When I get back from Chiba this awaits.

“My beating heart bounds with exulting motion.”

This signifies that a package has been to my house in my absence. My motor? This does not say, show up at a post office and collect it you bum, but rather phone this number especially set up for English speakers. I do so and the charming lady arranges for the delivery to be made to my house between 7:00 and 9:00pm. She also tells me that the delivery is a small package and a letter – not the motor.

I get home at 7:00. At 7:30 a Post Office van shows up and a happy, smiling man shows me 3, yes 3, parcels.  Thank you Japan Post Office for delivering stuff to me at 7:30.  Are there any other public postal services that offer the same service?

One is huge, it is the motor!

Three presents on the same day!

The first is from Ben and James. It is a food parcel containing oatflakes, a huge bag of coffee, an inner tube for Big Red and a handmade mirror. I cannot go into detail here but I am immensely pleased and touched by this parcel from my sons – thank you James, thank you Ben.

Thanks

Next is a monocular that I bought on Ebay. It came from China. It cost nothing. It has the brand Bushnell, which is a well-known US telescope company.  Hmmmm.

This for the boat. No sea captain is complete without a telescope.

With trembling hands I unzip the big boy box.

Tomorrow is Saturday

Whoot, whoot!

Set the controls for the heart of the sun

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Tomorrow I will mount up with wings like eagles.