Bi-carbonate of soda

Bi-carbonate of soda (baking soda) is wonderful for cleaning in the house. I used to buy it in big packets from a home-center, but now it is sold in the 100yen shop.

First I put it in a shaker bottle, which I can use to fill up the small white dish you can see. I keep that next to the dish washing detergent in the kitchen. Put a VERY little detergent on the sponge, then dip it into the baking soda. It is perfect for gently cleaning teacups :)  All the tea stains will be removed easily. It is also good for scrubbing pots and pans, and to clean the stainless steel sink. Glasses become so shiny when you use it.

Another good thing is that it helps to make bubbles (I don't know why) so you don't need so much detergent.

As for the big plastic container, this is what I keep in the laundry and I add one or two scoops to the middle rinse cycle when I wash clothes. It makes towels soft.

If you want to try a science experiment and to clean your drains at the same time, put one cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by one cup of vinegar. Be careful because it will FIZZ  -  like a volcano! But the fizzing bubbles are good for cleaning the drain and cutting any grease from the walls of the pipes.

It also absorbs smells, so you can leave an open packet in cupboards or in the linen closet.

Finally, keep a package by the cook-top because it will help put out an oil fire if your fish grill or tenpura pan catch fire :)

The yellow dust is NOT radiation

Many people are terrified about radiation. I heard that many people in Tokyo called the government about yellow dust they found everywhere. It is NOT radiation, so don't panic.
Can you guess what the yellow dust is?

Pollen! Yuck. Probably from the cedar trees around my house. It is no wonder I have hay fever and feel bad.

Some people around the world still really don't believe it is pollen. Obviously they don't live anywhere near trees! They should read this blog entry from the BBC; the writer is talking about England in 2010. NOT radiation :)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/walesnature/2010/05/tree_pollen_and_hay_fever.html

Thank you

This small gift from E made my day so much brighter on Tuesday.

I've been feeling blue because the aftershocks are continuing really strongly and frequently. But these sweet peas look so happy and bright, and smell lovely so I can't help but smile.

Classes as normal

From Tuesday (Monday was a public holiday), we have had classes as usual. Some members couldn't come because of gasoline shortages, taking care of family, etc, but it is nice to see familiar faces and talk.

The classroom has changed a little - MORE disaster prevention than before. This time I learned that even small things can make a big mess if they fly around.

When I moved to this office I secured the large bookshelf with a bracket on the top, rubber wedges at the bottom on the front, and L-brackets on the back. It didn't move, even in this powerful quake :) But just to be sure, I added new L-brackets on the bottom on the front. I have heard many stories of shelves, cabinets, cupboards and even refrigerators "walking" out from the wall with each shake. Scary!!!

One big problem is that because of the long earthquake and many powerful aftershocks very quickly after that, most of the books fell out of the bookshelf :(  This happened at most people's houses. So on the first Monday, I bought screw-in hooks and net at Yamashin Home Center and totally covered the bookshelves. I don't want to clean up ever again!

Another problem was that all my plastic files slid out onto the floor. The solution for this is easy - I wrapped a strap with a clip around the whole bookshelf to hold them in. It's really easy to open so no trouble.



And I bought 7 construction work helmets ...... if you don't have these, bicycle or motorbike helmets are good, too.


And I put another strap around the water cooler to attach it to the pillar, plus made legs with L-brackets and really strong double sided tape. This cooler is rented so I hope the company won't be angry when they see it :)

For the fax machine, printer, etc, I used gel sheets that are specifically for electrical items to prevent them moving in an earthquake. The package said the highest level quakes are okay - I think that must be true because now I cannot pick up my fax; it is stuck to the desk and will not move. Then I added wide cello-tape for extra protection.


Please take some time to look around your house and see what you can do to stop things from falling or flying out from inside cupboards and shelves. I've heard many horrible stories about kitchen cupboards where all the crockery and glassware pushed open the swinging doors and fell out and broke. Broken china and glass is really dangerous, especially for pets.

