National year of reading 2008

From April to December of this year it’s National Year of Reading here in England! According to their webpage, the Year “aims to help build a greater national passion for reading in England – for children, families and adult learners alike”. Each month has been given a theme, to help direct our reading activities and ensure we attain measurable benefits from them. The theme for May is “Mind and Body”. This month we’re directed to “celebrate the links between reading and health”. They suggest we do this through the medium of comedy, or more particularly, through the words of comedians. Or, if we’re lucky enough, our local library will have someone read to us while we relax with a massage or workout with a yoga, pilates or aerobics session.

I hope I have the chance to comment on the Year in later blogs.

On holiday

My recent holiday included a trip to Tokyo. I’d never been to Japan before. Tokyo is lovely to look at. It has very impressive, modern architecture. Everything looks new and the streets are clean. The state of their subway really brings home how inefficient, expensive and unpleasant the London Underground is. One thing Japan’s not so hot on though is vegetarian food. 3 days of eating pizza from Italian restaurants and I was ready to leave. While there though, we unwittingly stumbled on the Japanese National Archives. It was opposite the Imperial Palace compound. Being somewhat of an anorak, I took this photo and then popped inside to look at their exhibition.