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14 April 2018 - Two weeks to go & 22 April 2018 - One Week to go

14 April 2018

 So here we are again my friends.  As I used to say to my Megan, 'Wake up Pippin, it's time (nearly) to fly'.  So I am off on my travels again, this time to Japan.  However, for once, I am not alone. I am going with my bestie, Andy. Andy has done some of the usual holiday routes, as well as working in Florida and also visiting New York. However, this will be his longest flight and for me, compared to NZ it will be just a quick hop.

 So why Japan I hear you ask?  Well, it was on the list. OK it was not in the top five destinations, but I come home from a vile day at work and all of a sudden, the proposed trip to Sweden, Denmark and Norway had turned into 'sod it, lets go to Japan'.  We did go through a phase of trying to eat every meal with chopsticks.  Not successful.  Andy is left handed and I get bored with it.  We will figure it; we always do.  We have watched a few programmes on Japan just to give us a head start.  I am looking forward to seeing the toilets, which look absolutely amazing. We have planned our itinerary, we will be travelling around Japan using the train network (we have a seven day rail pass) and are looking forward to using the bullet trains.

 I have, today, gone and got some Japanese Yen.  Personally, they could have been giving me Monopoly money, all 140,000 of it! I think I will have issues (as usual) around how much anything is worth.  However, I have the handy app on my phone to guide me.  I guess the other thing that is in my mind is the scene in Bridget Jones, when her mother is telling her that Mark Darcy is getting divorced and his wife was Japanese.  She is telling Bridget that 'they are such a cruel race'. Coupled with the endless episodes of Tenko I used to watch whilst babysitting, I guess I am all cultured up for this trip.




I had an awful year last year.  I was ill for most of the year. Visiting numerous health professionals who were trying to figure out what was wrong with me. Which resulted in test after test.  In the end, come October, I just stopped all medication and felt better! When you get to my age, 29, you cannot afford to lose a year.  Last year was a lost year.  Also, I waited all year for my trip to New Zealand, which that alone is another story.  So it is now time to start living again. 

22 April 2018

One week to go and I can't wait. In fact, I wish it was a one way ticket.  Not the best of weekends and big decisions had to be made. Details of which I will not broadcast for the world to hear.  One of my friends said one of her friends, who is a psychotherapist (and there is a story in that word), told her that people let you down. She is right. People continually let me down and just when you think you have heard and experienced it all, they hit you with it just one more time, just because they can.  Japan cannot come quick enough.

It has been beautiful weather in London and I walked miles today, mainly to clear my head and think, but also to let London weave her magic and make me feel alive. It kind of worked.  As for the trip, not much else has been done. I have
been to the library at Uni to get some books to take with me (as you do), oh purchased some sunscreen so I do not get burned up in the Land of the Rising Sun, oh and some plasters to cover my tattoo.  The Japanese are a very conservative 'race' and they disapprove of tattoos. As I am hoping to use an onsen when I am out there (these are hot water public baths) and I really do not want to offend anyone else this week thank you!  So not much else to report.  I have a very busy week both work wise and personally. Tomorrow I am going to a premier of a film on the HIV crisis in the 1980s, so that should be of interest.  I hope you, whoever you are reading this, have a peaceful and wonderful week.

As always, with my love x

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