Hello! Thank you for visiting "Japanory".
My name is Carole and this blog is an account of my family's move to Tokyo and detailing our life here.
My husband Tim, our daughter Rhiannon (who was five years old at the time of our move) and I, emigrated from the UK to Tokyo late in November 2006 for a four year stay. We have never lived overseas before, although Tim and I travelled extensively before and after we met.
There is a page listing previously published articles entitled “Tokyo Tales”. These short features were written by me over the past year or so and have been published in various British magazines. Some of you may have seen them, in which case, I am very proud and pleased, but please read this blog too, as is far more personal and detailed than those articles. I haven't yet uploaded them all, but will get around to it in due course.
Due to various commitments, and enjoying my new life too much, I didn't get around to creating this blog until some considerable time into our stay, so, although the posts are dated as they are created, the "story" goes back some time. I have no idea if I will ever get it up to date - life keeps getting in the way and we are actually due to leave Japan soon (2011). I'll do my best, though.
Sadly, I completely neglected to keep a proper diary since we arrived, even though I hoard beautiful notebooks by the boxload. Somehow, they just seem too pretty to ruin with my illegible scrawl.
Instead, I have used the articles, plus old emails, forum posts and photos to jog my dilapidated memory. Some things may be repeated from the Tokyo Tales articles, but I have padded them out and added further recollections to make for (hopefully!) more interesting, cohesive and personal reading.
I've included a few photographs in thumbnail format to help illustrate my writing. You can see these in a larger view simply by clicking on the picture. At some point, I'll work out how to make a photo album to attach to this blog as I have thousands of photographs, thanks to the fabulous invention of the digital camera.
Tim came up with the rather inspired name of "Japanory" - which, although fabulous, unfortunately shows our ages. And probably means absolutely nothing to non-Brits!!
Again, thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy seeing into our life.
Please let me know what you think using the comment option or by emailing me using the link at the top left of the pages.
About My Life Before Japan
Before moving to Japan, I ran my own business, publishing a community magazine in our hometown of Northampton, UK. Naturally I had to sell it when I left, there are certain jobs that just cannot be done in the telecommuting way, especially community-based ones.
Until then, I was a stay at home mum, but this business enabled me to work flexible hours while my daughter enjoyed her time at nursery and school, yet still be around for her when she needed me.
Before motherhood jumped on me with all its ensuing shock and awe, my life was a glorious whirl of various freelance jobs based around the IT industry and included a lot of travelling around the world both for work and pleasure. Not to mention heaps of outrageous parties and many other adventures.
In fact, I met my husband while we were both working in Hong Kong in 1999, before I headed off to backpack around Thailand and Malaysia.
One day, I may write it all up. Let's get this one finished first though...
