Day 311, 7 Nov 2017: While I slept...

Day 311: ...the moon moved over

Today being Tuesday, term 3, almost at the end (see yesterday's post), it is an early start. Very early. And somehow I managed to wake up an hour before the 5.00am alarm. The real reason was probably waking from a 'nightmare'...I dreamt the end-of-term exam happened a week early (that is, today, not next week as scheduled) and I had to deal with the students who took it today versus the ones who turned up later...ugh. Fortunately, it didn't happen in real life. 

And in case you're wondering, yes, I dream in Japanese mostly, English sometimes...

So up and at it early for the early bus and lo and behold, the moon hadn't quite finished. No nightmares there. 

On the way to the bus stop

Morning light

Moon, two hours later

Morning sparkle

And the amazing thing is, it hadn't quite disappeared by the time I got to work. I was that early. 

The class worked, the test (based on a poster session) is next week, and the term will be done. Done.

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 6.12am, 8.00am-8.08am; 7 November 2017] 

Day 310, 6 Nov 2017: In a bit of a flap...

Day 310: ...over nothing really

After a lovely day strolling, the Monday grind returned too quickly. We have about two weeks left in this term, a four day turnaround the it is into term 4 (and new courses) and/or the second half of semester two and continuing courses...following? It is a bit complicated. So while we are finishing off some courses, and starting new ones the others continue. 

It is not making a lot of sense is it...far easier to look out the window and see what the normal people are doing. At about which time, I spotted a group photo...

Chee-zu

It's a good spot. And then, a little later, in they came...eating the chum from the back of the boat perhaps. For a port, it is a scene I haven't seen very often. The seagulls followed the boat to the bridge and then flew off. They looked like they were in a flap, but I expect they knew what they were doing. 

Afternoon teatime

Mine, all mine

Good evening

And then, the moon. Not quite full on, the clouds got in the way for that but I don't mind the moon with a bit of a chip knocked off. 

Back to work. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 3.55pm-4.9, 8.27pm; 6 November 2017] 

Day 309, 5 Nov 2017: A walk in the park...

Day 309: ...on a sunny Sunday, finally

I had reason, well many reasons really, to go to the office today. There is always something to be read, written, prepared, replied to, generated...you get the picture. But given the last few weekends have been typhooned out and today was the sunniest day we have had in well a month of Sundays (or so it seems), I went for a walk in a nearby park after a morning of work at home. 

When I say 'nearby' park, I mean one just a short bus ride and walk away, over the other side of the train track, up the road a bit. Hikarigaoka Park. I haven't been there before and it has an interesting history. It was an airfield during world war two, then claimed by the Americans after the war until they returned it in 1973 (coincidentally the US President was visiting Tokyo today and playing golf not too far away from here). 

First signs of autumn colurs

The famous gingko tunnel

A touch reflected

Fallen leaves

Okarina Queen

Rippled reflections

Ducks, a flock thereof

Nuts

A view from the 'bird sanctuary'

Grasslands

More reflecting from inside the bird sanctuary

Branching out

Watching

Catching the last light

'Tis the season

Grass

It is a fairly green space in an urban area, surrounded by a mix of public and private housing. There was lots going on today to, from sports to inline-skating comps, skateboarders, cyclists, runners, all sorts. And people like me taking pics of the surrounds, especially trying to capture the autumn colours.

A lovely day for it. I should get out more often. 

[Camera : Canon EOS 60D (yes, the big one), 70-300mm, 24-105mm; 2.24pm-3.26pm; 
5 November 2017] 

Day 308, 4 Nov 2017: Let's dance...

Day 308: ...even if some of us have to work

I have mentioned previously, more than once perhaps, of the many activities that fill the public spaces around the university. Something is always going on it seems...which is just as well for those of us who seem to spend too much time in these parts.

This week we've had the Tokyo Motor Show in the big convention centre (Tokyo Big Sight) which I've been trying to get to...I still have time.

But on the way to the office this afternoon, local dancing groups were out and about showing off their  skills. It seemed to be that combination of tradition (the flag/banner waving and the clothing) and modern--the music and the moves. 

All the strength

Exit, stage left

Get ready...

Turn

Waving

An interesting distraction on the way to the office. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 2.09pm-2.12pm; 4 November 2017] 

Day 307, 3 Nov 2017: An unlikely match...

Day 307: ...spiders and clouds

While waiting at the bus stop this morning, I looked up, as you do. It was a lovely morning for those lovely autumn clouds, the ones that look like little cotton balls skitting across the sky.

I noticed the spider building its web between the wires...good plan perhaps. Safety first and all that. It reminded me that the word 'kumo' can mean spider or cloud. Of course, the beauty that is Japanese, when written, the difference is clear: 蜘蛛   vs  雲   and when spoken, it is a difference in a careful emphasis on the sylllables. Normally context helps, but if I said 'this morning, I saw a 'kumo' in the sky', well, given the pic, it could be either really. I'd have to be very very careful with my pronunciation I guess. 

Or I could just keep quiet and take photographs. 

A kumo against the kumo

Photographs of the quiet things I see, like the port...on the surface. 

Stillness

It is probably very busy underneath that quiet surface.

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 7.25am, 12.28pm; 3 November 2017] 

Day 306, 2 Nov 2017: Pushing on through...

Day 306: ...like nothing gets in the way

I saw this barge today, it just caught my eye. I liked the way it was pushing through, like nothing could get in its way. some days, I need to be that barge.

Barge at work

There are lots of different water craft on the port.  Mostly workers, some for pleasure. Some, like the floating restaurant-types are a bit of work, bit of leisure craft I suppose. 

We are heading towards the end of term three now, just a week or so left; exams reports and the like are coming up. We have just a few days to assess, mark and grade and then we turn into term 4 all of a sudden...

Sometimes, I need to be that barge...

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 11.54am, 2 November 2017]

Day 305, 1 Nov 2017: Waiting for the bus...

Day 305: ...without a packed lunch

There I was this morning, waiting for the bus, as I do. Across in the park, there were obviously kids playing...somewhere. I don't know quite where, I didn't see them but their bags were all lined up.

Lined up

No doubt, adults were nearby, keeping one eye on the kids and another on the bags but it does still amaze me that we can leave things around like this without too much worry. I wouldn't go as far as to say no worries at all, a little caution always helps, but it is quite a bit safer than back home. 

And I liked the way the bags were lined up, neatly, on a tarpaulin. 

This place can be like that at times. 

[Camera  : Lumix TZ-85, 10.51am (bus was five mins late at this stage); 1 November 2017]