Coronavirus

For the past few days I have been watching the news and reading newspapers about this latest
disease, the corona virus novel.  I am wondering how dangerous is it compared to the usual influenza.  How much is media hype and do I need to worry?
One thing that I have noticed is the emotive wording used by most newspapers.  In one newspaper there is a warning of  "A global pandemic" , that word, pandemic, brings up images of the 1918-1919 flu that was truly horrific.  Another phrase that comes up time and time again is "deadly illness".  Showing  pictures of medical professionals in full hazmat suits, of people passing through airports having their temperatures checked by scanners leads to a feeling of dread, that this is something totally horrific that we have no control over.  But what is the reality.  Reading through the NHS homepage gives a different point of view.  People who have recently returned from Wuhan or have been in contact with people from that area are advised to stay inside for 14 days, if they show symptoms then there is a number given to call for advice.  My understanding (and I have no medical background, just Doctor Google) this is just another version of the 'flu.  Symptoms include feeling tired, fever, difficulty breathing and a cough, sounds like the 'flu I had just before Christmas.  Yes it can lead to pneumonia, but my understanding is that most 'flus can lead to pneumonia.  Is it deadly, yes, people have died from it but I wonder what kind of medical care were they given, how old were they and what was their health before they caught this virus.  'Flu and pneumonia have been making the rounds in my local area, kindergartens, elementary, junior high schools and high schools have all had cases in the past few weeks, the warm winter isn't helping.  So we are practicing good hygiene, washing hands and face and gargling after being in contact with other people.  Also I had a bottle of alcohol spray that I use to wipe down surfaces.  Plus making sure we eat properly, plenty of  fresh fruits and vegetables. In a world made smaller by technology we can expect this kind of thing to be the norm.  I am sure that 50 years ago we would never have heard of Wuhan or this virus!

On a lighter note, the cats are driving me to distraction.  This happened the other day

Steve got in the washing machine!

Plus we had Claws not Jaws

Twenty Nine Years!

Today is my 29th anniversary of coming to Japan.
I was only coming for five years!  I figured make some money and go back to England!
Never happened, we kept putting off going until it got too late!
When I visited England a couple of years ago I couldn't imagine living there now, it is
so different to what I remember.

I've spent the past couple of days going down memory lane with my kids!  I seem to remember the
weirdest things.  I arrived at Narita Airport in the evening, Hisao was supposed to meet me but he was late!  I remember having a mini panic attack, I had very little money, no way to contact Hisao and no idea how to get to his place!  He turned up almost an hour late!
I remember buying shoes, first thing I bought in Japan, that rubbed my feet so bad, I ended up with massive blisters!  We spent a couple of months in Tokyo, but I really didn't like it!  Great place to visit but not to live!  I don't like any big city much!  Coming back to Hisao's home town was the best thing for us!

Twenty nine years ago I wouldn't have believed how my life has turned out.  I thought things would be so different.  I never imagined being a widow, with my own business, 4 kids, 1 dog and 7 cats!

Took a couple of photos of photos from when I arrived here!

Quality isn't that good sorry!  Such a long time ago!

Birthday Week

This week we have two birthdays.  Today is Christopher's, he is now 22!  He can drive me crazy but he is also a very caring young man with an incredible sense of humor.  We walk his dog at night, usually at 11pm or so!  The other week he was moaning that his trousers were to loose and coming down.  He said it was all the weight he had lost.  I countered that it was because the elastic was old, his reply was "Mom, let me dream, let me hope!"   He is still trying to find a job!  He had a good job last year but the store got flooded for the second year running, which meant that there wasn't enough money to keep on extra staff.  He was the last hired, so the first to be let go!  He was disappointed but he got some good experience in the few months he worked there.
David is doing fried pork cutlet, salad, rice and miso soup for dinner! Christopher's request!  Keeping it simple as we are still recovering from the flu that hit everybody over the winter break!

Christopher at 22!

Christopher at 12, when he graduated from elementary school

Have no idea what to do for Mikey's birthday.  My oldest boy, he will be 28.  I guess he isn't a boy any more!

Mikey from last year