I learnt an interesting lesson today about when to get a haircut, or more specifically a cut and colour in Japan. I was a tad cautious about getting highlights done in Tokyo as the experience with non-black hair can be fairly limited. A great friend Di had run into issues with her hairdressor on this exact same issue. However with summer being here it just didn’t feel summer without going blonder, and given that it was just too damn hot to sit in the sun, le blond o natural was not going to happen.

Now I was aware that the guy who cuts my hair actually worked in ‘New Yorks’ (yes that’s how he says it, and it way to adoreable to correct!) so I figured with all of those bottle blonds wasps he must have some idea. And the first round was a total success.

Alas my appointment for the next cut was late at night and I fear his attention to detail my have slipped a faction, for this result does look like spot the dog, however not a total loss, with some wax and scrunching its great. and luckily the weather is such that wax works now instead of turning into a pool of goop and sweat. Just when its flat it really does look 101 Dalmations. Mind you here in Tokyo, its likely to start another fad!

Ahh Japan, either love it, or buy a ticket and get on the plane!

Just spent the last three nights absorbing more culture than a months intake of yoghurt.a series of concerts over ramadan

Wow, its so hard to beleive that Autumn is on its way. I think half of Tokyo is still holding its breath waiting for Summer to really kick in, but I guess its come and gone. Well more like limped into the room, suffered a coronary and was last seen being wheeled out on a gurney. (and if I get time I’ll back date an entry that will make that analogy sing!).

We are now officially in Typhoon season, which being Japan means more bloody rain. I really don’t know why the English complain so much about rain in the UK, cos they have got nothing compared to the rain here. I don’t think I’ve ever owned so many umbrella’s (okay one is not technically mind and has been procured, but I’ve also lost one to be procured by someone else – so evens).

I started todays blog off with a different title as it was rather gloomy this morning, still is gloomy outside, but the day has improved. Probably because I have been able to clear a backlog of dull work from my desk! Now I can look forward to the new dull work! I detect a weekend on a beach calling again! My wave seems to have reached the beach and run out of ommph.

Or at least be more specific!

Last year I remember having a discussion with a very dear friend about how 2005 should be a time of interest. Silly me I forgot to put criteria around that. It all started off rather well with a trip through the middle east. Actually it was spectacular and probably one the most memorable trips of my life. Spending my birthday swimming in the dead sea was well awsome, Having Champagne purchased on the Lebanese border with dinner that night and toasting the next day in Petra was actually more than I ever expected, the next day in Petra was something I had dreamed about for 18 years, and the trip just kept getting better and better. Fantastic people, stunning places, the sights that will never leave me (I am thinking of dawn on Mount Sinai, sunset in Wadi-rum, and snow in Lebanon).

It all come to a rather abrubt end when I turned my mobile phone on in Dahab and found out that my father had suffered a number of strokes and was paralysed on his right hand side. Never have I felt so isolated from my home and useless, to my Kumuka travel colleagues if you ever read this I am indebted to your compassion and understanding during those last few days. I actually went scuba diving as I was sure Dad would be angry that I cancelled something he loves doing himself because of him.

Things seem to stabilise and Dad appeared to be recovering very well so when I got a phone call at 6am from my brother the world stopped or at least my little bit of it did. Being told to come home quickly is never easy to hear, a 12,000 mile flight makes it even harder.

Having a management structure that is incompassionate about such matters (despite company policy) was intolerable. Dad had suffered massive internal stomach bleeding from the medication he was taking and had been rushed to a larger hospital by air ambulance. After two trips home and all my leave gone the great news is that he has actually never been better!

Some temperature sensing problems in his feet, (which I think is more to do with being in dingys filled with cold water) he is remarkably lucky. His memory is the same as always and there is no paralysis. He has now spent the last few months be prepared to become the bionic man, and a few weeks ago they installed his first new knee.

For myself it has been a year of transition with a very long wait for a transfer to Tokyo. This did not help a couple of personal relationships which left me feeling very dispondent about that whole subject. However the transfer is now complete and I’ve setup a new life here in Tokyo, if you read back you will see that initially it was not easy, but I have grown to love it here. And having fulfulled the dream of seeing Petra I have been lucky enough to find my next dream and focus for the coming years. More on that another time.

