Something has Gotta Give

I went to buy an electric bike the other day because a colleague, who is an Iron Man champion, swears buy it. He says, “why sweat the hills? Just kick in the electric bit and all your pedaling is equalized.” This is a good pitch and I go for it. When I get to the store  I say ” I want one of those please.” The salesperson says, ” Man, you gotta be putting me on. You all is  so fat that  Bill Gates couldn’t afford to pay for your liposuction.”  ” Man these here bicycles are designed for thin Japanese dudes, you all is an elephant, a sperm whale, this little bike is gonna buckle and break under your weight as soon as you put y’all’s lardass on that saddle.”

I have to say that I had noticed that I waddle rather than walk, that I have chaffing marks on my inner thighs, that I have not seen my genitalia when standing up for some time. Children also follow me in the street chanting, “You all been  on a seafood diet; whenever you  saw food, you ate it.”

These are all well-known symptoms of fatness.

So I drag out the scales, which I have not consulted for some months because I live in Japan where people eat healthily and you lose weight.

How can this be?

How can this be?

This is probably heavier than I have ever been.

OK I have spent a large portion of my life trying to discover the Higgs boson which explains the mystery of mass. It has been discovered so there is no longer a mystery ergo I can shed these unwanted kilos.

I start by cycling to work. Not on cool electric bike for which I am too massive, but on good ol’ Big Red.

She ain't never done me no wrong

She ain’t never done me no wrong

I eat only fish and meat, which is what I want to eat anyway.

Tonight's eats - fresh tuna thing, Okinawan spinach stuff, egg,  butter lemon juice, olive oil.

Tonight’s eats – fresh tuna thing, Okinawan spinach stuff, egg, butter lemon juice, olive oil.

Thank you Mr Cobb

Thank you Mr Cobb

I drink no alcohol. This is tough.

I am in competition with esteemed Julia to see who can lose the most weight in the next month.

I will post the result.

 

 

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You Gotta Move

I have been watching developments down the street with great interest. There is a very beautiful hedge of Bouganvillea that runs down the road for about a kilometer downstream from chez moi..

It is possible that the first European to observe these plants was Jeanne Baré, Commerçon's lover and assistant whom he sneaked on board (despite regulations) disguised as a man (and who thus became the first woman to circumnavigate the globe).

It is possible that the first European to observe these plants was Jeanne Baré, Commerçon’s lover and assistant whom he sneaked on board (despite regulations) disguised as a man (and who thus became the first woman to circumnavigate the globe).

Anyway, first arrive diggers that take out a big chunk from behind the hedge.

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” That is my house in the background.

Next they lovingly move each Bouganvillea and replant it one meter further back.

Why would you do all this work to gain one meter?

Why would you do all this work to gain one meter?

I ask my friend at the gasorinstandu what is going on. He say “Make road big.”

Well I suppose that works.

 

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Can This Be Spring?

I get up and it is a truly beautiful day. The sky is blue, the sea is blue, Eskimo Nell. Such joy has to be tempered by misery and the balance is provided by a morning trip to the dentist for more root canal madness. The drive over is full of beauty.

Yes, that is cherry blossom. It must be Spring - on 23 January? Okinawa is a very destabilizing place.

Yes, that is cherry blossom.
It must be Spring – on 23 January? Okinawa is a very destabilizing place.

I then check into a fish market in Yomitan.

My father don't like it my brother don't like it My sister don't like it my mother don't like it Come a little baby let's jump the broomstick come and let's tie the knot

My father don’t like it my brother don’t like it
My sister don’t like it my mother don’t like it
Come a little baby let’s jump the broomstick come and let’s tie the knot

I always throw Parrot Fish back on the grounds that they are too beautiful to eat.

I always throw Parrot Fish back on the grounds that they are too beautiful to eat.

After a lovely drive God evens things up at the dentist.

When did you last see your Father?

When did you last see your Father?

Anyway I paid the happiness debt and having been at work I then came home on a very beautiful evening.

January Sunset

January Sunset

5 minutes ago from the roof.

5 minutes ago from the roof.

