The weather has been excellent – blue skies, sun but cool. In fact it was so cool one day last week that I actually put on a woolen shirt thing.

I am invited to a 2 day Forum on Science Communication.

I am at least 20 years older than any other participant. I write KYMS, Keep Your Mouth Shut, on a sheet of paper which I place in front of me. It is actually great fun and I succeed in saying almost nothing. Congratulations to the OIST Media Team for organizing the event.

I regularly have afternoon tea on Kiyuna san’s boat, the “Marie”. She is a big motor cruiser that has not cruised for a long time. I think she was given to Kiyuna san by the previous owner to get her off his hands. Kiyuna san keeps the boat impeccably clean and uses it as a club. I have had many memorable afternoons on the “Marie” with Okinawan boat people. We drink tea and crack jokes.

Two pontoons behind Kiyuna san’s boat were badly smashed up in the typhoon that did so much damage to my boat. We drink tea and watch eight guys go about repairs. Kiyuna san is disparaging, “Eight workers! I could do it with two in half the time.” He explains a system of slings and cables that he has worked out. I am sure he is right.

We go to an Izakaya that is about one minutes’ walk from my place. It was closed throughout the corona virus period and we have never been there. Turns out to be a fantastic place. https://www.google.com/maps/place/竹馬/@26.2895857,127.7555579,166m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x34e5132df97e8aa1:0x86dcd4dbac6d60f0!8m2!3d26.289313!4d127.755977!16s%2Fg%2F11bbx0ynhf?entry=ttu

We take the menu for 2500 yen, which is about $16.50..

We start with excellent sashimi. I forgot to take a photo.

I also forgot to take a photo of the stewed aubergine and beef course that fitted in there somewhere. We drink lots of ice cold beer.

The room is tiny. We sit at the bar and watch the owner cook up magic in front of us. $16!

I geta gift of Shark Jerky from Miyako Jima!