田舎暮らし。そうー、今年４月から月の半ばは極力、故郷「隠岐の島」に帰り、晴耕雨読よろしく、凪釣風読の生活を楽しんでいる。

　まだ、そんな生活をして半年足らずあるが、田舎暮らしの中で感じた事がある。それは、「田舎の豊かさ」と言うこと。

　生活の基盤は衣食住。その何れもが、全て豊である。

　衣は、豊というよりは、その必要性が無いと云うか、男性は作業服さえあれば十分で、後は冠婚葬祭の祭の礼服１着と旅行用に１・２着のジャケットがあれば、それで十分。

　食は、超豊か。米や麺類など炭水化物系は買うにしても、副食系は大半が自給自足。多くの家が庭の一部か、自宅近くの畑で、それなりの野菜作りをしており、お互いに貰ったりやったりの物々交換で、大半の家庭が買うことは稀・・・。全く栽培していない人でも、結構皆が持って来てくれる様である。また、魚は超豊富で、朝数時間の漁に出れば、何軒にも配れる漁があり、これも、やったり貰ったりで結構贅沢なものである。　歳を取れば、野菜と魚があれば十分で、肉系にはこだわりが無い。だから、食に余りお金が掛からない。サザエ、アワビ、岩牡蠣、ワカメやアラメは、海に入れる健康があれば結構手に入る。

　住は、代々の土地がふんだんにあり、住居は５０・６０坪のゆったりしたもので、どことも庭の手入れは行届き、家の中を覗けば、冷蔵庫が大概２つ３つ、食器たるや何十人分がズラッと並んでおり、物で溢れているといった感じ。そんな、外見的にはゆったりとした暮らし向きが観察されるもの

　従って、そこそこの収入があれば、そんなにアクセク働く必要が無い。それ故か、金儲けの話などにはとんと疎く、競争意識も薄く、多くの人が平穏安定思考で、ただただ健康でその日一日が送れれば、それで良し、的感覚が強いように思われる。

　だいたい金を使う事が無い。僕の友人曰く、「ポケットに５千円入れているが、それが減ることが中々ない・・・。１ヶ月まるまるそのまま残っている事さえある」と言う。確かに、彼の場合、タバコも酒も飲まずなので、そうかも知れないが、そうでなくとも、使いたくても使う所が無い、と云うのも事実である。

　だから皆、そんなにあくせく働かない。それでいて生活に困ることはなく、外見的には都会に住む人の数倍も豊かな暮らし向きである。

　そんなのは傍から見ただけのこと。本当を知らないから・・・、と言う人が居ると思うが、こんな話を田舎の友達にすると、皆が結構「そうだよ」的な答を返す。

　実は小生、根が商売人、と言う程ではないが、長年自分で事業をしてきただけに、どうしても商売に目が向く。従って、たまに帰っての田舎暮らしであるが、海と云う豊かな資源を目の前にしながら、それを商売に結び付けづ、喰えるから良いわ、的感覚で生活している状況をみると、勿体無い、何でこれをこうしないの？等と感じて、物足りなさを感じる。ところが、そんな話を口にしても、田舎生活にドップリつかった人は、そんな冒険はしなくとも、そんな無理はしなくとも、何もそんな・・・・、で、具体的に動こうとする人はいない。

　どうも、その思考の背景には、困らない豊かさがある様に思う。本当に、それがそうであれば、それはそうで、それが良いのかも知れないが。

　それに比べ、都会の生活は皆厳しい。子供を保育園や幼稚園に預け、夫婦共働きで、朝早くから夜遅くまで働き、給料は、社会保険料と税金、ローン返済で手取りは微々たるもの。ところが土日になれば金は飛んで出る、衣食住の誘惑を田舎の何十倍で、全てが金、金、金。

　色々考えさせられるよネ・・・・。

 

Country life. Well, from April this year, I’ve been going back to my hometown, Oki Island, as much as possible in the middle of the month, and enjoying the life of Nagi-Furi-Fu-Reading, as I call it, Harukou-Reading.

I’ve been living like that for less than half a year now, but there are some things I’ve felt while living in the country. That is to say, the “richness of the countryside”.

