Shibuya streets... every visit, something new pokes its head out at you. Taken with the Powershot G3. Yes, the sensors need cleaning desperately.

The first picture with the new improved 300D. Hallelujah.

Everywhere you go there are signs of the coming pink storm! Plastic cherry blossoms adorn every shopping street in Japan.

And they're in balloon form too....

Picked up the newly repaired Canon 300D (mah baby) from Fujiya this afternoon. Walked outside and pointed up at a sign and clicked and WOW! A nice healthy, heavy shutter sound, the automatic focus worked, the images were clear as crystal thanks to the new parts and clean sensors and suddenly I felt like blogging again. And not a second too soon, as:

1. the old powershot G3 is on it's way out - the images have long lost their sharpness and colour. I should get the sensors cleaned as I do really love the old workhorse....
2. hanami is almost upon us....
3. started to get emails asking me why I've been so quiet on the blog...

Technorati Tags: japan, last.fm, life, tokyogigguide, tokyo

I guess I just didn't have any decent pictures to share (oh, except for the one up top there which I took with the powershot last week) and I hate to make a post without photos. All is well. I'm in a bit of a list mood this evening, so let's do this catch-up in point form for the sake of brevity:

* Going to see one of my fave live bands, envy, in Shimokitazawa at a hard-core (!) gig tomorrow night (thanks Timbo).

* Got 2 tickets for Snow Patrol but no-one to go with me since the gig is the same day that my gig buddy Charlene leaves Japan (Tuesday April 17) and other gig buddy Helen is working somewhere faraway - if there are any interested gig-goers out there please shoot me an email. ¥5700 and the ticket is yours. And my company if you want it....

* Failed to get tickets for Sonic Youth before they sold out (god, you gotta be fast around here!). Poo.

* The Tokyo Gig Guide has been revamped and remains an excellent source of show info. Check it out. They have a new TGG blog now too, with show reviews and info and are looking for contributers.

* last.fm becomes more impressive every day. It's become a significant time-consumer. Lucky I'm kinda on holidays...

* So yeah, I'm enjoying some slight downtime from school before the madness of 21 classes a week starts in mid-April (on top of my private lessons). Will need to spend a few days in the staff room planning school lessons soon though...

* The hanami invites have started flowing but it's still pretty cold here - about 10 degrees most days. Was in the park today and saw the buds are close - hope the warmer weather comes real soon. (We're talking cherry blossoms here for those of you not familiar with Japans spring cherry blossom parties)

* Found a travel buddy for my summer trip to India (Delhi, Dharamsala & Rhajastan and yes, I *KNOW* it's gonna be hot and wet): my photographer friend Ryosuke (aka Suzan). Yay. Was gonna try to get to Paris, Spain and Morocco too but my budget is too thin...

* Ran into Mayuko at Nakano Station today. She just got back from Australia where she's been living with InnocentGirl (who will be back in Japan in May for design festa - so excited!) and Poppa, and also visited my brothers place in Port Douglas where my nephews dragged her from room to room showing off their anime-related paraphernalia... We caught the train to Kichijoji together.

* Managed to climb back up on the moderation wagon after my little fall off it last week (and my, what a fabulous fall it was). Am expecting that the emerging cherry blossoms and their associated debauchery will lure me back off that wagon again shortly.... (and I ain't complainin!)

* Went into Kichijoji Tipness gym today for a scout. Think I'm gonna sign up. Not sure if I should mention the tattoo's, but it does seem way more laid back than my old uptight gym so maybe this time it won't be a problem. I'm hopeful after seeing Amy's comment on the situation.

* Signed up for the Double White plan with Softbank today. The clerk told me my monthly bill will only be around ¥3500 p.m. now since most of my friends are on softbank. Hope she was right... part of the deal is that you are locked in to this plan for 6 months. They better not come out with the triple white plan next....

* The women who have sub-let Charlene's room for the month are lovely. They cooked me a big Japanese dinner tonight. They are a mother and daughter. The daughter has lived in Canada with her Canadian husband for about 6 years now but has come back for a particularly soulful reason. She's been diagnosed with a chronic bone marrow disease that usually doesn't hit westerners till they get quite old. But it's very common in young Japanese people. It's like having a ticking time bomb inside your body, because - as she told me - it's not a matter of if, but WHEN the disease will transform into chronic leukaemia and then you have about 2 months to live from that change. So she's here - not only for a more complete treatment and support (based on the sheer numbers of sufferers here), but to spend time with her Mum, family members and friends here in Tokyo - and, best of all, to enjoy hanami with them. She's a strong woman.

* And at the opposite end of the spectrum, some really good friends of mine are expecting their first baby... So exciting!

... and life goes on.

frangipani wrote this on March 16, 2007 1:51 AM