Thursday, March 29, 2012

feverish

 Our son sleeps in our bed with a bit of a fever...
Meanwhile, our daughter stirs as she gradually awakes from her long nap.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Métis dance

I attended a luncheon where there was some dancing performed by kids from the local Métis community...


Tuesday, March 27, 2012

care package

The box of goodies I sent from Nagoya, including snacks and toys for the kids as well as a variety of furikake and other trinkets arrived quite a bit faster than I had expected... in just over a week.

Among them is a recent book of illustrated diary entries by 94 year old Masazo Takenami, who has diligently kept a continuous "enikki (picture diary)" for over 56 years. (This TV show segment talks about him getting published.)

I am deeply and profoundly humbled...

Sunday, March 25, 2012

YVR on the way home


Exhausted, waiting for the plane in Vancouver for the final leg of my journey home...


Friday, March 23, 2012

Hoshigaoka, Nagoya

A view from Hoshigaoka Terrace, a stylish urban commercial development in suburban Nagoya, looking towards a winding side street that leads up a hill.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Rokkoyo Coffee Shop, take 3

My favourite coffee shop yet again...

(older views here and here.)

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Meito-ku streetscapes

Three streetscapes in Meito Ward, Nagoya...


1. A typical street in Tsutsujigaoka, near an older suburban,  predominantly residential area.


2. Atop what used to be a wooded hill (but is now a residential neighbourhood) in Bunkyodai. Inokoshi Baptist Church, where I worshipped during my stay in Nagoya, looks out north towards Moriyama Ward.

3. A denser streetscape by the Fujigaoka subway station, on my way to an onsen in the neighbouring city of Nagakute.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

eateries, part 2

One of the eateries I`ve found close by the apartment is a place called "Machikado-ya", which serves Japanese "Teishoku" meals at a very reasonable price. Although the clientele remains the same (i.e. working class men who come alone for a quick meal), this chain has a much cleaner and contemporary feel than the typical family run, hole-in-the-wall teishoku establishment. The location I visited (twice) features a series of tables located at the centre of the space, incorporating some subtle design considerations that address this particular customer base...

Thursday, March 8, 2012

eateries... part 1

 A late lunch at a small noodle place, run by a family from Taiwan...the food was good, cheap, and came quickly.




Monday, March 5, 2012

packing boxes

A pile of boxes full of stuff, stuff, and more stuff in a room at the apartment...

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Narita Express

Travelling on the Narita Express from the airport to connect to another train... it`s too bad I was travelling at night as there was practically no view outside, but the train was empty and allowed for a moment of self reflection.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

siblings

A rare opportunity to get both kids into the same sketch as they nap together on a Saturday afternoon...