Ramblings about nothing

So I haven't really done much in regard to this Japan trip over the last month or so. Mostly I just need to save money (have I said this before?) and that's pretty much all I'm doing. I can't book anything (hotels etc) because it's too soon and I've bought everything I need to buy at the moment. So it's just a waiting game. I'm finding the more research I'm doing the more confused I'm getting about where to go and what to do so I'm just going to leave things be for now and worry about it in the new year. The economy worries me greatly, particularly as Japan has just gone in to a recession. I'll have to start picking up the FT and reading some economics books to find the best ways to avoid bad things happening. I have just had my hours increased at work so hopefully I should have around £3k to spend when I'm out there. That's not a lot of money for 4 months but it's more than I hoped for.

I am doing some prep for the trip though. I'm reading every Japanese related book I can find. Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami was a nice little gem I found by accident at Swansea Library. I'm poking around in non-fiction too. I'm also prating my hiragana katakana when I can be bothered and learning a little Japanese thanks to One Minute Japanese. On top of this I've picked up various items that I'll be needing. Rucksack, laptop bag, tripod, wet-weather jacket, pocket sewing kit (haha tis true).

In other news vaguely related to Japan (it's training for my Fuji climb....) my mother and I will be taking part in the BHF Santa Jog in Swansea on 14th December this year. Feel free to come along to cheer us on (read: laugh at how unfit I am) and anyone feeling generous can make a donation on my fundraising page. It's for a good cause so just give a quid and help save a life :)

I'll be back for a better update in about a month. Yes, things are sparse now but once I'm actually out there then there'll be pictures and drivel on a much more regular basis. This is about being there mostly, the getting there is only the beginning.