We're back!

What stimulated me into finally breaking my silence wasn't the guilt I felt about failing to reflect on our trip home this summer, or last week's surprisingly enjoyable visit to the Pacific Northwest, but rather the lead story on last night's NHK news.
It was about old people. Really old people. Specifically those over a 100. Do you know how many there are in Japan?
A hundred?
A thousand?
Ten thousand?
Try 58,820.
Yep, there are more centenarians alive here than the entire population of Waterford city (and yes, at times, you would be hard pressed to tell then apart). Females account for 87% of the total which means Sanae is probably going to remarry after I shuffle off this mortal coil at 78 (the average life expectancy for an Irish male, though you could knock off a couple years for the induced stress from having to participate in Cian's school's PTA - the subject of another day's post).
Apparently this total is increasing by three to four thousand people a year which very much makes Japan a country for old men and women. Put it this way its probably the only country in the world where my father could come and visit and be referred to as a 'young fella'.
Back in August I volunteered at the Iron Man Triathalon held around Lake Toya. I was at the finish line translating for the foreign competitors ("Arrrrggghh, can't...move...too...much...pain....aarrrggg"). The third last competitor over the finishing line, after competing a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride, and a 42.km marathon in 16 hours 52 minutes (just three minutes inside the cut-off time) was Toshio Shiomoto from Miyage. He's 73 years old.
No excuses folks.