Day 57/365: A walk in a park...

...another park

To continue on from a recent post, one of the advantages of an academic job is that all the extended hours you build up with 14hour days on campus is that you can buy back a little bit of time to undertake necessary chores that you don't have time to do in normal hours like people with normal jobs. 

That can mean finding your way to a post office bank to (finally) get around to cashing in a cashback offer from mid-January, or getting your hair cut in a more timely fashion because the hairdresser fortunately isn't quite as busy on Monday as they are on the weekend...

Some of our work is portable so we can keep working away from the office but it is nice to get out of the office at times as well. 

The sojourn to the post office bank allowed for a short detour through one of the larger parks in the district, Akatsuka Koen. I've been through here a few times and there's always something interesting.

On the fountain's top...

It's currently under repair

Wisteria shadows

Wisteria roots (can't wait until this blooms)

Wisteria mate

Shining a light on the birdlife

Standing guard...

The forward feathered defence of the lunar guard for the park proletariat

Smokin'

Abandoned?

Through the forest...

Tweeter

I just reckon the pic of the forward feathered defence of lunar guard of the park proletariat just might be today's money shot though. 

Now, back to my reading. 

[Camera : Canon EOS M5, 3.02pm-3.28pm; 26 February 2018] 

Day 56/365: A hard day's cleaning...

...deserves a gyoza or two

No grand adventures today. Rather, the household opted for a big tidy up day, top to bottom. We have very important visitors arriving later in the week so now is as good a time as ever to get on the cleaning bug. 

Bit of a clean, bit of a tidy and also a good excuse to reorganise a few things. Pleasantly surprised that after almost two years here, I haven't really accumulated too much junk. I'm being pretty prudent I have to say in deciding what stays and what goes as I travel along during this stay in Tokyo. (Now, my office might be a different matter...everything has 'potential teaching material written on it...)

And of course, after a 'hard' day's sorting, there is only one reward...

For starters...

The gyoza

Beer bubbles

Soup, for good measure

Some of the most spectacular gyoza I've had the good fortune to eat (and gyoza, I've eaten a few). Spotted on tv the other night, we opted to walk the ten minutes down the road to one of the outlets. If gyoza be the reward, you can give me cleaning any-day (well, almost). 

[Camera: iPhone6s, 6.50pm-7.19pm; 25 February 2018] 

Day 55/365: Does it work?

...why, yes it does

And with a sigh of relief, I got through today's rehearsal with the new instrument, aided by the fact that one of our new pieces was one that I had played many times with my Brisbane clarinet choir. Very nice. Quite a big contingent today as our little group is expanding in numbers. We're now seven in number. plus the two instructors. Quite the ensemble. 

Of course, it was only courtesy and good manners that made me join the group for coffee afterwards...

ON a train, on the way to a rehearsal

Did someone say coffee?

Oh, what is this before me?

Evening sky

Branching out

...can't recall how that plate of apple cinnamon (and perhaps a pancake or two) ended up in front of me though...bwhahahaha. 

[Camera : iPhone 6s, 1.15pm, 4.25pm, 5.42pm; 24 February 2018] 

Day 54/365: Are we 'lost' without a timetable?

...and other academic questions

Today was just like any other...yesterday. Get up, get to work, work, go home, rinse, repeat. And without a timetable it takes a little while to adjust to a different (virtually no) schedule. And just when you get used to life without a timetable, it comes around again all too soon...but I am jumping ahead about seven weeks in advance, there is much to do in-between. 

I did have to go via a shop to avail myself of additional bass clarinet accoutrements ready for tomorrow's rehearsal, and I do appreciate that we have that time at the moment to do so. 

But then it was back to the office, more writing, more reading, more preparation of grant applications...oh, and a meeting or two thrown in just to spice up the day a bit. 

Then it was back along the promenade, back along the train track, back on the bus...back home. 

Taking a less travelled path...

...to the station

Iconic shop has re-opened after three days of renovations

Parked

At least I have tomorrow's rehearsal to look forward to.

[Camera : iPhone6s, 7.47pm, 7.53pm, 9.27pm; 23 February 2018] 

Day 53/365: Nothing to see here...

...just another day

So with all the excitement of yesterday put on hold until rehearsal day, it is back to the office.  Back to writing, reading, tidying up a few leftover things from the academic year. 

And, before you know it, it is time to head back from whence we came this morning. 

There is a bit of a festival on in the Big Sight promenade, celebrating all things Olympics at the moment. I noticed it coming through this morning; I had hoped there would be something on this evening, but alas...

Promenade at night

Effective lighting

No-one here

Waiting, waiting

For this...

Then this...

So just get on those trains and get on home. Ready to face, just another day.


[Camera : iPhone 6s, 8.02pm-8.25pm; 22 February 2018] 

Day 52/365: It has arrived...

