cleo said...

cleo at 09:08 AM JST - 9th May

Married life is much more stressful. You have more financial issues, coping with children growing up and trying to maintain intimacy with your partner.

No it isn't. Yes you may have the financial issues and you may have problems with your kids, but there are two of you to cope…

Posted in What advantages does married life offer in an era of increasing divorce rates? at 09:08 AM JST - 9th May
cleo at 09:02 AM JST - 9th May

The tax breaks. And the visa.

If you're happy, you'll stay together whether you're married or not. If you're not, you won't, whatever the pieces of paper say.

Too many people go into marriage expecting it to be a 50-50 deal, and are unable to cope when they find it…

Posted in What advantages does married life offer in an era of increasing divorce rates? at 09:02 AM JST - 9th May
cleo at 08:49 AM JST - 9th May

Raising a kid (here to be truly multi-cultural/lingual, etc.) takes work. A lot of hard, repetitive work. And both parents have to be involved heavily.

You can omit the bit in brackets.

Posted in Becky says 'I'm trying not to fall in love' at 08:49 AM JST - 9th May
cleo at 08:33 PM JST - 8th May

I can understand a father wanting to stay at home and look after his kids. I can't understand a mother wanting to leave her kids with someone else (even their doting father) while she goes and sits at a desk in an office. (Family finances may leave her with no…

Posted in Japan drops to 31st in 'Mothers' Index' at 08:33 PM JST - 8th May
cleo at 04:23 PM JST - 8th May

I think the idea is that societies that make it easier for not just women, but specifically mothers, to participate at the highest levels of the political process (or any leadership position), are more "friendly" to women who simultaneously raise children

Well that may be the idea, but personally I'm…

Posted in Japan drops to 31st in 'Mothers' Index' at 04:23 PM JST - 8th May
cleo at 02:34 PM JST - 8th May

So what happens to Bertie when he gets to Turkey?

And if she's hiring horses for the rest of the journey.....When she has to return the hired horse, won't she be back where she started?

Still, it sounds like fun and it's for charity. Good luck, Becky.

Posted in Londoner to embark on 4-year horse trek to Tokyo at 02:34 PM JST - 8th May
cleo at 12:52 PM JST - 8th May

Save the Children Japan??? There's no such organization

Then who is it that keeps sending me newsletters and begging letters on a regular basis?

On topic, I suppose the safest place to become a mother is either Grenada or Greece, where the maternal mortality rate is 1 in 100,000. In…

Posted in Japan drops to 31st in 'Mothers' Index' at 12:52 PM JST - 8th May
cleo at 08:57 AM JST - 8th May

I can't ever recall a female police officer being allowed to carry a gun here

My daughter carried one every working day for two years until she was promoted out of the koban.

She says it and the bulletproof vest that went with it were darned heavy, and she's…

Posted in Doctor held for grabbing police officer's gun, opening fire at 08:57 AM JST - 8th May
cleo at 08:54 AM JST - 8th May

The next wars will be fought for the same reasons as all past wars - human stupidity and cupidity.

Posted in What will the next wars be fought over? at 08:54 AM JST - 8th May
cleo at 02:57 PM JST - 7th May

I'm not suggesting that Mr. Scott is not telling the truth. I'm sure he is telling the truth as he sees it. I'm simply saying I don't think it's the whole story. Maybe there's something in his attitude or actions that gets people the wrong way. (Not dissimilar to the…

Posted in A punching bag on the Odakyu line at 02:57 PM JST - 7th May