Quite a Nice Day

Posted on 2007/07/23 20:42:08 (July 2007).

[Sunday 22nd July]
In a similarly inexplicable fashion to the rather miserable week I'd had running up to this weekend, today I was quite the opposite - feeling all chirpy, and generally had a very nice day of it.

We'd stayed the night at Leon's house in Canterbury following Stew's party. I was keen to get off early in the morning (relatively speaking - it was a Sunday after all) as I'd planned to have a chat with Tanaka-san via Skype, and the time difference with Japan meant that if I wasn't back by a reasonably early time in the afternoon I'd miss him.

So we left Leon's house not long after 9, although did have a bit of a wait for the train as I'd somehow managed to get a bit confused about what time they were running. Still, this was rather nice, as Canterbury West has a sort of farmer's market next to it. Therein we were able to get a couple of very nice coffees, a couple of croissants, and also these strange rock hard doughnut shaped biscuit things.

We got back into London around midday, Chie went off to spend the afternoon shopping, whilst I headed straight back to the flat for my Skype appointment with Tanaka-san.

It was rather fabulous - it was the first time we'd spoken by any means other than email since the day I finished my previous job. We both spontaneously decided we ought to have a beer to mark the occasion, and despite the scenery it felt a lot like being back in Japan, going for that after work drink in an izakaya near the office.

It occurred to me this may have been one of the contributing factors in my recent malaise - the lack of a Tanaka-san in my new job. It's really important to have a friend like that who you can go for a drink with now and again and chew the cud with.

After a long chat with Tanaka-san, I let him go off to bed, and spent the remainder of the afternoon shopping and cooking for Sunday dinner. It came out rather fantastically - the highlights being some really tasty crunchy parsnips, and some top notch Yorkshire Puddings - I really surpassed myself!

Glad to hear you sprirts have lifted somewhat!

Posted by Squirly at 2007/07/24 09:05:19.

Hi John, it would be great to go for a drink with you sometime ! I really enjoy reading your blog, it always brightens my day.

Posted by Will from London at 2007/07/24 21:46:30.

Hello Will and Squirly! Always very nice to have comments from new people!

Will - really glad to hear my blog has a positive effect like that - I'm actually quite surprised to hear that - recently I thought it had been pretty dreary! Maybe it's a case of it brightening your day by making you realise your life is far more interesting and fulfilling that mine! :)

Posted by John at 2007/07/25 23:47:18.

...sorry that should have finished with "than mine" not "that mine". I'm writing following a few whiskies so my typing is even worse than usual!

Posted by John at 2007/07/25 23:48:31.

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