192/365: Jan 12 2009. Today was a public holiday for "coming of age" day - lot's f pretty little 20 years olds tottering around in their gorgeous long sleeved kimono's and white faux furs. My friend/student Keiko and I had an adventure at Odawara Castle, then on to Yumoto in Hakone to visit Tenzan Onsen. Ate some great food, drank amezake and blissed out in the rotenburo. AH, life is good. This photo was taken in the grounds of Odawara Castle, where I got really sad about the poor elephant kept in a tiny cement enclosure there.

193/365: Jan 13 2009. I took a break from my private English lessons and packing to drop into Guy Perryman's little studio in Harajuku to take some photos for him for the new year. His assisant these days (well, one of them), is our very own Masao from Tokyomade. It was a fun afternoon, and after the shoot Masao and I met up with Deanne (very surprised to see me) after she finished a photo shoot of her own and we went for coffee at the stupidly overpriced and poorly serviced Fujimama's. Why it is such a mecca for the expat community is beyond me.

194/365: Jan 14 2009. Things are trickling out of my house a little every day. Today my friend Nathan and his roomie came by to take my dryer away. They live in Asagaya, and planned to just walk the dryer home via the train. As they left my house, shuffling along on either side of the dryer, they were discussing options, and agreed that whatever happened, it would certainly be an adventure. Ah, oldskool. That's the way to do it.

195/365: Jan 15 2009. I did a photo shoot for Sarah at her place, with Jeanette Emery (Style Smart Sensei) as stylist and makeup artist. It was a lot of fun and I got to try out pink eye shadow and decided I like it and am gonna buy some and wear it everyday from now on. Watch out people! Image change.

196/365: Jan 16 2009. I wore pink eye shadow to Mint, my beloved hair salon for our last hair appointment together. Misaki and I have been teacher/student, hairdresser/client for 5 years now. I have taught pretty much all her staff English at various times. They tell me I am part of the Mint Family. We have a sayonara party scheduled in 2 weeks. That one is going to be SAD. They have also booked me to come in and act as a makeup model for them as they practice 1960's style makeup since they don't get a chance to practice makeup on foreign models (we have such different eyes and skin) - that's in my last week in Tokyo, in Feb, when I am officially on holidays and all my things will be already on their way to Australia.

197/365: Jan 17 2009. Hiroko and I taught together at the high school. We caught up over a Nepalese dinner in Kichijoji for a few hours. The school English Department are planning a sayonara dinner for me next week even though I haven't worked there for a year. Aren't they sweeeeeeet. Can't wait to see them all again, it's been a while.

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