Day 37, 6 Feb 2017: What is they say about ravens?

Day 37: ...they foretell of things...

Well, I can't quite recall what it is about crows and ravens that make them people's less-preferred birds but this morning's sight was one for a camera lens. The black against the blue...what else was I going to do?

Looking here...

Looking there...

Looking closer...

Looking the other way

Picturesque elegance really. 

And then, on the way to work, the rain that was supposed to come yesterday decided to make an impromptu call this morning...just a few spots between the station and the office. Not really enough for an umbrella. But then, the view from the office suggested the weather wasn't quite sure what it was doing. 

Rain clouds, sun clouds...

Won't stop the flight schedules

Maybe rain (but it didn't)

Seemed it didn't know whether it wanted to rain or shine. I get that. I have days like these. This was one of them. For tomorrow the marking and grading continues. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 9.04am-9.05pm; 12.01pm, 12.51pm; 6 February 2017]

Day 36, 5 Feb 2017: Semester ends...

Day 36: ...bring out the books

Probably not the sort of books you're imagining dear reader. No, today, after yesterday's grand effort, was a day to first of all make notes, edit pics and draft slides for the surfing presentation. Then, get out the books. In this case, these are my rather neglected clarinet studies. I'm yet to replace my beloved bass so I have clarinet junior to play for the time being (not the same really). But I have to keep my hand in. 

So with the weather looking a bit overcast, and after a bit of work, out came the instrument. 

The sun won in the end, it didn't rain after all

More plum blossoms in the garden

Keys to music

Hello old friend

Despite the 'long time between drinks' (well, a couple months really) I did enjoy blowing through a few notes. Soon enough, I'll find myself a group and get back into the game properly. 

That would be after, before or in between teaching, researching, writing books and discovering the history of surfing...not necessarily in that order. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 2.09pm-2.30pm, 5.19pm-5.21pm; 5 February 2017] 

Day 35, 4 Feb 2017: Researching while the sun shines...

Day 35: ...for tomorrow there will be marking to do

There was an abrupt change in plan today. The weather. Today was going to be fine and sunny right to the end of the day; tomorrow's forecast is rain.

With news during the week that my proposed paper was accepted for the surfing symposium on the Gold Coast next week, I decided to go and get some pics. I was going to do that on Sunday but with the weather forecast, today was as good as any.

The research itself is more about the history of surfing in Japan, but the paper will also look at how it came to be a demonstration sport at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I travelled to the east coast of Chiba today, to a town called Ichinomiya, self-proclaimed surfing town. The competition will be held along the coast here and today was just an exploratory trip. I'll be back for interviews and further investigation later this month. 

The train station

The road to the beach

Here we are

Into it

The sand is...black

Artificial groynes

Sharing a wave

Dodging the concrete

A spray of his own

Looking for an entry point

Checking the swell

Driftwood

Shadows cast

Cutting through

Heading out

The sand...

Taken by surprise

Seabirds a'leaping

Surf town

And the dolphin jumped over the moon (or something)

In the end, it is about a 2-3 hour trip from Tokyo proper, a couple of different trains and a bit of a walk. For the record, I covered about 10km on foot over the course of the day. Next time, I'll take my bodyboard...there has to be some pleasure amidst all the work.

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 1.14pm, 4.33pm; Canon 60D, 24-105mm, 70-300mm, 2.36pm-3.27pm; 4 February 2017]

Day 34, 3 Feb 2017: When it's blooming marvellous ...

Day 34: ...and it's not a euphemism

I actually noticed them yesterday, while waiting at the bus stop. Just a few weeks ahead of the very famous cherry blossom season, we have the plum blossom season. It should be in the latter part of February. Earlier this week we had a bit of a rush on spring-like warm weather. The plants (and the people) are confused. 

The red plum at the entrance to the park is a stunning rich red. What else could I do but check it out...

Close up

Bunched up

Blue sky 

And little yellow tugger, my favourite

Wake

Plums in the night

Some days, all you need is a glimpse of plum blossom and blue sky. 

And I went back this evening on the way home just to experiment a little with some artificial light and the baby cam...I have some plans for the cherry blossoms down the track. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 10.49am-10.50am, 1.53pm, 4.25pm, 8.52pm; 3 February 2017]

Day 33, 2 Feb 2017: A pick-me-up...

Day 33: ...then onwards and upwards

Today I had to go to the bank to do a couple of transactions. This is not simply a matter of standing in front of an ATM but involves long term engagement with staff. Something about banking in Japan that has intrigued me from day one is the time it takes to get something done. It is all done manually, you see, despite being in a country which has made so many innovation in technology. 

Thirty years since I first visited Japan however, I kind of appreciate that there is still a face to the transaction instead of a machine. I think I prefer it that way.

So, due reward before heading to the office was a ginger latte (and lunchbox and coffee) at my favourite little 'Australian' coffee shop which just so happens to be near the bank branch. 

Highly recommended

Then back at work, I've noticed the work on the Olympic precinct is really starting to press ahead. The island on the Bay is really starting to take shape. This is where the rowing and related events will take place.

Moving along

A flock of seagulls

Really moving along

Sunset flight of the seagull

I expect the work around here will really begin to pick up now that all the politics of the venue selection is (almost) out of the way. Almost. It can only be onwards and upwards from here. 

[Camera : iPhone6S, 1.29pm; Lumix TZ-85, 4.04pm-4.58pm; 2 February 2017] 

Day 32, 1 Feb 2017: One down...

Day 32: ...eleven to go

Time. This is how fast it is going. February already. And although yesterday I was thinking about life sans timetables for the next two months, we know in reality we can never really escape the march of time and I'll be back in the classroom before I know it. 

Maybe watching the port is a way to keep time in time, as it were. Something familiar about seeing the same things day in, day out. Maybe this blog is an experiment in time. Does posting something everyday speed up or slow down time?

That rely morning high wire act

Navigating the ripples

Mini-me

Creating waves

Smaller version

Wheel of colour

I'm sure there will be a few more port shots in the coming eleven months...I will think of it as my experiment in time. 

[Camera: Lumix TZ-85: 9.04am, 3.44pm-3.47pm; 1 February 2017]

Day 31, 31 Jan 2017: And that's a wrap...

Day 31: ...but we're not really going away

Last day of semester today, last class done by midday, end-of-semester party with my seminar group in the evening. That's the nice thing about teaching here--the seminar group. Fourteen students who will be my direct responsibility until the graduate in two years time. We have a few things besides parties planned...but that is for later.

All that means for me now is a mountain of marking and grading to complete between now and the weekend before I get back to my two conference papers I'll be presenting between now and the return of the new academic year. 

And such contrasting papers: one on Kantian interpretations of the Japanese constitution for a conference in Chicago...perhaps by then Trump will be at war with Japan and I'll be barred from entering the country; the other on a history of surfing in Japan for a symposium on the Gold Coast in March...right back where this adventure began, at high school on the Coast. Talk about full circle...

And so it was, out on the water...a few sparkles, a few ripples...

Revitalising sparkle

In on the shine

Plotting

Planning 

Lone reccy

...and the pigeons, by the (albeit small) flock, I wondered what they were looking for, back from their winter break, ready for spring? I guess they don't really go away either.


[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 10.06am, 10.20am, 12.27pm-12.28pm, 1.48pm; 31 January 2017]