Author Archives: spikekalashnikov

A reminder that this is my diary. I love looking back to see what I was doing, say 10 years ago and realizing what a pompous fool I was! Not much has changed. Anyway, read it if you want. I … Continue reading →

I lived in France in the 1990s. There were only 3 television channels; TF1, A2, France 3. Sometimes on France 3, as part of another show, there would be a cooking demonstration by a lady called Maïté. This was way … Continue reading →

Off I go to the wetlands North of Sacramento. The first of the goose migrators should be there by now and what greater pleasure than watching Snow Geese as the sun goes down, or comes up, for that matter. It … Continue reading →

I have always loved listening to stories. My happiest memories are of awful weather in Scotland; howling winds, lashing rain, impossible to go outside. We, however, are curled up snug on the sofa and armchairs, cuddling orphaned lambs, puppies, kittens … Continue reading →

The day has come when I try to be admitted into the noble brotherhood of E Clampus Vitus! Read all about them here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Clampus_Vitus There is an all day initiation ceremony on Saturday the details of which are kept secret … Continue reading →

The night before I leave, we go to the local izakaya. I then eat my way across the Pacific in United Airlines business. All of this eating took place in less than 24 hours! Well, you do gain a day … Continue reading →

Another typhoon passes by. Luckily the worst and it seems to be bad, goes well North of Okinawa. Notwithstanding, there is a lot of wind and rain. Lots of birds shelter from the wind. Tim and Mary are leaving and … Continue reading →

Title plagiarized from Tim Hunt. A bunch of us head North on the kind invitation of Ichiro san and Tomomi san. I drive up very slowly and delight in the van loads of election canvassers who wave at everyone wearing … Continue reading →

So, a much vaunted typhoon pays a call. It blustered and rained a lot but not a real typhoon. Typhoons ain’t what they used to be. However we were told to stay inside, which resulted in 3 days of non … Continue reading →

It continues to be drainingly hot and I do very little. Here are some random vignettes. There is a lot of fruit around. The Japanese revere fruit. Its appearance seems as, if not more, important than the taste- er I … Continue reading →