vera_j

My best friend K has moved to Vancouver 2 years ago for her husband's job. Before moving to Canada she has lived in Yokohama too, we have often enjoyed eating out together, the easy chatting, one day outing or overnight trips together, sometimes with her husband. I have missed her company, and whenever she comes back to Japan we make as many opportunities to meet as we can. This year, K has been to Japan at the middle of this month for some medical checkup etc, and was going to stay for about I month. We have planned an overnight trip at the beginning of Aug and I booked a nice, small lodging. Also I have expected eating out with her often during her stay in Japan.

Though, just before her coming back to Japan, her father has become unwell and was taken to the hospital. He is 97 or 98 I think, so this is quite serious situation. For about 10 days K's father has gone in and out of the hospital, his condition gets better and gets worse day by day. Nobody knows how his condition would change.

In such situation of course K cannot enjoy outing for fun, nor overnight trip. I had to cancel the hotel and paid the cancellation fee. I was disappointed of course, but no other choice in such case. The is no one's fault.

I still have not met her yet, no idea when I can. I noticed how I have been looking forward to K's visit, and that I have no other friends with whom I can enjoy casual eating out or an overnight trip etc. I have many good friends but most of them live far away, usually I can't meet them easily. I think about my own poverty of friendship :(

katriona_s

There is a security camera outside of the entrance door of our house. It records continuously, and when I checked the recorded video, sometimes I find our garden cats walking around or relaxing on the ground. Recently I watched the video and found one of our garden cats relaxing on the concrete paved space at the entrance to the house after midnight, his eyes were glowing in the dark. Then! Suddenly 2 animals, far bigger than cat appeared in the video! They passed in front of the cat and walked into our garden !!! And the cat was just watching them walking through, both of them showed no particular interests in each other, it seemed. The 2 animals looked to be racoons, 3 minutes later they came out of the garden and walked back - again passed right in front of the cat and gone. X( X( X(

At least I felt relieved to see the cat and racoons kept the distance (but just 1.5 meter!) and showed no aggressive attitude. But, I wonder, for what the racoons have been to my garden!?!?

katriona_s

Some photos from my trip to Hokkaido. Part 2.

On my 3rd day, I enjoyed cycling with the local guide. We started from a small town, first ran on the cycling trail in the woods, then the route went up the hills. There are wide meadows and pastures in that area of Hokkaido, wonderful view under the blue sky and white clouds. I rode an electric bicycle so it's not difficult to go up and down the hills. From time to time I saw the herd of cows. Very photogenic :) And just pedaling a bicycle on a fine day was quite a fun!

4th day, on my last day I had a whole morning so took a local bus to visit the popular "photogenic" place - "the white road".

This is just a small road going down to the shore from the hill, though there seemed to be a very clever one who had thought of paving the road with the white shells of scallop which is the famous local product (but the shells were just wastes). The view of the white road with shell pavement between the green woods, heading for the blue sea is very beautiful, especially under the blue sky, many tourists visit here.

After walking on the white road for a while I again took the bus going back to the town. I still had some time before going to the airport, thus visited the local shrine or local small confectionery.

And, between the shrine and the shop I met this XD

It was enjoying eating the fallen leaves on the roadside. A car happened to pass it (thoughtfully, very slowly)but the deer was not frightened at all XD

After the meeting (!) with this deer I took a bus going to the airport, and left Hokkaido in the afternoon. It was a short but very nice trip. :)

katriona_s

Every day, the strong sunshine, some winds if fortunate, the high temperature and humidity. In such heat the animals living outdoors must have severe time. Our garden cats do, of course.

It’s too hot to sit in a proper position…

katriona_s

In the first half of July I visited the north part of Hokkaido for my summer holiday. I flew to Wakkanai, the northernmost Japanese city (except Southern Karafuto - now called Sakhalin - which has been illegally occupied by USSR then Russia for 80 years after WW2). The purpose of my trip was kayaking, walking and cycling in the wilderness, and I was quite fortunate about the weather during my stay. With the beautiful blue sky, the river, beach, marshland, hills & meadows looked all beautiful :) I post some of the photos here.

From the plane window I could see Rishiri island with its famous Mt.Rishiri - usually called Rishiri-Fuji because of its beautiful shape similar to Mt.Fuji.)

On the first day I visited an old house near Wakkanai Station. This house is not very old, built in early 50s when the fishery was very active and made big money in Wakkanai, by a successful shipowner and businessman. The outside of the house did not look smart, because of the severe winter climate I believe, but the inside was very nice. The room plan, the design of the details, old lamps and furniture ... they were all wonderful and it's enjoyable to look around.

The big chimney looked very unique, we don't have it in the most part of Japan. Of course they needed it in this north town when there was no modern heating system.

There was a nice private garden inside of the fence, some Japanese rooms were facing the garden.

In some rooms they recreated the "life in old days".

On the 2nd day, in the morning I enjoyed kayaking with the local guide on a small river falling into Sea of Japan.

The river is running in the national park area so it's quite tranquil with no buildings nor big roads nearby, I saw many beautiful birds and flowers.

