We arrived in Japan  on Monday 6th March. I had to attend a client progress
meeting Tuesday morning at 0900. We presented an outline of our project 
plan knowing that it was a bit tight (usual sort of optimistic stuff you
get from programmers!).

The client wasn't happy with our dates and proceeded to knock a week off
each package of work. 

I was a little taken aback and attempted to explain that this could not be
done unless we increased resource (which wasn't feasible in the time
scales) or reduced functionality.

The client gave us more of a mauling and proceeded to knock another week
off each of the work packages. At this point, I was thinking that surely
he's not serious but also that I really didn;t expect such a display from
someone in a senior position.

We underwent some more ritual humiliation and the meeting ended after two
hours. One of my new colleagues, who had been out here 10 months at that
point, said 'Welcome to hell'. 

It was quite an introduction to Japanese business practices. However, my
skin is much thicker now and the ritual humiliations only come about every
three weeks or so.

Other highlights,
James had a high temperature so we took him to the hospital. They
prescribed him anti-pyretics (if that is the correct spelling) to reduce
his temperature. Fine, no problem, but they were suppositories! One of the
tests of parenthood! So before James went to bed I psyched myself up for
the task and under the watchful eye of his mother I used my little finger
to push the little white torpedo up my unsuspecting 12 month old son's
backside. But it kept popping out. On the third attempt I sunk my little
finger virtually upto the second joint. James gave me an accusing look as
if to say 'what bloody hell do you think you are doing, Daddy??!!!!' and
his little eyebrows were furrowed. This time it didn't pop out and his
temperature was normal in the morning, phew! 

Last Friday, I took the day off work so that we could visit the mountains
at Hakone. The idea being that it would be less crowded on a week day and I
could catch up with work on Saturday (no probs with the UK as it was Good
Friday). Good plan, huh!
Well, there weren't any crowds, in fact there wasn't anyone at all, not a
single tourist on the famous tourist trail. Not surprising really because
it bucketed down all day and the mountains were enveloped in a good ole
fashioned pea soup fog.
We couldn't see the ground or the mountains from the cable car. You're
supposed to be able to see Mt Fuji from the boat on Lake Ashi but seeing
the shore was difficult enough. We got home about 30,000 yen lighter but
enjoyed the funny side of our day out, especially when Saturday was blazing
sunshine and I was at work!

I got my hair cut at the local barbers. The barber spoke a little English
and understood short which was a start. However, I couldn't really explain
much more than that so I let him get on with it. After 30 mins and 3200 yen
the deed was done military style. A bit pricey for a man used to paying
7.50 (3200 = 20.00). Over the next couple weeks a tuft of hair began to
stick out from the side of my head. I just can't seem to do anything with
it. As soon as it dries it springs up. I don't know how the barber managed
it, maybe its a Japanese trick for westerners. I given up doing anything
with it and I just try to forget that it is there!

We are having Japanese lessons at home, two evenings a week. I think my
brain is going into melt down though. We were learning how to ask the
starting and finishing times of shops, films, banks etc. E.g. Ginko wa,
nanji kara desuka?
I had an attack of the geegees and kept saying nangeegee instead of nangee
- I just couldn't help myself much to the amusement of Gill and our
instructor. However, Gill went one better and kept saying ninja instead of
nanji. This caused great mirth and naturally I had  to do my ninja
impression.

More stories to come I'm sure.......