After a late night festive session of root canal fun with my friend Mori sensei on Christmas Eve, I awake on Christmas Day and prepare myself for a marathon celebration of the birth of Sweet Baby Jesus. I take my morning tea on the roof overlooking the East China Sea. It is warm enough to do so only in a towel.

My new tea cup and saucer made by Omine sensei.

It is a normal working day and as I ride the cab to the airport I reflect on how restive it is not having been bombarded with festive stuff for weeks. It is now a beautiful day and I board the Tokyo flight after a Soba lunch in jeans and Tshirt.

Blue skies over Naha airport. Hosanna.

We cruise up to Tokyo whilst I listen to Decline and Fall on my IPad.

Festive Fuji

I spend just enough time in the lounge at Narita to get gently soporific.

ANA is the best airline.

Trundle across the Pacific through the night watching stuff on the IPad. The plane had no screens but an app,which gave you access to a trillion movies etc on your computer, tablet,  or shoe by means of onboard wireless.

I am amongst the first to immigration. It takes 3 minutes to get through. My bag appears instantly and 15 minutes after touchdown I am in a cab hurtling down 101 into the heart of the city.  The weather is glorious. I love air travel.

Christmas Day on the Panhandle just outside the house. James’ bike of which more later.

It is 11:00 on Christmas Day. We go for coffee,  we exchange presents, we go to a bar,  we drink amazing Californian beer, James cooks lamb with roasted roots, we are festive. Long live Sweet Baby Jesus, I sure enough worshipped his birth long time this year.