Tuesday 22nd March 2011
I've managed to drag myself out of my depression - well, I don't have time for "proper" depression any more - too much to do. I'd like to thank to all my well-wishers' emails and Facebook posts. I will get around to replying to them all as soon as I can.
And I have been asked to update the blog, so here I am again! Back to my stream of unconsciousness...
The past couple of days have been reasonably quiet on the aftershock / earthquake front, but the tectonic plates are sure as hell making up for it today. According to the Japan Quake Map I referred to in my last post, Japan's had 27 aftershocks today alone. There were two 6.6 magnitude ones both at the same time - that was interesting. Just as we were getting used to solid ground again
Rhiannon was booked into a gym camp this week, but when we turned up yesterday, it was sadly cancelled due to lack of attendees. There were just three kids - usually there are a couple of dozen. We managed to persuade the organisers to take them just for the morning and it was a great distraction for Rhiannon. Plus a fantastically exhausting workout! She's aching today and finally managed to get get a full night's sleep.
Not tonight though. Lots of tremors in the upper 5's and 6's have set her terror off again. Whilst writing this post, a 5.9 woke her up and it's taken me ages to get her settled again.
For the first time, I regret not running away from Tokyo like the other foreigners. Not through fears of radiation as there is nothing to be afraid of, but the aftershocks are having a detrimental effect on my child. However, on the flip side, I think it will be character building in the long term.She tells me she wishes her friends were around so she had some distraction and she even wants to go back to school (even though she doesn't like school) so she has a bit of normality and peer company.
We are due to find out tomorrow whether it will re-open next week... I shall be astounded if it does.
Here is my solution to one of my assumed reasons the school may not open... Even if there are fewer children than normal, I think they should gather all the classes in each year group into one classroom, in one campus, and I'm sure they can find enough teachers still in Tokyo for that. Some children are taking their GCSEs this year, but are not getting the tuition they need at this vital time in their education.
Colleagues of Tim's are making an emergency run to Sendai on Thursday with supplies for the thousands of displaced people. Unfortunately, because all our stuff has been either cleared out or shipped, we have very little to offer. But I found some of Rhiannon's old clothes my helper hadn't yet taken and an old fleece of mine. Rhiannon is desperate to help and has donated her blanket and her favourite winter dress, but that's all she has left to give. I went through my bare kitchen cupboards - we're trying to "unstock" them before we move - and all I could come up with was three tins of condensed milk! Well, perhaps it will give the children a bit of a sugar boost.
This evening I gave an interview to BBC Three Counties Radio - a friend suggested them and having listened to the show today, I knew it was not a sensationalist programme. Apparently they have been reading this blog all week *waves to them* thank you! I made sure it was recorded as I am terrible on live radio. Turns out I'm not much better when recorded. I do hope they edited out my phrase "Living in earthquake means we get a lot of Japans"... ARGH! After recording stopped (I think) but while I was still rambling away to the presenter, we had a 6.4 magnitude quake which sent poor Rhiannon under the table. That would have been good to record! I believe it will be on the Breakfast Show between 6am & 9am, possibly tomorrow but I don't know for sure.
ETA Apparently the first part of the interview will be on just after 7am and the second part just after 8am, here's the link to the station. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-12408460
Yikes!
Finally, a couple of plugs for some wonderful people:
Firstly, please read this amazing, descriptive and eloquent blog post from a lovely, sparkly friend of mine, Dee, a talented photographer here in Tokyo with her equally fabulous partner, Trace. It's a long post, so settle down with a cuppa and enjoy. Some of their beautiful photos are on there too.
Secondly; Lisa Pearson AKA The Mummy Whisperer has asked me to help publicise her free webinar where, for every person who signs up, she will donate £1 to Help Japan charities. Happy to oblige, Lisa!
"I’m going to do a 1hr Free Webinar for the first time explaining the Flexible Family Solution in depth; this is my 6 step process that I give to Mums to help them tackle their family’s problems. For everyone who signs up for the webinar I’m going to give £1 to one of the Help Japan charities, so I need your help to make sure that I give lots by telling all your friends and getting them to sign up too. Go to http://www.MummyWhispererSecrets.com to sign up, and please send your friends."
And on that note - along with yet another aftershock - I'm signing off for the night.
Let's hope those plates settle down soon. Please?
