Here we go!

After three lessons, we have agreed with our Sensei, Harumi-san, that Eli and I will try to pass the GCSE exam next summer (2011) and, provided we get a reasonable grade, progress to the GCE 'A' Level exam the following year.

I am very positive about learning Japanese. So far I have managed to learn to recognise 30 kanji. I am still poor at writing them but I am practising hard. Eli and I prepare well for our lessons and practice together to help build on what we are learning. It is good to be able to do something interesting when I am stuck in the house so much at the moment.

Today is the last game of the League One football season, and our team (Carlisle United) are playing away against the league leaders, Norwich. I hope we win, because it would be very nice to go out on a high. However, Norwich are obviously the best side this year and it is a long journey too. Do your best, boys!

I am a bit down at having to miss the weekend assembly at Dumfries. Most of the congregation will be attending, and I feel very sad that I will not be able to see everyone. It is one of the three times in the year when I get a chance to see all my old friends, and it is such a nusiance to be unable to get there due to health issues. Plus, although I do get the information eventually, it is always wonderful to hear the entire program first hand, with everyone else.

I will give my friend Kathy a call later, and Joan, as they are both struggling with health problems and won't get there this weekend.

I will be starting a Japanese journal shortly, www.josiemccall-japanese.blogspot.com with English translation after each post. I hope my followers will enjoy that as well as reading my other blogs. The Blogs can be seen at (www.josiemccall- [please enter here the name of the blog you want to read] .blogspot.com) and you can put one of the following names:-

incoming - my personal journal (this blog)

japanese - my haiku in English with Japanese translations (being updated)

this will also include my new Japanese journal soon available

focus - my early writing (poetry and prose fragments)

innerdark - my first collection of poetry

solo - my second collection of poetry

toybox - my plays and screenplays

spiderweb - my short stories

stutter - my first collection of songs

throat - my second collection of songs (ongoing work in progress)

tilted world - my artwork and other writings

Thanks for looking. Please do feel free to comment on ANY of the blogs, they are all for public view and I welcome your thoughts and constructive criticism!