2025 Week 3: Moldy

OK. I'm already 2 days late for my weekly blog post, so I'll try to write a quick one. Well, there's nothing much to say really. This past week I've just been sitting here getting moldy and stale. 

On the job front, I went for 2 late-stage interviews, and they were vastly different. One was in a bar over a tower of beer, talking about bisexuality and bubble tea, among a lot of non-work related topics. The other was a panel of 10 managers with Spanish Inquisition vibes. I hope I get an offer soon.

The most depressing event this week was claiming my free personal training session at the yoga studio. I thought I was good at yoga but the instructor told me that I was only at beginner level with hardly any core or arm strength. I was puzzled, given that I have been practising yoga for about 14 years - she said I had as good as wasted all these years. It would've been nice if all this negging was a show to get me to sign up for more PT lessons, but I suspect she's right. Probably time for me to try other exercises.

Thinking I should savour the last few days/weeks (?) of unemployment, I went to IKEA on Thursday to park my ass and read Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere. I love the constant snide remarks at Chinese people.

I've been going out and eating out a lot. I sort of enjoy the lifestyle but I feel like it isn't doing much for my sense of well-being.

Jon was busy with work and family crises last week, just as I was in limbo and feeling mopey and needy. Realised how much I depend on him for emotional support. It's OK, I will depend on Gerald the Tapir for support when Jon is not free.

Sent off the very last of the bunnies from an extremely prolonged rabbit boarding season! Today I finally got to clean the room (soooo much dust and fur) and start getting it ready for our housesitter...

Not sure it's a legit project or just a useful distraction, but I have been working on the itinerary for our Japan Nakasendo Way trip in April. After we land in Tokyo, we are first going to spend a day in Kawasaki for Kanamara Matsuri (Penis Festival). For the Nakasendo part we'll head out from our Takasaki hotel and walk through the Usui Pass to Karuizawa, where we'll spend a couple of nights. Then spend the next few days wandering through the Kiso Valley post-towns: Narai, Kiso-Fukushima, Nagiso, Tsumago, and Magome. Finally, we'll emerge into Nakatsugawa, walk to Ena, then walk to Okute-juku, before going back to civilisation. In the last few days we'll hang out in Osaka (skipping Kyoto) before flying home via Kansai airport.

Planning this kind of multi-day itinerary has been a pain. My original idea was to walk the Nakasendo almost like a pilgrimage, walking with our packs and spending the night in an inn on the road. But the lack of accommodation options in the Kiso Valley meant we have to take trains and buses around too. Oh well, I'm still quite happy with it and pleased that everything is booked. Now I "just" need to figure out the ideal outfit for the 14-day trip. Yes, one outfit (okay, maybe 2), because I plan to walk around with a nearly empty bag.

All right, that's it from me. Hoping for some sunshine this week.