Where Does It All Come From?

We’re in the process of preparing to move house and I am bewilered where all my junk comes from, though I am well aware of being a lifelong hoarder.

I’ve yet to see the new place we’re going to, but I am packing stuff up daily after returning from work, but mostly getting ready to dump all the stuff I ahve accumulated. It’s hard to believe I came to Japan with a single suitcase.

Cop A Gander At These Rippers Too...

  • Final Blossoming

    Cherry blossoms are about to end their blooming season in Tokyo and I was luck enough to cop a few shots of them on my morning’s ride. The photos I took this morning were of yaezakura, the late-blooming, multi-layered blossoms whose appearance follows the peak of the hanami flower-viewing period symbolized by the someiyoshino flowers for which Japan is perhaps best known. Now I am waiting for more blooms in Kangaeroo Corner. I can see that we should get some azalea in the next few days. And I am absolutely thrilled at the way the bottlebrush is shaping up with dozens of branches looking likely to bloom. Our ever-concerning banksia…

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    An Australian Christmas

    Australians have a special way of spreading Christmas cheer Ploughing snow is a big no-no, we have sun over here Christmas pud is a pav instead, while lunch is on the beach Cold ham replaces turkey, And we have three servings each Kangaroos help Santa out, ‘Cause reindeer just won’t do For they don’t know the bush so well, roos just bound on through Forget the fur lined boots this year, thongs are what we need Rudolf will have to sit it out, while Skippy takes the lead But don’t you worry, have no fear, Santa’s used to us down here! NSFW (or kids) Classic Australian Christmas Song A Little-Known,…

  • Almost Looks Like We’ll Be Flying High

    Our little dinosaur has been crook for the past couple of months. But today she finally showed signs of looking a little livelier and that she may soon be flying high again. It might just be the heat–we’re expecting a top of 35 degrees–but she’s, well, chirpier. Dino is now huddled in the top of my shirt, which has been her haven during the time her stomach became upset in April from eating too much human food. She also had an infected bum. Her once prodigious pooping slowed to a squeeze. And she looked listless and lethargic. But she’s unleashing loads today, suggesting the medicine she’s been taking (at great…

  • Prayers Gonna Pray

    I’ve been praying a lot lately, which is bloody hypocritical because I don’t really believe in having to rely on an imaginary friend. It’s been a rocky start to 2024 for Japan, beginning with the deadly New Year’s Day Noto Earthquake, a fatal crash at Haneda Airport the following day and general doom and gloom thereafter, despite the Nikkei index headed toward a record high, surpassing the lofty level it held when I first came here in the bubble era. Not much is going right personally or professionally, and that’s driving me to seek any sort of assistance that’s out there. Or not out there, in the case of prayer….