As the song goes. Whatever else happened today, it was not going to overtake the fact that a most unseasonal fall of snow hit Tokyo overnight and, as it happened, throughout most of the day. It is 54 years since they have recorded snow in Tokyo in November. (Imagine a cyclone hitting the Queensland coast in July, it is that kind of unusual.)
Suffice to say, as a Queenslander, seeing the snow was quite a joy, until I had to go out to work. Cards at Christmas time are somewhat deceptive: commuting through the snow is not quite as pretty as the cards would have you think.
First, there are all the layers of clothes which take a bit of preparation, the gloves, hats and of course navigating all this with an umbrella as well.
In the neighbourhood |
No doubt a bit of a rude shock |
The garden view |
The roof view |
And once in the sealed warmth of the office, there were some interesting sights on the port. For example, as a water watcher, I was rather intrigued by the way the snow seemed to come off the water as a kind of mist.
Looking down on the quad |
More snow |
Just snow and snow |
Misty, foggy, snowy... |
Snow against the windows |
Interesting too that while the snow piled up on the roads and gardens in the suburbs, something about being by the water meant the snow just hit the ground, and melted (I know that feeling). No piles of snow by the Bay.
There was somethings quite atmospheric about the day. I guess there will be more to come.
[Camera : iPhone 6s, 9.23am, 9.26am; Lumix TZ-85, 11.15am-11.50am, 12.13pm, 1.39pm; 24 November 2016]