Peeandpoo

peeandpoo, originally uploaded by Jaqaroo.

Don't mess around with the Tokyo City Parks Department. They don't mince their words and they don't fudge it when it comes to calling a spade a spade and a trowel a trowel. If there is any peeing or pooing in the park they'll know about it and they will be all over you like...well, like something unplesant that you would rather not have all over you.
The bushes have eyes.
Later there is a sign which say,
"Parents, please do not let your child pee or poo in the park as dogs play and have their lunch on the grass".

Garamasala Chips

Garamasala, originally uploaded by Jaqaroo.

Came across these Garamasala flavoured chips in my local Mini Stop a few days ago. Nice packaging I think. The chips are small, triangular, thin cracker kind of things and have a liberal dusting of garamasala powder on them. I don't think it would be advisable to eat the whole bag (55g) at one sitting, even though at first you may not think the bag contains so many chips.
Life's a bit like that sometimes... don't you think? You think you can handle the spice, and at the time you can, and it all goes down quite nicely, very tasty, but then you can't get the taste out of your mouth, or out of your head for the rest of day. Beware the bright packaging of pop culture!

Last Call for Summer (min min min)

min min, originally uploaded by Jaqaroo.

Hot again today, a real August sorching Sunday. In the park we went to in the morning the cicadas were still calling, but not for much longer I think. The end of August is in sight and I always feel that September is autumn, at least the beginning of autumn, not matter how hot it reaches, and it can still reach pretty bloody high.
The last day of August is your last official day to have a crack at Fuji. I didn't go last week; a combination of doubtful weather and doubtful motivation and committment. The weather turned out fine and now I regret not going. But I have another chance next weekend, the last weekend of the official climbing season, although early September can be very good.
Next week is a regualar working week, which I am very happy about, last week I taught no classes and made no money. It may still be summer time, but without money the living can be far from easy. Let's Go!

Coming Soon to a Subduction Zone Near You!

raven2, originally uploaded by Jaqaroo.

Well, about an hour ago, at 11:45, we had a pretty strong earthquake. The epicentre was off the coast of Miyagi; the nearest city was Sendai, and it measured about 6.8.
Here in Tokyo things were swinging and shaking and it went on for quite a while.
I consider this our second warning in as many weeks. After the last earthquake (the biggest in Tokyo for 13 years no less) I decided it was definitly time for action and to get prepared. Here's the list of things to buy and things to do:
Water
Gas for the camping gas stove
Batteries for the flashlight
Candles
Food
Cash, in small denominations
Decide on what do, where to meet etc.
So far I haven't done anything... it's so easy to let yesterday's earthquake slip to the back of one's mind. And then again I have been reminded that under my feet, deep deep down there, several plates are moving, sliding, building up stresses and tensions that one day, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps next year, will give way and this whole city of cards will come tumbling down. And if that happens then it's a brand new game and priorities are suddenly turned on their head. What you took for granted one day will be swept away the next. The convenience store life style that so many in this city live in will be gone as quickly as the stock in the local 7-11. People will be lining up for 7 hours for a small bottle of water. Money will not mean as much as how much food and water you had stored before the earth moved.
The supermarkets are full of food right now. Now is the time to prepare... or get the hell out. The trouble is you can't really imagine that it will actually happen. It's seems like a story that everyone tells but that is just a story. Or perhaps you can believe it but what you think will happen is far from the reality of what is actually going to happen. On NHK 30 minutes ago they showed shop staff picking up the bottles that fallen of the shelves. Some people think that's what it will be like - just picking up a few fallen objects and then carrying on as before.

The ravens know more than they are willing to tell. They will all far away when the big one hits, laughing their feathers off and preparing for the feast.

Cats

Cats, originally uploaded by Jaqaroo.

Some little ceramic cats I found on a stall in Ueno park after visiting the zoo last week. Funny, the animals in the zoo had similar expressions on their faces.