Kamagaya Fire Service festival 2014

A local womens taiko drum group.

Annie and her kids awaiting our AED training.

Emi learns how to save a kid, baby and adult. As did I. Both of us work with children, so knowing how to do this is a good idea.

For adults, you need to give 100 chest compressions a minute and also three breaths ever 20-30 seconds. This is to ensure oxygen and blood getting to the brain. The hand positions change for each age level. Adults require both hands and deep thrusts. Children require one hand, while babies only need two fingers. When using the AED pads, you put one pad on the adults right shoulder and under the breastbone on their left. For children, if they have a small chest size, you place one pad over their heart, and one over the centre of their back, while placing them on their side. You listen for instructions from the AED machine. The instructions are written in English, but the audio is in Japanese as it is in Japan after all.

 The young firefighter who helped us. The whole lecture was in Japanese so with my wife helping, I was able to understand it.

Thank you to Kamagaya City Fire Service.

Halloween 2014

Over here in Japan, it was a fizzle with my family. However I have a few shots to share

This is a candle lantern which I bought from IKEA about six years ago. I lit a candle and had my Mum's picture

Not sure what to make of the label on this tea. The Japanese can really mess up the use of English.

This was a funny little message my step-mum sent me.

My children with the city of Kamagaya's mascot. 

Scenes from Cpl. Nathan Cirillo's journey along the Highway of Heroes

 I have to post this on my main blog. Rest in Peace Corporal, sorry you had to go, so that Canada can remain what Canadians want for our country, one of diversity, peace, and freedom!

Thanks to the Globe and Mail

Toy Soldiers at Jas. Townsend and Son

 Interesting look at 18th century toy soldiers.

Chiba on a Sunday

Fancy having a Starbucks?

Route 464 heading towards Chiba New Town

Ian took a shot of me driving our car. I usually only get to drive on Sunday as my wife needs the car for work.

The Japanese Airborne Division was running an exercise, thus they were having a heliborne assault.

The troop transports follow the gunships.

Canada Vignettes - Trading Post

 Another Hudson's Bay Canadian Vignettes. A large part of the Canadian economy was on the Fur Trade, and the Fishery, many of the Colonial wars were fought over both!

Canada Vignettes - Voyageurs

 A large part of Canadian history. Both the Hudson's Bay and North-West company used Voyageurs in the Fur Trade.

Canada Vignettes - Fort Prince of Wales

 Part of my childhood, watching this as a CM on Canadian TV.

Preparing for another Typhoon

Twice in little over a week. The Japan Meteorological Agency is still confused with the direction, either this storm is going to hit Kyushu, and then Korea, or it will hit Kyushu, then hit the rest of main land. The strength is going between weak to the strongest yet this year, on the strength of the one that hit the Philippines last year.

As such, I have boil in the bag currys, pasta which I can also boil up, Ritz crackers, and we'll eat what ever is in the freezer when the power cuts out. If it does.

Pictures of kit

 you can barely see the golf range between the houses but that area of Kamagaya is under an evacuation order. It was damaged last week in the storm. They are afraid that with the winds, it will collapse!

my two bags of ememergency clothes packed, with enough for my wife and kids.

 combat vest with stove, two sets, forest for me, desert for either my sons or wife.

extra candle lantern 

Japanese emergency kit bag, always on the upstairs landing.

emergency rations more rations 

 more rations and tea.

 even more rations, canned food. We've kept canned food on store since 3/11.

Within our closet, we also have a tent which can sleep 6, plus I have a poncho for one, plus camping stoves, cooking kit on top of what I have in my kit. 

The typhoon was a whimper to what it was. 

The Irish Wars 1485-1603

When I attended Saint Marys University in my second year, I did some Irish studies and in my Irish history, we talked about

 (my copy, Osprey Publishing)O'Neil's Rebellion.

I have vauge recollections, so decided to pick this up to see if I can do some wargamming in the early 1600s period. I should be able to with the 17th century figures I have.