A Saturday drive to post a parcel from 7-11 ended up being a lovely, pleasant drive around Ibaraki.
The days are getting longer, and warmer, though the nights are still cold. If you are outside in the sun, its usually pleasant, except for Saturday, when the wind was blowing stronger than I've ever experienced in Japan before.
This photo is the Pacific coast, the eastern coast of Honshu. Yes, it appears to be fully concreted in both directions as far as the eye can see, and that is a selection of run-down shacks covered in tarpaulins off to the left. I didnt dawdle taking these photos, because the wind was making my hands freeze just holding the camera. I feel sorry for the poor bloke who thought it was a good day to go windsurfing. The wind was good, but he must be part penguin to have survived those waters.
Still, it made a nice change from the day before, when it was pouring with rain all day.
I had a nice bonus last Friday, as I turn up at school at the appointed time, 8.30, to confused expressions from the staff. One of the English teachers ventured to explain that as there was no students at school that day, there would be no classes for me, and all the teachers would be busy marking exams, therefore would be too busy to ask me questions.
Apparently my supervisor, the little bird, was supposed to have told me about this, and though he claims he did, I have no recollection of the event. The principal demanded he hold his little finger out onto the desk, whereupon he made cutting motions with the edge of his hand. He threatened to use my supervisors blood as ink to sign my timesheet for the day, which I believe he was joking, but you never can tell...
I was sent home, and back outside the school again at 8.35.
