Picnic in the Park

AM

Least: By 10:00am, I found myself lamenting the fact that I don't have two days off in a row. Today's plans included a boozy picnic in the park, however, the spectre of work on Monday seriously inhibits my involvment in merry making. Some people can tolerate arriving to work with a serious hangover, but I cannot. Work is already less than fun, so a hangover can only make mattters worse. Next year I'll lobby for two days of in succession - fingers crossed


Most: At close to 11:00am, I put into action a plan that I had literally been dreaming of for weeks. I looked underneath the malfunctioning washing machine. I soon discovered that a crucial hose was very twisted and preventing effective drainage. With a simple twist, our washing problems were solved. No longer will be ever have to sit and watch a load that's on a 48 hour cycle. Victory.

PM

Least: Between about 1:10pm and 2:20pm, I had to kill time at the south end of Nagai Park. The picnic I was attending, was delayed because of an accident on the Midosuji line and my friends were not arriving until after two. The problem with waiting in Nagai park is that it is full of strange old people who, given the chance, will happily come and talk to you, even if they don't speak English. My plan to avoid such horrors was to keep on the move like a fugitive. I rode around the park at least once, ate some of my lunch, took a photo of some red flowers (right), then hunkered down on a stone bench. The howling wind didn't make may wait any easier and I was relieved when my people finally arrived.

Most: From about 2:30pm, I sat on a blue tarpaulin and enjoyed a festive picnic at the aforementioned Nagai park. The picnic was a 'potluck' so we ended up with about sixteen square metres of delicious food. Although rain threatened, it didn't arrive until after dark and did not interfere with our revellry. The highlight was either the brief hide and seek game or when a couple of picnickers decided it was time to don my Boss's full-body Stitch constume. Laughs all round.

The Joy of Early Mail

Thursday 22nd October 2009

AM

Least: Just after 9:00am, it became beepingly clear that the washing machine once again had to be restarted. The load of shirts and underwear had been in the wretched contraption for twenty four hours. As mentioned before, the machine has not been the same since the painters made use keep it inside for three days. I think it might have something to do with the balancing system, but checking it will require the current load of black clothes to finish washing - it could take a while.

Most: At about 10:30am, the doorbell rang. It was the mailman delivering a package from the Gold Street Boxes in Cilfton Hill. It is always exciting getting a large package, but even more so from family. The postbag contained Whittaker's Peanut Slabs, Lolly Bananas, Minties, a packet of white Tim Tams and Vegemite. Thankfully the mail also included decent toothpaste. The highlight, though was the cute card drawn by Olivia addressed to us in Japanese. The picture is now on the fridge and much of the chocolate has already been demolished. It really made our day!

PM

Least: At 2:12pm, the heat inside the train made me audibly groan. Obviously a date on a Nankai calender has passed which tells the company to put the heaters on regardless of the weather. The heat was so stifling as to remind me of the depths of summer. Hot cans of coffee have also appeared in the vending machines. Hopefully it will be cool enough to make it worth buying one.

Most: Between exactly 8:00pm and 8:40pm I spoke to a man who worked in a hotel. His English was very good and he had a much more Western outlook than most Japanese who I've spoken to. He even though whaling was now wrong. The most interesting thing he said though, was that he had seen the movie Gallipoli. I had been telling him about ANZAC day and he knew of the story and history behind it. Rather than being an Australia-phile, I think he was simply a movie buff who liked Mel Gibson's early work. Surprising.