We’ve got rather used to aftershocks. Although there are still occasional 5 or 6 jolts, the frequency and intensity have declined, and most have been too far north to be felt in Tokyo. So we are getting back to normal. Sort of. The school will certainly reopen next year, though it might be in diminished form. Some students and teachers have left, others may no longer come, but Linda will have a job next year. My acting and modeling jobs continue to provide profitable entertainment, at least for Linda. We watched one show the other night, and Linda fell off the sofa laughing, whilst I hid underneath from embarrassment. When that work dries up, there is writing and editing, not that I feel particularly good about the latter – grammar was never my strong point.


Meanwhile, spring is here, pleasantly warm without the humidity that will set in over the next month. The Sakura blossom festivals were somewhat subdued, but Azaleas, dogwood, orchids are in full bloom. We have had some wonderful birdwatching walks in the hills. Last Saturday we spent the day at Mount Futuoka, about an hour to the south. This is a small range of hills near Kamakura, and well known as a breeding site for rare migrants. There are few visitors away from the main trails, and we spent the day walking in deciduous forest full of bird song, looking for Narcissus and Paradise flycatchers. We spotted the Narcissus and might have glimpsed the other, but paradise can wait; here were bush warblers flying to nest, busy pygmy woodpeckers, Japanese Green woodpecker, ground partridge clucking in the bamboo and a dozen other pleasures.





At the beginning of May, Alison (Linda’s sister) and John arrived; flying in to celebrate their new granddaughter, Chihiro, (to Naho and Mike at the beginning of April). Alison had formal mother in law duties to complete for the blessing ceremony at the local Shinto temple, none too onerous, she was required to hold the baby for an hour or so. We met J&A in Matsumuto, and stayed in a lovely Ryokan before walking through the Kamakochi valley in the Japanese Alps. There is still snow in the mountains, and we met a procession of windblown students, carrying snowboards and skis down from the back-country slopes after the Golden Week holiday. We also spotted mandarin duck and nuthatch, which we have wanted to see in the wild.

The school year ends in three weeks. We are heading back to New Zealand, via Borneo, orang-utan, and hornbill we hope. Looking forward to seeing as many friends and relatives as we can.
Love
Nigel.