Good morning, all another Monday has arrived, Sam is off to Tafe and I am now going to write some more about Japan.
The population is 126 million, the country has the longest life expectancy with many over the age of 100.
The country is known for its cleanliness with the culture emphasizes personal responsibility for littering. A person can be fined anything between $45 and $4,500USD, and repeat offenders may find themselves in jail. People often take their trash home as public bins and often scarce, they can be found near convenience stores, train stations, and vending machines.
Speaking of vending machines, the country has more vending machines then any other country with a large variety of products.
In Japan bowing is deeply ingrained in cultural practices and is used to express gratitude, apology as well as social hierarchy. The angle, duration, and context of the bow all convey different meanings, and mastering this etiquette is key to navigating Japanese society gracefully.
Men typically bow with arms straight at their sides, women often place hands together in front of their legs. Eyes should be cast downward—not making eye contact during the bow is considered polite.
Bowing is used for the following, greetings and farewells, apologies and expressions of thanks, ceremonies, religious rituals, and martial arts. Even in customer service interactions, even train staff bow to passengers!
Japanese people may even bow during phone calls, out of habit.
While bowing is standard, handshakes may be offered to foreigners in business or casual settings.
If unsure, follow your host’s lead. A slight bow is always appreciated and shows cultural awareness.
Now for a bit about the Japanese flag, known as the Hinomaru features a red circle on a white background symbolizing the sun. It reflects Japan’s identity as “The Land of the Rising Sun.”
The red circle represents the sun, a sacred symbol in Japanese mythology and the white background symbolizes purity, honesty, and peace. The current design was formally adopted in 1999 under Japan’s National Flag Law.
I slept well 8hrs and woke only once to pee, I woke at 6am, I am not setting an alarm for Sunday mornings just waking when I do. The temp at 6.30am is 14C or 57F.
Sunday’s will be my easy don’t do much day, I think, we will see how that works out.
Tim and I went to the shops all was good but when we got home, he parked on the lawn and when I was walking to the door, I found myself unable to move and called for help but couldn’t yell loud enough for him to hear me he was already inside. After a bit I managed to get inside.
It has been a nice day not hot nor cold just lovely, but it has been a long ass day, it has drawn on.
Steps:12,512 = 6.4klm’s or 3.8miles
BGL: 6.9
I slept well 9hrs & 38mins of sleep, didn’t wake at all, it is a cool start to the day. Although the temp is 18C or 64.4F.
I got up to a messy kitchen yet again; I have been up an hour and have vacuumed and cleaned the kitchen and put the dishwasher on.
It has another very warm day with the temp being 27C or 80.6F had to the air con on around midday, tried to have a nap and failed, just couldn’t settle so gave up after 20 minutes.
At around 3pm I went to check the mail, and it was lovely out, so I turned the air con off and opened the door.
Around 4pm the temp dropped to 17C or 62.6F and it got windy, had to shut the door, but I was finally sitting comfortably so I sent Sam a text to see if she would come and shut it for me and she did.
It’s 6pm and I am not with it, I am going to have a shower and go to bed, I am aching all over and feel like a zombie not that I really know any zombies but going on how we see them on TV I am like one this evening.
Steps:14,573 = 7.4klm’s or 4.6 miles
BGL: 7.0
SUE’S BIRTHDAY SHE IS 56 TODAY
I slept well 9hrs & 18mins of sleep, didn’t wake at all, it is a cool start to the day. It is 13C or 55.4F and it is supposed to rain most of the day.
By midday then temp was only 15C or 59F but we haven’t had any rain.
The rain started around 12.30pm and it hasn’t stopped, and it is bloody cold temp dropped to 12C or 53F.
I tried to have a nap, but my body wouldn’t settle so I gave up after 20 minutes, when I got up, I felt lightheaded and not really with it. I was ok after an hour or so, but I am so very tired this afternoon I will be in bed early again.
Tim decided to walk up in the rain to check the mail there was only one letter for him from Care Super.
When I spoke to Sue this afternoon, she was drunk, but it’s her birthday and she is allowed to get drunk, she would miss not being in touch with 3 of her 4 children and 6 of her grandchildren. It hurts me that those children do not see how far she has come in the last couple of years, I am so proud of her.
Steps: 15,623 = 8kllm’s or 4.9 miles
BGL: 5.6-0
A wet morning and I have an appointment with the podiatrist this morning, I slept well got 8hrs & 26mins of sleep woke twice to pee and feel good this morning.
Had a podiatrist visit this morning mine was routine but Sue’s wasn’t she ended up having two lots and numbing stuff as her ingrown toenail was so deep it was extremely hard to remove. Sue cope wonderfully even though she doesn’t thing she did as she did end up in tears, but I do not think I would handle the procedure as well as Sue did.
