What Kind of a Month It's Been Part 2: Midnight in Himeji

So, I haven't updated in a long time: over a month. But unlike the similar incident last year when I went radio silent for a month, it's not because my life has become unbearably repetitive like a Sisyphean nightmare or a Coldplay song, it's because there's just been so much happening. Every time I thought I might sit down and
write a post, some other, better offer has come up. Sorry, guys, but fun comes first, even at the expense of updating y'all.

Speaking of: it was my birthday recently. You may remember that last year I had an absolutely ridiculously amazing birthday and yet again this year, I'm gonna put off talking about stuff like work and interpersonal relations to tell you all about my party.
One of the great things about last year was the spontaneity: I knew Dani, yes, but I'd never met any of the other people she introduced me to that day and it was fantastic to make so many new friends. Also, I hadn't been planning to go to Paris until later. I just hopped on a train on impulse and it all worked out beautifully.
This time, things were more scheduled but no less beautiful. I made an event a couple weeks ahead of time to go to the Penguin Bar in Kobe on the weekend before my birthday. Obviously, I haven't been here very long and no one really knows me, so I was grateful that I actually got seven people to come: Louis, Elise, Justin, Tom, Emma, Jason and Geoff. That's more than any of my parties in Edinburgh. Just sayin'.
Anyway, we had a great time: we met at Sannomiya and headed to the bar from there. There was 'all-you-can-drink', which explains why I only remember 40-50% of the evening after we arrived. I know I drank ten screwdrivers and one mint julip. I know we cleared the bar clean out of potatoes. I know there were penguins.  PENGUINS!

I really hope Penguin Selfies become our generation's version of those Warhol Monroe pieces.

I also know that I had an awful lot of fun and I'm very grateful to the above seven people for keeping me safe and cheerful. At some point, we decided to go to karaoke and our raiding party was reduced to four: Emma, Tom, Geoff and me. Yet again, I'm a bit hazy on the details: I know something spilled; I know Emma sang that totally depressing song from Tarzan and Geoff rocked out to 'I Put a Spell on You'; I know we all harmonised for 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and it was as beautiful as it is any time anyone sings that song, which is to say immensely.
I got home safe, and I can only imagine that's thanks to Geoff, who was the only member of the party left who also lives in Himeji. But thanks to everyone who came: I'm pretty sure it was an amazing night.

The next day I was kind of groggy, which only seems fair. It cleared up in the afternoon, which is good cos there was a festival. I thought this would be a very formal, rarefied affair and I would witness something truly cultural.
Nah.
We all sat outside and ate pretzels while some Japanese music played. It was meant to be a 'Moon Viewing' Festival but honestly, I don't think anyone was looking at the moon- they might have missed out on the pretzels. Still, it was a nice chance to see the people from the previous evening and find out if I did anything outlandish and/or hilarious. I'll merely say 'yes' and let you guys determine which.

I was obviously meant to be working on Monday, but due to my patented blend of idiocy and indolence, I got the day off. That's right, this was the eighth year in a row that I had my birthday free: I am some kind of wizard and you all should worship me. I made the most of it, too.
I went to get my phone fixed (long story) and then headed to Arima, one of the top three Onsen in Japan. It was boiling outside and the particular spa I had in mind was up a hill and I can tell you that there is nothing quite like cooling down in a natural hot spring after hiking in the desertous sun. I didn't stay too long.
Afterwards I went for a massage...chair. It was lovely. And then I went to the toy museum, which was actually pretty cool.

There were lots of talks at the museum, but they were all in Japanese so I just watched things whirr, spin and light up and then left when I got bored, even if someone was in the middle of a portentous speech. It was a lot like that time I watched Taken drunk.
After this, I came back, and bought myself an absolutely awesome cake.

Don't be fooled by the fruit, it was actually really bad for you and thus fantastic. Having finished the cake, Brittany, Elise, Marle and I decided to tackle the other two food groups and bought some wine and crisps at the local bar. And then we played Settlers of Catan, which I only learnt about last Tuesday but to which I have already assimilated my worldview. It's so genius, guys: it's like Chess with none of the dignity, and that suits me to a tee.
And that was my birthday: varied, hot, not exactly what I planned but a hell of a lot of fun, which is a perfect metaphor for my time in Japan thus far. Let's hope it stays that way.

(Hopefully, I'll write more about the stuff that happened between my sister going and my birthday but if not, just know that it was amazing and I'll see you next time, whenever that is.)