I really enjoyed recording tonight’s episode of A Year in Japan. After I uploaded it, I thought I’d check the statistics which tell me how many times it’s been downloaded etc. I was a bit surprised to find that last month I almost exceeded my bandwidth limit – if I do that I’ll have to start paying for the bandwidth.

2 days ago I emailed all my friends about the Trailwalker challenge, asking them to consider donating to help us reach our target of £2000 – money to be given to Oxfam to help in their programs to relieve suffering in some of the poorest regions in the world. Having never taken part in a sponsored event before I wasn’t sure what kind of response I’d get – I have been completely taken aback by people’s generosity.

People with whom I haven’t had contact for a long time. People whom I know are not ‘wealthy’, making generous donations. It really is a credit to each and every one of them, and I thank them all from the bottom of my heart. We have now crossed the half-way line, £1000 raised, £1000 to go.

Another benefit that results from emailing all of your friends is that contact is reestablished with people from whom you may have drifted. This really is a joy. Tonight I received an email from one such friend – he attended the Hereford Waldorf School for a couple of years – boy do I feel blessed to know this person. His email was such an inspiration I had to print it out; it’s now on the wall beside me, and is making me smile, giving me hope.

As I mentioned on tonight’s episode of A Year in Japan, I went to see the doc about my knee earlier today. I like that doctor. We laugh. Anyway, the diagnosis was one of a “Shelf disorder of the knee”. I wouldn’t have believed it myself if I hadn’t seen it printed in his medical dictionary. i don’t even have a shelf in my knee! Anyway, for the next 7 weeks I have to go to the gym as often as possible, starting tomorrow morning.

Bloody hell. 3.15am. I really should go to bed.

Life’s good. Oh, and today’s exam was fine. This means I can have thursday’s off uni again next semester…