It is the mixture of misery and pain and happiness and joy that makes life, er:

real, fun, it, antidisestablishmentarian, enjoyable, satisfactory.

 

 

 

 

 

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Foreign Muck

On my wander today I stop at a wayside stall and buy a bag of tarot from a grinning old lady who must be at least a centenarian. Tarot is my favorite vegetable.

A bowl of tarot roots

A bowl of tarot roots

It appears to grown in swampy fields where Egrets live.

Those are tarot plants in the background.

Those are tarot plants in the background.

I had never come across this vegetable before Okinawa. Also I have never bought it er raw. It seems always to be sold already boiled.

Tonight's feast - Pork, tarot,lotus root, mushrooms. There is also Hokkaido smoked Salmon as a starter.

Tonight’s feast – Pork, tarot,lotus root, mushrooms. There is also Hokkaido smoked Salmon as a starter.

I marinate everything in soya sauce, brown sugar and water and then cook it.

Then I eat it.

Then I eat it.

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Lastkraftwagen

Golly, I have now been in Okinawa for 3 years. it has been, er put in positive adjective of your choice. Thanks Okinawans for being so nice to me. We all, like western folks, have a lot to learn from them about milk of human kindness.

First weekend back from California and I go on a ramble to seek out feathered friends, which is what I like to do.

Japanese White Eye on my deck early this morning.

Japanese White Eye on my deck early this morning.

Sorry dear readers for all this bird stuff.

Little Egret catches fish

Little Egret catches fish

Whoa ! You can really see the little Egret's yellow feet. Intense joy.

Whoa ! You can really see the Little Egret’s yellow feet.
Intense joy.

Intermediate Egret

Intermediate Egret strutting its stuff

Greenshanks. The one in the foreground only has one leg. I thought this was a style of standing but when it moved it hopped with clumsiness. What is the story behind a wild bird losing its leg?

Greenshanks. The one in the foreground only has one leg. I thought this was a style of standing but when it moved, it hopped with clumsiness. What is the story behind a wild bird losing its leg?

So, this is a young Chinese Pond Heron, which is a rarity.

So, this is a young Chinese Pond Heron, which is a rarity.

I think this is a Common Snipe, but there are 3 others that look exactly the same so perhaps not.

I think this is a Common Snipe, but there are 3 others that look exactly the same so perhaps not.

I drive home, not yet sated I decide to check out a sinuous rill close to my house. Here something strange happens. There are five guys all with very expensive camera equipment pointing their mega lenses at something. I stumble up and see that the object of their desire is a Kingfisher. With my pathetic small equipment I take some pictures.

Keith the Kingfisher.

Keith the Kingfisher.

How come they were all there at the same time? Probably members of some kind of bird photography club who just happened to be prowling the river. I will never know for despite the fact that they grin and wave, they do not speak English and my Japanese is still limited to saying how much I like gas stations. Maybe in another 3 years I will be able to comprehend? Probably not, one of the aspects of the Okinawan experience that I enjoy is that a great deal of life is unexplained, a mystery.

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Cliché #2

Thanks James.

http://youtu.be/T4_mMJhsh5U

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Amazon Basin

A good thing about San Francisco is that City Hall will not allow big shopping malls in the city.There are for instance no Walmarts in San Francesco. There are big malls but they are way out on the perimeter. The city is full of quirky, charming, little shops.

Two degrees in be-bop, a PHD in swing  He's the master of rhythm he's a rock and roll king  If you like country with a boogie beat he's the man to meet (he's the man to meet)  If you like the sound of shufflin' feet he can't be beat (I say he can't be beat)  If you... If you wanna  If you wanna feel real nice, just ask the Rock and Roll doctor's advice

Two degrees in be-bop, a PHD in swing
He’s the master of rhythm he’s a rock and roll king
If you like country with a boogie beat he’s the man to meet (he’s the man to meet)
If you like the sound of shufflin’ feet he can’t be beat (I say he can’t be beat)
If you… If you wanna
If you wanna feel real nice, just ask the Rock and Roll doctor’s advice.

This is where I take my flute for its annual overhaul. Daniel is a great guy.

