Day 244 2016: Back to work, proper...

Day 244: ...and my room with a view

It is nice to be back, not quite as good as being home of course, but given that this is where I work, it will do for now. Plus, I have a room with the best view I've ever been afforded in a workplace. So, for that reason, it was nice to be back. 

And here it is...

Just as I left it

A little resurfacing to be done

And the wheel...situation normal

The port didn't seem as busy today, perhaps the summer holidays are lingering for a few. It was a bit like that in the corridors today, just a few souls around. 

I caught up with the inevitable post-semester one housework items and now have a clean desk to return to tomorrow and a few weeks of research and writing to tackle before the classes and games begin. 

I have to make good use of my room with a view, for tomorrow a new month begins.

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 11.52am-11.53am, 1.30pm, 4.55pm; 31 August 2016]

Day 243 2016: Typhoon approaches...

Day 243: ...caution required

There was a plan to go to the office today. A fair and reasonable plan I thought. Although classes don't begin for a few weeks yet, there is always some preparation and research to be considering...

And then there was the typhoon.

Officially, it was due to cross over the coast a little further north of Tokyo but it looked like the rain and wind had set in from early in the morning so, being a Queenslander familiar with the ways of cyclones, I erred on the side of caution and opted to work (read) at home. 

Good thing I did too. Mid-afternoon we were inundated with torrential rain which wasn't on the forecast (indeed the forecast suggested clear skies by 1.00pm...). 

Movement in the clouds

A touch of evening sun

Through the wires, clouds

It had started to clear by late afternoon but working at home was the right option. A little bit of caution goes a long way. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 5.27pm-5.28pm; 30 August 2016]

Day 242 2016: Up, up and away...

Day 242: ...time to return to work-land

And so there I was, waiting the train platform to head to my modern form of air transport when out of the blue (blue, blue sky that is) one of the earlier forms of air transport appeared. Kind of appropriate I guess. 

All that hot air...

And once at the airport, it was a matter of waiting and watching for the boarding call and then waiting, reading, dozing etc until such time as the plane arrived in Tokyo some 8-9 hours later. 

It is pretty amazing really, when you think about it. 

Waiting for the call 

That gate

We dodged a few typhoons along the way, including 'no. 10' which was due to make landfall north of Tokyo tomorrow. Still, it made itself known as I sat on the bus on the way to the next train platform, and then another bus and a short walk home...

Typhoon no 10

Seventeen hours door to door, planes, trains and buses...couldn't have done that with the early form of air transport...

And so now, it is back to work.

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 6.57am, 9.38am, 9. 21pm; 29 August 2016]

Day 241 2016: And so...

Day 241: ...it is time to go

And so like all good things, holidays do approach an end date. And mine is looming quickly. It is back on a plane tomorrow and before I know it, I'll be back in the office and back at work (typhoons, apparently, permitting). For you, dear reader, that means it is back to the room with a view for the most part, and the inner workings of the ports of Tokyo Bay. 

But before that...

Last day on the Gold Coast meant a bit of shopping (special requests from Japanese colleagues, for TimTams) and lunch near the water. And that was nice. 

And so, it was only right that before we return to Tokyo Bay, I took a last look, for now, of the Nerang River, near mum's house and where one gets a good sense of much of the Gold Coast; the skyline, the water, the trees...

Skyline 1: southwards

Skyline 2: northwards

The colours of the river

Water sporting

See sea weeds

Rippling

gumnuts (Aussie, Aussie, Aussie)

Limits

Droned

Shapes

It's been a nice little interlude for the blog. And now, we return to Tokyo to discover more of the new, the old and the now familiar. How quickly the time does and will go.

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 2.58pm-3.06pm; 28 August 2016]

Day 240 2016: I had plans...

Day 240: ...that today should be just like yesterday

And so it was, pretty much. I might have done a little pre-flight preparation, but not too much. The plane doesn't leave for another couple of days yet. 

And then there were mum's azaleas. They bloom each year around this time and they are mostly pure white...

The streak

Sunlight and insect

In the shade

Coloured

Bunched up

Until next year...

...with just the occasional streak of magenta, placed randomly. I look forward to them each year. They always bring out that little bit of Georgia O'Keeffe inspiration in me.

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 3.58pm-4.01pm; 27 August 2016]

Day 239 2016: Holiday mode continues...

