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(Konnichiwa!) Flights are booked, and I am committed to one handy word or phrase a day, giving me a likely 60’ish word vocabulary with which to manage Japan. I (believe I ) already have my essential Japanese counting, for money only- it’s different counting for other things- apparently;- Itchy, Knee, Sun, Yawn, Go… On theContinue reading “It’s a Dog’s Life…”

(Samaritan) There was a time in my life when 3a.m. was barely bedtime (“I’m up in the mornig I suppose I should try to get some sleep”). As a rolling shift worker there are still times when 3a.m. is my defacto bedtime, but for a long time it has felt as though I shoud haveContinue reading “It’s a Dog’s Life…”

(Japan[1]) Well, after some debate, and some consultation with the bank manager, and several callanders, the decision has been made to go visit our son in Japan. Like any major holiday this requires considerable pre-planning and organisation, and naturally, lovely Chris and I have very different expectations and desires from the time away. The requisiteContinue reading “It’s a Dog’s Life…”

(Puncture) The car passed it’s MOT. Hooray! for another year. There was a fair bit needed doing, but not unexpected, including four new tyres – advisory – but when you do my commuting miles, it’s better safe than sorry. There was a time (about a milion years ago) when I would cycle into work –Continue reading “It’s a Dog’s Life…”

(Community) I recently heard an author on the radio discussing the concept behind her new book (which I thought was titled “99” – but now can’t find { I was driving after nightshift, so this entire memory may be a hallucination}). There was some background on the authors personal situation, but the central conceit; ifContinue reading “It’s a Dog’s Life…”

(Feb) For those of us in relationships, February has a tendency to focus on the 14th of the month, what card? what gift? dinner?. V -day. I told my “good” Valentines story several (dozen) Dog’s lives ago, but, I now find out there’s just so much more to celebrate: Of course as an Scottish ex-studentContinue reading “It’s a Dog’s Life…”

(Good years) “There is no problem so big, that it cannot be run away from.”    “Are you quoting from Snoopy now?” “I’ll quote the truth wherever I find it” That exchange, or something very like it, takes place it the book “Illusions” by Richard Bach (he’s generally better known for “Johnathon Livingston Seagull”), and likeContinue reading “It’s a Dog’s Life…”

(shelving) The law of averages, has not, in fact, finally caught up with me (…yet). My extended silence is simply down to the hectic demands of combining DIY and employment. Last January it was the shower base/thing/pedestal “remodelling”. This year it was the restructuring of the “temporary” shelving I threw together when we moved inContinue reading “It’s a Dogs Life…”

(Doing more in 24) I’ve written before about the unsuitability of January for the hard resolutions. I gave up (well, very seriously cut down) biscuits, sweets, and cakes back in September (thank you Diabetes diagnisis). I did my thousand press-ups in August. I will concede the large number of “very High days” at this timeContinue reading “It’s a Dog’s Life…”

(2024) The Sunrise on New Years Day, from the Land of the Rising Sun – courtesy of our correspondant in Japan. This was several hours before the earthquake, which was off of the other side of the country, so no harm befell Ben - and Thank-you for the numerous enquiries of concern. ” Like being swungContinue reading “It’s a Dog’s Life…”