Time...

It has been a while, hasn't it.

So much has happened here in the frozen wasteland of Japan. I've been going through so many changes that I haven't had much time for reflection or to do the kind of online reading I've come accustomed to enjoying.

I started my new job and things have gone well so far. My bosses seem to be happy and they seem to be keen to have me stay on past my probation. The mess that is the Nova fallout continues. Most of the people I worked with have moved on but a school is operating in Akashi, although for how long is anyone's guess. If they keep cutting teachers and not renewing contracts, at this rate there'll be only one left by the middle of the year. I don't think G-Com has any idea what they've got themselves into or how they're going to deal with it - which makes it all the more upsetting to see what's happening to people I used to work with and teach.

I have also separated from my wife of nearly five years. To put it simply, we weren't communicating like a couple should, we weren't going in the same direction and I became frustrated with the way she was not dealing with this problem - or just refusing to acknowledge its existence. So I've moved out and I'm now living in Tatsuno, which is about 20km from where I was living in Himeji.

I know realise that what I was going through last year wasn't just stress from what was happening at work, but it was also going through a grieving process for a marriage that was, in many ways, not functioning.

My goal for this year is for it to end more happily than the way it has started.



It's Australia Day in Australia today, so I wish my Aussie friends and family a happy one. It's about 10 degrees in my apartment at the moment and maybe about 6 outside. Today's the first day since Tuesday that we haven't had some kind of snow. That gives you an idea of how I'm feeling right now! I'd rather be at the beach!


More later... Rants and links will ensue in due course.