Day 90, 31 Mar 2017: A blooming distraction...

Day 90: ...before the rain sets in

Well we could say the remnants of Cyclone Debbie reached Tokyo today, but that would be a stretch. Nonetheless, the rain arrived right on cue, mid-afternoon and at just the wrong time. You see, Sunday is forecast to be *the* day for viewing this season's cherry blossoms but the rain looks like putting a dampener on that, literally and figuratively. 

So what better reason to seek a diversion take a break from my conference paper and check out the state of the local blossoms...a civic duty really. 

Burst of blossoms

Resting raindrops

Seeking the sun

Bunches of pinks

Hanging out 

Our local reified cherry tree, wait until next week

Reflections in the puddles 1

Reflections in the puddles 2

Reflections in the puddles 3

Opened up

Huddle

Falling

The fallen

With more rain tomorrow but sunshine forecast for Sunday, there is some chance that the blossoms will still be at their best next week. We will have to wait and see. 

In the meantime, I have a paper to complete.

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 4.36pm-4.44pm, 4.55pm; 31 March 2017]

Day 89, 30 Mar 2017: Today it is the tulips...

Day 89: ...for tomorrow it will be ...?

It is spring. And flowers are coming out all over the place. Some are cultured and perhaps a little out of place; others bloom where and when they should.

I'd be hard-pressed to declare a 'favourite' flower. From a photographic point of view, I enjoy taking them all in all their shapes, colours and sizes. I like them when they are new, and I especially like them when they are losing their colour and bloom. 

I guess my favourite flower would be whichever one I happen to be photographing at the time. 

Today, it is the turn of the tulips. 

Into the centre

Channelling Georgia O'K

Yellow

Opening

Opened

Standing tall

Colour patches

Purples

Whites

Star 

Lining up

Not actually tulips

There's always one (or two)

Everyone and everybird was taking in the colour

Reds

Twin set

Abundance

Below the wheel

Colour contrast

Taking these pics today was a stark reminder of how quickly the first year here has passed. I looked up last year's blog. Yep, last year, day 89, I was taking photos of the tulips here outside in the park near work. 

There will be more to come. And right now, the tulips are my favourite flowers. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 11.36am-11.45am; 30 March 2017]

Day 88, 29 Mar 2017: Work and play on the outside...

Day 88: ...work, work, work on the inside

The new academic year approaches; academics are preparing courses; students are, probably, enjoying the last of the break before the stressing recommences (not something we the academics encourage of course, the stressing bit). 

And one thing can be said about the portside (well, lots of things really, as you would know, dear regular reader), there is always a fair share of work and play going on outside. Today, the work v play division was fairly evenly split. 

That job!

Getting ready

Performance

Final rehearsal?

Well-received...

Barge!

Stage two, stage right

The littlest boat

In the pink in the fading light

I'm yet to find out just what the open auditions/performances are in fact all about. Who knows, we may be looking at the very next 'big thing' in Japanese popular culture...that will be more work for me, more play for them. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 11.35am, 1.51pm, 2.01pm, 2.10pm, 3.22pm, 4.16pm, 4.44pm; 29 March 2017]

Day 87, 28 Mar 2017: The blue skies and the big blue seas...

Day 87: ...just go!

While a large cyclone was battering the coast of my home state overnight and this morning, the weather here was being more like the Tokyo spring we expect, just a little colder than usual. The blue skies on the way to work made a picture (or four).

Blooms near the bus stop

The TOC building near work

The tower

The wheel peaks over the upper entrance at work

And while the semester doesn't formally start for a few weeks yet, I had another round of meetings with students to encourage their participation in a range of study activities, on campus and overseas. And just as it was with students back home, students today are keen but cautious about taking up studying overseas opportunities. 

I recall my own undergraduate years when I figured to get any fluency in the language, I was going to have to spend some time, any time in Japan. I didn't worry about scholarships (none--except for a one way airfare), credit for my studies (none--I had to go after I'd finished my studies), or not understanding Japanese well enough to live there (that was the whole point)...

These days, students want scholarships, credit, pre-travel fluency and not too much work. Yes, I know, times have changed and the world is a different place but the fundamentals of studying overseas haven't really changed. 

(Nor does a day on the port.)

Speaking of overseas adventure, the research ship is back

Getting supplies

The reassurance of the everyday

The little yellow fellow

Often times, it is reassurance for their parents just as much as the students but I'd encourage a sense of adventure--think blue skies and big oceans...just go!

[Camera : iPhone6S, 8.34am, 10.12am-10.16am; Lumix TZ-85, 10.31am, 12.48pm, 1.31pm, 2.48pm; 28 March 2017]

Day 86, 27 Mar 2017: Started out grey...

Day 86: ...ended in light and colour

Yesterday's rain continued today. And unlike yesterday, I didn't have the option to stay home and work. Today was a day planned to meet and greet the new second year students as they commence their studies at the Ariake campus.

It was a cold, cold morning; that snow/sleet prediction was right at about 3.00am and by 7.30am get up and go time, it wasn't snowing at least but the rain remained. 

Tough start to the day. 

I made it, eventually and along the way wondered where the two-month long break had suddenly gone...

Racing in 

Clouds beginning to break up

Letting off steam

Clearing up 

A contrasting reflection 

And a touch of colour to end the day

...there is another conference paper to complete for next week, a couple of commentaries to revise and time needed to think about new classes starting in a couple of weeks time. 

There will soon be little time to worry about the weather. It will simply be onwards and upwards, every day regardless. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 2.37pm-2.38pm, 4.43pm, 6.00pm; 27 March 2017]