean Mean thirteen- Janet Evanovich (Cross over-Jan)
4. Fearless Fourteen- Janet Evanovich (Aug)
5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Harrows- J.K Rowling*(April)
6. Skinny Bitch- Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouim (Jan)
7. Key Lime Pie Murder- Joanne Fluke (Jun)
8. Honky Tonk Kat- Karen Kijewski ( Oct)

Read because I moved back to Australia and got new books!- Choose this because had an unplanned mid year move (This is a major change from my original list- lucky changes were allowed!)

1. Lessons in Heartbreak- Cathy Kelly (Jun)
2. You Drive me Crazy- Carole Matthews (May)
3. It`s a Kind of Magic- Carole Matthews (Jul)
4. Bad Behaviour- Shelia O`Flanagan (Aug)
5.Tales from the Crib- Jennifer Coburn (May)
6. The Babymoon- Melanie La`Brooy (Sep)
7. The Alibi- Sandra Brown (Oct)
8. Second Chance- Jane Green (Nov)

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller- Chose this since mysteries etc are one of my most read style of books, this and chick-lit

1. Bell, book & scandal- Jill Churchill* (Nov)
2. Chocolate chip cookie murder- Joanne Fluke* (Jan)
3. Strawberry Short Cake murder- Joanne Fluke (Feb)
4. Count Down- Iris Johansen *(May)
5. Dream man- Linda Howard* (Feb)
6. Ricochet- Sandra Brown* (Apr)
7. Open Season- Linda Howard (Apr)
8. Play Dirty- Sandra Brown (Aug)

Chick-lit- What I read just as much, if not more than mysteries….

1. Baby Proof- Emily Giffin* (Jan)
2. You Could Do Better- Stephanie Lehman* (Feb)
3. Marshmallows for breakfast- Dorothy Koomson*(Jun)
4. Those Faraday Girls- Monica McInerney* (Mar)
5. Artistic Licence- Katie Fforde* (Sep)
6. Remember me- Sophie Kinsella (Oct)
7. Certain Girls - Jennifer Weiner (Jun)
8. Wife for Hire- Janet Evanovich (Cross over-Mar)

Young Adult/Children Fiction- Thought I should go back to some books that make me the reader I am today, and also read some other YA fiction that has had a lot of good reviews or awards!

1. Alison- Margaret Watts (One of my favourite books as a teenager- reread)* (Dec)
2. Dear Venny, Dear Saffron-Libby Hathorn (same as above)* (Nov)
3. The Book Thief- Marcus Zusak* (Nov)
4. Gossipgirl- Cecily Von Ziegesar*(Jun)
5. Kira Kira- Cynthia Kadohata* (Jan)
6. All American Girl- Meg Cabot* (Mar)
7. On the Jellicoe Road^ Melina Marchetta* (May)
8. Black Cat- V.C Andrews (Feb- Cross over)

Japanese authors/books about Japan- Live(d) in Japan so thought I should try to read some more books that have come from here…

1. In Praise of shadows- Junichiro Tanizaki*(Cross over-April)
2. Snow Country- Yasunari kawebata* (Cross over-Jan)
3. Kitchen- Banana Yoshimoto* (Jan)
4. South of the border, west of the sun- Murakami Haruki*(Cross over-Aug)
5. Yakuza moon- Shoko Tendo* (Feb)
6. Goodbye Tsugumi- Banana Yoshimoto (Feb)
7. Losing Kei- Suzanne Kamata (May)
8. Bar Flower- Lea Jacobson (Apr)

Male Authors- I am trying to broaden my reading horizons a little bit and it seems that most of the books I do read are by female authors…Hopefully this will help me get started on my quest to broaden my reading horizons.

1. The Complete Polysyllabic Spree- Nick Hornby* (Feb)
2. For one more day- Mitch Albom* (Oct)
3.South of the Border West of the Sun-Haruki Murakami (Cross over- August)
4. Dear John- Nicholas Sparks* (Cross over- mar)
5. Snow Country- Yasunari kawebata* (Cross over-Jan)
6. In Praise of shadows- Junichiro Tanizaki*(April)
7. Prisoner of Earth- Jeffrey Archer (Cross over-Nov)
8. The Kite Runner- Khaled Hosseini (Apr)

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