I have been very sick of late with continuous cold and fatigue. The weather has echoed my health. Then comes the traditional yuletide abscess under tooth. Mori sensei, my best friend, utters the seasonal cries of “Pain?!” and “So desu much pusu!” Stumbling back from the clinic I find a Christmas gift in my mailbox. I look at it stunned. I had kinda forgotten Xmas due to pain, misery, pain, illness and strong stuff at work. I realize I have not even thought about buying Xmas gifts for family and other monsters of the deep, let alone the delights of wrapping and sending. My self-esteem is very low.

Much pusu

However I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself, I think. I am a wild thing so I launch myself on Saturday 14 December to fix it. Am I too late? Can stuff get from Okinawa to what is still the United Kingdom in 10 days?

I buy lots of great stuff and then realize that because it is Saturday the post offices are closed. Not so, a very few are open for emergencies such as forgetting your family at Xmas. I safari to a lost depot place in Uruma City.

How to grow a palm tree.

The depot. Do not get the wrong idea, Japanese post offices are usually centers of happiness and joy but this is Saturday.

Of course, the people are charming and helpful. They claim that the gift will arrive in the UK in 3 days. Can this be true?

I have never been to this part of the island before.

Hot stuff

Different from my part of Okinawa

December in Uruma City

Anyway I hope the box makes it before Xmas. I least I tried.