Fingers and toes freezing...

Today is such a fine day... sunny, little wind, and a warm 13 degrees.
Still, the temperatures in the morning were somewhat too severe for me.
As I cycled to work this morning, ooh, my little fingers and toes... I felt they were freezing away.
Just then, a schoolboy approached me from the opposite side.
He was cycling, and he wore only short-sleeves and long pants.
Oh my, I said to myself, I must be getting too old for this cold.
As you see, I am wearing two layers of 'long johns', two layers of socks, and five layers of clothes for the upper body.
How I wish I can zoom back and forth from Malaysia in my daily routine here...
And to hear of forecasts saying that another cold front is coming around the corner...

Starting new blog... (updated)

I have merged all my writings and photos posted in different blogs into the one and only original blog at Kedahan-Malaysian in Japan...  (31st March 2010)

******

Am starting a 'new' blog by the same name, but with a new url at http://kmij.blogspot.com/

Among the few reasons is that, I am technically unable to remove Haloscans from my 'old' blog. 

Please link to Kedahan-Malaysian in Japan Ver. 2 for the latest updates...

New year, new broom...

Happy new year to whoever passes this way...
2010, and I should be hitting 52 come July... yooohooo...
As some of my friends may suspect, this is a 'new' blog in more ways than one.
Along with probably loads of bloggers, I think we were played out by Haloscan who held us ransom: upgrade or else...
To tell the truth, I was not blogging as often as I should for the past few months.

The last post was in September 2009 (see my 'old' blog for more).
To tell more truth, I am utterly hopeless with html stuff... so, there is no way that I can possibly remove haloscans from my old blog.
Tried I did, but ooh, no way...

So, the least painful way is to start a 'new' blog, using a new url but the same blog header 'Kedahan-Malaysian in Japan'...

Yes, the new year... I look forward to enjoying my garden for sure...

and spending quiet days and nights with my wife...

And, more active blogging... heeheee...

Hmm... this new blog.... 'KMiJ Version 2' it shall be?

Ah... the pics... we actually spent the end of last year in Malaysia, doing things official or otherwise. We returned to a rather barren, cold, and not very lively garden. But in the midst of it all, there were jewels to be found.
The red raspberries is always a lovely addition to the yoghurt. Ummm... nice... And what joy it was to dig into the soil for those handsome morsels of a potato! As you can see, the roots are still intact... I still have one more bed-full of potatoes to sink my claws into this coming weekend. I harvested about 6 kilos and I expected to have a similar volume in a few days time... wooh...

Outstation at Gotanda

Am now in Tokyo, putting up the night at a business hotel at Gotanda.
The room is naturally, extremely small.
There is a bed, semi-double no doubt, a desk, chair, a unit-bath, and some other accessories.

Been on out-station trips for the last four weekends; three to Tokyo and one to Kumamoto.
Attending seminars upon seminars, that is.
Can be quite tiring, but work is work.

Felt a bit sad that Michael Jackson passed away at such a early age.
I think he was also born in 1958.
Such a waste of talent to leave so soon.

Shall fly back home tomorrow, back to my vegetable garden.
The corn is growing big and the birds are eyeing them.
Harvested some kang kong the other day... really tasty.
The basil plants are super healthy, so are the chillies.
Can't wait to dig my fingers into the soil.

Goodies from the local fish market

Had the honor and pleasure of hosting lunch for three of my former mentors and their wives at our home the other day. They are either in their late sixties or early seventies and are still very healthy-looking. The event gave rise to an opporturnity for us to zoom to the Sunday fish market hosted by local fishermen. Here are some of our 'catches' for the day.

We bought two packets of these super fresh mini squids. They are just about the size of a thumb and it was our first time to see such tiny squids. Locally, they are called 'dango ika', or 'ball' squid if I may say. The fishermen advised us to cook them in sweet soy sauce, with ginger and garlic. But after slurping down one of them while my missus was washing them, I said we have to serve them as they are... fresh and raw. Yummy, I must say. Think I must have gulped down about ten of them that day.

We also grabbed a sizable flounder straight from the tank. Had one of the fishermen cut it up into sashimi. Not very professional in presentation if compared to a real chef's but the taste was marvellous. Also picked up an interesting item called 'pen shells' or 'fan shells' (according to internet sources). It tasted quite like scallops, only crunchier. And extremely tasty.

After bidding goodbye to our guests in the late afternoon, I gazed up the sky and good heavens, what a sight to end the day.