Was a bit naughty yesterday...I had a complete day of qmt (quality me time). No bye-bye brunches, lunches, dinners, very few calls and emails, minimal moving-related activities, (hence the naughtiness), a spot of therapeutic shopping (yes, I know I have too many clothes to take back already but a girl does have to look her best for her sayonara parties after all), and a spell in the coffee shop. I even managed to read a novel.
Yesterday of all days, I felt like I needed some time alone, thinking, and not particularly doing, assessing and not obsessing
It feels like it's been a long time since I had such a day. It feels like it will be a long time before I have another.
Old Uni friend and London resident, W departed yesterday after a week-long stay in Tokyo. I think I can safely say he came at the best of times and at the worst of times. But hopefully he had a good time. I say the best of times because my love of Tokyo, and the people I know here could not be more intense and of course, the worst because I just didn't have time to do it all justice with him.
We did manage to visit Nikko with P last weekend. Their first and my last trip there. P was on best form. I swear that if you locked her up in a box (and I think W was wishing he could), after 30 mins of whining, you would hear her laughing to herself. And while I'm not saying Nikko is a box, it does leave a lot to be desired in the pure "fun" department, especially of an evening. Not to mention in the cuisine department - I certainly won't be missing gyoza for a while.
Fortunately for me, P brought fun in spades. Am I allowed to say I'll miss her now? I guess not, it's way too early. There are still a few weeks to go.
Saturday evening brought the last play reading (don't say I didn't warn you about "last" syndrome several posts ago). W came a long - hardly a wild Saturday night in Tokyo for him, but I'd venture that it was definitely a unique experience. And one he may share again when I set up the London chapter of the play reading group (if there isn't one already). Fortunately, everyone was spared potential histrionics from me, as most of the group are coming to my farewell party on Friday. But they are definitely in the post (as they say).
News from the other side is that it seems E is now in possession of the keys of my London, um, residence and B may have moved in there over the weekend (he's squatting and sorting out a duvet for me before he heads to France at the end of the month). Which is good as it makes it all seem that wee bit more real over there.
I suppose it would be a good idea to document the practicalities of moving from Japan in order that others may benefit from the experience (shipping, tax issues, getting rid of unwanted apliances and the likes...) but while these activities seem to be taking up an inordinate amount of my time and testing even my superior organizational skills to the limit, they are the least of my concerns. I don't think this site has ever provided a "practical" guide to living here (or anything else for that matter), and I guess it shouldn't start now.
Did you know that you were sitting in THE VERY SPOT that Kuwata Keisuke from the Southern All Stars ate when he visited? Ooh ahh! Must have been a very special moment :) Look forward to seeing you Friday!
Posted by: keruko | December 07, 2004 at 10:41 AM
K - they probably had no choice but go there - there was bugger all else open. Total ghost town after 6 pm. Noticed the arrow and thought it was a funny shot but didn't even think of checking out why it was there... hahahaha, that's made my morning :-)
Posted by: tokyoredhed | December 07, 2004 at 10:56 AM