10 July 2017
I initially booked last October to enjoy the Australian summer - over Christmas - but Jelly went and fell off the 3F rooftop. (Yuzuru & I are convinced that the crows tried to attack him…) After a very expensive operation - ¥500,000 in one payment! - Jelly ended up with two bicycle chains and some wires in his back left leg. So, long story short - Yuzuru and I stayed at a dear friend’s apartment because we had Airbnb’d ours.
So there we were, the 3 of us. Cold and miserable in Japan but my mind was in Australia. The highlight was the Costco Christmas lunch.
After a few pushy emails and some grotesque x-rays attached, I managed to rebook for July - in winter! In preparation, I downloaded some music. I never do this as I figure I can just talk to Yuzuru but he’s working and holding down the fort. (We also had to move when I returned. Jelly isn’t a secret anymore and the psychopath downstairs keeps banging his hammer against the walls. He IS the most expensive cat in the world.) My point being that my theme for the trip would be easy listening and mostly inspired by 70s soul and funk.
Childish Gambino - Awaken my Love
Bootsy Colllins - Back in the Day
Lee Fields & The Expressions - My World
The XX - I see You
Jetstar has a reputation for being ‘budget’ but it’s as spacious as Qatar Airlines and Emirates. Having to pay to watch a movie and food is a bit cheeky considering this trip has cost the same as going home to South Africa.
I’ve just finished my dinner; roast chicken with peas and carrots. I could hear my mother saying, “Try one. Make your mother happy.” I did and I gagged. This was much to the disgust of the two duty-free-perfumed-doused-pride-and-prejudice-reading-yong-hipsters to my right. Holy moly… I’ve just made myself feel really old.
The flight was really long, turbulent and mostly boring BUT all good stories need a prologue of sorts...right?
P.S Writing this journal/memoir of my trip was interesting. I am not a writer. I didn’t think that it would be any good but at least I didn’t look like an idiot eating alone - because I would be writing - in fancy cursive - in a minimalist book, feeling very educated and intelligent.
P.P.S The book started shedding pages one day into the trip.
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