A few months ago we were talking about New Year resolutions. Well, I've resolved to reduce the amount of things I have. Anything that I don't need for my daily life shouldn't be in my house or classroom. I love my Kindle (electronic book) even more than before!

Supporting local businesses

Yesterday I went shopping near my house.

Mr Hozomi's vegetable shop is open as usual (every Monday a holiday) from 10am to 6pm. Lots of fresh vegetables and free-range eggs.

Tsukuba Bagel is open. Handmade bagels every day. (Thursdays are holidays.)

If you need flowers, please go to Aqua Bloom in Umezono. Mari has lovely preserved flowers right now, and mid-week she'll have fresh flowers again.

It is really important we go shopping as usual and support our local businesses - they can't survive without customers.

This week's classes as normal

The classroom will be open as normal from tomorrow :)

If you are in Tsukuba and you would like to come, please come as usual. Of course, I understand some people are away or busy.

See you soon,
a.k.

We are STILL okay :)

Just in case you are watching the news and are worried about the big aftershock in Ibaraki, yes, it was Japanese level 5 -, or M6.1 here. But we are STILL okay!

Nothing fell down. But I hope adrenalin is good for us because this time I had a massive surge of adrenalin. In English this is called the "fight or flight" response. It means we fight or escape. I can't find the Japanese words for this, but here is a link about it in Japanese. 

By the way, please don't panic about the spinach news either. Some spinach from NORTH Ibaraki, just near Fukushima tested positive for LOW levels of radiation. The vegetables in Tsukuba are okay.

To be really honest, I'm more worried about agricultural chemicals that are sprayed on most vegetables all around the world :)

Please, let's try to be calm and use commonsense. The people in the disaster areas are doing their best to live every day. In other areas we shouldn't run around like chickens with our heads cut off. 狂ったように

One week

It is hard to believe that one week has already passed, isn't it?

I hope everyone is doing well, where-ever you are tonight. We are still here in Tsukuba and don't have any plan to go anywhere.

We went to Kasumi supermarket at Lala Garden this morning to get some necessary groceries, and it seemed to be almost normal. There were enough fresh foods and even the bakery inside Kasumi was open. I've heard most of the other shops in the mall are due to open on Monday the 21st.

The gasoline stand across from Lala Garden had a looooong line when I went to the classroom this morning, but about 1 hour later it was closed. I'm sorry, I haven't heard of anywhere to buy gasoline easily.

The cats have been REALLY naughty today. They understand what aftershocks are and look up quickly when the first rumble can be felt in the ground, but they don't seem to be able to predict an earthquake is coming.
The fish freeze quite often - I guess they can feel vibrations even before we can hear sound - and I guess it means they felt quite traumatized at the time.

For readers not in Japan, it is difficult to explain but you can hear the bigger aftershocks before you feel them. It is like the ground is growling :( Luckily there have been fewer shocks today and tonight. Most last night were over magnitude 5, so basically earthquakes in their own right, but short which is a good thing.

Anyway, Tsukuba and Japan are my home and I don't want to go anywhere else.

Open shops

Yesterday in my area these shops were open:

Marumo, in Ninomiya Village, next to Aoki on Nishi Odori
They had milk and other dairy products in limited amounts. At that time, no meat but many vegetables.

Couronne Bakery
Seemed to be operating as normal

Hozomi Vegetable Shop
It has been open since Saturday as usual. Many nice vegetables and eggs.

Hanamasa Supermarket
Lots of meat, and fish.

The 3 gasoline stands from Nishi-odori to Route 408, on Doho Park Street were closed.

The convenience stores on the same street are open.

----
The internet says that Lala Garden Kasumi is open, but the other shops are closed. Maybe that means all Kasumi are open?

Yamashin Home Center was open on Sunday and Monday up to 2pm.

If you know any shops open in your area, please tell me and I will add them.

