Japan 2014

 A crazy ten days in Japan.
Yes, in Tokyo I got us around China Town, Asakusa, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Crane Riding Club, Mount Takao, Tokyo Tower, Kamakura, Odaiba and Imperial Palace in four days. I'm just that good.

Catch up with Mahiro













Traveled to deepest Kanagawa to see Northy at his new riding club. It took 3 hours to get here. That's 5 trains, one bus and a taxi. But worth it, of course. 

Mount Takao 

 Up Tokyo Tower













Went to Enoshima, ended up on some random as frig boat. I don't even like boats.













 Odaiba













Ginza 

 Classy reunion with Jeffrey





















After an eventful 4 days, we were off to Kyoto..

Kyoto Tower


























One day in Nara 

Casual deer selfie 

Back in Kyoto, Fushimi Inari with Fumie 

Kinkakuji 

Gion 

Osaka Castle. Very modern inside which is a bit odd. 

After all this craziness, we headed to Beijing. To be continued...

2013

A somewhat eventful year, in parts kids.

Went into Pets At Home for some sawdust, and came out with this...













Did a fair bit of this....













Moved in with this joker..

Went to Bella's christening...

...And Fatima's wedding.. 

Went home to Tokyo to see my baby.. 

...And made it to Hiroshima too! Finally. 

Got my boy.






















...And accquired some of these...

..and had a reunion with this nutter..












1.What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?
Got published. BOO YA. 

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year I said I would start studying JLPT Level 1 ... didn't really happen, not gonna lie. 
I said I'd do as much translation work as possible.. think I did. 
I said I'd visit another new place in Japan- doubled this one and made it to Hiroshima & Shikoku. 
Next year, you say? Well.... 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No 

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No 

5. What countries did you visit?
Japan 

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A CAR PLEASE. A nice vintage one. 
Oh, and life management. 

7. What date(s) from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 8th, the day we got Buster :) 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving life. 

9. What was your biggest failure?
Life. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Buster bunny <3 b="" nbsp="">

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My own, let's face it. 

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Everyone else. 

14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel, pets, BILLS. 

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing Northy. Moving out. Getting Buster.. 
Oh, and next year's trips: Iceland, Sweden, Finland & Estonia, and Japan & China. 

16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Let It Roll - Flo Rida. 
Don't even know why. 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Same. 
Richer or poorer? Poorer probably, BOO. 

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Sorting my life out. 

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Spending! 

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home with family & Buster bunneh. 

21. Who deleted question 21?
Your DAD. 

22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
No. 
23. How many one-night stands?
Same answer as every year ---> Who would seriously answer this? 

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
There were a few goodens as usual. Home & Away, Last Tango in Halifax.. 
And some addictive Korean dramas too.. Empress Ki, King 2 Hearts, Secret Garden. 

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yes. 

26. What was the best book you read?
Not going to life.. haven't really made it through a whole book this year. 

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
It's not a band but... MY VINYL RECORD PLAYER. 

28. What did you want and get?
Buster :D 

29. What did you want and not get?
A dog. Boooo 

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire 

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 25. I have no recollection of the whole affair. 

32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not having to go to work LOL << this. 

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Black. Or whatever the hell is clean. 

34. What kept you sane?
Knowing I will be getting out of the country next year. 

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Still stuck on Moz, sorry. 

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Can't think of anything in particular, but this country does need to sort itself out. 

37. Who did you miss?
Northy, of coursey. 

38. Who was the best new person you met?
BUSTER, even though he's a rabbit. 

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
You can't polish a turd but you can roll it in glitter. LOL.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"And if you must go to work- tomorrow, well if I were you I wouldn't bother. For there are brighter sides to life, and I should know because I've seen them. But not very often." 
-Still Ill, The Smiths. 

Japan 2013: Tokyo & Kanagawa

The full adventure!

After a nice flight with 3 seats to myself I arrived in Tokyo.
First night I nearly fell asleep in my dinner in Yokohama China Town because I was KNACKERED.

The next day involved a trip to Meiji Jingu, just for old time's sake, even though I've already been there, I dunno, like TEN TIMES.













Back at Keio University! 懐かしい～

Karaoke because we CAN. 

Hachimangu shrine in Kamakura 

GOT VAN HOUTEN. 

Enoshima 

Cayley stuffing her face in Asakusa

The first time for us to see Sensoji out of scaffolding since we first went to Japan in 2009. 

The best part! Reunited with my Northy ♥ 

A quick ride on Sirius.. 

Back to my baby :)

Jeffrey getting excited over Shabu shabu 

Dinner with Jeffrey, Chikako and Mahiro