Dave Mori emailed me a few weeks ago, asking me to keep December 26 free. In the UK, the day after Christmas Day is Boxing Day, which you usually spend with family or perhaps going to a special show. Richard and I usually lie around exhausted after our mammoth Christmas Day celebrations, reading books we [...]

I’ve just arrived in the UK for some Japan friends’ wedding on New Year’s Day. I always get a bit anxious before flying long-distance, especially since my strokes. Before the hole in my heart (PFO) was found, I suffered from deep vein thrombosis years ago after a long flight, and ever since then I have [...]

I’m just getting everything ready before heading off to the UK tomorrow for a wedding, and promised myself I would do one thing this year if it was the last thing I did! I am inviting 20 very special women to a very special brunch in January. Why? Because when I first came to Japan [...]

We had such a lovely Christmas Day yesterday! Richard and my friend Jud did all the shopping on the 23rd, then Richard and I prepared Christmas dinner for an amazing eleven hours on Christmas Eve! I always love that day that we spend together preparing lots of different kinds of food for our guests. This [...]

Sorry I haven’t had much time to write! I’ve been trying to fend off a stinking cold but it finally got the better of me this week so has thrown my schedule completely out of whack! I did manage, however, to get off the sofa today to wrap up 600-odd packages of the January issue [...]

I’m giving a talk tomorrow morning at American International School Joy to the World in Bunkyou-ku. It is their Christmas performance and I have been asked to say a few words about the benefits of international school education, especially for Japanese parents (who make up 90% of their school community) who might be a bit [...]

I just sent the January issue of Japan School News off to the printer. The print edition will be released on December 23 and the online edition on the 1st of next month, as always! It’s another great issue this month, with the front page reflecting on two recent events—New International School’s preview of their [...]

Richard and I have just finished writing our Christmas letter to friends and family. I really like doing this each year, as it gives us a chance to reflect on 2010. I like to think that I appreciate the life I have, but it is always good to spend some time reflecting—here is what we [...]

Last Monday I picked up my new visa. Hooray! I now have another Business Owner/Investor visa until December 2013—what a relief! I always get a bit anxious when I have to apply for my visa because it’s not always straightforward when you run your own business and don’t have a huge corporation behind you. All [...]

I’m helping to fill this position for a friend right now ….. Two co-authors are seeking a research assistant to work with them on a business-related book project for approximately 12 months. This person will have excellent written English skills and be able to research in Japanese. Duties include conducting research, arranging and conducting interviews [...]