Summer in Spring

Spring has arrived in Japan. Actually, it arrived some time ago, but I wasn't around, so it's just arrived as of last week as far as I'm concerned.

In between un-packing, un-sorting, re-sorting and re-packing, I've managed to get a bit of time to walk around and take in the fresh, crisp spring air and to marvel at the many flowers in bloom.

I don't really know much about flowers, but when Pasta was around, we used to go on long walks together and she'd sniff various plants, stopping occasionally to eat a few flowers here and there. She was partial to rare and valuable flowers, usually from someone's garden, so I had to keep a close eye on her.

I miss Pasta.

In Pasta's memory, I've been taking time to look closer at the flowers I come across, like this summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum)...a plant which, despite its name, blooms in the spring, not the summer.

flower

Anyway, I'm packed and I'm heading out again...this time to the east coast of the Izu Peninsula, where I'll be diving in 14ºC water. Actually, I've never dived in 14ºC water before. And who knows...I may yet come to my senses and chicken out. 14ºC is cold...like half the ºC that I'm accustomed to. Half. We'll see how it goes.

If all goes according to plan and I actually get in the water, I'll post updates from Izu.

A couple of previous posts from diving in Izu here and here.