The Quiet Ripple Defines The Pond

So the Fall comes to Okinawa. Not in the religious sense but in the seasonal sense.

I look at my thermometer, humidity measuring thing and to my astonishment the temperature is only

Parky

24 degrees and there is a miserable 55% of humidity.  Mind you I am writing at 9:00 at night. It has been 30 degrees  and above with 80% humidity since June. Does this mean I will have to wear a wet suit when diving?  Quelle souffrance.

Dusk

So we break the ground on a new residential complex at the university.

This involves a shinto ceremony that goes like this.

First call gods/ spirits/deities, broonies down to us by using a shinto priest who sings. Then ask for forgiveness for the disturbances that needs must light on the construction of  a big building. This is mimed by representatives of the construction company cutting down a tree with wooden axe crying Ha! Ha! Ha! digging a hole with wooden hoes crying Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! driving in a stake crying Hong! Hong! Hong!   This takes place in front of an elaborate shrine and we stand up, sit down, bow a lot. I just follow what everyone else does and try to look as little stupid, red faced and ugly as I can.  It is very hot in the marquee. The poor priest looks to be in some dscomfort in his magnificent but thermally efficient robes.  He fixes this by walking around the site sprinkling rice, salt and bits of paper.

Retro satanus!

After some laying of branches on  the altar, the priest then tells the gods/ spirits/deities,broonies, that they can go home now.

Nice shoes

Please excuse my lighthearted account. The ceremony was very dignified and moving. I was delighted to be asked to attend.

The Broonie's seat

Thanks to Juliette for the photos.

Gentle stroll around the stalls at the Zakimi fair. Once a year street festival around the castle just behind my place -food, pottery, stuff, instruments, dancing, singing, storytelling. The weather has cooled.

Tell it like it is

Remarkable how many people we bump into that we know. Good feeling.

These things are called Sanshin - 3 stings. This one has six strings. Rokkushin

She spends ages carefully wrapping up my mugs and scrupulously tying the packet with hemp string.

Lunch

These are big, 3 - 4 inches across. They spin huge webs, one of which I walked into and got a face full of spider

So last week I was in Yokohama. Very enjoyable. Time came to leave. It is very early in the morning as we head for the airport.

Cab to the bus station which looks like at 5 star hotel. We get to the  bus stop and there is a young man in a uniform and white gloves. He greets us elaborately and shows us where to stand. The bus arrives exactly on time. The young man loads my companion’s bag into the hold of the bus smiling and expresses his hope that our journey goes well.  He does the same for everyone traveling to the airport.

Yokohama harbor from the hotel

So how to write this?  I like the fact that people help. I like the fact that no one tries to push in. I like the fact that no one is shouting. I like the fact that the young man with white gloves has no chip on his shoulder. I like courtesy.

When did Europe loose this? Did Europe ever have it?

In my previous message I described how my Mac had committed hari kiri in sympathy with the decease of Steve Jobs. I was very sad but at the same time awed that my much beloved MAC should choose that day amongst the thousands of its existence to shuffle off the mortal coil. Was there a mystical connection between the machine and its maker?

Today  I switched on the MAC for old times sake.  It chortled and groaned and came to life.  Is this a miracle? Is this a sign from the Lord?

He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

Hosanna!

“Space: the final frontier” my Mac Classic would announce as it hummed into life. Its tiny black and white screen would light up and it would sit there panting with expectation, full of mischief. If waited too long flying toasters would start crisscrossing  the screen. When I trashed a document Gilbert the Grouch would pop out and burp ” I love trash.” Fun days of computing, full of cleverness and insouciance. “This machine represents the ultimate achievement in computer technology!”

Steve Job dies. I switch on my Classic, which has worked perfectly for all these years, to pay tribute and the dreaded sick Mac symbol appears.  The computer has died in sympathy with its creator.

The Woz even signed it for me. Hot tears.

“Stay hungry, stay foolish”

So Hitomi leaves. This is a pity as she is a lot of fun. We have a party.

Far away in Australia, soon will fate be kind

We have a party  – a very international affair.

New Zealand, Romania, Japan, Okinawa, Australia, U.S, Sweden, Britain,Mexico, Kenya,Taiwan, France

Biniru bukoru kekko des

Here is Johnson on drinking:

Johnson harangued upon the qualities of different liquors; and spoke with great contempt of claret, as so weak, that “a man would be drowned by it before it made him drunk.” He was persuaded to drink one glass of it, that he might judge, not from recollection, which might be dim, but from immediate sensation. He shook his head, and said, “Poor stuff! No, Sir, claret is the liquor for boys; port, for men; but he who aspires to be a hero (smiling) must drink brandy. In the first place, brandy is most grateful to the palate; and then brandy will do soonest for a man what drinking can do for him. There are, indeed, few who are able to drink brandy. That is a power rather to be wished for than attained.”

So, once again Scotland don’t quite make it. Do I care ? No, not really. They fought valiantly. They led both Argentina and the Saxon strangers until the last few minutes and then threw it away. Both matches were replete with drama and dull would he be of  soul who could pass by games  so touching in their majesty.

The emphasis on winning is too dominant methinks. “It is the result that counts.” Martin Johnson. “Winning is the only important thing.” Edwina Currie. “Who remembers the runner up in the World Cup?” J.B Priestley.

We sat aneath thy spreadin' shade, The bairnies round thee ran, They pu'd thy bonnie berries red, and necklaces they strang; My mother, oh! I see her still She smil'd our sports to see, Wi' little Jeannie on her lap, and Jamie at her knee. Oh! Rowan tree.

The Rowan Tree would loose against Sitka Spruce but does that belittle its beauty in any way?

England win. "Now I'm at home and at home I do lay Dreaming of riches that come from Cathay I'll hop a good ship and be on my way And bring back my fortune to Islay."

That’s what Wordsworth thought anyway. At work, beside the water thing, there is a plastic box. It has taken me all this time to work out what it is.

I' m leaning on a lamp post

It is a box full of food. Kit Kats, Pot noodles, biscuits, and loads of Japanese stuff which I do not understand. I finally asked someone what it was for. “It is for all of us if you are hungry. Help yourself – just put 100 yen in the hole.”

Spot the hole

It is taken  for granted that no one will steal. Trust in the nobility of the individual is a good foundation.

Kinjo san!

My very learned brother is a prize winning writer! Hooray I can bask in reflected glory and bore people at parties by dropping names.

Puts people straight to sleep

His book won the British Medical Association’s