The foundation of life is food, clothing and shelter. Each and every one of them is abundant.

For men, work clothes are enough, and one dress for weddings and funerals and one or two jackets for travel are all that is needed.

The food is super rich. Even though we buy carbohydrates like rice and noodles, most of the side dishes are self-sufficient. Many families grow their own vegetables, either as part of their gardens or in the fields near their homes, and they barter with each other, rarely buying… Even if you don’t grow it at all, many people seem to bring it to me. In addition, fish are super abundant, and if you go out to fish for a few hours in the morning, there is a fishery that can be distributed to several houses, and this is also quite a luxurious thing to catch or receive.　When I get older, vegetables and fish are enough, and I’m not particular about meat-based foods. So, I don’t spend too much money on food. You can get turban shells, abalone, rock oysters, wakame seaweed and arame if you have the health to put them in the sea.

The house has a lot of land from generation to generation, and it is a spacious house of about 2.5 square meters, with a well-kept garden, and if you peek inside the house, you will find two or three refrigerators and dishes for dozens of people lined up in a row, overflowing with things. Such an outwardly relaxed way of living can be observed.

Therefore, if you have a decent income, you don’t have to work so much as an axe. Many people seem to have a strong sense of peace and stability, and just want to be healthy and get on with their day.

I don’t have much money to spend. A friend of mine says, “I have 5,000 yen in my pocket and it never goes down…sometimes it stays there for a whole month. This may be true because he does not smoke or drink, but it is also true that he has no place to use it even if he wants to.

That’s why people don’t work so hard. And yet, there is no shortage of life, and outwardly they are several times more affluent than city dwellers.

That’s just from the side. When I tell this story to my friends in the countryside, they reply, “That’s right”.

To tell the truth, I’m not really a businessman at heart, but as I’ve been running my own business for many years, I can’t help but turn my attention to business. Therefore, it is the country life of returning home sometimes, but when I look at the situation where we are living with the feeling that it is good to be able to eat it and not be able to connect it to the business while facing the rich resource called the sea, it is a shame, why don’t we do this? I feel that it’s not enough. However, even if you talk about it, there is no one who wants to do anything about it, even if they are not adventurous, even if they don’t want to, even if they don’t want to…

Apparently, there seems to be an abundance of untroubled wealth behind that thought. Really, it would be nice if it was.

By comparison, life in the city is tough for everyone. They leave their children at daycare or kindergarten, work together as a couple, early in the morning and late in the evening, and their salary is miniscule due to social insurance, taxes, and loan repayments. However, when it comes to Saturdays and Sundays, money flies out, the temptation of food, clothing, and shelter is tens of times the temptation of the countryside, and everything is money, money, money.

It makes me think a lot…..

今週２１日の日曜日、隠岐島前高等学校の同窓会が、肥後橋の徐園（中国料理店）で盛会裡に開催された。

　同窓会の名称は「家督会」（アトドカイ）。名前の由来は詳しくは知らないが、学校が家督山（アトドサン）の麓に所在する所から来たものと思う。

　エッ隠岐にも山があるの・・・等とのたまう人も居るかも知れないが、大雑把に言えば、隠岐は海と山だけ。特に我が母校がある島前地区は、海と山で、人が住んでいるのは山裾の海岸端。それも１００軒もある所は少なく、５０軒程の集落が点在する長閑な地域である。

　田舎の集まりは大体そうであるが、会が始まる１時間半くらい前から、ぞろぞろと集まって来る・・・。最近は、それにも少し慣れてきたが、僕は、会と名がつくものには基本１分を前後してしか行かない方で、それが普通と思っていたが、世話役をする様になって、初めてこの事を知った。そして、参加者が如何に楽しみに参集するかを実感することとなった。

　開会の冒頭、島前高校の教頭先生から、学校の現況について話があったが、何と今年教員が９名も一挙に増員したと云う。勿論、生徒数も増えてはいるが、こんな田舎の学校で先生が一挙に９名も増員となるなんて有り得ないこと。県の教育委員会もよくぞ決断したと思うが、それだけ地元、島前３ヶ町村が結束し、熱心に訴えた結果の賜物であろう。しかも、県立高校なのに県外からの生徒を多数受け入れ、寮の他に島親制度なるものを立ち上げ、親元を離れて学ぶ生徒の親代わりとして、土日には家に招いて一緒に食事をしたり、授業参観に顔を出したりなどして、島を挙げて応援態勢をとっていると云う。

