Author Archives: spikekalashnikov

The door bell rings and outside there is a smiling man. He shows me a lot of accreditation stuff and a sheet in English stating that he is from the Okinawan Electrical Safety Organization and is here to check my … Continue reading →

It has been awful. So hot, so humid that going outside is misery. This means that very little is done unless you are in an air-conditioned space or in the car. It is like hibernation in reverse. This means that … Continue reading →

Coming into Japan, the Immigration Officer points out that my Permanent Resident Card will soon expire. I go to the Immigration Office in Kadena. I dread much bureaucracy but they tell me to come back with my passport, a recent … Continue reading →

I have been back in Japan for just over a week and have done very little. This post is just to jog my memory in 10 years time, being that I am still alive of course. The foundation for my … Continue reading →

Which is, of course, Japanese for ‘hot.’ I am back in Okinawa and go through the well trod procedures for establishment. First comes a car. I do not own a car but rent from the genial Kiyuna san. Straight down … Continue reading →

During the photo workshop in Canada, the experts make kind reflections on the suitability of my Nikon 200-500 lens. “Great. lens,” they say ” but so heavy and a bit slow auto focus.” Both Mark, https://msmithphotos.com and Marvin, https://marvinesmithphotography.com/galleries, suggest … Continue reading →

This is a difficult one to write as so much amazing stuff happened in the last few days that it would take a book to do it all justice. This is just a skirmish of what took place. I go … Continue reading →

My favourite song until I was about 20 was “Teddy Bears’ Picnic” in fact it might still be my favourite song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZANKFxrcKU I am driving up a high, lonely road in Lassen State Park when I notice movement in the … Continue reading →

I sit in Okinawa and dream of spending a week at the Sheldon Antelope Wildlife reserve. The idea is to set up camp under shady trees beside small lake and take photos of the thousands of antelope that will pass … Continue reading →

Congratulations to James! After a very thorough recruitment process; written exams on plant names, behaviour, etc and two face to face interviews, James has been offered a job at the SF Recreation and Parks https://sfrecpark.org. More than 200 applied for … Continue reading →