Undeceivable - Moonraker Zen

The Little Things

While eating out at a Yoshinoya the other day in Tokyo, Yoski sat opposite a fat guy who reminded him of Daniel Johnston. Take a look for yourselves and see if you agree. First, the real Daniel Johnston:

Now, the guy who Yoski thought looked like Daniel Johnston:

Nice and Dark

Well today I got up early (by mistake!) did my Zazen, then headed off to slack-line in the woods. After an hour of only managing a few steps, I gave up and headed home. In the afternoon, I played a few sets of tennis and now am ready to write a short story...

The Unknown Wonder

Caspian lived just around the corner from one of the most extraordinary sights in the entire universe - yet he was the only person to have never seen it. At night he dreamt of what it could be by piecing together information he'd heard from other people who'd seen it. During the day, he drew pictures and created songs inspired by the Unknown Wonder. In his garden, he even worked on a life-size replica of it.
Year by year visitors to the Unknown Wonder passed by his replica and laughed, "It's not like that at all" they mocked. "Just come and see it for yourself!" they urged.
But Caspian didn't want to.

The Absurd

In the afternoon I overheard a colleague making a conference call. I only caught a few words - something about some web code or something - but for a split second everything felt really absurd: I was working on something I didn't really understand, I was tired, I was hot, and here was my colleague talking in a language I didn't really understand about something I didn't understand or care about...
Why embrace air-conditioned-computer-screen-staring when you can embrace the great outdoors?
I rest my case.

I can't wait

I'm starting to get really excited about getting my van. Although it's by no means definite that I'll buy it next weekend, I can't wait to at least go and see a potential buy. Looks like insurance will be less than I pay now which was surprising despite it being left-hand drive and old.

At the same I'm aware that it's not really a stress-free purchase: I need to learn a lot more about car maintenance, especially VW T25 maintenance, and keep on top of this for as long as I have the van. I also have to think a bit more about work during my adventure because I'm not going to be able to wild camp that much...

But I have thought of the book I'm going to write though. It's going to be a collection of short stories based upon what arises from my Zazen. Each chapter will start with something factual and then there'll be a short story to illustrate the point. The plan is to write weekly. The last chapter of the book will just be factual without a story to illustrate the point. So, the book becomes a metaphor for Zen practice, taking the drama out of real life. Sounds a bit pretentious and will probably change though...

I had 2 bottles of Sol beer tonight with a friend - I haven't drunk anything for months - and I seem to be writing like a child. So I'll stop right after this full-stop.

TV for Idiots

Just before I settle down to watch the second instalment of X-Factor this weekend, I thought I'd write about how incredibly annoying it is.

In an hour and a half long show, you usually get 6 commercial breaks, 4 recaps, 5 random clips of contestants mid-song, 5 interviews with tearful contestants, and 2 depressing back stories. Interspersed with all this, is the singing. There's not much singing at all really. And the speed and noise of the whole thing. Everything is ultra-fast and ultra-noisy, as if the producers think we'll switch over if there's not loads of noise and exciting pictures.

I don't know about you, but all this makes it quite unpleasant to watch. Because of the obsession with making it really exciting, it's completely lost its excitement. It's TV for idiots!

Right, it's going to start soon so I'd best be off...

About a Girl

I was reminded today while watching Gardener's World, of a girl with red hair I used to like at middle school. I can't remember really talking to her much but at the end of term disco we arranged to have a dance at the end - a slow dance.
Throughout the night I looked forward to our slow dance and then right before the moment came, my mate's dad came to pick us up and take us home. I wasn't happy and rushed out before saying good-bye to the girl.
When I got home, I burst into tears and Dad took me back down to have my slow dance with the girl.
At that age, I wasn't especially into girls, or boys. I think I just liked playing tennis and skateboarding. But for some reason I really liked this girl. And I still remember that feeling. What was it about her?

In a way that feels kind of special. But in reality I have about a 1000 crushes a day, so I guess it's just the fondness of looking back...

New Toy

My brother lent me his Eye TV and I just set it up on my MacBook. It's awesome! I can really see myself using this in my Campervan come 2010. Even if I don't have the internet I can at least watch a little TV and keep up with some news.

I rarely watch the news but now I can on my laptop, I find myself watching BBC Parliament on the patio with immense joy! (I can't get anything else yet).

Even bad people are good

Yesterday we went and played golf for my Dad's Birthday. We had a nice game, came home had fish and chips, then watched some telly. I did my Zazen facing the window using the clock on the DVD player. When I was getting ready for bed, I realised I'd lost my phone. I rang it 4 times but couldn't hear any ring tone. I checked my golf bag, car, the garden, and even checked in the bin. Nothing. I decided to go to sleep and dream where I'd left it.
When I woke up I basically looked in the same places but couldn't find it. So I decided to retrace my whole golf round on foot. I drove to the golf club and asked the guy in the pro shop if he'd had a Nokia phone handed in. No, he said, but I'll take you round on a buggy and we'll find it. Great, I said, not really convinced I'd lost it there anyway. So off we went asking group after group if they'd found a phone. Nope, everyone said.
Then we came to a group of lads. As we drove up they all looked very glum indeed. Have any of you picked up a phone, asked the pro. What did you say, replied one of the lads. The pro repeated himself, to which one of the lads replied, yeah, now where did I put it. He searched in the bottom of his bag and pulled out my Nokia phone. Wow, said I, I tried phoning it but the battery had run out! I switched it off, said he. Remembering what my knowledgeable friend had said about people who steal mobile phones - they switch them off when they find them - I smiled and said, where did you find it? In the rough, he said.
Anyway, he gave me my phone back with a slightly guilty looking face, and off we went - the pro and I in a buggy, safe in the knowledge that even bad people are good.

Creative Friend

My snowboarding and Pachinko partner in Japan is taking over the world of Japanese design. How cool is this! For more of his stuff have a look at his site: Take me to the Airport

Happy Birthday to me

Yes, I am now 33. I had a nice tapas lunch with my team, ate lots of flapjacks, and in a half hour or so will be eating a big pizza with chips and downing a fizzy beverage. Who says ageing is bad!?