　廃校寸前であった我が母校、島根県立隠岐島前高等学校が、今や全国的に注目の的。学力も急激にアップしている様で、国公立、有名市立大にも数多く入っていると聞く。

　「成せばなる　成さねばならぬ　何事も」、そう・・何でもそうなのだ。成さなければ、何事も絶対にならい。成しさえすれば何とかなるのだ。これは真理ですぞ・・・・。

　冒頭こんな嬉しい話を聞いた為、小生の頭はヒートアップ。一次会が終わりかけると誰言うとなく二次会の雰囲気がプンプン。夏の太陽が燦燦と輝く真昼間の３時、仕方なく飲み屋のママに電話。急遽、店を開けて貰い、同級生１２名が尽きることなき歌と喋くりに時間を忘れた。

　そして翌日はボーとした頭で「奈良の杜ゴルフクラブ」でナイスチョット。一番ホールでＯＢ連発・・・・トホホ・・・。でもトータル８０代でしたぞ。

　久しぶりに御歳６５歳の壮年が高校生に帰った、それはそれは楽しい２日間であった。

　

The reunion of the Okijimae High School was held this Sunday, the 21st, at Xu Yuan, a Chinese restaurant in Higobashi.

The name of the alumni association is the “family governing board” (Atodokai). I don’t know the origin of the name, but I think it comes from the place where the school is located at the foot of Atodosan.

Some people may say that there are mountains in Oki too, but roughly speaking, Oki is only sea and mountains. Especially in Shimamae area where my alma mater is located, there is a sea and a mountain, and people live in the coastal edge of the mountain. There are not many places with 100 houses, and it is a quiet area dotted with about 50 villages.

As is usually the case in the countryside, they all came here from about an hour and a half before the start of the meeting. I’ve gotten used to it a little recently, but I used to think it was normal for me to only go back and forth for a minute at a time for anything that could be called a meeting, but it was only when I became a caretaker that I learned about it. And it made me realize how much the participants were looking forward to attending.

At the beginning of the opening of the meeting, the principal of Shimamae High School talked about the current state of the school, and he said that the number of teachers had been increased by nine at once this year. Of course, the number of students has increased, but it is impossible for a school in the country to have nine more teachers at once. I think the prefectural board of education also made a good decision, and this is the result of the unity of the three local towns and villages in Shimamae, and their enthusiastic appeal. Furthermore, although it is a prefectural high school, it accepts many students from outside of the prefecture, and in addition to the dormitory, it has set up an island parent system to act as a parent for students who have left their parents’ homes, inviting them to have meals with them on Saturdays and Sundays and visiting their classes.

Our alma mater, Okijimae High School in Shimane Prefecture, which was on the verge of being closed, is now attracting national attention. The academic ability seems to be improving rapidly, and I hear that many students have entered national and public universities as well as famous city universities.

“If you do, you will become, you must become.” That’s right…it’s just like anything. If you don’t do it, nothing will ever happen. It’s just a matter of getting it done. This is the truth…..

Because I heard such a happy story at the beginning, my head was heated up. When the first party was coming to an end, the atmosphere of the second party seemed to go on without anyone saying anything. At three o’clock in the middle of the day when the summer sun was shining brightly, I had no choice but to call the mother of the tavern. I was asked to open the restaurant in a hurry, and I lost track of time with 12 of my classmates singing and talking endlessly.

The next day, I played “Nara no Mori Golf Club” with a dazed head. A series of OBs in the first hole…………………. But I was in my 80s in total.

It had been a long time since the age of 65 returned to high school, and it was a pleasant two days.

