Dear Diary
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A day out
During Japan’s bubble economy- and I’ll be paraphrasing some random blog post here– Atami was once a popular destination for corporate retreats, sparking a construction boom of large hotels, ryokan and apartment blocks along its coastline. These developments make the seaside town appear much bigger than its population of around 31,000 suggests. However, when Japan’s… Continue reading
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In 72 hours, I’ll be having dinner in Tokyo, but before that..
We had to take Lily to the vet for her regular check-up. Clever girl took a glimpse at the cat-carrier and attempted to hide in the bedroom. She was meowing fitfully in the car which soon became this high-pitched chirp which she puts on every time she wants to look ‘vulnerable’. That’s what we suspect… Continue reading
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Dear ethicist
The Question: A university friend seems interested only in sharing news of her professional achievements in our group chat. Am I wrong to resent this, and to expect something more meaningful from friendships that have lasted decades? I’m in a group chat with friends from university and there’s one friend who loves sending messages about… Continue reading
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Catching up
I just realised a couple of days ago that I was going to Japan in a couple of weeks and an important part of that- the packing of what clothes to bring– was going to create a domino effect. That on top of picking what to pack, I had to sort my whole wardrobe all… Continue reading
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The week so far
I’ve recovered so far from a strenuous fortnight of deadlines and of working-over-the-weekend, which if someone asked me what I did, I’ll probably get a baffled look. Since when did great accommodations, organic-anything-breakfasts and generous over-time compensation constitute hardship? Well, it was a hardship for me. But work is work, and I’m good at what… Continue reading
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Don’t you just want to be comfortable?
If I’m being really honest, that’s what I want. I want to put aside work, the kettlebells, the disdain for carbs, the list of chores, the phone and the laptop with its endless cycle of bad news and awful people and just be comfortable, chill and blissfully ignorant. I want to wake up a bit… Continue reading
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An ode to Mondays
There was a time when I really hated Mondays. I worked in Manila for a while and made the commute from Pangasinan every week, and the Sundays for me, felt like a prisoner on death row’s final day. I would see the sun set after having gone out cycling with the boys, smell the pork… Continue reading
