Finally!

When I was in Tottori in May, my client took me to a 'recycle shop' where people sell what they don't want or need (clothes, furniture, electronics, games, books... you name it) and others buy what they fancy. In my case, this meant Japanese fabric, and especially kimono and yukata. I got two kimono with matching haori (overcoats), one kimono on its own, a yukata and a roll of cloth for 2,000 yen. Posting it surface mail cost 4,000 yen! And it's finally arrived, just over 2 months since I posted it. Now I just need to learn to sew well enough that I don't waste them...

Sleepy sushi

Seen in a shop window off Oxford Street.

You're in the army now

Actually, I was in Migros.

I made this

Thanks to Austa's gift of her magical red sewing machine! In case it's totally unclear, it's a boat-shaped coaster.

Mass religion

What look like fake miraculous medal bracelets, seen at Clockhouse in C&A.

In other news, it's hot and sunny (more ghost thunderstorms that never appear) and although it was financially painful being where I am, we have a Dyson again. All hail.

In the gilded cage with the other animals

Right now, I'd be happy if I never saw the palace of Versailles again. I wanted to leave almost as soon as I got in, via a massive queue that ran the length of the courtyard by 9:10am. By the time we got in it was twice as long. Brawny Russian blondes who put their lethal-weapon elbow in your face as they shove in front of you, seeking the perfect shot. American schoolchildren deliberately setting off the motion detector alarms around works of art. (No response at all from the staff.) Chinese tour groups with audioguides glued to their ears who go to move through the space you occupy like you don't exist. I've checked it off, I'm done. I'd go back to the gardens, but that's it.
After all that, we headed to one of Dad's recommended restaurants - kind of. Same restaurant, La Criee, but in the rue Lagrange instead of by Montparnasse Station. (Let's just say I had no desire to go back there either after getting the train to/from Rennes.) Thankfully it's just as good as the Montparnasse branch, and I enjoyed wonderful prawns and sea bream and gratin dauphinois followed by a cafe gourmand. Mais oui.

A pharmacy too far?

A pharmacy vending machine at Charles de Gaulle airport - all over-the-counter stuff. CDG was inconvenient, but that's pretty good considering. Someone (Zurich airport, Air France, CDG) lost my luggage tag, then I left my padlock in the ladies after opening my case.
So far, Paris is full of stairs, intermittent rain, closed tourist spots and enormous queues. Basically, as inconvenient and balky as its infamous airport. But the food is good, and we just roll with it, and we enjoyed a river cruise with commentary and we're off to a friend's for dinner.

Infiltration

We've snuck into the oh-so-hip graffitti-covered Rote Fabrik by the lake. It's supposed to be an anarchist commune or something similar, but serves as a reasonably-priced (for here) cafe and ideal place to hang out when the weather is fine.
It was supposed to be raining heavily today, but has been warm and alternating overcast and sunny. I even planted my butterfly-attracting plants, lavender and shiso!

Pass and pass again!

Just got the results for my first two OU short courses, Empire of the Microbes and Molecules, Medicines and Drugs - both passed! ^_^

That's me 1/3 of the way to the Certificate in Contemporary Science (with the other 2/3 received and half being studied now) and a mere 1/18 of the way to my degree...

Instant gratification

The plus side to giving your friends omiyage while they're at work - as long as they work at the florist counter!

Last meal

On wifi in Centrair, and having a green tea latte, sweet potato muffin and yoghurt and granola with fig sauce before I have to fly away...

Exit centre stage

Just checked in at Nagoya's Centrair Airport, where the luggage belt says my case is 21.4kg. Hmm. Well, I'm not going to argue.

Going to return the phone now while I can still find a postbox. Talk to you again from the other side of the world!

Really?

Drinkable collagen, given to me by the lady at the pharmacy where I got a drink this morning. She thought my Japanese was so good she gave me two...

Wrong way

My companions on my way back to Nagoya - honey and lemon water, Uji green tea Oreo sticks, high potency good bacteria and diarrhea stopper. No idea how that last one works, but I hope it does.

Misery

Even I have to admit it, I'm still not well. Although I have no sense of direction, I remember odd details - including the location of loos in stations - for which I am profoundly grateful.

I'm giving up on seeing Kodo again tonight. I feel awful, it's too hot and humid, and trying to find a local concert hall in Osaka, a city I don't know, just sounds like a bad idea. Plus even if I made it there, I'm not sure I'd be okay for 2 hours and I still need to repack for the flight. Sulking and trying not to shed a tear in Kyoto Station.

On a mission

I've detoured to Fushimi Inari in Kyoto to aquire a certain item. Not sure what this fox is doing...

It's about 26 degrees again. High school boys are racing each other up the steps going up the hill. I feel like a steamed pudding. But onwards...

And again

Hello Kitty x One Piece cases in Tokyu Hands

Tokyu Hands strikes again

A special event celebrating Japan's much-loved traffic safety police dummy, I think.

Nom nom nom

Brunch

Bento from the platform at Shin-Osaka.