No running, but life goes on

So the move went OK, but the process of settling into the new place is taking longer than we would have hoped. It is actually just a bit too squeezy, so cramming everythig in has been a challenge, and the whole process is frustrating as all you want to do is settle down and start enjoying your new abode, but you can't; there is always something else to do. Chiemi has been a tower of strength and relentless go-forward, and the boys have cooperated as much as you could expect. Unfortunately the new place is a lot chillier than the old one (more exposed walls), so we have been suffering a bit as we now find ourselves in the deepest darkest days of winter.

Christmas was a significantly dampened event compared to most years, but we managed to have a family lunch at a restaurant in the afternoon. We then browsed furniture shops in our neighbourhood, which has a reputation for its concentration of interior shops. We were mainly looking for a wardrobe for our room, but apparently the word "interior" does not extend to include wardrobes. Chiemi eventually found one yesterday at the local government's recycle centre. We actually thought they would be all junk, but felt we should have a look just on the off-chance; lo-and-behold, there was one piece that fit the bill pretty much to perfection: good color and condition, right size and configuration, and at a fraction of the price we were starting to resign ourselves to having to pay. The only drawback is that with the New Year shut-down upon us it won't be delivered until the middle of January. So a couple more weeks with our clothes hanging off a rack will certainly test our stiff upper lips. Anyway, now we can start turning our attention towards a dining table...the last Big Thing.

With all this going on, plus the kid's and Chiemi's cold/flu taking much firmer hold of my head and respiratory tract, there has been no running. Bloglines tells me that everyone else is doing well. I'm especially proud of those two determined and relentless training machines, Mika and Satohi, who really didn't spend much time resting on their laurels after their November marathons. Everybody in Australia (Go Team J!) are doing well it seems and running hard and often to burn up those extra Christmas calories. I envy the warmth, but 35+ degrees around Quarry Road sounds just a tad excessive. One extreme to the other. I have a date to run a couple of times around the Imperial Palace with Gareth tonight (and anyone who elects to join us), and if we do not die of hypothermia mid run, we will then drink a few beers and reflect over dinner on the year of running that was.

Speaking of beer, an article I mostly wrote on that particular topic was just recently published on-line. You can read it here if you are so inclined to catch a glimpse of the craft beer scene in Japan. The article is a little over halfway down the page.

While I am on the topic of sending you off to read more than you have time for, I encountered a great post yesterday on the Pharyngula blog. It is about childhood memories, loss and the passing of time. Maudlin and wistful, it is a really nice bit of prose that just somehow resonated for me during this time when things are not exactly bad, but not exactly joyful either, what with the stresses of moving, the pangs of longing for family so far away...and no bloody running!