Tag Archives: tsuchida cottage

Diary: Off to Library + cuppa Joe / good luck, stamps, ovens & social niceties

Gallery February 10, 2020 daveo Leave a comment

Note: Some of this riff originally appeared in “real time” via FB social channel to the amusement of many (everyone loves a comically large bootle of hooch!) – shared here for posterity in edited form with several other topics included.

++ Confession ++

pardon me, but does this come in a large?

Well, i am at risk of irreparably damaging my reputation as a good resident of Okayama as it seems some library books are overdue.

I know! Terrible. Shameful breach of trust.

As such, i will finish this coffee (delicious by the way) and hop on the luxurious Uno Bus (seriously wi-fi, power outlets, clean, comfy, pay-per-stop) to restore my status as a decent human.

I’ve really let myself go off the rails – i’ll try to improve.

fondly, dave

PS i will not blame this on this comically huge bottle of saké – seriously, 18 litres and came in a wooden crate. Just when you think Japanese people are all diligent and serious, they pull out this! i mean the logistics of shipping, lifting, holding, pouring alone are baffling

Checkpoint busstop (yes my life does look like a Studio Ghibli movie)

Did i mention the bus has great wi-fi, power outlets, seatback headrest covers, and pay-per-stop system? Uno Bus is truly great.

Also before leaving washed dishes, folded laundry, started rice, composted food scraps, fed rabbit, aerated kobo starter, refilled kerosene heater… and didn’t forget library books(!)

Ryoko’s out of town for 2 nights teaching a tree trimming workshop & stayed in a trad guest house with wooden bath. So cool. And she’s truly incredible (and doing great with pregnancy!)

Continue reading Diary: Off to Library + cuppa Joe / good luck, stamps, ovens & social niceties →

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Japan Life/Travel, Personal Musings

Diary: Days go by – filled (mostly) with coffee, food and and sundry tasks

Gallery February 8, 2020 daveo Leave a comment

You could be forgiven for thinking that my life involves entirely eating delicious food and drinking fantastic coffee as you are somewhat correct… however, there is slightly more going on as i am into the routine of “regular life” and doing things which I file under “life administration”. As such, some tasks (as much as I delight in the mundanity of everyday activity) doesn’t get documentation.

Not that these things are not interesting – but because in the diligence and action itself, there’s interestingness – but photographs aren’t always timely nor appropriate and in themselves, there’s not often a story to be told. Within this thought is why I enthusiastically and rather comprehensively documented everyday life when first arriving in a new place… As in: when you stay in a place for a while, the uniqueness of every day life fades and it’s easy to think that “I’ll do this another time” or “I’ll wait for something special” or “why bother?”

With this in mind, over the last few months of settling in my new home and life, I’ve remembered to fill up this “new white sheet of paper” with all the spectacular regularness of simple errands, neighbourhood observations, pleasant routines and out n’ abouts. Continue reading Diary: Days go by – filled (mostly) with coffee, food and and sundry tasks →

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Japan Life/Travel, Personal Musings

Diary: Starting off 2020 with Coffee and Classes etc.

Gallery January 22, 2020 daveo Leave a comment

A coffee break at “Tartan something or other” (not actual name) in downtown Okayama

So it goes, the festive season passes yet calendar stays busy with the usual sorts of things. Yesterday included returning books to splendid library, a few letters (Switzerland and Indonesia) to the post office, a stop for the best ramen, and a visit to a chiropractor and then a super good little (i mean little) coffee shop – like just perfect right?

In amongst, we repaired/re-did a wall in Tsuchida Cottage, attended a parenting class(!), went to opera variety show, hit up Hatsumi-san’s piano recital, moved some brick around outside, printed more flyers for Mae Maes gig, talked to a guy about replaced some drafty windows, recycled plastic items, booked a trip to Nagasaki…

Here is a variety of snippets collected along the way, with minor annotations as possible.

we ordered umeboshi by the kilo – i love these pickled plums and nope to make them myself one of these days soon but in the meantime, order up in bulk! salty, sour goodness

one morning i awoke to Ryoko singing snippets of so many songs – realized she was tidying up all her sheet music/scores etc.

tidied up the Kamidama a little bit with fresh items to bring good fortune and happiness more and more

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Collections of Artifacts

Artifacts: “Full Set” / Camera, Telephone, Typewriter, Postbox (also Chair)

Gallery January 12, 2020 daveo Leave a comment

+ Usual assortment = Full house

Ergo:

Camera, Typewriter, Phone, Postbox

Always be observing > documenting > collecting Continue reading Artifacts: “Full Set” / Camera, Telephone, Typewriter, Postbox (also Chair) →

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Personal Musings

Diary: Kaki / Permissions, various notes and projects

December 17, 2019 daveo 1 Comment

Kaki (persimmon) perhaps the most under-appreciated fruit (to me at least). So interesting! Looks vaguely like a tomato with colour of an orange, firmness of apple or soft pear sometimes, texture like passionfruit or something – Only drawback is tricky to peel and prepare for clumsy folks (me).

The neighbourhood is loaded with full trees right now – i can’t eat fast enough!

Continue reading Diary: Kaki / Permissions, various notes and projects →

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Personal Musings

Ofuro bath at Tsuchida Cottage

Image October 20, 2019 daveo Leave a comment

Two notes:

1) The bath is the most sophisticated piece of equipment in our home… A click of a variety of button (there is more than one control panel for extra convenience) and you are transported to a temperature exactly of your choosing #42.

And yes, this is also a bath tub Time Machine which takes to various dispensations & destinations.

2) Very important to paint your toes to color coordinate with the bath tub and tile colours