Cherry Blossoms 2025 ― 2025/04/03
Maizuru Park was very crowded even though it was a weekday.
To my surprise, most of the visitors looked very young (I know at my age, basically most people are younger than me) and probably many of them seemed to be the "inbound".
So flamboyant. Like an EXPO site or something.
In fact, until recently, this park was a rather deserted place. You wouldn't have thought that this park could be so popular. There used to be a lot of "blue tents" in which homeless people sheltered. I wonder where they have gone and if they are happy where they are now.
Meanwhile, I enjoyed the flower on my way to shopping,
and, as usual, from a local Mr. Donuts.
A Small Happiness ― 2025/04/01
Today's doughnut was so nicely glazed. I love the crispy bits of glaze!
Today’s Treat ― 2025/03/25
Banana crepe and coffee @ Dipper Dan, 570yen
A crepe for the first time in a really long time, probably three decades?
I used to have them for my three o'clock snack when I was actively working in my early twenties, when the same crepe cost 290 yen.
I had forgotten how nice crepe tastes. It looked quite substantial, and I thought at first that I would not be able to eat it all with my aged stomach, but I finished it in almost a few seconds.
But there was another reason for my wolfing it down: as the seating area of the crêperie was set up directly along a shopping mall corridor,
I felt an immense pressure to finish it as quickly as possible, rather than to enjoy my elenvenses in style.
Unexpected Hospitality ― 2025/03/23
The other day I popped into a local Macdonald's and experienced a pleasant surprise.
The coffee tasted, eh, just as you would expect from Macdonald's, but it was served very generously. Quite roughly speaking, coffee at other outlets tends to be a little over 60 percent of the cup. But this one was almost filled to the brim (by my standards). I couldn't even finish the cup.
The coffee was served by a lady in an advanced year, a bit senior to me, who was extremely cheerful and attentive. She showed no sign of weariness from her work. Or rather, she was full of joy and pride in working and making her customers happy. Her posture was upright, and her speech was clear, giving a clean and fresh impression.
I then took a closer look at the counter and noticed that the senior ladies were positioned at the front, to be in direct contact with the customers, while the younger staff mainly processed orders at the back.
As I was about to leave the space allocated to the Mac in a local supermarket, the serving lady approached me and politely and cheerfully said, "Let me clear your tray," offering her hands.
After this satisfying and awe-inspiring experience, on my way home I felt a sense of hope and optimism that getting old is not something to be punished or avoided at all costs (as recent comments have suggested), if I may exaggerate a little.
Governor Election ― 2025/03/22
There will be a governor election tomorrow.
I don't have the right to vote for this one as I'm currently a resident of Sapporo by law, but if I were to choose one of these candidates, it could be choosing the least harmful.
However, I think the current governor's "One Health" plan is a good idea, although I'm not sure it will work on such a small scale. Shouldn't it be done internationally or by the WHO?
Teeth Treatment ― 2025/03/19
For the first time in 30+a years, I had new fillings put in three of my back teeth. They used to be capped with a silver-colored metal material (in the old days, patients were not supposed to ask their dentist about what were going to be put in their mouth), which had worn away, revealing the cavity inside. My dentist told me that now white resin caps were now available to be covered by the National Health Insurance.
As I had only had routine check-ups for the past twenty years, I had completely forgotten that dental treatment doesn't come cheap. Even though 70% of the fee is covered by the NHS, 8,000 yen all at once was quite an expense for me. But compared to what I have paid for the special toothbrushes and toothpastes designed for aged gums, it might not be so much.
The good thing about this visit was that my gums would last at least 10 more years, the dentist guaranteed. Yay!
View from a Distance ― 2025/03/19
Eary-blossoming cherry blossoms and a donut. My first cherry blossom viewing this year.
Zoomed in...
A Week Has Past... ― 2025/03/18
A bunch of flowers I bought last week are still doing fine. Not a bad investment in these times of austerity time, eh?
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