Today started much as most of my other days start, as part of my ongoing quest to keep the doctor it bay, I ate an apple. After this the work that I had been so worried about began, but it I soon found myself falling back into the comfortable routine of whipping and vacuuming that I practiced at my previous work exchange and all went smoothly.
My next task of shovelling snow however, involved a little more backbone. like - I imagine - most other people who do not partake in that much physical labour, at first the exercise was invigorating. I had many grand thoughts about the works of Jack London and for a while quite enjoyed the simple repetitive straining of the activity. That all ended when my back began to ache.
My romantic daydreams of blissful Alaska had vanished and were replaced by grim thoughts of ice encrusted peaks towering into the sky in Tolkien's world. This four foot patch of compressed snow was, to me, cruel Caradhras. Upon eventually conquering this task I was reworded by the sky, rain.
Until then I don't think I'd felt rain since Glasgow, don't get me wrong this half hearted drizzle was no proper west coast downpour but I'd take whatever I could get. Speaking of missing things from Scotland I do recall an interesting conversation I had. Usually, to the Japanese people being from anywhere in the United Kingdom means you live in England, and living in England means London. By now I'd gotten used to this so imagine my surprise when mentioning that I was scottish brought fourth the reaction of "ahhh East Dunbartonshre", which turns out to be the twin town of Otaru's neighbouring town. Hearing someone else talking about places in Scotland was oddly pleasant, even if it was "Lake Ness".
I consider any day without major mishap a success - all that's left is to hope tomorrow goes just as well.