Back to Monday.
It’s funny writing every Monday, always finding myself back at the same place, position -at desk, coffee cup near at right hand. Speaking of which, I’ve been off the coffee for about two or three days. Not that I feel I have issues with kaffe, but I want to see how I fare and feel when not ‘on’ the liquified and pulverized Coffea genus beans.
I do have some exciting news though! -and this is coming to you from a single fellow living in a small town out-nowhere- I recently had delivered to my home this very afternoon a bamboo sunning chair, or reclining chair. Wow. The chair has had some tack repairs but is in recline-able condition. The seat even came with a cushion. Okay, okay, I know, this is not the most exciting news. But for me it is!
Last weekend also saw some more sunshine. Yup, sunshine and melting snow. The ruckus outside my door and windows has been replaced by hammer and nail. The tiny hub-delivery shop that operates across the open space from my front door reaching across the plot where an old and fettered house used to be… the shopkeep of that nearby shop has been having the place renovated. Every morning, hammers. (Though I do admit the carpentry and joinery is quite a job!)
In the winter I always had ferocious blowing and ghasping winds outside -audible, of course. Now it is hammering. Before that it was the daily disassemblement of the rotted house next to mine. Always some kind of ‘big news’ or ‘big racket’ here in town. But when one lives in a small town everything is ‘news’.
As for weekend facts -none really. I again had the hope and plan to board city bus to the next town and visit an onsen. And if that plan failed I had planned to board our town shuttle to onsen. But none. I cleaned my house, went for walks, cooked, and downsized some stuffs that I don’t really need.
It was a plain and good weekend. The weekend was so good and plain, and right in fact that it did me good like when a doctor says get rest -something simple, and one does just that. The simple, the act itself (doing nothing) was good.
Today was a fact and shock in the office. When I walked in just minutes to nine (a.m.) people were shuffling past me. It had all but slipped my mind that April is significant. People leaving, people coming. Work positions change, work partners change. The fellowship moving past me this morning was headed for the meeting room. It seemed like every last person escaped the confines of their workplace and desk and went off (somewhere).
Reluctantly, I inquired from our office clerk and then followed behind closed conference doors. I squeezed into the room beside parallel-aligned bodies, people standing in rows, all wearing suits. We heard names read, people welcomed, commissioned, discharged (so to speak). People that had fulfilled their terms of service, and other people beginning new ones.
Then that meeting was done and the day began as usual. But I have never seen such a rush and flurry in the office here. Health-checks, papers for people to fill out, all kinds of things going on in town hall today. April is a busy season.
As for myself, I am hoping to plan a trip or two as the seasons change and as the warm weather finally comes about. Today is still blowing winds, sometimes including snow, and bursts of sunshine -but sunshine not enought to keep belief. But more sunshine soon, I’m sure.
Finally, after work today I will mull over to the Sports Centre in town. I am hoping to enquire about drop-in fees. In the next days, weeks too, I would like to try my hand at the gym -you know, gear up for better weather. And dinner? Maybe tonight can be udon night. We’ll have a look-see.
In the meantime, thanks for the read and good luck with Spring!
Hopefully more to report soon -photos to be shared!
Ciao,
…oh, and a very happy un-coffee day to you. I was given a cup of ‘service’ coffee at Friday night’s dinner; a nice cup of instant, stir-in coffee. I never meant for it, but I drank it. I am trying for a week without coffee just to see how I do. I am sure I can make it until the weekend!
(a drive to Wakkanai makes for nice ocean-scape-like sunsets)
The Traveller's Typewriter 