I hope Sue is ok to go shopping tomorrow but I will not be surprised if she isn’t up to it.
Steps: 11,703 = 6klm’s or 3.8 miles
A good morning, Sue and I went shopping, not a cold day nor a wet day. I slept all night had 9hrs & 33mins of sleep woke only once to pee.
By the time we were done with the shopping we both felt exhausted and in need of a rest, Sue’s foot was hurting a lot, and I am always exhausted after doing anything at all.
The day has gone fast, I feel like I have done bugga all today.
I ordered my personalised Christmas card postage stamps; I do this when they are reduced in price. Yes, they do cost more but I like doing them.
BGL: 6.4
Steps: 16,310 = 8klm’s or 5miles
DAVID’S BIRTHDAY HE IS 47 TODAY
A nice morning, I had a sleep-in till 6am as I had a rough night, I am now awake, dress and having my morning milkshake.
Sue will pick me up around 10am and we will go see Dave at his work to wish him happy birthday and give him his presents, which is Jack Daniels.
We arrived 20 minutes early for my ultrasound appointment, but we got in straight away which was good.
It has been a nice day warm not hot.
This afternoon Sam and Baliey came over to show me some books they just bought I like what they got.
At 7pm I heard thunder, and it is raining not heavy rain now.
BGL: 6.5
Steps:12,507 = 6.3klm’s or 3.8 miles
Today’s top temp was 26C or 78.8F
A nice morning had a good night slept for 9hrs 30mins, at 5.30am it is 18C or 64F.
Tim’s up early it is only 6.30, he said he woke up and was too restless to go back to sleep.
I did a load of washing and hung it up to dry by the time I was finished I was drenched in sweat, and it is only 20C or 68F.
When I was doing my morning exercises, I had to ask Tim to turn a fan on because I was sweating so much.
It has rained on and off most of the day. The top temp was 23C or 73F.
Hi everyone, it’s Caturday and it is my turn to show off how handsome and adorable I am, I of course, am Luca I am older and more knowledgeable than Archie not that I know what that word knowledgeable means, but do I need to me thinks not.
Here I am watching mum drive, trust me when I say mum is scary when she drives.
Here I am relaxing on top of a cupboard watching what’s going on around the house.
Don’t I look handsome laying on top of the cupboard, I think this is a good shot of me.
Well today in Australia it is the 31 October, in my family that means it is my baby brother’s birthday, however for some it means it is Halloween.
In the past, Halloween was not a major event in Australia, for many it was something we saw in American movies and TV shows.
Early European settlers, including the Irish, brought some customs with them, but these traditions were largely overshadowed by other local and British influences.
However, in recent years, things have been changing due to the influence of American media, globalisation, and the internet now in some parts of the country there has been a significant rise in Halloween festivities. There has been a gradually growth in popularity, particularly in the past two decades, bringing with it a mix of imported customs and unique local touches.
Participation varies by suburb, with some areas embracing the tradition and others remaining less involved.
While many Halloween customs come from overseas, Aussies have added their own flavour. Costumes sometimes feature native animals like kangaroos or kookaburras dressed in spooky attire. Given that Halloween falls in spring in Australia, costumes and decorations may be lighter and more suited to warmer weather compared to the autumn chill of the northern hemisphere.
Some Australians combine Halloween with other local traditions, such as backyard BBQs or gatherings in local parks. The lollies handed out often reflect local brands and tastes, with Freddo Frogs, Caramello Koalas, and Minties being common treats.
Halloween’s rise in popularity hasn’t come without debate. Some Australians see it as an unwelcome American import, while others enjoy the sense of fun and community. In some areas, neighbours signal their participation by decorating their homes or placing balloons on their letterboxes, letting trick-or-treaters know where they are welcome.
Trick-or-treaters are encouraged to travel in groups and only visit homes displaying Halloween decorations.
Costumes should be safe and visible, especially as the sun sets later during the Australian spring.
Respect for those who choose not to participate is important—no eggs or flour should be thrown at houses that don’t join in.
Halloween in Australia is a lively and evolving celebration. While it may have started as a minor event, its popularity continues to grow, fuelled by media, community enthusiasm, and a desire for light-hearted fun. Australians have made the festival their own, blending traditional customs with local culture to create a unique and enjoyable occasion for all ages.
Ok I am going to share a bit more about our eyes today I am focusing on eye care. Our eyes are so important, and we need to try and take care of them.
One simple thing we can do is to wear eye protection not just when working around or with things that capable of harming our eyes, but we now know that our eyes also need to be protected from the sun thus, the reason we should wear sunglasses. Most of us know we shouldn’t look directly at the sun.
However, there are some who do not realise that snow reflects a lot of light and the glare can also damage our eyes through snow blindness, this is why snow goggles should be regarded as essential when enjoying the snow.
