By Mitsue Finch Uchida
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皆さま、5月は何と3連休が3回もありワクワクしますが、あっという間に過ぎてしまいそうですね。始まったばかりなのに、もう終わることを思惑しているとは…なんとも貧乏性ですね。でもお天気もようやく暖かくなり、私達の頬を緩ませてくれる5月を満喫いたしましょう！
何といっても5月のハイライトは、40代目の新君主チャールズ国王の戴冠式ですね。個人的にはあまり興味がないのですが、何といっても70年間ロンドン塔などで眠っていたと言われる「クラウン・ジュエル」の戴冠用の宝器がこの機会に脚光を浴び見れるということでしょうか。世界で2番目に大きい530キャラットのダイヤのついた王笏、そして王冠、黄金の杖とそれはもう金銀きらびやかなことでしょう！テレビで拝観致します・・・
さて個人的には、4月最後の2週間は陪審員として王様に仕えてまいりました～。私は7年前に陪審員を一度やり、今回2度目のお勤めだったので少し以前よりはゆとりがあるかと思ったのですが、色んなハンディ―を感じました。それは7才加齢と、パンデミックの為に陪審員が間隔を置いて着席し、かなり裁判長から離れた場所となりとても聞き辛かったです。またどういう訳かクーラーが法廷はきいていて、寒かったので2日目からはしっかりと着込んでいきました。
数日待機させられ、やっと木曜日からケースに臨むことになり、12名の陪審員が選ばれました。結構即判決の出そうなケースだと思ったら、何と1週間かかってしまいました。それは時間通りに法廷が動かないその理由は色々ありますが、資料がちゃんとそろっていないことかと思われます。それでも判決がくだされましたが、詳細はお伝え出来ないのでここでは控えさせていただきます。ただ、私達は11－1でAnonymouslyに全員一致でVerdictを出すことができず、結局は裁判長の判断になりました。一つのケースを証拠をもとに陪審員が判決をだすのですが、証拠が少なく、又証人も一人と(最近は証人になった為に狙われるというケースも多い)難しいケースでした。そんな時に有名なフレーズ「Beyond reasonable doubt」が活躍です。「少しでも疑いがあれば罰せられない」というような意味でしょうか。陪審員の仕事は大変ですが、それを英国の色んな裁判所で毎週ランダムに選ばれた老若男女がしています。そして待ち時間の長いこと、その時間で普段読めなかっ本を完読いたしました！参考までに、陪審員制度の簡単な解説はこちらからご覧ください。
5月に入ってから矢張り風が暖かさを含むようになりましたね。お庭でブランチやら、鳥の声を聞きながら公園でピクニックとても素敵な季節ですね。満喫いたしましょう。
BBCのWorld Serviceで、淡路にあった迷惑観音とも最後は言われていた観音像がついに壊されました。それも国費で数億円をかけての出来事で知っていらっしゃる方も少しはいらっしゃるかと思いますが、そのミニドキュメンタリーが流れましたので、お聞きくださいませ。
そして5月は日本もゴールデンウイークや子供の日とこいのぼりが青空高く泳ぐ姿が浮かびますね。また日本もコロナ規制が弱まり、外国観光客の方々があふれてきたとのこと、嬉しいような今迄の静けさが懐かしいような・・・と複雑ですがやはり人が自由に動けることの素晴らしさはかけがえのない特権ですね。素敵な5月の風に乗って皐月を心から楽しみましょう～。
此処でいつもの愚俳句と川柳です。
桜さり 木蓮の花に ときめきを
新緑の 緑まぶしき UV50
エイプリ シャワーも懐かし はや5月
メーデーに メーデー信号 送るとは
青い空 5月病なら どんな色
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Hello everyone, I’m excited to have 3 consecutive days’ holidays in May, but it seems like it will pass quickly. Even though it’s just started, I am already thinking it’s over. . What a poor person I am☹. But the weather is finally getting warmer, and let’s enjoy the month of May, which will loosen our cheeks for smiling!
The highlight of May is the coronation of the 40th new monarch, King Charles. Personally, I’m not very interested in it, but after all, it’s a chance to see the “Crown Jewel”, which is said to have been sleeping in the Tower of London for 70 years. . The second largest diamond scepter in the world at 530 carats, a crown and a golden staff. . And it will be glittering with gold and silver! I will see them on TV.
Personally, I served the King as a juror for the last two weeks of April. Seven years ago, I served as a juror once, and this was my second time working as a juror, so I thought I would have more leeway than before, but I felt many handicaps. I am 7 years older(obvious) and due to the pandemic, the jurors were seated at intervals, and it was very difficult to hear because it was quite far from the judge. Also, for some reason, the cooler was working at the court, and it was cold, so from the second day, I wore it properly.
After several days of waiting, the case was finally decided on Thursday, and 12 jurors were selected. I thought it would be a case where a judgment could be made immediately, but it took a week. There are various reasons why the court does not move on time, but it seems that the materials are not properly prepared. Still, the judgment was given, but I can’t tell you the details, so I’m going to refrain from it here. However, at 11-1, we were unable to unanimously vote for Verdict, so it was up to the judges. A jury makes a judgment based on the evidence for a single case, but it was a difficult case with little evidence and only one witness (recently, there are many cases where people are targeted because they are witnesses). The famous phrase “Beyond reasonable doubt” is useful in such cases. If there is even the slightest doubt, it will not be punished!? Jury work is hard work, and it’s done by randomly selected men and women of all ages in different courts of England every week. And because of the long waiting time, I was able to read the book that I normally wouldn’t be able to read because of no time to read… FYI, here’s brief explanation of the Jury Service.
Since the beginning of May, the wind has become warmer. Having brunch in the garden or having a picnic in the park while listening to the sounds of the birds is a wonderful season. We must enjoy month of May!! Well, The BBC World Service recently broadcasted about destroyed the statue of Kannon, which was said to be a nuisance Kannon in Awaji. I’m sure there are a few of you who know about the event, which cost hundreds of millions of yen at national expense, but I heard a mini-documentary about it, so please listen to it and find out the real story behind it.
History and story of the Awaji Kannon statue
And in May, Japan also has Golden Week, Children’s Day so many holidays. The carp streamers swimming high in the blue sky. The corona restrictions have weakened in Japan, and foreign tourists are overflowing and they are so happy to visit Japan again and we are also very grateful but I feel nostalgic for the quietness in Kyoto and other places compared to now so I heard from my friends in Japan and they are all mixed feelings but being able to move freely is an irreplaceable privilege. Let’s enjoy Satsuki from the bottom of our hearts and feel the wonderful breeze of May!
Here are some usual Haiku and Senryu
After Cherry blossom now Magnolia so beautiful
April showers are nostalgic, it’s already May
Fresh Green makes my eyes blind and need UV50 season now
Sending Mayday signals to Mayday
What color is the blue sky May illness
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