Channelling Japan

Following on from yesterday’s post, I reckon Tick & Bash, Accounting for Killers, would be a better title because the meter works well in English as well as making it a little less obvious. Though, obviously, I realise, if it was translated from South Korean into English for the American market, it would become Tick & Bash.

Like Money Heist, simplicity is preferred by US networks. I wish someone would tell me why this is so. I realise that all Americans aren’t so simple they can’t have clever titles to deal with.

Not that I want to revisit yesterday’s post. No, today is all about something I’m quite proud of. Having a shower.

Okay, not the usual thing to be so proud of and, definitely, something of a first world problem, however, for me anyway, it was becoming a rather smelly necessity.

It was while I was sat in the bathroom yesterday that I started to grow the plan.

Back in Japan, one of my favourite experiences was when we stayed at a ryoken on an island. It was a glorious couple of days. A highlight was experiencing a traditional Japanese onsen. The thing that inspired my shower experience was the way the person had to wash off before getting in the hot pool.

At the ryoken, one was expected to sit on a small white stool, facing the wall, and, using soap and a shower nozzle, wash and rinse. Then, moving across to Sweden, here in the house we have a small set of plastic steps which are for little kids to use in order to reach the sink in the bathroom. It was obvious. I could use the steps in the shower stall, to perform the same task as the Japanese white stool.

After this leap of experience based genius, I just had to work out the logistics; the timetable for various bits and pieces to make it all possible. Like where to put the towel, where to put the steps, where to pivot, etc. And I pretty much managed it. There were a couple of tweaks to the process which I shall implement tomorrow but, for today, the shower was glorious.

Given there’s a lot of people around the world who are unable to ‘waste’ water on washing, I realise this is not really a problem. But, I remind myself, it’s a bit like the lesson I learned on the husky adventure back in 2002.

Husky dogs must NEVER be allowed inside. Once they experience warmth, they are ruined for pulling sleds in sub-zero temperatures. Which they enjoy doing. And so it is with bathing. Had I had no experience of washing, I wouldn’t give it a second thought. But I have. And the reek was getting a bit too much. Like a husky pulling a sled, I enjoyed it thoroughly.

How small my life has become since being limited to a Franz Kafka-esque, crawling around the bottom floor of this tiny house.

Though, I have to say that the girls are quite pleased that my sleeping arrangement has meant that my bed linen has shifted to the lounge. We really have a couple of duvet dogs.

Mirinda was quite busy today with various meetings. In particular a meeting with her new line manager. Very odd having a new line manager but only meeting him digitally. She might never meet him in real life.

Then, as the day ended and nighttime drew in, Mirinda surprised two mice going through the garbage. To be fair, it was a big surprise for all of them. It also gave me a job to do tomorrow: Clean out the under sink cupboard, something I can do from the floor. For joy, I can feel useful again.

In the wider world, a slice of which I can see out the window if I twist around, we have had more snow. The world looks beautiful again.

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