Japanese Language - A Quick Reminder

 I thought I could probably remember up to ten Japanese words, and you could probably do the same, at least five, without visiting recently or at all.

Here is my list, amplified with a quick look back through my own blogs on Japanese.

Akiko  girl's name meaning bright or autumn child (ko as the ending of a name means child or girl)

arigato - thank you

bas - bus

bento - box of lunch, think of lunch box, divided into compartments like an airline meal

creamu - cream

d

e Edo - (name of former capital, gate of the river, now used in other place names)

f

geisha girl - entertainer, usually female, multi-skilled including singing and sympathy

ginko - nuts, prized for health giving property

hai - yes (I think  of Hi. Another memory aid would be to think of a high excited agreement of delight at a suggestion)

iki-gai - zest for life, reason for living, passion, inspiration, what gives your life meaning

judo - gentle way, (martial arts). judoka - judo practitioner, judo-ki judo clothing or uniform 

karaoke - singing for fun, to recorded music, using songsheets of video subtitles in the language you choose, provided by the company hiring the studio room, often in a shopping mall or hotel The word means empty orchestra.

Kiko (ki-ko means hope-child, or bright future)

Kimono - wide sleeved outfit, wrap around, secured by a wide belt. Associated with women, but can also be worn by men. Often heavy, satin or similar, lined, elegant, with seasonal patterns

Kin-tsugi - literally gold(en) journey, adding a gold line over a crack in a cracked or broken porcelain 'china' case, crockery, bowl or other object, to recycle and upcycle. Kinkaku-ji means the golden pavilion.

kinokunia - bookshop name, huge store in Singapore, name meaning country, trees

Kōhī coffee

Kyoto  kyo means capital, to means capital, together they mean capital city

l

menu - menu

Midori - green, a girl's name, and a green drink, sweet, melon flavour,20% alcohol and as it is quite strong, used with non-alcoholic mixers to make cocktails

miso soup, like a green tea, meatless, seaweed?

-mori means mountain

n Noriko - girl's name law-child, discipline

obi - wide sash worn over a kimono to tie around the waist

p

q

r

sake - the drink, a spirit, served hot or cold from a small porcelain bottle into tiny porcelain cuts without handles. I love it.

sayonara - goodbye. You can watch a video on You Tube of the popular classical song, in English, featuring the word sayonara.

sensei - teacher master maestro

sushi - pressed rice, topped with sliced raw fish, or meat 

sachimi Sashi - sliced/pierced thinly - mi = meat)

taxi - taxi

Tokyo means Eastern Capital

u

v

wagu beef, tender marbled meat from a breed of cow called Wagu, fattened up from Kobo in Japan, or Australian, expensive because of the cost of feeding the cattle

Wasabi - horseradish or similar plant, green paste with sharp flavour

x

Yoko - girls name meaning sunlight-child, child of sunlight, bright child

y yukata - light summer kimono, fold-over wrap, housecoat, often cotton

Yukiko - girl's name snow-child, pure and soft

z

Useful websites

https://www.namesmama.com/japanese-girl-names/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi

wordhippo.com

Please save links to your favourite websites. Please share links to my posts.

The Flags of the UK, England, and Scotand

 

The Union Jack, flag uniting the countries of the United Kingdom.

The Union Jack contains the flag of Scotland. 

The Union Jack combines the flags of England, which football fans will recognize as the Red cross on a white background, with the flag of Scotland. (Plus the red saltire of St Patrick of Ireland. Wales was already united with England when the new flag adding Scotland, after the death of unmarried and childless Elizabeth I when the king of Scotland, James became the King of England as well.)

The flag of Scotland is the cross of St Andrew, a saltire (x shape) of white on blue. You will see this on buildings, alongside the Union Jack. Currently, in 2026, the Scottish flag may be flown on government buildings where there are two flagpoles alongside the Union Jack, but not allowed to replace or be put solo). 

Flags also appear on the front (bow) of a ship, as ships are not simply advertising their country but are required by law to show their country of origin by flying it on the flagstaff, a short pole or stick at the front. 

