You will remember that, as part of the original restoration, I had a grating handmade from exquisite Okinawan hardwood.

Grating

It is a very fine grating but also extremely heavy. To remove it I have to lie walrus like on the cockpit seats and lift one side up until I can get it vertical. There is usually means fouling with the throttle lever and it is generally a pain. Kiyuna san hates my grating and urges me to cut into two pieces. Lift out one piece whilst standing on the other. This makes complete sense but I kicked against the pricks, not wanting to spoil such lovely carpentry.

So I attack it. I use the saw I bought to slice up poor Dileas. https://thequietripple.com/2015/01/11/cutting-up-dileas/

I do a terrible job. I cannot seem to cut straight.

Anyway, it works. It is now relatively easy to remove the grating.

Tomomi and I go for lunch. It is an exceptional lunch. It is a beautiful day; from our table we look out onto the blue, blue East China Sea with Ie Jima in the distance. Tomomi is looking even more elegant than her very high standard of elegance and is the best company. This all happens at https://okinawa-hiyoriocean.jp/en/ a new hotel close to OIST.

A very large salad, a perfectly cooked fresh fish with simple white rice, excellent coffee. Simple but so well done. Thank you Hiyori, wonderful presentation and service.

Things get significantly darker from here on in. Those queasy about dentistry might want to change channel.

On Friday I have to have a molar ripped from the right side of my jaw. On Thursday morning I awake to significant pain and swelling on the left side of my face. I wait for Kinjo sensei’s prognosis on Friday. Er, it is not good.

This means that in addition to the right side molar I will soon have to have two left side molars extracted. Falling like flies!

The extraction is grim. Once the tooth is removed, much scraping and grinding is needed to remove all the slime decay from my jaw.

On a gayer note, Japanese dental nurses are absolutely the best, we have a lot of fun.

I talk to Kiyuna san, who has no teeth, about my upcoming treatment. “Teeth are not necessary, very high maintenance. Just get a very sharp knife to cut your food into tiny pieces. .”