Tokyo Redhed

Sayonara

It's 12:01 pm on December 31, 2004 (hopefully, if this thing has published itself) and well, that's me. I'm off.

It's been great. Tokyo I love you.

Missing me already? Click the link!

I'll be seeing you ...

I'll be seeing you
in all the familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
all day through

In that small cafe
The park across the way
The children's carousel
The chestnut trees
The wishing well

I'll be seeing you in every lovely summer's day
In everything that's light and gay
I'll always think of you that way
I'll find you in the morning sun
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
But I'll be seeing you ...

Let it snow...

As if to prepare me, it's snowing here.

I'm glad. I could hardly bear to leave the magnificent clear blue skies and crisp breezes of late. In fact I hope it snows and snows and snows. Then perhaps all flights will be cancelled on Friday and for another week, by which time I'll have woken up to find my life is back to the way it was.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

This evening brings the hardest goodbye.

I hope tomorrow never comes.

Shitty Banking

TRH: Hello, I would like to close my bank account today, I'm leaving Japan on Friday

Shitty Rep: Yes, no problem.

TRH: OK, first I would like to transfer some money to my pre-registered bank account in the UK and then have the remainder in cash

Shitty Rep: Oh we don't do overseas transfers at this branch and it will take several days to set up

TRH: Huh? But it is already set up, it's pre-registered and I can usually do it over the phone...

Shitty Rep: Oh so you already have a transfer set up?

TRH: Yes...

Shitty Rep: But you can't transfer at this branch

TRH: Can I use your phone?

Shitty Rep: Why?

TRH: Because I want to make the transfer over the phone!

Shitty Rep: Oh yes, you can do that.

TRH: And after I make this call, can I close my bank account.

Shitty Rep: Yes.

TRH: OK, well I would like to take some cash out first

Shitty Rep: You can use the ATM over there.

TRH: OoooooKkkk

[TRH walks across the bank floor to use ATM to get cash, comes back and uses Shitty Bank telephone to transfer money. Despite all efforts to empty her account however, TRH finds there is still 1742 yen in the account]

TRH: Sorry there is still 1742 yen in my account and I can't take that amount out the ATM, could you just give it to me before you close my account?

Shitty Rep: You want the 1742 yen?

TRH: Ummmm yes, I wouldn't mind.

Shitty Rep: OK, well what you need to do is deposit 258 yen into your account and then take 2000 yen out.

TRH: [Senses that a "what the fuck?" response is not going to get her anywhere and therefore, asks] And how should I do that?

Shitty Rep: Oh, at the ATM over there.

[TRH and Shitty Rep proceed to ATM to make a deposit of 258 yen. However, TRH discovers that she only has 500 yen worth of change in her purse. No problem, says Shitty Rep, you can put it in and you will get change. TRH, now ready to scream. After a deposit, some change, and then a withdrawal, finally TRH's bank account is now empty and can be closed.]

TRH: OK, I can hardly bear to ask but would it be OK, if I now cancel my credit card?

Shitty Rep: Oh, you have to call the credit card company on this number on the back of the card.

TRH: But it is your bank's card!

Shitty Rep: Yes, but it is another division.

TRH: Can I use your phone please?

Shitty Rep: Um yeeeessss.

TRH: Hello, I'm leaving Japan, I'm sitting in Shitty Bank and I have just closed my bank account, and would now like to cancel my credit card, and they tell me I need to talk to you.

Shitty Rep 2: That's right... when are you leaving Japan?

TRH: Friday

Shitty Rep 2: And you have closed your account?

TRH: With some difficulty, yes.

Shitty Rep 2: Oh that makes things a bit difficult because there is still money to pay on the card and now you don't have a bank account from which we can take it.

TRH: Yes, I appreciate that, however I assumed that I would be able to pay the remaining debt at... well, at your bank

Shitty Rep 2: Yes, well I guess you could transfer the money to us.

TRH: And how would I do that?

Shitty Rep 2: You could do it at the ATM

TRH: Thanks!

[TRH and Shitty Rep 1 once more head to the ATM to deposit and transfer funds from one Shitty Bank to another.After which Shitty Rep ceremoniously cuts up both cards in front of TRH]

A physical transfer to London is now beginning to make perfect sense.

Strange Fate

I had a ticket booked for Thailand for this very week. Cancelled due to transfer to London...

Merry Christmas to me

Something incredibly liberating about spending Chrimbo in Japan... Sitting on a train heading for a glass of vino with Mr. Sussed. Can't get much more random.

mo:ving

...and my fair share of sad. Goodbye Liberty Hill (Jiyugaoka), hello Notting Hill...

mo:ving

Well that's it...had my fair share of happy times in this aparto...

Before and after

I guess when your apartment goes from looking like this to this, you know that things really are a changin' - and not unnaturally you begin to wonder if for the better. I have spent the last 24 hours at home, sorting and dismantling. Not an unpleasant task in itself to be honest, quite therapeutic. If you pretend that that is all you are doing. However, when you allow yourself to realize that the next time you are going to see most of your belongings is when they turn up in West London, on a no doubt rainy day in February, you suddenly lose all sense of proportion, and in my case, burst into tears. Pop the soundtrack of my life for the last 7 years on the stereo as BGM and you have quite a regular flood on your hands. I'm dehydrated and drained to say the least.

I have taken to my bed to write, actually not my bed which has now gone but rather futons on the floor as there is nothing else to sit on. I'm quite liking it. Might make it a regular blogging spot, especially if I work out how to get wireless in my new abode.

As predicted I haven't been able to capture much of the joy of the last few weeks, as I generally only have an opportunity to type when I'm feeling a bit low and looking for a distraction from the 'joys' of moving. But there has been a lot. Joy of the good kind.

Drawback of bed blogging however, is that it's difficult to stay awake... Zzz. Nite nite...zzzzz

Ahem...

Opened. Instructions are in Japanese. Doh.

Oh meant to say, my favorite feature so far (and let's face it, it may be for some considerable time, given the  discovery above) is the pink protector case I bought to go with it. It matches my camera case almost exactly.

I don't even like pink.