Bike shop and funky barber

Bike shop and funky barber

Only sells soda pop and candy

Only sells soda pop and candy

Self explanatory

Self explanatory

Buy jewels

Buy jewels

Man with no hair looks for hat

Man with no hair looks for hat

Jokes Wood

Jokes Wood

I am always surprised on returning to Europe by the vitriol that normally reasonable folk vent on Starbucks. I like Starbucks but I have only been in US Starbucks, maybe the overseas ones have smelly toilets and rude staff. Anyway, a central theme is that Starbucks have strangled the native coffee shop species. I cannot actually remember ever going to a coffee shop in Britain when I lived there but that was some time ago.  We went to the pub. Anyway there are loads of Starbucks in the City but also loads and loads of fantastic independent coffee shops.

Just around the corner

Just around the corner

Another local coffee shop

Another local coffee shop

These places all offer many different excellent coffees, chais etc, fresh sandwiches, pastries, sofas, armchairs, fast wireless. The staff are friendly, quirky and fun. I suppose if people want to get rid of Starbucks they should open some competition

 Er, inside

Er, inside

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Cliché

So it is a bit predictable to drone on about the charm of San Francisco architecture but I am going to do it anyway. Ben and I stumble off to have breakfast and we take pictures of houses en route.

Queen Annes

Queen Annes

A house in Haight Ashbury

A house in Haight Ashbury

Breakfast Burrito

Breakfast Burrito

Light Sculpture

Light Sculpture

Eggs Benedict - it was Ben's birthday on Wednesday and we are still celebrating

Eggs Benedict – it was Ben’s birthday on Wednesday and we are still celebrating

Desolation Row

Desolation Row

Brugmansia

Brugmansia!

I nearly bought this house in 2002 but was talked out of it. Big mistake! It is on Clayton just across the road from where Bebo lives. It has a roof terrace that overlooks the city. I must have been mad.

I nearly bought this house in 2002 but was talked out of it. Big mistake! It is on Clayton just across the road from where Bebo lives. Not the prettiest but it has a roof terrace that overlooks the city. I must have been mad.

So all these houses are within 5 mins of where the boys live.

On Central

On Central

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Truck Love

Topher’s truck has been a godsend during this trip. She has taken us everywhere with all kinds of good stuff in the flatbed. We decide to give her a hairdo.

Wash

Wash

We take her to the local car hair saloon.

Shampoo

Shampoo

These places are amazing.

Rinse

Rinse

Styling

Styling

Isn’t she pretty.

La belle truckette

La belle truckette

Thanks truck.

 

 

 

 

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New Lamps for Old

The washing machine in the apartment is busted. It washes but does not spin thus leaving soaking wet clothes that take forever to dry and do not feel good. We thus determine to get a replacement. At this stage another demonstration of the joys of living in San Francisco kicks in. We look at Craigs List http://sfbay.craigslist.org/ find a selection of second-hand washers. A seller is contacted  and we take Topher’s truck down to the Mission.

This guy is worth millions of dollars

This guy is worth millions of dollars

Sweet Chinese guy who can barely speak English sells the washer, which looks immaculate, for $100. His wife gives us tea and they are generally happy, smiling, kind people who make us feel good. He explains that he worked as a cook in a restaurant for 28 years. I say he has a nice house – an Edwardian beauty in the most fashionable part of the Mission. He explains he bought it in 1991. It must be worth around $2 million now. He also has another house in the Sunset. He is a very wealthy man. That’s California for you. Good luck my friend.

New lamps for old

New lamps for old

Polar vortex at the house in San Francisco

Polar vortex at the house in San Francisco

We heave the old machine into the truck and take it to Green Citizen. http://www.greencitizen.com/california_san_francisco_computer_electronic_recycling_center.php

This is a great place that takes anything that you want to get rid of for free, as long as it plugs into the wall. The staff are  California emblematic,”Yay, no problem Brother, glad to help. A donation? No need man just tell people about us.” This is what I am doing.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever

A thing of beauty is a joy forever

The whole exercise was a delight.

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