A place for my dogi

My little aikido section. Hehehe.

A white shelf from IKEA which I installed myself.

Adding to my collection

I try not to browse at certain sections of a supermarket, knowing full well my weakness for certain things. Then again, I was in need of retail therapy, so...I bought another lunch jar!

My thoughts on Japan

One of my bento lunches,

 wrapped in a furoshiki,

I bought from a good friend just when I was on holiday with my mom.

We enjoyed Japan's beauty, efficiency and advancement. A week later a 9.0 earthquake came and caused a tsunami which changed many things.

My heart aches for those who lost their love ones. I sympathize those who lost their dwellings and belongings. I applaude those who are part of the rescue and rebuilding efforts. I salute those who valiantly stayed behind to work on the reactor crisis.

But Japan is a nation of resilience. As a country situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, she accepts her precarious geographical location and constantly builds on how to deal with natural calamities as they arise. Admittedly, this time disaster has hit her on a grand scale, but I believe that she will rebuild herself in good time and be up and working just like how she was and maybe even better.

My prayers are with the people of Japan at this difficult time.

Gambatte Nihon!

On this day, are the anniversaries of 2 very important men.

One I can only honour in memory and the other, in the heart, for now.

I miss you both badly.

Beautiful Japan

Tis the season!

Aren't they pretty?

Spot the birdie!

Triple visual pleasure

Scenic

The serenity of the crane lured me

One perspective of the garden

Leaning tree? Hehe

I spy with my eye..sakura blossoms

Red Ume

Simple and white!

My order from Amazon has arrived! Actually it arrived 2 weeks ago but I have it now! I was looking for a jacket to bring for my Tokyo trip and did not have much luck finding what I want. A simple but white jacket. I decided to give online shopping a go and found this jacket which fits the description of what I had in mind perfectly! It fits nicely with a good allowance for thick clothing. There are 3 pockets outside and 1 inside. The stuffing is made of down and it has got a nice weight to it.

All in all I am quite pleased with this purchase. Once I packed in my dogi I will be all set for my trip!

You got the better of me (for that day)

A few days before Chinese New Year, I was driving on the highway back home after a function. I wanted to overtake a car in front of me and so I indicated to the right. As I was nearly halfway into the right lane the car behind me indicated and started to move to the right lane as well. The car looked as if it was accelerating at a speed much faster than mine so I moved back into the left lane. As the car behind me overtook me I saw the passenger (who presumably was the driver's wife and was holding a baby instead of placing the baby in the car seat) give me an angry stare.

Usually, I would just brush off these stares as nothing more than a waste of time and energy. But somehow I was very annoyed by the unwarranted stare. So I indicated once again and moved into the right lane. I started catching up to the car and it moved to the left lane. As I passed that car I looked at the driver, who was keeping his eyes straight ahead, as if trying to avoid me (or just being a safe driver). I zoomed off and within a few minutes I was back home.

As I parked my car I asked myself what have I accomplished by doing what I did? Did it make me feel any better? What did I actually get out of it? Nothing much, except for giving my car engine a good short run.

I would have never batted an eyelid on something like this and I honestly thought that I am beginning to mature, in a sense of seeing things as they are and not attaching any emotions or judgment to it. I felt so bad for letting my ego take over and doing something so pointless.

Guess I still have some way to go...

Hello DD 2011

 Enjoying her avocado

 Daddy is..

 

..the fun factory!

The comfort of mother's embrace

Chinese New Year Lunch and Party at the office

One of the team's mascot. It won a prize for best design.

A scrumptious lunch

After lunch there was bingo.

Rabbit making competition. It was good fun but a waste of the oranges.

Another one of the 4 rabbits made by the teams.

Timekeeper.

A lovely gift from one of the partners.

I need more time to recuperate

It was my first night back at training after what seemed like a long week. I wasstill not feeling 100 per cent despite having had a slow Sunday. I reckon that if you have been deprived of sleep for the last 7 nights resting for a day is not really going to bring it all back! Whatever it was, I said to myself that I will attend training. True enough, my performance at the session was, well, not so good. I was sluggish and tire easily. No matter, after I get back to my routine I should be up and running soon enough!

I took out the new hakama and belt that I order from a good friend in Tokyo. I was expecting to only collect when I see him at the end of next month but my brother very nicely offered to bring it them back for me :). So I get to break them in before the Hombu Instruction Tour. Speaking of which, I better get my fitness up because it will be an awesome but grueling seminar.

Finally I got the right length!

With your name on my belt, I am constantly reminded of your perseverance, dedication and unyielding spirit that defined you and inspires me. I love you.