Rainy Season

It's officially rainy season now which means not only getting wet (of course) but being eaten alive by insects and needing a shower as soon as you've just had one. Everybody here moans about rainy season and I fear I will turn into one of them. One of my main complaints is the sheer numbers of umbrellas that suddenly appear as soon as there is a speck of rain in the air. Here in Japan, it seems, there is no such thing as a raincoat and certainly no such thing as an attitude of "grin and bearing it" ("musn't grumble" !!). Walking down the street is hazardous these days, fraught with the worry that I might at any moment lose an eye.

There, a good whinge always makes me feel better.

Oh no, I have realised that I have another moan coming....I was victim recently to Japan's most common crime - bike theft!! My bike was locked up and parked outside my house when I left it in the evening, but no longer there in the morning. I was fuming! Having got used to such low levels of serious crime and such honesty here (found wallets and other valuables are very rarely stolen and almost always handed in with no money taken), it made me even more stroppy to have fallen prey to such petty crime! Anyway, I have a new one now and a better lock. However, when I reported it to the police (and spent one hour there late that evening filling in paperwork etc), the police had to get me to sign some documents. In Japan though they don't use signatures but rather their own personalised ink stamp. Refusing to accept a signature I was fingerprinted! Apparently it doesn't have the negative connotations that it has in England, but I felt almost ashamed for having to do it in the police station with glass windows open for the world to see!!

Also..went to see The Da Vinci Code when it came out. Was decidedly underwhelmed by the whole thing. Haven't read the book though.
Watched Dragon Boat racing in Yokohama. Although spent most of the time picnicking and chatting on the grass, not watching the races.
Waltched the England football game. I am able to see the early matches which start at about 10pm here, but the later ones are too late for me. Not that bothered but am off to the pub tonight to support Japan against Australia.
Gambatte Japan!