Day 188 2016: Caught between East and West...

Day 188: ...no, not my memoirs

Nor indeed is it a philosophical treatise on being Australian in Tokyo, or a Japanese speaker in Brisbane or anything like that (though there might be a time for that one day, down the track, into the future, etc and so forth).

No, this is a much simpler issue. The physical location of my office. 

I think, dear reader, you'd be well aware that I enjoy my view: the movement, the colour, the light. I think, dear reader, you'd also be fairly aware that I really really appreciate the office view, and in the greatest traditions of Virginia Woolf, I too shall enjoy the pleasure of writing...and watching. 

And looking for Jeffrey-Smartesque landscapes like these...to the East...

Warehouses

Drums

Setting sail, evening light

No, it was simply a case that by the time the sun began to set, on the other side of the building, over in the West...I simply found the colour and light breathtaking.

Sunset @ 6.25pm

Sunset @ 6.40pm

Enough to change sides? Hmm, probably not but stunning nonetheless. 

I do expect, as winter rolls in, that a sunrise or two might not be entirely out of the question later in the year. I'll keep you 'posted'.

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 3.56pm, 4.55pm, 6.08pm; iPhone 6S, 6.25pm, 6.40pm; 6 July 2016]

Day 187 2016: Left in the wake...

Day 187: ...feeling like a drip

Today was much cooler than yesterday. And a little greyer as well. After getting caught out in a late afternoon Brissie-like thunderstorm, I did check the weather before I left today. No rain forecast. No need for the umbrella...

As I mentioned yesterday, the view might be getting a bit repetitive but I am really appreciating the differences in the light and colour of the water. The way the surface shapes its own patterns like a living canvas. 

Somehow today, as I glanced up every now and again, it was the pattern of the wakes of the passing traffic that caught my eye. 

It was just a line at first

Did the bird make it? (subtle)

The broader the wake...

Water under the bridge

Streaking across the port

And after watching all that water and feeling left in the wake, by the time I was on my way home, down came the rain, leaving me feeling like a drip again. I'm just going to have to ignore weather forecasts and add the brolly to the bag. There's water everywhere...

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 1.00pm, 2.08pm, 2.19-2.20pm, 3.56pm; 5 July 2016]

Day 186 2016: Back to it...

Day 186: ...and backing around

It was back to the office today. I have classes to prepare, special lectures to finalise, articles to write...shaping up to having difficult choices to make about the make up of my first politics seminar class (a group of students I will teach and mentor for the next two years, one of the enormous privileges of the Japanese higher ed system). There's a limit of ten. So far, I've had about 14 enquiries, including five students who descended on my office today...

It is going to be tough. 

Luckily, I have an inspiring view to get me through the day. 

On a clear day, the blue

The surface as canvas

Bridge elements

The usual, but not the usual either. I'm beginning to enjoy the subtle changes in light over the day. But an amateur photographer would say that. 

And then, just at the end of the day, just when I thought I was in a tight spot, I watched (a little bit) as the captain of the ship managed to spin it around 'on a five cent piece' and back it in. 

Spinning it

Now that would be harder than choosing ten students...wouldn't it. Wouldn't it?

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 11.25am, 12.14pm, 1.17pm, 3.00pm; 4 July 2016]

Day 185 2016: Election conjecture...

Day 185: ...seeking the answers

There once was a political party in Australia of which it was thought its policies were akin to finding fairies at the bottom of the garden. 

The party is still around, the fairies a little less so. And yet, for many of us anticipating a result last night, it was as if the fairies had stolen all the papers. We're still awaiting a result. 

Meanwhile, I'm already refocussing on the Japanese election next week. Members of the household went to cast their vote today, a pre-poll, just like we have at home. Voting isn't compulsory in Japan, but having a psephologist in the house seems to add just a little more than the usual expectation. 

So on a hot day like today, with little else to do but watch and await the result, I went searching for my own answers at the bottom of the garden.

Late blooming hydrangea

Purple prose

Not a fairy

Newness

Shadows of the setting sun

No fairies here either

I can confirm there are no fairies in the bottom of the garden. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 5.59pm-6.04pm, 3 July 2016]

Day 184 2016: Election sizzle...

Day 184: ...election daze

No not really. How could I, as a professional psephologist, ever be dazed by elections. There are so many on at the moment to have fun with. 

Today was the Australian Federal election, double dissolution, from afar. About midday, I started the trek to the Australian Embassy at the other end of town: walk, bus, train, train, walk, vote, then repeat (except the vote bit of course, I am a professional after all...).

And on the hottest day of the year so far...with a crook knee. But not even a crook knee hampers one's civic duty.

Anyway, as I write, we are still, unusually, awaiting a result. It is very close.

In the meantime, Japan's upper house election is now just eight days away, with things looking interesting. 

So here's an update of the local poster board, including some mischievous 'support no party' posters, possibly supported by the ruling party...

Filling up, with a week to go

How to vote for the 'no party support' group

 And some sunflowers, just because they're there.

Sunflowers, aah

And then all the way to the Embassy, for a security check, the chance to play pick-a-box and get some democracy watermelon...in lieu of the usual sausage. 

The front gate, it's a while since I've been here

Official voting centre

Let the fun begin

Democracy sausage watermelon

I must say, I was surprised to see people from two parties handing out how to vote cards (of sorts) and inside, all was proper and appropriate. 

And a coffee for the voter (paid for by the voter).

Saturday coffee

Another day where one mixes work with the weekend...no complaints really. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 12.55pm-1.00pm; iPhone 6S, 2.39pm-2.48pm, 3.28pm; 2 July 2016]

Day 183 2016: Developing a new point of ...

Day 183: ...interest, nay, obsession

So there I was sitting at my desk thinking, oh dear, more pics of the port to bore my dear reader...is that all I can do? Well, it was a longish teaching day and further meetings to clarify a few duties I have to undertake soon (like present the mock lecture to prospective students on open day this year...you know, those 'why you should study political science here'-type of lectures, twice. No pressure really...).

So I was determined to try and take a few new angles on the room with a view, like: 

Did you know, the top of each of the buildings on campus has a green space...

 

The roof across the way

Or, if I zoom in on the hotel across the way, you can see some interesting reflections...

Reflective moments

And then, I saw it, again, sort of but all anew. The bridge that goes across the bay is constantly changing in respect to the light around it, photographically-speaking of course. 

 

Barely there

It could become a new obsession of sorts, a way to understand the light and shade of each day. But I'll try to not get too obsessive. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 2.46pm, 2.50pm; 1 July 2016]

Day 182 2016: The haze starts to roll in...

Day 182: ...no, not a metaphor

The year is at the halfway point, I have completed three months in the new job, it is day 182 or, simply, if you like, 30 June. Makes most of us turn our thoughts to end-of-financial-year tax things I suppose. And I have to think about that from here. 

As someone who grew up by the coast, near the ocean, somehow the little variants in the weather each day become almost second nature...when the surf will be up, when it will be down, hot, cold etc. I guess it takes a while though I don't ever recall thinking about it too consciously. 

Today, I noticed a bit of a light mist, perhaps haze, coming in over the Bay. Tokyo does get quite humid so I wondered if it had something to do with that. I guess I'll need a year or so before I can read the climate here.

Return from duty

The bridge changed again

The mist, the haze, ever so fine

Or maybe not. Some days there will be haze, and others a marvellous clarity. And I do mean that both literally and metaphorically. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 3.07pm, 6.16pm; 30 June 2016]