adekun’s japan blog

Enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of first-time parenthood. Progress on the organic vegetable garden and other ramblings of a gaijin in Japan’s least populous prefecture.

Check at sixteen weeks

Written by: adekun on 20 August, 2008 3:14 pm - Filed under: blogNo Comments »

I missed out going as I had to work. Ritsue took Kento and his runny nose along to the clinic. This gave the nurses an excuse to fuss over him. Four of them looked on as he lay next to his mother. Apparently the baby was waving a lot.

The doctor said he couldn't see anything to determine the sex

But then it might suddenly be revealed

In a change of position, the local council has increased their issue of free baby checks from three to five.

Another cooked card

Written by: adekun on 18 August, 2008 4:20 pm - Filed under: blogNo Comments »

I can add a second whinge today. As I was publishing the last post some patterns appeared on the screen. Having to reboot, the only thing to reappear was a blank screen. I just popped the previous faulty card in, which at least brings up a garbled Dell logo. Seems as though the replacement graphics card is cooked along with the replacement battery. Maybe I should be sitting in an air-conditioned office or something? :-(
It didn’t appear to be running too hot and if it was shouldn’t there have been a warning? In a quandary, yet not flustered. There isn’t much I can do about it. Anyway, I hope to somehow continue posting every couple of days.


2008 Summer Olympics

Written by: adekun on 1:54 pm - Filed under: blogNo Comments »

While across the globe the world watches the Beijing* 2008 Summer Olympics, here in Japan it’s the Peking Olympics. In this second guise the viewer gets to see Team Japan take on the world’s top athletes along with prejudiced commentary.
Fortunately those interested in watching the rest of the games (those events in which Japan is not good), have at least the internet.

Bum Tomato

Written by: adekun on 17 August, 2008 7:05 am - Filed under: garden4 Comments »

Bum shaped tomato

Bum shaped tomato

On Friday we had a heavy downpour which is worth noting for my own benefit. With the ground being damp the crows returned to dig up more peanuts. Not much going on elsewhere in the garden. The unruly sweet potato vines should be clipped; there’s a chance they will turn out all vine and no tuber. I did spot a tomato (maybe it’s two) that looks arse shaped. Holding it in my hand it really looks like two tomatoes stuck together.

Eneloop

Written by: adekun on 15 August, 2008 11:16 pm - Filed under: blogNo Comments »

eneloop, a low self-discharge NiMH battery

eneloop, a low self-discharge NiMH battery

One of the many surprises when coming to live in Japan was lack in usage of rechargeable batteries. I expected in the land of high-technology it would be a given. I gather the people here have chargers for their mobile phones and HDV camcorders; if standard batteries are needed then its disposables all the way.
Every four months batteries and spent fluorescent tubes are collected. The usual mountains of rubbish are a real pity and those of batteries are no different. I don’t know why this is, or if attitudes are different the bigger cities. A certainty is the lack of advertisements. ‘Eco’ is touted about everywhere; electrically heated toilets, air-conditioners etc. but not the lowly battery. (more…)

Girls day out in Sakaiminato

Written by: adekun on 13 August, 2008 9:32 pm - Filed under: blog2 Comments »

Since the girls outnumber the boys I thought the title fitting. They were in charge too. Along with most of the Yoshihara and Gion families, we took the train to Sakaiminato. Both carriages were full of tourists with their cameras, no doubt from neighbouring prefectures. Perhaps a majority were those returning from the big cities to visit their families during the obon (お盆) holiday. It was hot, 36 °C and super-humid. As the girls turned yet a darker shade of brown, I turned a brighter shade of lobster. We managed a circuit of most of the statues before a lunch of onigiri and kakigori.

Outside a train GeGeGe no Kitaro Train, Sakaiminato (境港).

Outside a train decorated with GeGeGe no Kitaro characters, Sakaiminato (境港).

Get off my nuts

Written by: adekun on 12 August, 2008 10:14 am - Filed under: garden4 Comments »

Some sort of netting has got to be a sound investment. The crows, having finished off the corn have recently returned from a spell further afield. They have begun digging up the groundnuts. Although harvest time a lot further off than a week, the nuts must still be appealing. As before, the evidence is strewn across the ground. I have to be a little intrigued seeing the thick but pliable shells split open.


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