Tickets, Tickets, But No Home - As Yet

We got our JAL tickets and the Japan Rail Pass voucher by parting with a barrow load of dosh. The tickets had gone up in price due to tax increases - should have paid for them when we booked; a point to remember ...

All that remains, that is important, is to get somewhere to live while we're in England. Fingers crossed the property manager in Sheffield will come up with something soon ...

Here in the colonies, we watch the Royal Wedding; the BBC just can't be beaten when it come to grand telecasts. Say what you like, the event was a lift to the general doom-and-gloom of every day death and destruction. Some folk just seem to be niggards when it come to "royalty"; presidents cost heaps to elect and add yet another level to the insanity that passes for political hierarchy. Nuff said ...

Venice In September ... It's Becoming A Habit

We have been fortunate to book another stay in Venice at our favorite apartment for most of September. The art-fest is on this year so we'll have plenty to moan about ... again!

"No news" is said to be "good news" and we're hoping that's the case in respect of a flat in Sheffield. I suppose it's a good idea to check that the tent is still OK ...

Japan is looking OK so far as our trip is concerned ... hashi crossed ...

Sadly The Oak Has Fallen ...

Sadly, our favorite hotel in Tokyo has closed its doors. It seems that personal and financial conditions which have resulted from the earthquake and tidal wave have had a really bad impact on the people who ran the hotel. They had to let the lease go - for the time being ...

We've booked another hotel which is just around the corner http://www.travellerspoint.com/accommodation/17271-Weekly-Mansion-Higashi-Ueno/ which is a little more up-market. Fingers crossed, we will enjoy the added luxury.

It still astounds us how the Oz local react to the words: "radiation" and "nuclear", while they seem to forget about "tsunami", "earthquake", "homeless" and all that they imply to the Japanese people in the immediate area of the current disaster. Everyone thinks we are totally bonkers wanting to go this year ... we are ...

Hooked On News ...

As you'd expect there is virtually no decent reporting by the media in Oz about the events in Japan. I've been watch in http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/ which seems to give plenty of information and explanation of events.

We'll be visiting Venice again -  just love the place, so why not? At the moment we have nowhere to stay in the UK, which is the same situation as last year. Property managers don't know what properties will be available for renting until someone gives one months notice which means we won't know until the end of April at best. We dusted off the tent just in case ...

Hope Springs ... Two More Months

The Japanese have to be commended for their persistence and ingenuity. I suppose it comes from their recent history (two A-bombs and a complete flattening by our gallant lads). The death toll is expected to reach 28K and God knows how many homeless have to be housed and their lives completely restarted. It's completely beyond proper comprehension for those of us fortunate enough to have all we could want.

We're still hoping to travel as planned. All flights are reported as normal at the moment so we're getting kitted up for the excursion with the latest from D&G - that's Disposal and General.