I must admit I was quite chuffed at the screening of my Japan – a year in the life slide show. It was brilliant to see many friends again who have inspired me and often joined up for our adventurous journeys together. We didn’t have cinema seating, but Mark rounded up the projector for the big screen effect and Tim’s burly 5.1 sound system definitely cranked out the soundtrack.

Our little theatrette has been re-converted to our lounge room and the coffee table back in place, soon to be smothered with an inspiring and beautiful book.

Legends of the Dragon is a photography project
profiling the fabulous corners of Asia.

A few of my pic’s are being published in the second book of Dragon’s Playground. If your coffee table is lacking in lustre just now, check out this salubrious next edition when it arrives… soon.

A blessing in disguise or just my usual inappropriate spending? After helping out my auntie last weekend, she helped me remember the good days. Great, now I can hear a Jerry Maguire quote running around in my head. While I was in Japan, she had taken care of (perhaps a little too much) my acquired espresso machine. After the work was done, she gave the little caffeine contraption back to me.

Back home the beast spluttered out a few final cups before giving up the ghost. Burning the grinds in our stove-top percolator is easier done than said. Same goes for spilling boiling black liquid all over the kitchen and anything, and anyone, in its way. Occupational Health and Safety would have shut down our operation long ago if they caught a whiff of the scorched bean mess.

Today I lashed out and ignored the onslaught of upcoming bills. With the recent piddly amount of paying work I have done, I spent the lot in one foul swoop on a replacement espresso machine. Out with the old (dead) and in with the new.

I crossed my fingers that the wiring in our old house would handle one more electrical appliance… Yay! Anyone for a cuppa?

Last night we held the opening screening of my digital slide-show Japan – a year in the life. A great night and a big thanks to all who made it. Copies of the (all regions, PAL) DVD are now in the mail. Thank you to the people that made it a lifetime in a year experience for me. Also thanks to my cousin Lynette for motivating me to produce the show. The poster and the YouTube preview for those still waiting to see it.

Is it the end? Not by a long shot. There’s a sequel in the pipeline which takes a different angle and course. The next project aims to cover my tourist-style travelling through China. The final chapter will take us through Tibet, a return to Japan and my odyssey to Australia.