A more specific flag at the back, the ensign, is like a signature, at the back, the stern, higher on a flagpole, I presume so it can be seen from the front and all around, gives more detail, of the owner-operator, such as whether it is the royal navy or a commercial ship.

Useful Website

Wiki on flags

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Scotland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Jack

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltire

Please follow my blog and share links to your favourite posts. My books are on Amazon and Lulu.

Stay for sauna and self-catering in Scotland at a Distillery

Above, top the flag of Scotland.

The Union Jack contains the flag of Scotland. 

Scotland' s well known attractions are Edinburgh castle, the Edinburgh festival with comedies and serious plays. Glasgow's museums and galleries, such as Rennie Mackintosh. The Lakes - the the loch Ness monsters.  And whisky distilleries!

You start your day with porridge, adding salt, or it may come with added salt, instead of the sugar you would get in London. During the day you could visit a whisky distillery, and end your day with a night cap, a drop, or dram of the local drink.

Whisky distilleries are a feature of Scotland. Popular with the Japanese. In fact anyone, even if you don't drink the stuff.

Short Tours and Long Stays

If you are interested in gin, vodka or whisky, a distillery tour might interest you. You can also stay at Arbikie whose accommodation option is self-catering. Add a sauna. Or simply sit admiring the scenery, their website suggests.

Whisky is strong stuff. So are other spirits. A wee dram (a small sample of drink) is enough for me. 

A little goes a long way. So a barman will gladly dilute it make a longer drink. You can add water to whisky, or ice, in which case it is called 'on the rocks'. Turn your other spirits into cocktails. Perennial favourites are gin and tonic. 

Or vodka and orange. That's for me.

 Useful Website

https://arbikie.com/pages/stay-with-us-1

Please follow my blog and share links to your favourite posts. My books are on Amazon and Lulu.

Charing Cross Station Artwork

 A lot of platforms. But here are some of them. More later.

Embankment station - abstract artwork on platforms

 

Modern abstract artwork on platforms of Embankment station. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

A handy station with several lines. Walk uphill to Trafalgar Square.

Lots of eating places nearby. both coffee bars for a quick coffee and a bite or pubs and restaurants where you can linger.

Useful Websites

https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUEMB/embankment-underground-station/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embankment_tube_station

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_on_the_Underground

Sweet wine from Bali

 

As the label tells you, Sweet Syrah comes from Bali.

13%. 

Sweet Syrah.

You can visit their vineyard in Bali, Indonesia.

Useful Website

hattenwines.com

Don't leave children in cars - doesn't everybody know this?

 

Children trapped in cars by car locks can suffer from changes in the temperature inside the car. 

The same applies to babies, and animals.

Sometimes the parents make a mistake. Sometimes the carer does so. How could you check on your child? By a sensor in the car, a car seat, or just asking the driver of the car, or the carer, to send you updates.

In the UK two pre-schools send the parents a photo or video half way through the morning, at lunch and after lunch, about every two hours. To a group chat on whatsapp which both parents can watch. This should be done with all children. 

You also need a visual watch on the inside of your car to be sure nobody is left inside. 

Some modern cars in the USA have text reminders. Or digital messages about detecting heat or movement in the passenger or back seat. These reminders can also be connected to your phone, or to a group such as both parents.

I think there should be a big sign warning that is it a criminal offense to leave a child locked in a car for more than 5 minutes. It should go on private cars and hire cars. 

Check the government and local laws where you live and the USA State or country you are visiting. 

Useful Websites

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15664655/Frankie-Rodenbaugh-marthas-vineyard-car-left-nanny-manslaughter-Aimee-Cotton.html

Previous Event

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14859103/Kameron-Jamel-Williams-dead-hot-car-Georgia.html

https://www.safeintheseat.com/post/what-is-sensorsafe-car-seat

A post on the USA

https://www.safeintheseat.com/post/is-it-illegal-to-leave-your-kids-in-the-car#:~:text=Yes.,big%20difference%20for%20their%20safety.

https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrump4President/posts/-my-baby-my-baby-terrifying-daylight-carjacking-attempt-at-la-gas-station-expose/1352903463532346/

Please follow my blogs and share links to useful posts.