Mama....move. I can't see the T.V.

In between Christmas and pregnancy....

Sorry about the lack of posts. I'm supposed to be taking it easy but in fact I've spent the last few days writing cards etc., the usual Christmas run up. The pair have been busy at school and they have their Christmas party (starring their mother) next week. Today one of the teachers involved asked me what I wanted to do? I'd rather do nothing but thought me and the bump showing up in a Santa suit was enough, guess not. I'm expected to perform. May read a story or do a quick game. Not a lot you can do with 90 children between the ages of 6 months and 5, including my mortified offspring.

It was the 9 month anniversary of the tsunami on Sunday. Can't quite get my head around it. They've started to attempt decontamination of the zones in and around Fukushima. They say they have the nuclear facility in cold shut down or almost in complete cold shut down. The survivors are living in temporary housing and life goes on. The news is pretty full most days with what's going on and the hardships of those effected by the tsunami or the nuclear meltdown. Lately it's all about what to do with the contaminated waste from the decontamination efforts (there's tons, upon tons of it, dirt and water) and nobody is very keen to take it off the hands of the areas affected.

One rather sad story was in the news today.  This pine tree was the only  survivor of  around 70,000 pines that once stood in a scenic stretch of the coastal city of Rikuzentakata.  The tsunami completely destroyed the whole area.

(Picture from Kyodo Photo, pinched from the Japan Times)

The trees were planted for aesthetic reasons and protection against tsunamis. Nobody could have planned for what actually happened, I suppose. This is what they looked like before.

(taken from the folowing blog, http://japan0311.wordpress.com/page/2/)

The tree became a symbol of resilience and survival but unfortunately due to the huge about of land subsidisation and  sea water logged in the soil, the tree won't survive much longer.

Pine trees are very symbolic in Japan,  often seen as symbols of youth and longevity. The tree above became known as the Tree of Hope. I think everyone was a bit sad to see it wouldn't survive much longer. They have taken graftings and hope to be able to grow those once they get all the sea water out of the soil. Fingers crossed.

Prepare to be completely overdosed with pictures of the pair in the next day or two. I just got the data back from the photo studio. I probably need to go back and check that they actually gave me the right data as the pair in the photos look a bit too good to be my pair. Anyway you can see for yourself soon.

7-5-3

7-5-3 are the big years in Japan for children. Specifically 7 & 3 for girls and 5 for boys. When Nina was three we got some studio shots of her in a kimono and we did Aimee too. This time it's Aimee's big day but it's impossible to do one and not the other. So there we were yesterday making the arrangements at the studio for Thrusday. Nina is in heaven, there will be a hair and make-up artist.

If Aimee could just keep her finger out of her nose for few minutes I would be a very happy Mama.

Here's Aimee just trying on kimonos for size and her finger up her nose.

Nina posing for her Daddy. She was loving it, Aimee was too but got all shy.

They better not pull any funny stuff on Thursday as these studio shots cost a bomb.

Okazaki Mindscape Museum

I am up to my eyeballs in work at the moment. Now I'm home and I should be printing out Christmas cards for the office but it can wait.

I love living in Gamagori. I love smelling the sea every morning and driving along the sea roads. This wasn't the case for most of March or April but all is good again between me and the waves.

Another place I absolutely love and it's not far from me is the art museum in the neighbouring city of Okazaki. The museum itself is no great shakes unless you're into Buddhist art etc.. They do get some interesting exhibitions but it's the place that just bowls me over.

It's also the best kept secret, for whatever reason very few people know about this place and I'm not complaining.

The museum itself, with shop and restaurant.

From across the lake. Look at those Autumn colours.

A waterfall.

More water, kind of makes me want to cross my legs (pregnancy bladder for you).

Walking through the surrounding gardens.

One of our favourite sculptures called "One became two". Aimee had a far ruder description for it but I won't share that with you.

A sculpture in the foyer called " A chair for the Gods and one for you".

Nina in motion.

Nina blowing dandelion clocks and talking, with some wind turbines behind her.

The Toyama Trio.

Oh and you know by now that it was Nami who took all the lovely photos. I didn't even bother to take out the camera. From now on just assume the nice shots are Nami's unless I say otherwise.

The Joys of Pregnancy 1

Since I'm really enjoying my third time down the pregnancy path, I thought I'd share the joys with you.

One of the real joys of pregnancy in Japan is without a doubt, the pregnancy knickers.

The Japanese do not bare bumps. Even in the hottest of hottest Summers. It's a big no no. You're supposed to keep that bump covered and warm.

They don't particularly approve of low knickers either, the only kinds you can buy in the shops are the old fashioned belly warmers.

The type you need two pegs to hang up on the washing line.

It doesn't matter what size you buy them in, they all look humongous and give you very obvious VPL.

It's depressing but not as depressing as the knickers they demand that you bring to the hospital for after the birth (remember 5 days is an average hospital stay in Japan after having babies, allows the mother to rest...here here). The hospital knickers have strategically placed velcro.

The next friend I know that gets pregnant is getting a pair or two.

Festivals and more festivals.....

We're in danger of having an overdose of local festivals thanks to Masa being a member of the Bad Luck Club. We had one this weekend and it was at a shrine, a billion gazillion steps up a mountain. We actually had a lovely time, we always do, it was just the climb putting me off. Half way up we met someone who sent us the scenic route, which turned out to be a the longer way but we got some great views.

View from half way up. That's the main local hotel resort below us with a man-made beach. Japanese beaches tend to be on the stony side so the man-made beaches are always much more accessible. Also you're less likely to swim into jelly fish or sharks as they have them netted off to stop jet skiers etc. entering.

The view from the other side. Our place is off this way.

Sea, sea and more sea.

The Japanese are fond of bells, they stick them half way up and everyone has a go. I always thought they were for alerting locals to tsunamis and accidents at sea, Masa says they are but you can still ring them......

One trillion steps later and we get to the main shrine entrance.........and more steps.

The view from the steps. I kept taking breaks and telling Nina it was to take pictures, nothing to do with my lungs heaving. I definitely need more exercise.

More festival pictures in another post (didn't want to bore you completely) but here are the pair contemplating the first set of steps down.

We ran into these guys too. This time the main spider was way bigger than my hand.

Took us ages to get down as we had to stop and gawk/poke at everything. This boyo took up ten minutes. He was a biggy too. Nina is the one who knows the most about bugs (from the local preschool) so she reckoned we shouldn't touch this one, "he might give us the itchies".

Impressive right? We did a bit of research when we got home and think that he metamorphoses into a rather huge black butterfly that I've forgotten the name of.

Spot Mr. Lizard.......we almost didn't.

The resort at the bottom.

Aimee one the rocks (digging in her nose again).

The pair looking for crabs.

 

The locals out fishing.

Laguna at it's best........by Nami

Gotta take the pair to the dentist tomorrow. Should be fun.

In the meantime some more local pictures from Nami.

I think she's trying to entice you all to come to Gamagori.

She should get a job with the tourist board as she takes some really nice pictures.

The actual places rarely do the pictures justice.

Here's the local marina, at night, by Nami chan. These pictures are all taken manually and unaltered afterwards (not like a certain brother I have who tends to "fix" his photos).

 

These were taken in September. September is also "moon month". The moon is definitely at it's best in September.

 

The Ferris wheel down by the marina.

 

If those pictures give you the urge to come visit us, the following picture would probably convince you to stay safely at home!!