Something many don’t think about is cleaning our eyes this is simple to so by washing our face of a morning to remove what many will call the sleep around our eyes overnight. We also should remove any make up before going to bed at night. Then there are those who wear contact lenses, some have left their contacts in longer than what is considered safe and do not clean their contacts as often as they should.
Now days there is the damage that can be done by sitting in front of a computer screen, if you are finding your eyes feeling itchy and dry then you need to take a break from staring at the screen. Apparently when we are looking at the computer screen we don’t blink enough, anyone who finds their eyes feeling dry or itchy they should consider using some dry eye drops also know as artificial tears.
As we age having our eyes checked by an optometrist which here in Australia is free to do. I have my eyes checked every year as I have diabetes.
I will write more about the different conditions that can affect the eyes in future posts.
Last week we looked at the worlds largest rodent so this week will look at the smallest rodent, this is the Baluchistan pygmy jerboas it is also known as dwarf three-toed jerboas, they are native to the arid regions of southeastern Pakistan — Baluchistan.
Adults average only 4.3 cm’s (1.7 inches) in head and body length, with the tail averaging eight cm’s (3.1 inches). Adult females weigh only 3.2 grams (0.11 ounce). At birth newborns weigh an average of 0.48 grams (0.017 ounces). But the tiny body doesn’t hold it back, for they can jump up to over 9 feet, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The colour of the fur matches with the colour of their environment, providing camouflage, so it’s usually beige, yellow or brown in colour.
They have a mouse-like head with large eyes and whiskers and small ears. As they live in the desert, a small flap of skin is present to prevent sand from entering their ears and nose. Their hind legs, which are designed for hopping, are four times larger than their short front feet. Its back legs have five toes, but the middle three are fused. That, and the fact that the Baluchistan Pygmy Jerboas are the smallest of the 33 species of the Jerboas gave them the name “the dwarf three-toed jerboa”.
Don’s let its small size fool you. It’s incredibly resilient, and it has to be to survive in Baluchistan — one of the world’s harshest desert environment, and one that decimated Alexander the Great’s army. There is hardly any water and daytime and nighttime temperatures vary significantly. They live in burrows generally excavated under small bushes and feed on windblown seeds, succulent leaves of desert-adapted vegetation, and various dead animals such as other rodents and lizards. When plants dry up, they dig up roots of desert plants and eat them.
They may appear cute and defenceless, but their teensy size helps them do much more than just look adorable. From climbing across delicate branches while hunting for insects to dodging predators by hiding in thin crevices, their petite frames work to their advantage.
They are nocturnal creatures that move through the dry using long hops, balancing themselves with their tail.
They can slow down their respiration and blood circulation dramatically — a process called facultative hypothermia — that helps them make the most of their low nutritional diet. Animals that prey on them include the leaf-nosed vipers, trans-Caspian monitor lizards and sand cats
The pygmy jerboa hopped into the spotlight when it became a viral YouTube sensation in 2010, looking like a cross between a mouse and a baby kangaroo
Hi everyone, this week we are looking at Japan, known as the Land of the Rising Sun, it is a country with a mixture of cultural heritage as well as advanced technology and has some unique traditions.
Japan isn’t just one island but has as many as 4,000 small islands and 4 main islands, which are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. It stretches approximately 2,400klm’s or 1,500 miles.
It is a mountainous place with about 80% of the land covered in mountains, including Mount Fuji.
Mount Fuji is not only Japan’s highest mountain; it has been a sacred site for the Shinto religion since the seventh century. The cool thing is that Princess Konohanasakuya is the Kami (divine person) of Mount Fuji in the Shinto religion. The cherry blossom is her symbol.
It is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire which makes it prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and it has around 1,000 earthquakes each year. Most of these earthquakes are minor and unnoticeable, but large and destructive earthquakes do occur from time to time.
The capital is Tokyo and is considered the largest city in the world, with around 374 million people living there.
It is one of the most technologically advanced counties and is well known for its innovations in robotics.
They give a great deal of attention to education and is one of the most literate in the world. A distinctive awareness of natural beauty and interest in shape and balance are obvious.
The country is 98.5% Japanese and yes this may seem absurd, but the modern world is becoming increasingly multicultural. However, this is not the case in Japan. That is largely due to stringent visa requirements and a cultural mindset keeping its distinctive and ancient culture steeped in old traditions.
I expect when you think of Japan, you’re probably thinking of the country’s numerous cities or its main islands. You may be Surprised that 67% is covered in forest. It is not uncommon to see signs on forest trails warning to look out for black bears.
I had a really good night, slept straight through and woke feeling good, it is a cool 15C or 59F.
I had 8hrs and 45mins of sleep and by 7am it is 18C or 62F. I managed to hurt my hip again, I slipped while sitting at the computer because the shorts I have on are Lycra and they slip and slide on the chair, so I use a towel to prevent that but didn’t have the towel on the chair at the time.
