Hooray it's moving time

I have been hunting for a different apartment and have finally made up my mind. The desire to move is motivated mainly by the neighbours. Simple solution - move.
I love the new place and have visited twice - the paper work is now in progress. My current apartment is starting to look very disorganised as everything is making it's way into a box or 30 boxes as they case may be!!!
It's still a few weeks before the actual move but I just wanted to get started to reassure myself that it was really happening.
The pictures don't really show how great I think the new place is but it's a start.

Coco Farm Wine Festival

On Saturday 20th November after a walk, then a train ride, then a bus with 95 folks from the Tokyo Gaijin Club we reached the location of the Coco Farm Wine Festival on a gloriously sunny day in Japan.






We arrived just after 10am which was perfect timing. We eagerly sought out a great picnic spot for the day in amongst the vines with 1000's of other cheerful folk. The live music was great, the food delicious and fantastic company.
Thanks to Eddy, Kaori and Rebecca for a awesome day out.
Around 4.30pm we headed off in the bus to a great onsen to soak in the delightful hot tubs, followed by more food.

Still running

Today did a great morning run, well at least I moved forward even if not running for 18 km according to my mental calculations.
Still haven't bothered to purchase something that will in fact record how far I run. Perhaps I'd be in for a huge shock and don't at all run 18km!!!!
Not sure if I have posted this but I didn't get into the Tokyo marathon. Never mind plenty of other opportunities in life to show off my running skills .... ha ha
In fact no one I know was lucky enough to get into the event so we are planning our own event for Saturday 26th February 2011.
That's motivation to keep training.

Secondly I can't believe that I have almost been in Japan for 12 months. I arrived Jan 4th (from memory) 6-7 weeks and it will be one year. Well, time does fly when busy. So much stuff to do here.
Hoping to get some skiing done this season - day trips from Tokyo will do it just nicely.

Osezaki walk

Found the time whilst at Osezaki to go off exploring and discovered the temple. The large pond contained heaps of those hungry giant gold fish. Lovely views. Mt Fuji was shrouded in misty cloud. Great day.

Diving at Osezaki

Set off early Saturday 13th November with dive gear on the bus. Caught a train from Yokohama. Sometime later arrived at Izu Nagaoka. Whisked off in a mini van with 5 others by 9:15am and 30 mins later arrived at Osezaki Dive location.
Thanks Jim for organising a great day out. The Dry Suit which had been in the cupboard for the last 7 years (at least) flooded although due to the warm clothing I was wearing underneath it wasn't that bad and I had a great little dive. I'll get the dry suit seals replaced and be back in the water through the winter - sure!!!!






Each group at the beach carefully secures their plot by placing a blue tarp on their area. It's early winter and there were lots of divers. This place must be crazy in the summer.