Day 239: ...barely moving from the lounge

There is a lot I could be doing I suppose, but then, I am also supposed to be having a break of sorts. So today was really just that: sitting on the lounge, reading, dozing, chatting...

...and watching the sun set over the hill.

Ponytails

Palm : reflected

Afternoon clouds

Ripples

Not much at all really. Some days should be like that.

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 5.09pm-5.11pm; 26 August 2016]

Day 238 2016: Observable patterns...

Day 238: ...right underfoot

There wasn't a lot to be accomplished today. A couple of small errands, a couple or three phone calls. A little bit of resting was on the agenda (the 'holiday' part of this 'holiday') and the washing. 

And it was out the back where I observed the most patterns in the day...waiting for the clothes to dry.

Hint of sunlight, on the rocks

Falling between the cracks

Pooled raindrops

Casting a shadow

 
It was almost back to first principles for this little pastime of mine...look up or look down, and you'll be surprised at what there is to see. 

I don't mind doing that every so often, just to observe nature's own patterns and designs. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 3.30pm-3.34pm; 25 August 2016]

Day 237 2016: Returning to the past...

Day 237: ...feeling in the present

So today was always going to be a day of mixed feelings. Early this year I was asked to present a lecture in my old course at my former place of employ. The lecture was to be about the current political situation in Japan. Plan A was that we were going to do it via Skype from Tokyo, beamed into Sippy Downs, SunCoast. 

When we realised the dates of the lecture and my visit home were to coincide, well, we opted for an in-person version, because few of us have that level of confidence in technology. 

That meant a drive from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast, via Brisbane to undertake a few odds and ends as well. 

Just what I really wanted to do...really, not really. 

Anyway, I figured that one's efforts could be assuaged with a visit to Moffat Beach along the way; which was a fine idea except that this particular Wednesday decided to be the only one during my stay whereupon the precipitation levels reached double figures...all the way up and all the way back. 

Even so...

It was dark and stormy

The waves curled

...and crashed

...and splashed

The reef out there

The receding break

The lip

...the waves and their patterns are always worth it no matter what the weather. 

And who really is going to complain about a little bit of the old familiar...

The kangas were there

Lecture complete, it was back to the highway, a stop for nostalgia's sake at Caboolture and then on and through to the Gold Coast. Another long day. Just like the olden days.

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 3.31-3.38pm, 4.51pm; 24 August 2016] 

Day 236 2016: When you can see it from both sides...

Day 236: ...that's got to be a good thing

Today was a partial work part of the holiday back home time. It meant a trip to Brisbane to meet colleagues and liaise about future collaborations and workshops. It meant visiting one of the very new buildings at QUT at Kelvin Grove and afterwards taking in the view from the upper terrace.

The hills on the northside are truly alive when it comes to streetscape; I've always liked the way the houses seem to be built into the undulating curves...

You also get a pretty good view of this side of town: 

Another side of Brisbane

Everything in its place

The view from the terrace

And when I got back to the other side of town where the car was parked, well there was just enough time and enough interesting light and shadow to feel a little nostalgia for home...

Cultural Centre walkway

City by early nightfall

...before a dash down the highway to another family engagement. 

Nice when you can see both sides of this marvellous city in just one brief but busy afternoon. 

 [Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 4.34pm-4.35pm, 6.25pm; 23 August 2016]

Day 235 2016: Here a gull, there a gull...

Day 235: ...everywhere see a seagull

Today was a day to get some of those menial chores done: telephone company matters, insurance company matters, post office matters, banking matters (oh wait, the branch has closed down, quelle surprise) hair cut...it matters. 

Then, there was lunch with mum (after capturing some of those loris in the neighbourhood). There is a lovely spot by the Broadwater at Labrador where we like to go. So a lovely lunch (fish and chips, of course, ftw) and then off to do the chores. 

Fish and chips...as you do

Dessert...as you do

Spotted the rainbows

Lone dinghy

Flocking in for chips

Skyline with gully photobomb

Watching

Watching too

Gull at the water's edge

Lined up

Closer

Abreast

Spotted

What's the story here?

So quite a few things ticked off the list today but still more to do--some things you can't do at the telephone shop, you have to ring; no branch, find another one; on it goes. 

Makes one feel a bit gull-ible at times. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 1.10pm, 1.35pm, 8.52am, 1.52pm-1.56pm; 22 August 2016]