Knight On 2.0

Not as good as the original post: http://youknowhowpeopletalk.wordpress.com/2014/12/11/knight-on/

But this is my response. The new technological version – better than a Kindle. (I still love books too)

Just got this game on 3ds – seems pretty cool.

Preparing and Packing

Just been looking at the last minute arrangements and onto the sucky task of packing (which I’ll actually leave til the last minute). In terms of preparing it has been a few simple things – double checking flight times, making sure passports haven’t disappeared, logged my details with smart traveller, checking hotel bookings, etc. All the stuff that has actually been done in terms of preparing months ago and just really clarifying that I haven’t forgotten anything major.

I have however been mentally preparing by pouring over last years holiday photos, looking at the holiday snaps of a work colleague who went a few months ago and by immersing myself in Japan media. I’m reading “Musashi” by Eiji Yoshikawa, playing “Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies” on 3DS; “Total War: Shogun 2” on PC and watching some anime such as our Studio Ghibli favourites and new ones like “Akira”.

Some sage advice from Shogun 2

 

 It’s hard to truly describe some of the things in Ace Attorney

Today I had to “pack away” our feline friend, Pippi. She will be staying at a Cattery for a couple of weeks. Taking her there and hearing her little mews breaks my heart. I’m certain she will be kept well and she will enjoy her time, if she’s not already totally indifferent, but it didn’t make it any easier.

Get thee to a cattery!!

 She really doesn’t like car trips. Each mew was heartbreaking.

After “packing” the cat and essentially shipping her off (I wish we could take her with us, I’m certain the Japanese would love her – she’s freaking adorable!), her heartbreaking mews made me feel a bit down in the dumps and reflective. Why am I going on this holiday? What was the point? Why not just stay at home and stay warm and snuggled with the cat? These reflections really got to me, so on the way home, I though I’d try to get into the ‘sightseeing spirit’, so a very short detour took me to a largely forgotten ‘site’ near where I live. I went there for a few minutes to just think on things. It was a bit brisk, so I didn’t stay all that long.

 

A migrant from England, Sir Henry Parkes became actively involved in the politics of New South Wales. He was Premier (“Prime Minister”) 5 times and is most famously known for a speech he gave called the “Tenterfield Address” and for being one of the forerunners in the Federation movement (the proposed unification of the colonies into the nation we now know as Australia). Parkes died in 1896 at the age of 80, 5 years before Federation was to come into effect.

The brisk morning, and the whole prospect of visiting a grave made for good reflection time. Remember how much you loved Japan last time? Think of all the things you have booked and are looking forward to! The cat will be fine! (this was actually my main concern if I’m being honest).

After the morning reflection, I headed home, invigorated for the upcoming holiday. I took a little look at some of the knick knacks we picked up last time that we’ve displayed in our house. This made me more excited for the trip. Ready to go!! (Not ready to pack though).

Tokugawa Ieyasu would be disappointed by my weakness.