the3six5 Project

I wrote a blog post today, actually, I guess I'm writing two, but the first one was for a project called the3six5 Project. It's such brilliant, yet simple, idea. For every day of the year, someone, somewhere, writes a blog post. They are all posted on this site, and present to the world a huge melting pot of people everywhere. They are funny, sad, sweet, touching, personal, outrageous - anything and everything. 

It was brought to my attention by Aaron Bateman via Twitter, and seeing that they wanted people for 2011, I thought 'sod it, I'll give it a go.' Why not. The post can only be up to 365 words long, and can pretty much be about whatever you want (within the obvious limits). A wonderful concept. 

So here it is. My March 13th 2011.

I slept terribly last night. I’m a very light sleeper, so if I wake during the night (3am on this occasion) then I know it’s due to an external influence, as opposed to, say, a bad dream. Last night, it was a smoke alarm. A smoke alarm that had run out of battery so suddenly, that it had apparently bypassed the usual brain shattering beep and instead moved on to a dull, pathetic yet piercing ‘tick’. Comparisons of water torture abound, suffice to say it resonated around my skull while I decided it would be easier to close the bedroom door rather than find the source, as is so often the case in the early hours.

Sleep affects my state of mind so much. Just yesterday, as I cycled home from the centre of Copenhagen, I quite literally let myself be bathed in spring; the smell of the air, the positively palatable taste of the season, and the odd fact that even though the light may just be ever so slightly different, things look completely transformed. I caught myself in one of those rare moments when you suddenly realise that everything is going to be OK. Wonderfully – and unusually – I stayed in this frame of mind for the rest of the day. Life was just blissful.

Enter smoke alarm.

Today, life is still great – really it is – but I’m weary. While it may still be spring, it’s not as bright as yesterday. My body, normally alive after a trip to the gym, is heavy, and my mind is occupied with presentations and work for the coming week. Maybe if I traced my bicycle ride from yesterday, and let the spring air flow over me, maybe then I’d find the joy from yesterday. Maybe if I just went for a walk, and thought positive thoughts. Maybe if I closed my computer, and met up with a friend. Maybe if I sat with my love, and let her tell me how lucky we are. Maybe if I just lay down on the bed, closed my eyes, and told myself that everything – everything – is going to be OK. Maybe then I’d let myself go.

Japanese Goodies

I recently received a box of goodies from my friend Stuart who lives in Japan with his lovely wife, Ryoko. Japanese goodies. He said he'd be posting it before Christmas, but Christmas got in the way, and to be honest I wasn't sure when or even if he was going to post it. So, it's arrival today was a complete surprise. 

It's possibly the most bizarre present I've ever got. Two years ago my Uncle gave me biltong made from horse meat, that was pretty weird, but this...... I've had to take lots of photos so I can share it with as many people as possible, it's so weird. Have a look....

As you can see, there's quite a lot of, er, variety. From the what I think are chocolate lolly-pops in the bottom left, to the little packets with nothing but Japanese on them. What I am supposed to do with them is beyond me. I suppose I'll have to just open up and see if they're sweet, savoury, look like they're ready to be eaten or added to something - God only knows. It's a culinary adventure. 

Next up; Look a la Mode. Chocolate, I'm told. 

This looks quite normal, except for maybe the banana flavour, but it's the name I love. 'Look a la Mode' - I mean it just screams taste.

Next up is Meltykiss. Green tea chocolate does actually sound pretty good. In fact, we're thinking about trying this soon. Actually - I'm going to try it right now.

OK, Meltykiss wasn't so good. Dark and very sweet. Just tired banana chocolate, which is better than Meltykiss. In case you need to know. 

Anyway, next, we have 'the friend of wine' - cheese chocolate of course!

Cheese chocolate. Wine chocolate. It's a Japanese Willy Wonka. Very odd. I'll give it a go at some point, I think, as an apertif to....

Cheese Kit Kats!

Cheese and chocolate (and wafers) are apparently popular on the other side of the world. Fair enough. I tried one of the strawberry Kit Kat. It was OK. Sweet, again, but OK. 

My second favourite is actually two things, but they're both types of gum, so I've just put them in the same photo. I've no idea if it's misspelling, but I like to think it is. I mean, there's Trident Splash, so why not....SPASH! And if that's not quite your cup of tea, try Watering Kissmint - how, I ask you, can you resist that name?

However, in the number one spot, party due to it's nostalgic value (not so much the Buddha) and party because of the apparently totally random mix of product and logo.....Buddha Cigarettes!

Buddha cigarettes. Why? Does it make them seem more friendly? I suppose so. Would children over here even know it was Buddha on the flying cigarettes? And what is it he's hugging? A giant almond? A massive cocoa bean? Who on earth knows. I wonder if they'll taste like the ones we had when I was young. Not good. Judging by the other stuff I've tried, they'll be sweet. I suppose I'll only be enlightened by trying one. Sorry.

What a collection. No doubt I'll work my way through it. I think I have some stuff I'm meant to add to noodles. I'll have to give that a go on the weekend. Lovely. Wish me luck!

Music. Or Something

Was reminded of this track today for some odd reason;

It reminds me of a specific moment in my life in that way that only music can. You know how it is; sight, sound, taste, touch - they're all right there again. It's incredible. Anyway, this song reminds me of my bus journey to work when I lived in London. Brixton, to be precise. Acre Lane, to be even more precise. I'd walk down to Clapham North and get the 88 to Charing Cross, then walk to Leicester Square and serve people Japanese food all night. That bus journey, sitting on the top deck, always the left hand side (more people watching), this song; that was my routine for many, many days, and my soundtrack always - always - included this song. I loved that journey. I really did. But I wouldn't leave here for all the world.