Takao

  • Mirror, Mirror On The Paddy, Tell Me Now, ‘Who’s Your Daddy?’

    Tempted by the rice paddies, which now look like mirrors as they are filled with water and the stems planted, I rode through western Tokyo along the Tama and Aki rivers into Itsukaichi to climb and take beautiful photos. It’s been a while since I have ridden in the mountains, but the stars aligned today and I decided I’d try to see whether I could still do it. I’m about 30 kilograms heavier than the last time I rode higher than 400 meters in elevation, which I reckon was about four years ago. And now I’ve just remembered that I rode a climb earlier this year, so I am lying….

  • Getting Help

    Kangaeroo needs help. Unfortunately, the kind of help that’s needed is an inside job so, despite being surrounded by helpful and supportive people, the only answer is to keep plugging away. Bleak, wet, drizzly weather is not helping the situation, but it’s something that can’t be controlled. Acceptance is the key. Kangaeroo spent 13 months in a psychiatric institution, received weekly treatment there for a further five years and continues to undergo periodic check-ups and will probably do so until the end of days, if lucky enough. Kangaeroo is a multiple suicide failure and recovering drug and alcohol addict. So far, clean and sober for over 11 years. The garden…