...and sounds proper

So today was the day. The bass clarinet arrived. Actually, it arrived last week, while I was out of Tokyo on a work trip, just as I expected it would. And then the shop closed for five days...

So today was the first chance I had to go and collect it.

There is a question for all expats I suppose, just how much are you willing to get involved in local communities, local activities outside your work sphere, particularly when there is a limit on your time in country. I suppose when it comes to community, I practice what I teach and try to get involved. And as you will know, dear reader, music is pretty important to me. One of the hardest things about leaving Brisbane was taking leave from my bands...

I sold up all my instruments before I left, the thought of them sitting idle for five years was a bit hard, and not right for them either. I expected at some time to get involved in another group here in Tokyo at some time. And as you might recall that happened last December, not long after I ordered the new clarinet, which turned out it was going to take three months to get here...

Here's a few unpacking pics. 

One of those annoying people with a big case on the subway

Here we go...

Open...

Keys

Lyrique

Big shiny bell

Altogether now

All the keys

That bell

Top down

And notwithstanding we've had one small concert already, now I can turn up with my own instrument, purchased, practiced and, with a little more work, ready to go. I mean, it is ready to go, it is in fine condition...it just needs a little breaking in, I need to get used to it and it to me. 

We're in for a fine time and it is nice to have something to do outside the usual (long) work hours. 

[Camera : iPhone6s, 2.32pm, 4.59pm, Canon EOS M5, 4.14pm-4.44pm; 21 February 2018] 

Day 51/365: the anticipation is...

...agonising

Back to the office, but I took a different track today. I have two options for getting to work, depending on which bus I take. They go in opposite directions but I get to my target station with about ten minutes difference. So when this morning's bus driver didn't wait even though I reached the bus itself, even if not as far as the front door, I figured it was an opportunity to go in the other direction. 

And why not. The blossoms are blossoming on the other side of the road...

Bloomin' marvellous really

Why are we waaaiiitting?

...and like me, the pigeon had to wait a couple of trains before the right one came along. A slight disadvantage in taking this alternate route. But it was OK, today was just marking time before tomorrow...the anticipation is agonising. As I tweeted today, almost as agonising as the three month wait for my PhD reports to come though...what's tomorrow you ask? Just something I've been waiting for for three months. What is it you ask? ...

...tune in tomorrow. 

[Camera : iPhone 6s, 12.40pm, 1.19pm; 20 February 2018] 

Day 50/365: Back in the office...

...the work continues

The only difference is that the corridors are rather empty. I have a few articles to plan, conference papers to submit, a commentary or two due to complete. Oh, and a couple of responses to student appeals on their grades...follow the simple instructions, you'll get the marks you believe you deserve. I have to say, I never had the courage to question any grades I received, even when the didn't add up to what I expected. I always just put it down to poor performances in exams. (Turns out, I found out much later, I should have queried some but that time is long past...) I did ask how I could improve my work, but that was never in a challenging way. 

Ah, the young people. 

So work continued, the scenes outside continued but at least I got to put my newly acquired cup and mug to good use. 

Sky art

Yellow tugger, keeps on going

Coffee tastes different in a new mug

Beer is better in pottery

A good test run for many a beverage to come I suspect. 

[Camera : iPhone 6s, 12.17pm, 6.17pm, 10.12pm; Canon EOS M5, 2.17pm; 19 February 2018] 

Day 49/365: Off to Little Edo...

...down the track

Yesterday I went down the track one way, heading towards the city. Today, I stepped onto the other platform and headed 'up country' to Kawagoe, known as 'Little Edo' or 'Little Kyoto' for having kept its charm and appearances from another era. All the old-style buildings still stand and offer a range of products. The township is famous traditionally for its sweets and cakes and more recently its local beer, Coedo. (I strongly recommend the black porter from previous trips; I'll be trying the newer pilsener soon.)

Naturally it is a spot for a bit of photography as well as eating, drinking and finding just the right little trinket or similar. 

Intersection

Stained glass detail

Old-style shops

Western modernism influence

All the things

The bell tower

The bell tower on closer inspection

A soy sauce soft ice cream, yes, soy sauce

The sign leading to the street where you'll see the bell tower

Late lunch, early dinner : tonkatsu with Coedo porter

Old and new

Backstreet

The soy sauce window

New with the old

Brollies

Puppet on a string, or a nail

Streetscape

Classic

Hello Kitty a la Kawagoe via Edo

The Chamber of Commerce

Off the main street

Bakers

Famous sweets and trinkets

Lots people visit here these days. It is not the first time I've been here but certainly the tourist aspect has ramped up over the years. That's good and bad, I guess. Mostly good I suppose. 

Good day trip, just thirty minutes in the opposite direction. 

[Camera : Canon EOS M5, 2.57pm-3.05pm, 3.23pm-4.32pm, iPhone6s, 3.12pm, 3.46pm; 18 February 2018]