Day 65 - I know I'm turning Japanese

The first time I ate fermented soy beans, AKA natto, and liked it, I thought I was turning
Japanese.

When I called a guy at 6.30 am each morning just to help him get up, I thought I was turning into Japanese. When I first craved things from the sea with eyes, not chocolate, as comfort food, I thought I was turning Japanese.

But yesterday, I knew for sure that I had really turned Japanese. I heeded my body's call to rest, biked to the hot spring onsen, Niwa no yu at Toshimaen, and chilled for a few hours. Finally felt good in a bikini! Yay! Got a PCP-ish meal of grilled squid, vegetable curry, and rice and then slept in front of a big window looking out onto Spring greenery. Listened in smug contentment to the rain outside. Felt less smug when I realized I didn't have rain gear for the ride home. None to be had in the shops round Toshimaen, so I bought a cheapo brolly and rode home clasping it in one hand.

Riding bikes one handed, as well as balancing side-saddle on the back of a bike, is something I often see here, but rarely saw in the UK. I don't think I could have done it pre-PCP. The body-resistance exercises we do are about integrating the different muscles, getting them talking to each other. This means we'll be able to move around gracefully and smoothly. I wonder what muscles I needed to ride home on slippery roads with only one hand...I felt proud anyway.

The low is that even though we are on a three-day national holiday, I am struggling with my body's classic sign to slow down - a bad throat. Obviously, the bike ride in the rain wasn't a good idea! Slept for close to 12 hours yesterday in preparation for reading the lunchtime news at NHK. I'll blog more about the relationship between my radio work and PCPing another time!

Good to see those on Day 65 going strong! Let's keep our eyes on the peak!