Three-Day Monk

One of my favorite phrases in Japanese is mikka bozu, literally a three-day monk, and it’s a term used to describe the length that most people can maintain their resolve. I’ve got to admit to being an archetypical example of the concept.

Having accumulated a huge spare tire and found an exciting new job following a tumultuous few years, I was full of determination to achieve lofty goals when the new year rolled around just two days ago.

I’ve set exercise goals to lose weight and live healthier, in addition to setting professional targets to make the most of the opportunity I’ve been presented. All my objectives are centered around daily persistence. But this morning was bloody freezing and I found it hard to drag myself out from under the covers. With a family gathering planned later in the day, my resolutions were wavering. Fortunately, I eventually managed to get out, albeit with less enthusiasm than I probably needed.

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    Australiana for Australia Day

    オーストラリア人コメディアンオーステン・テーシャス氏＊が1983年豪州象徴的なものや地名などのごろ合わせによって詩「Australiana」で全国一世風靡し、No. 1ヒットとなった。かなりやばい言葉使いであり、色な所で放送禁止となった。 1月26日建国近年日にあたる「Australia Day」にちなんで、下記再現する。お楽しみ。 Australiana Sittin’ at home last Sunday mornin’ me mate Boomer rang (boomerang). Said he was havin’ a few people around for a barbie, Said he might cook a burra (kookaburra) or two. I said, “Sounds great, will Walla be (wallaby) there?” He said “Yeah and Veggie might (Vegemite) come too”. So I said to the wife “Do you wanna Go Anna (goanna)?”. She said “I’ll go if Din goes (dingoes).” So I said “What’ll (wattle) we do about Nulla?” He said “Nulla bores (Nullarbor) me to tears, leave him at home.” We got to the party about two and walked straight out the kitchen to put…

  • Spinning Out Near the Sacred

    Mount Fuji is glorious!For better or worse, like much of the rest of the world, Kangaeroo has been confined to home for the past year due to the covid pandemic.It has not been all woe, though. One benefit is an almost daily opportunity to cycle along the Tama River.There’s a cycling road about 50 kilometers long running for most of the way on both banks of the river, which once served as the Japanese capital’s main water supply.Mount Fuji is notoriously shy and only shows its face with great clarity for a few months each year, unfortunately those times being the colder months. But the majestic mountain overlooks the Tama,…

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    史上最高カンガルー・ケーキは日本人女性が作った！

    　オーストラリア政府観光局であるTourism Australiaは、先週フェースブックで３００万人の「いいね」を記念として世界最高（考えRoo主観的な意見、、、）なカンガルー・ケーキ製作をシドニーのPlanet Cake社に委託し、実際にそのデザイン・作成などを行ったのは日本人女性だった。 　Naoko Iikura氏は同社のシニア・ケーキ・デコレーたーであり、巨大なカンガルー・ケーキを作成を担当した。 　このケーキはなんと等身大より大きく、高さ２メートルもあり、ものすごく細かく作られて、遠くから見られたら本物そっくりだ。 　同社ウェブサイトによるとNaoko Iikura氏は約８年前日本からオーストラリアに渡って約３年前にヘッドハンティングされた。Naoko Iikura氏の仕事が速くて細かいと、好評だ。創作を見れば、その理由が一目見れば分かる。 　偏見はあることを認めるが、この信じられないほど素晴らしいカンガルー・ケーキはNaoko Iikura氏が天才的だと言っても過言ではない。 Planet Cake Kangaroo Gallery

  • Nature’s Double Delight and Not a Skerrick of Proof

    Nature turned on a absolutely glorious morning – albeit a freezing one. There was a huge moonset in one direction and a delightful sunrise simultaneously in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, the only camera Kangaeroo was carrying was on a smartphone. This rarely takes decent pics at the best of times, let alone trying to get a lunar shot, which is challenging at the best of times with the most sophisticated equipment. Then, blessed with a delightfully colorful sunrise and otherworldly cloud pattern on the return journey, positioning and timing rendered photographic evidence impossible. Kangaeroo was not in a good spot to capture a good spot and needed to make it…

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    Big Red Dinosaur Loader Gets A Free Bath

    Tokyo turned on the best weather of the year so far today, and the Big Red Dinosaur Loader celebrated with a free bath, albeit an unintentional one. Big Red fell into the drink when I propped it up on the waterside to take a photo under the gloriously azure skies that perfectly matched its hue. Built for rough stuff, the bike was perfectly fine, and it actually turned into a much-needed wash. It was another day to slide in a second ride, which I was quite fortunate to do. I knew today was going to be demanding, as I had meetings scheduled for nearly the entire day. These are aimed…