spring is in the air..

Spring is definitely in the air and today is beautiful!
The plum blossoms are starting to bud, so the cherry blossoms will soon follow!

I had a lovely lunch with good friend Z today. Rather lucky, since Z is usually out of town but happened to be by my area. Went to my favourite hidden away sandwich shop (sorry cannot reveal name due to being a great hideaway). They make the best BLT sandwiches and always serve fresh watercress with it. Popular with the OL's (office ladies) around this area. After having a huge BLT, went for a walk around the park that is close by. Really was nice to feel the sun's rays against my skin but still the crisp air to keep you awake. Time to start making the lunchbox and start sitting outside for lunch to enjoy the fresh air.

What always makes me smile is whenever the hanami season starts, there are always your typical salaryman around looking at the cherry blossoms. What is it with these over-40/50 year old men that are fascinated with the blossoms? I know it sounds negative, but at the end of the day they are just flowers. Besides most people that are interested in flowers are usually older women. Seems Japanese older men are more so. Perhaps they are reminiscing about the past and thinking back to the days of hanami and all the drinking and good times they had. I am still not sure why I see so many salarymen walking around the park admiring the flowers. Bewildering in a sense. As soon as the flowers are gone, half the number of people disappear. So it really is just for the blossoms..

Other activities I got up to over the week -
Saturday had a swim at the local pool. Was rather quiet (rare event) and was nice not to have to worry about banging wrists while swimming in the lanes. It can get crowded - 6 swimmers per lane of a 25m pool. Fortunately, this time it had around 2-3 people per lane. Could even fit in some butterfly in between as well. Still hopeless at it, but will keep trying till the stroke is perfected. One of the things I really like about the pool is that it is on the roof top where the sun can pour through the glass on to the water, which does give you an outdoorsy kind of feeling as well as uplifting. Do enjoy the sun touching my skin as I swim through the water. (note: pool is closed for two weeks so no official spring swimming.) Did meet an interesting character at the pool, an 83 year old lady swimming freestyle! Not too bad either. She even spoke some English to me! I hope that I will be like her at her age. Most impressive and was in awe of her for quite some time. She happened to compliment me on my butterfly which was sweet. First time I have been complimented by a complete stranger at the pool! Times are changing?..

Believe in yourself and others will believe in you.
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