Category Archives: Uncategorized

As I stand before the house in San Francisco, I notice two things, the house is looking ever more derelict and that it is blissfully cool. Bright sun, blue sky but cool! What delight! I thought I was going to … Continue reading →

I return to Okinawa to spend six weeks of blissful sailing adventure. As usual with boats, things do not work out as planned. While away in California there was a small typhoon resulting in much tugging on the bow mooring … Continue reading →

Off I go for a jaunt to Fukuoka. Unfortunately my visit coincides with a canicule in Japan and indeed the rest of the world. It is 36 Celsius and 80% humidity in the killer streets of Fukuoka, which makes walking … Continue reading →

I am afraid that I have fallen behind. After the wedding I flew back to Okinawa as things had to be done. I also thought a few weeks of summer sailing would be a good idea. I have not written … Continue reading →

I introduced Ichiro san to Tomomi san and to a certain extent promoted the start of their relationship. They asked me to take on the formal role of “go between or matchmaker” at their very traditional shintoist wedding at the … Continue reading →

We go to the very holy town of Togakushi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Togakushi_Shrine We stay in a ryokan. Yuko san runs the place. She does everything from cleaning, cooking, business stuff. Her husband watches baseball and does the garden. The three of us … Continue reading →

I go to Nagano. Not much cooler. At zebra crossings in Japan, they play ‘Coming Through The Rye’. This is another demonstration of what a civilized country Japan is. Here is a Japanese take. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDuCBVhFRKE I go to Zenkoji. It … Continue reading →

I am in Tokyo. Sleepless and jet lagged, I set off for Ueno Zoo. I walk there at 07:30 which is very pleasant as the tremendous heat of the day is still nursing its wrath. The zoo does not open … Continue reading →

I head North to find bears, which make the above noises. I drive deep into the redwoods in the North Pacific forest near the Oregon state line and wait for bears. I reason that bears like meat so if I … Continue reading →

Bay to Breakers is a San Franciscan tradition that has been in abeyance due to the virus. Thousands of people, most dressed in outlandish costume, many naked, run or amble across the city from the Bay to the breakers on … Continue reading →