Equally satisfying is that all those I care about around the world seem to have had a successful year and are each finding happyness in what they are doing. While still not having that special someone to share my life with I have been so blessed to have the friends that I have and been able to share their lives. Its taken a while, but I am finding that I really am happy now.

In reflection over the year of ups and down, I don’t think I will be specific for next years wishes. Silver lining and all that stuff. So may 2006 be a year of interest for everyone, may they find happiness and health in everything they do, and if bad times do turn up on the doorstep may they be just a passing guest.

(okay i did get a little specific, but I think you get the gist). all my love to you. david

This week i think i have been a carry on comedy. The is an upside to this and that is that i am laughing! as my manager just told me why would you want to leave and miss the next episode.

Amazing time in Shimoda

how do you know you have dropped off the radar in japan well its quite easy. Mobile phone reception gets patchy, note I did not say non existant this is Japan after all keitei work in the underground here. A much better indicator is the number of stares on the train. Kansas Toto is back that way!

· You believe that Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are all good nights for drinking. Sunday during the day is also entirely reasonable.
· You have given up explaining why you are half an hour late to work as no-one notices or cares.
· Coming to work with a hangover is entirely accepted and indeed expected at least once a week.
· You can actually give directions to some of those annoying tourists in Oxford Street!
· You actually step over a drunk in the tube station rather than offering to help them.
· You don’t even bother looking out of the window when you get up in the morning to check what the day is like. You know it is overcast.
· You have considered wearing a badge that you can pass to people when you first meet them with answers to those all-important questions they all want to know. "No, I am not a Kiwi, I am an Aussie. I have been here for x-number of years. I am here on x visa. We come to the UK because it is the thing to do. No, I do not know how long I will be here for."
· You consider a suit to be normal attire for the pub.
· You expect men to actually cut, comb and style their hair (using hair products). And to wear decent clothes. Jeans and a T-shirt are no longer socially acceptable.
· You dissolve in laughter when listening to the funny accent of the NZ international telephone operator (or on TV!).
· You think 40 quid for a haircut is quite reasonable.
· You have stopped calling people ‘a dag’ because you don’t want to have to explain it.
· You can’t remember what ‘customer service’ means.
· After a big night out you find yourself looking for a Curry house, and not a 24 hour McDonalds.
· More than three hours sunlight on summer days seems excessive.
· You don’t think twice about tipping your hairdresser
· You finish every sentence with ‘Cheers’ or ‘Yeah’.
· You only just realise you have lost your sunnies, you left them in Greece 2 summers ago.
· You start thinking English cuisine isn’t all that bad after all, I mean, it’s hard to beat a full English breakfast.
· You are on to your 6th umbrella and your second overcoat.
· You buy a disposable baby BBQ from Tesco.
· You realise your sunburn cream is the stuff you originally bought from home with you.
· A day at the beach means wearing the warmest clothes you own while standing on golf ball-size pebbles and the thought of swimming doesn’t even enter your head.
· You always call soccer football and you have a team and it’s not Manchester United.
· You don’t think twice about buying a packaged sandwich.
· A sunny lunchtime means searching for a patch of grass and stripping off practically down to your underwear
· You start to accept queuing as a way of life.

I’m working out that this whole heat thing is relative. Relatively constant being the first! We seem to have settled into a distinct pattern of summer now which at least means well, not sure, will get back to you on that. Last few weeks have been rather sluggish adapting to the constant changes of stifling hot outside to sub Antarctic freezer inside. Trick – loads and loads and loads of water, and a few sports drinks as well. Its stunning just how much you lose.

As you so cold once you get inside there is suddenly no inclination to drink water, bad bad bad! Its so nice and toasty warm here that I have the aircon at home switched on to bring my apartment down to a chilly 26 degree’s celsius. And trust me that really cold enough.

Summer essential is one of these things!

Today we mourn thepassing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn’t always fair, and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Panadol, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student – but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.

He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I’m A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone.

If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.