Enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of first-time parenthood. Progress on the vegetable garden and other ramblings of a gaijin in Japan’s least populous prefecture.
Around midnight the winds picked up, by half one the thunderstorm was upon us. Thunderous and windy as at was, it was perhaps the rain that was most deafening.
Kento has been waking more often throughout the night - not that I tend to notice. Surprisingly, he didn’t even stir – until his scheduled time. The worst of the storm lasted just half an hour. I was up early to check the Basil and Lemon Balm, planted the previous day. Not too concerned about the latter, being quite hardy. However, my first attempt at growing Basil had a similar initiation and carked it.
The day after I posted about the lack I rain, it poured. Maybe there is a pattern and I should jot about something else. Anyway, on Sunday I received my renewed passport, a little later than expected. It was processed on the day the biometric passports started to roll out of the FCO. As I had just got my visa renewed a few weeks back, we returned to the immigration department to have it transferred. For once there was no charge and I’m pleased that I don’t have to travel with the old one. After a bit of shopping we took advantage of the nearby ¥120 a plate sushi restaurant.
Once home my Father-in-law returned a little later, from a days fishing with a rather splendid Suzuki (Sea Bass). I offered to sharpen the knives, shortly below another deluge, as we will be having sashimi for dinner, hurrah!
My wife left early this morning to play volleyball and I was left to manage Mister Wriggler (who is now seven months old). After a stirring nappy change, I decided a very long brisk walk was needed. Once back, I managed to take a couple of photos, whilst we waited for the rice to finish cooking.
After mixing up some pumpkin, I did a good job of spooning it into his mouth. Between mouthfuls it got smeared liberally.
Having cleaned up, more of the same antics were to follow.
A quick snap of the garden before the light disappears. Not much change from the beginning of the month, aside from the weeds – most of which were added to the compost bin the other day. The garlic is looking hopeful, if a little yellow. In place of rain, dust clouds from China have been wafting over.
A little reminiscent of Wolfgang Petersen’s outstanding Das Boot. Power has been restored and the Craptop has now floated to the surface.
Dell said they were happy to help, if I paid. I declined for two reasons, principle and cost. My parents bought a replacement off eBay for a quarter of the price the same day. Pity it took over a week for the company to manage the trip to the Post Office. I am glad nevertheless.
It is worth a mention that the power adapter I received is the third revision (A03). The system was shipped thirteen months ago with the original (A00). A little surprising?
I shall have to keep this short as the power adapter for my reliable laptop has now ceased to function. This has happened a few weeks after my warranty expired. I expect to receive a reply from Dell reiterating this. What a choice of title for my previous post. How I laughed.
So until a replacement appears, I shall be in the garden - at least the forecast is favourable.
The evening after the clover post, it tipped it down, which continued throughout the following day. I decided to double the dousing of clover seeds to 10 g/m2. I have little idea what would be the ideal rate for the purpose and gave up searching about the internet. Each subsequent day has had differing weather, with two things in common; cold and intense. Snow is forecast.
To coincide with the conclusion of my first year in Japan were usual bureaucratic flaming hoops. Although a cause of anxiety and bother, I suppose on reflection it wasn’t too bad. The officers at the immigration department were helpful as always. Having arranged most of the paperwork on my arrival, the renewal of my Alien card at the local city office took an hour.
With that done (at least for a few years), I can see about renewing my passport so I can leave.
The plot looks much the same as it did this time last year, which was then un-worked. Barren as it may be, the first signs of cultivated life have emerged. A little unexpected since there has not been any rain for weeks. It could be the temperature, in the high teens that coerced the newly sown red clover into sprouting. In any case I do hope it rains as it’s looking like a desert out there and my little watering can is soon emptied.