Then we paddled to the mouth of the river. From the beach I could see Rishiri-Fuji right in front of us - very grand view.

There is a narrow sandbar separating the mouth of the river and the sea, so the surface of the river was calm and easy to paddle. We landed the sandbar and enjoyed a short break with tea and sweet :D

After the kayaking the guide took me to a small but very nice local cafe to have lunch, then in the afternoon we visited Sarobetsu plain or marshes. There is a long, nice wooden walking paths from which we can see the various interesting plants. When I visited there, a kind of iris flowers were blooming.

The great spread of the plain and the quietude were really precious...

katriona_s

Now I'm sorting and retouching the photos of my trip to Hokkaido. As usual, I have taken too many photos and also, the kayaking & cycling cycling guide has sent me the data of beautiful photos he took on the trip - his photos are very professional and very difficult to choose which I should print. This is an enjoyable task, but also tires my eyes much. I like making the album of my travel photos but before enjoying it I need to do this task with so many digital data... XD

katriona_s

After a few days of very changeable gloomy weather with heat, today finally we have sunshine - and it’s the summer sun! Strong and hot… My strained back has gotten better still I’m quite careful about moving, looking around or walking up and down the stairs. I’m not in the best physical condition, and maybe because of the summer heat, I often feel tired, and tend to doze off when I’m sitting in the local bus, in my armchair after supper, or even in the office XD. It’s quite difficult to do something after supper, in the evening of workday.

When I was young, or just 10 years ago, summer was not the time of patience but the time of adventure, going out and excitement… but this sleepiness might just mean I’m getting older X(

katriona_s

Tele-working day. The weather was odd all day, quite changeable. Sudden heavy rain, cloudy, some slight sun, then strong rain again... Very unsettled weather. It tells us the annual rainy season has not ended yet :( Without sunshine the temperature was notary high. maybe below 30°C even around noon but the humidity was very high all day, I have easily sweated much :( So I had to turn on the air conditioner. Maybe my rabbit might be happy with it X)

elayna

Is it tacky to use a friend's husband for fanfic? Let me explain!

So I am somewhat embarrassed, having heard all my life about the Appalachian Trail, that I didn't know the west coast has a similar trek, the Pacific Crest Trail, from the border with Mexico, up through California, Oregon, and Washington, until reaching the Canadian border. A friend's husband started walking it mid-April, so I'd heard a bit about his planning and have been following his hike on Tumblr.
(https://www.tumblr.com/robpct2025) He's gone over 1000 miles already.

It makes me realize that this is something I would never have been capable of doing and will never try now, but go him!

At some point on the trail, he was given the sobriquet of Lighthouse. He's a tall man with a light on his hat, it was getting dark and other hikers used his light to see their way. Trail nickname! (This is apparently a special naming that happens for some people but not everyone.)

Of course, I had to think of Liam's 6'4" height. QUINN. Hiking the trail by himself. He's always wanted to do it and has taken a sabbatical for it. He's in his mid-40s, he figures he should get it done soon. He comes up on three hikers, young people in their 20s, moving a bit slower than him. Normally he politely passes slower hikers, but it's getting late and dark and he's looking for the next good spot to pitch his tent for the night. He chats with them a bit, sensing a bit of discord between them, but flattered when they begin calling him Lighthouse. Trail nickname has come to him!

They reach a good flat area and decide to camp side by side. He's taking a detour soon to meet up with his friend Mace, get more supplies, maybe sleep overnight in a motel and have a long, proper shower. He shares the rest of his candy. The young men seem fairly well organized but also certainly not perfectly, they didn't have his two extra decades of contemplation and reading about other people's successful treks.

One of them in particular (of course!) catches his attention. Ben, with his easy smile and changeable grey-blue-green eyes. He's the most diplomatic of the three and it seems like he's been playing referee a lot.

All goes well, it's nice to have real conversation over a meal after several weeks already of being mostly alone.

In the morning, they share breakfast and pack up. Does tragedy strike so that the other two bail, leaving Ben alone? Does Ben then end up hiking the rest of the trip with Quinn? Of course he does! Hours pass by where they silently walk, simply enjoying each other's company, but they also share long, thoughtful conversations and really get to know each other in a way that's deeper and more meaningful than casually getting to know each other in a city.

And of course, sex under the stars, in a tent, in a waterfall...

I probably won't try to write that, but it's been amusing to contemplate whenever I look at the pics on Tumblr. Such gorgeous scenery, it's so easy to see the boys enjoying it.

Fanfic everything!

katriona_s

Last night, it seems ,I had strained my back. It's not serious(thankfully!) but I have difficulty to bend forward - I can do it just slowly and carefully :( And, it's a bit tiring to just sit down in front of my computer in the office & do my usual job, the slight pain distracts my concentration on my job ( ; _ ; )

I know I'm no longer young ... X(

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Page generated Jul. 27th, 2025 11:47 pm

Reading

Friend's family matter

cat and racoons

Trip to Hokkaido 2

On a hot day, on the wooden verandah

Trip to Hokkaido 1

travel photos

Summer sleepiness

The changeable weather

Fannish Fifty 2025 #28 fanfic everything!

Physical problem :(

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February 2024

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