X-mas photos

Christmas cheer

Hello peeps!

Well, what a wonderful Christmas day we had. Although I had to work in the morning, it was OK as having lived in Japan now for over 4.5 years, I've become used to it.

Anyway, gave me time to do some last minute shopping (yes, all the shops are open). We'd invited around a few friends, two of whom were chefs (aren't we clever). One cooked us some juicy roast lamb and the other made us a scrummy chocolate cake. I contributed by doing some rather yummy roast potatoes and Miyu prepared some finger licking starters. Ahh, and for good measure we also had a big Christmas pudding and some mince pies!

Goo goo

You can't really see much from this picture, but where you can see the cross is where the baby is growing.

Tiny little heartbeat

We went along to the maternity clinic yesterday for Miyu to have her second check up. Everything seems to be in working order and she even got to hear a heartbeat! Quite fast for somebody that's only 17mm long (and growing at about 1mm per day from now on). We even got a scan taken of the little thing but it's sooo small that all we could see was a tiny white dot.
Still, I couldn't stop grinning all day. Tee-hee!

Paris Syndrome

As some of you may know, Miyu's a bit smitten with Paris, so I was highly amused when I came across this article tonight - LINK
Of course Miyu's been to Paris and lived to tell the tale, so it doesn't apply to her, but let this be a warning to fellow Japanese with romatic notions of the city of romance!

The curious case of the dead bird

I'd just finished a morning session at a big international bank in Otemachi, and was walking toward Tokyo station to catch the Yamamoto line to my office in Tamachi. The sun was out but it cast little warmth to the crisp winter air that stung my cheeks. I dug my hands deep into the pocket confines of my jacket, and moved swiftly through the gathering lunch time throng of rumble tummy salarymen.
Up ahead, along the pavement, I discerned a small black shape. At first I took it to be a rat but as I drew nearer I realized it was a bird. Not being an ornithologist, I couldn't identify what kind of bird it was, but I could definitely, without a doubt, tell it was dead.
It lay on its side, coloured black but with some gold flecked around its head. If I had chosen to pick it up, it would have sat comfortably in my palms, but I didn't, a little afraid of touching death. There was no obvious damage to the body and I could see no blood, either on its body or in the immediate area surrounding it. I looked up to see if there were any other birds flying in the vicinity, but the sky was empty of any living creature. Only the glass reflections of the many glimmering shards of finger pointing glass skyscrapers glinted up there.
The bird looked healthy, but it was very dead. Maybe it had flown into one of the impossibly tall buildings crowding the lower sky way or had had some sort of avian heart attack. Or maybe it had eaten something that really didn't agree with its constitution, sending it crashing to earth in a writhing agony of regret.
I pondered this as I continued walking, glancing back only once to see two young office ladies peering down at the curious case of the dead bird, and smiling to myself unconsciously as they both recoiled in exaggerated disgust, emitting high pitched screams tinged with nervous laughter.

Disturbing news

Checking the news today and I found this: "Human torso found on Shinjuku street". Blimey! What could it mean? The fact that there was little or no blood on the remains points to this being done elsewhere and with much deliberation. All very Shallow Grave and really gets the imagination going on the back story...
Anyway, on a less gruesome note, I've been reading an excellent book called "Shantaram" by Gregory David Roberts. A true story about an extraordinary man, who fell on hard times in Australia after his marriage broke down. He got into heroin and became an armed robber to feed his habit, got caught and sent to a maximum security slammer, where he was beaten senseless by some sadistic guards for two years, before he escaped over the front wall of the prison. Found his way over to Bombay on a false passport and fell in love with the place, learnt the language and became a member of the Indian mafia. Exciting stuff, but also a great insight into Indian culture. I've been reading it on the subway daily, and often find myself laughing out loud and then just as quickly on the verge of tears. Check it out if you get the chance.
Well, must go and do some Christmas shopping now. Ciao!

I'm back!

Apologies for the prolonged absence, but boy oh boy, have I been BUSY!
Not only is it end of year rush to complete all unfinished work things, but Miyu and I have gone and created something quite fantastic, amazing and incredible.
I still can't quite believe that we have made what will soon be a living thing. Yes, Miyu is with child, and it's bloody scary!! Didn't quite expect it to happen so fast, but over the moon that it has. If we thought this year has passed by quickly, just think - in less than a year, there's going to be a Miyu/Tom child taking up all of our time and energy. Yikes! Oh blimey. If there's anyone out there who's been through this, then advice would be much appreciated!