Briefly for I must dash...

Good evening, morning, night...whatever time line you are on, I say to you HELLO!!! Well, it's been a long week, punctuated with sessions in the gym and long nights in front of the computer woking on the endless number of photos from Hokkaido. I hadn't realized I had taken so many. I am only half way through so it'll be a bit longer yet avesphiles!! Also, some more scenic images for all you avesphobes but alas, no photos of me...my apolgies to all my fans. To be perfectly honest, I saw myself in the mirror today and by Christ I've aged. I don't mean Sean Connery-esque, I'm talking Freddie Krueger-esque!!! The bags under my eyes are big enough to cast shadows on the floor. JH, you can stop cheering now and jumping up and down..yes they are as big, if not bigger and blacker than yours.

As my 'puter is starting to act a bit funny (it's ok JW, all the photos are backed up on my iPod! RAW images and all) so I'm bringing it to the Applestore in the morning. I have to be in Shinsaibashi anyway, an appointment I can't break...all will be divulged in due course. So fingers crossed the 'puter is ok. It's still under warranty.

The week that was involved Valentine's Day (christ, what a painful day) which is HUGE here. I like the way it is done here though. The chicks, sorry I mean the ladies give gifts to the men and the men don't have to do anything at all!! BRILLIANT! So, as I was at work all day, all I witnessed was the secretaries giving choccies to the sensai's and a couple of other of the old fellas. It was hilarious. Of course, every male got a box of chocolates. It is done so that nobody is left out. In that respect it is good as it can be harsh for the school kids when they don't get a card or whatever. Jayzus, being a teenager was tough, eh?! Now I can hear all the feminists out there jeering this day but you will all be glad to know that in March there is White Day. This is the opposite day to Val's Day where the men buy the girlies gifts. Traditionally it is marshmallows but now that the westernization of Japan is slowly happening in some traditional aspects, lingerie and whatnot (disgusting) is the favourite puchase.

Culture lesson over. Off to Ishikawa on Saturday night with Neil. It's a 6 hour drive so we are leaving 1-2am to get there for dawn. Should be good day's birding. By the way, my budding career in photojournalism is taking shape. My article is published and for public consumption. It's going down very well so I am well chuffed. I still haven't seen it though.

Am off to bed now. Have a good weekend and I'll see you soon....

Carmo's Diet: this week, I have mostly been eating chocolate...the travesty

Carmo's Birds: being edited

Carmo's Bird for Byrdy: Grace Kelly...simply beautiful