I went and got Jess’s work shirts as I am doing the laundry. Even with a sore hip I managed to hang the clothes up to dry and Tim took them outside in the sun.
I didn’t have a nap and this afternoon I am really tired.
It has reached a top of 26C or 78F, I even had a shower this afternoon as I was so dripping in sweat.
Steps: 13,291 = 6.8klm’s or 4.2 miles
I had a good night’s sleep took me an hour to settle but I did get 6hrs & 50 Mins of sleep, and I am feeling ok this morning. It is a cool 13C at 5.30am I did wake up with a headache on the left side of my head.
I was surprised when Sam arrived at 6am she was here for an hour.
I mopped the floors and washed the towels, oh and I sorted the medication for the next 4 weeks.
By 11am it was 31C or 87F and went up to 35C or 95F.
Tasha is in a lot of pain and can barely walk she will see the doctor on Wednesday, and we expect she will need another Xray or scan.
By bedtime at 8pm it was 25C
Steps: 8,251 = 4klm’s
I had a good night’s sleep got a good 9hrs and 45 mins my watch said I was awake for 28 mins but I have no memory of waking at all.
It’s a nice 15C at 5.30am, I vacuumed, ironed the work shirts, emptied the bins and unpacked the dishwasher, oh and folded the towels all by 7am.
At 8am it was 20C or 68F, thankfully today isn’t going to be as hot as yesterday.
Tim had someone come and clean the solar panels, he arrived at 8.15 and was here for an hour and did a good job.
I had an hour nap which felt good.
The temperature reached 25C or 73F.
BGL: 7.2
Steps: 18,620 = 9.5klm’s or 5.9miles
You can tell by how high my step counter is how much my body was moving today.
Had a rough night but I am up and dressed and have already vacuumed it is 17C or 62.6F at 6am. I had only 5hrs & 35mins of sleep
We are in for another scorcher of a day but right now it is nice with the doors open.
I had a nap from 11am to midday.
Well, it sure did heat up by mid-afternoon it was 37C or 98.6F, I am glad I don’t have to go outside in this heat.
The temperature at 8.30pm was 24C or 75F
BGL:7.7
Steps:9,518 = 4.8lm’s or 2.9 miles
Had a rough start when I first went to bed last night but managed to settle by 10pm and slept straight through I got 5hrs and 59mins of sleep.
I didn’t feel like getting up so I laid in bed for an extra 15mins, I had a shower after Tim left for work. The t3emp this morning is 15C or 59F.
I have a doctor’s appointment at 8.24am. The appointment went well I have to have an Xray and a scan done of my right hip, he says it may be bursitis.
After the doctors we went to Lake Fair shopping centre I went to get batteries for Tim but was unable to find the size he wanted.
Tasha came down to get two eggs and some bread for her lunch, Tim’s bread only contained the crusts also known as the end of the bread and 1 slice and I know Timm will not eat the crusts I gave it to Tasha. Well, when Tim got home he wanted to know where his bread was, I told him and he went on about it saying there was more bread the that.
It has been a much cooler day to temp was 25C or 77F
BGL6.9
Steps: 15,249 = 7.7 klm’s
Had a good night, slept straight through had 9hrs 13min of sleep, the temp this morning is a nice 15C.
Sue drove Tasha to Charlestown to her ultrasound done; she also picked up Maccas’ for my lunch.
Sandy arrived to pick up something I had printed for her. Shem had Denni with her, Denni is now going to Glendale High.
At midday it was 23C, at 1pm I had to turn the air con on for 2hrs, by 5pm it was quite cool.
I went to bed at 8pm but had to get up at 10pm as I wasn’t able to settle. I used the powerfit and went back to bed.
BGL: 7.0
Steps: 17,505 = 8.9klm’s or 5.5 miles
After returning to bed I settled and slept the alarm went off, I got up took my meds and could hardly keep my eyes opened so I went back to bed and woke up at 6am. The temp was 14C or 57F. I had 7hrs of sleep.
Tim was already up and doing research for the job he is doping, this means looking at photos to make sure doesn’t take the bus down a road or driveway he isn’t able to turn around. He is doing the Crowded House concert.
I decided to order pizza; I don’t do that very often.
I did the ironing and it left me exhausted, I also spilt Pepsi while trying to pour myself a drink, then when I was trying to add water to the iron I spilt the water in the kitchen, cleaned that up, the spilt the next lot in the lounge-room and then cleaned that up and when I wanted another drink I rang Jess and she came and filled my cup for me.
Sam and Bailey came down for cheese, ham and bread. Later on they came back just to say hi and show me what they got when they went to the Pride Festival.
Jo-AnneRamplings 