Life is Wonderful!

It's very hot at the moment here in Japan. I am very tired.

This Monday, I paid a visit my father in the hospital. He had an operation last week. A tumor was removed in the stomach. The tumor is very beginning and small, it was not a cancer fortunately. He is 79 years old.

I had my haircut, then I went to the library. I borrowed a book there. "The Summer Isles" by Ian R MacLeod, Japanese version

I learned Stealth marketing. I was surprised with this advertising.

For example you might be in a café or a pub and you hear people talking about something, maybe it’s a new mobile phone or a new service of some kind. You think they are ordinary people so you might consider that what they are recommending to each other is an honest source of information. But, you could be wrong. Stealth marketing companies employ actors to go to places where people are and they act out a script which involves talking about particular products or services.

I read and listened to The Great Fire of London to improve my English. It's interesting. Do you know any films or books about the fire? I'd like to know the dramatic story of ordinary people on the disaster.

Our Golden Week is finishing.

I watched The Gathering Storm. I have not read Mr. Churchill's writings at all. From this film I could see he was the greatest leader of his day and perhaps in England's great history, and this is a movie that shows Winston as the human, both of a father and a husband.

Now, the ground in Kamakura is covered with snow up to my ankle at the deepest parts. It's a little bit moist but I can hear the lovely sounds kyu-kyu in walking. The snow is flying for a while yet.

On my way back from Enkakuji, I followed the trail of the hillside. Now I'm standing on a hill with a full view of the town in the valley. Mist lies over the mountain, and it appears attractive all like snowy country.

It's spoilt by the fluorescent white lights in the station. I think the warm orange lights of incandescent
lamps would be better to shine softly upon snow scenery.

I spent the New Year's holiday at home. My elder son came back from Tokyo yesterday and went back today. He is going to be back here again the next weekend to attend ceremony of coming of age. He is twenty years old now.

お正月は家にいました。長男は東京から昨日戻ってきて、今日帰りました。でも、また来週末に帰ってきます。成人式を祝うためです。今20歳。

Based on Charles Dickens' 19th century novel, this updated version of Great Expectations is well cast but even more frustrating and irritating to me than the book was. The story quickly loses the plot. If you know nothing of the Charles Dickens novel you will enjoy this film but those not familiar with it will enjoy it.
I want to watch old version 1946, but it is not sold in Japan.

Great Expectations 1998 は Dickensの「大いなる遺産」の舞台を現代のアメリカに移しています。キャストはいいのですが、本を読んだことはある人にはフラストレーションが溜まるでしょう。読んでいなければ楽しめるかも。私は1946年に作られた古いバージョンが見たいのですが、日本ではその DVDは売られていません。

My husband is off at work today. We went to swimming pool and swam just for half an hour this morning, came back home and ate lunch. I'm glad to feel lighter a little. We are going to the neighboring mall soon.

夫は今日お休みだったので、午前中プールに泳ぎに行きました。30分ほど泳いだだけですが。その後家に帰って、お昼を食べました。少し気分が軽くなって嬉しいです。今から隣の町のショッピングモールに行ってきます。

My husband is going to be back from US on his business trip this afternoon. My daughter stayed in her friend last night and hasn't come back. My son went to play handball in practice matches. I'm alone at home. Nice weather outside.

夫は今日の午後アメリカからの出張から帰ってきます。娘は昨日お友達の家に泊まって、まだ帰ってきていません。息子はハンドボールの練習試合に行きました。私は家にひとり。外はいい天気。

Last week, my close friend's son died by car accident very suddenly. It was a real shock to hear that. She has immeasurable suffering. It breaks my heart.

先週、大切なお友達の息子さんが交通事故で突然亡くなりました。非常にショックでした。彼女の悲しみは計り知れない。心を痛めています。