It has been such a long time since I have written anything new. James, Ruth and their children left Tokyo yesterday having spent 2 weeks with us. Rick had limited time to take off work so I became the tour guide. I was a little apprehensive at first because I am usually quite comfortable following him around. We only ended up in the wrong place once. I got us on the wrong platform at one station and we had to go back down all the stairs and then climb back up.

Cherry Blossom TimeWe went to many places that I have been to before and then some new ones. Last week, I went to the Tsukiji Fish Market for the first time. I was amazed at the quantity and variety of fish. The tuna are huge and frozen. To prepare it for purcahsers they use large axes to peel the skin off the frozen fish and then they cut it with table saws. It was quite interesting to watch. It is a very busy place with people everywhere and small vehicles whizzing around you as you walk.

It was so much fun having them here and I am missing them already. There never seems to enough time to do all the things that I want to with my family, the biggest disadvantage of living so far away!!!

It is trying to be spring in Tokyo. After many predictions that the cherry blossoms would be early this year because of the mild winter, it turned cold again. Today is dark and rainy. So I’m not sure when we’ll see the trees in full bloom. I have attached a photo that James took of an early bloomer we saw at Tokyo Disneyland.