Thursday, still okay :)

Good morning,

We are still okay and are staying in Tsukuba :)

If you are bored, you can send me an email ...

ak

Wednesday - we are all okay.

Everything is okay today. There are aftershocks but please don't believe the foreign media reports about radiation. It is sensationalism.

I was so angry about it today that I called Australia. I called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Media Dept.), the Australian Broadcasting Commission -  ABC, and the Sydney Morning Herald, to ask them to report responsibly :(

It is horrible that the foreign news just wants to have exciting stories and that they twist information to make it sound worse.

Anyway, now I am in a bad mood because if we cannot trust national news like the ABC, who can we trust?

Take care everyone.
ak.

About Tuesday night

Hi.
I just want to let everyone know that everything is fine, but we just have to be careful about what TEPCO (electricity company) is doing.

Last night I cancelled lessons but the power didn't go out :(  This evening there is another scheduled cut.

The power is supposed to come back on about 7pm, but I guess at that time everyone will be at home. I don't want to ask you to come out again, to come to the lesson for the later classes. I know everyone is worried about gasoline.

I really hope next week will be okay. Right now, if there is electricity, I'm happy to have lessons. (Already finished the first one this morning!)

Take care,
ak

Tuesday after 3:30pm is cancelled

I'm sorry, TEPCO has released the new power cut schedule. It will start about 3:30pm.

Let's cancel tonight's lessons.

Thank you.
AK.

Lessons on Tuesday are okay

Lessons on Tuesday are all okay.

ak.

No lessons on Monday, March 14

The electricity is scheduled to be stopped from 4:50pm to 8:30pm. (Group 1, central Tsukuba area)

I'm sorry, this means we can't have lessons. This morning the electricity didn't go out, but we cannot take that chance tonight when it is dark :)

ak.

Electricity

Almost all of Tsukuba (especially around the center area) is in Group 1.

You can find a PDF on the TEPCO website:

http://www.tepco.co.jp/images/ibaraki.pdf



Monday morning.

Group 1 electricity stoppage from 6:20am was “canceled” but the situation is being checked.

It might suddenly go off during the alloted time if Tokyo Elect. Co. needs to do so.

Classes will be as normal

I think it is okay to have classes as normal. The building is okay and the owner (whose office is downstairs)  says it is safe.

The elevator will be checked tomorrow, but please use the stairs in any case.

The only problem is the electricity stoppages, but let's deal with those as we have to. I have the schedule TEPCO gave out.

Thanks
AK

Another site for emergency info

http://tsukubanews.wordpress.com/

By the way, if you live in Tsuchiura, it is in Group 1 or Group 5 for the electricity cuts.


Please see group 1 in the previous post.
PLUS
Group 5
3:20pm - 7pm

Most up to date emergency info for Tsukuba

Please go to this website and see the info for the latest information about water, electricity, etc.

http://blog.alientimes.org/2011/03/earthquake-aftermath-information-for-tsukuba-residents/

Please read all the comments because they are updated as more information comes in. I've just checked the Tokyo Electric Company website and put the information for the schedule power cuts.

The times that the electricity will be off tomorrow in Tsukuba are:
6:20 – 10:00am (Group 1)
4:50pm – 8:30pm (Group 1)

12:20pm – 4:00pm (Group 3)

Tsukuba City falls into Group 1 and Group 3, depending on the part of Tsukuba. (Which parts are which are not given.)

This information has just come directly from the Tokyo Electricity Company website at 9pm on Sunday night.

Saturday night

Everything is still okay. The aftershocks seem to have stopped.

Electricity is still on, but the city has asked us not to use too much, and in the next few days there might be stoppages. Please don't worry if I don't write or if you can't contact me - it will mean the electricity is out.

SR - thanks for calling! Sorry, the line was cut at the end of our call.

We got gasoline today, and vegetables/eggs from the local farm shop. Supermarkets and malls were closed today.

a.k.