　この度、弊社もアベノミクスに便乗、新社長が積極的事業計画を掲げ、「事業拡大に向かって、３本の矢」政策を打ち出した。

　３本の矢は、・「営業の活発化」・「社内規律の厳正と親睦」・「経費削減と労働分配率アップ」、である。

　その方針に則り、早速新入社員を採用。その為、「雇用保険被保険者資格取得」の届出に先ほど行ってきた。

　梅田のハローワークは、駅前第二ビルの16階（最上階）に所在。

　何でハローワークの様なお客の多い業種の役所が、ビルの最上階に在るのか一寸理解に苦しむ。ビルの最上階は一般的には賃料も高いし、しかも、人の出入りが多い業種は、エレベータ一つの利用を考えても、非常に不経済。特に節電に徹しなければならないこの時期は・・・。しかし、適当な場所が無かったのであれば、それもいたしかた無い（以前は交通弁の悪い一寸不便なところにあった）。

　そんな事を思いながら、１６階でエレベータを降り、ハローワークに向かった。

　ところが、「雇用保険被保険者資格取得届」なる窓口は無い。「求人係」、「給付係」、「事業所開設」、「相談コーナー」とか各種の係りの案内はあるが、「資格取得」とか「資格喪失」なる係りの案内が無い。あれ、何処かな・・・と辺りを見まわすと、一番広いスペースを取った受付カウンターが４つ５つもあるコーナーがあった。案内看板を見ると「得喪係」とある。何となくここかな、と思い、その前に置かれている番号札を取り待つこと５分。小生の番号が呼ばれた（何も番号で呼ばれた事に文句は言いませんでしたが・・・・）。「資格取得はここで良いんですか・・・」、「そうです、どうぞ・・・」。手続きは手馴れたもの、５分もしない間に手際よく済ませてくれた。「どうも有難う・・・ところで、これはトクソウ係りと読むの」、「そうですよ」、「アッソウ・・、意味判る・・僕はよく判らなかった」、「判りにくいと思いますが、入社の時に、トクソウ係りとは・・・と云われ、そのまま仕事をしています」。「アッソウ、でも一寸判りにくいよね・・・」と軽く云って、ハローワークを後にした。

　小生が言葉を知らな過ぎるのかもしれないが、「得喪係」の看板を見て、直ぐに何の係りか判る人がどれくらい居るのでしょうか・・・？。

　これが民間のサービス業であれば、少なくともこんな係りの名前は、何十年も前に無くしているはず。役所には何十万人と言う人が勤めているであろうに、誰も疑問を持たないのかな・・・？。

　そう云えば、以前、大阪府の行政官と話し合いの席を持ったことがあったが、その席で驚き、感心したことがあった。役所が毎年定期的に発行している書類の一字一句を少しでも変えようとすると、それはそれは大変な労力と忍耐が必要と云う事に・・・。

　従って、全国のハローワークに「得喪係」なる案内表示があると思うが、これを内部から変えるとなると、相当な労力と忍耐と時間が必要になるのでしょうネ・・・。

 

Taking advantage of Abenomics, our new president has announced a proactive business plan and a policy of “three arrows for business expansion”.

The three arrows are: “Revitalization of sales”, “Strict and friendly internal discipline”, and “Reduction of expenses and increase in the share of labor”.

In accordance with this policy, new employees were hired as soon as possible. For this reason, I went to report the “Acquisition of Employment Insurance Coverage” earlier.

Hello Work in Umeda is located on the 16th floor (top floor) of the second building in front of the station.

It is a little hard to understand why the government office of the industry with many customers such as Hello Work is on the top floor of the building. The rent on the top floor of a building is generally high, and the industry with many people coming and going is very uneconomic, even considering the use of a single elevator. Especially at this time of the year when we have to conserve energy… However, if there wasn’t a suitable location, that’s fine too (it was previously in an inconvenient location with a bad traffic valve).

With this in mind, I got off the elevator on the 16th floor and headed for Hello Work.

However, there is no “notification of qualification for employment insurance”. There are information on “recruitment”, “benefit”, “opening a business”, “consultation” and so on, but there is no information on “qualification acquisition” or “loss of qualification”. I looked around, and there was a corner with four or five reception counters that took up the most space. If you look at the information sign, it says “Get and Mourning Section”. It took me five minutes to pick up the number tag in front of it and wait. My number was called (I didn’t complain about being called by a number at all…). ‘Are you sure your qualifications are good here…’ and ‘Yes, go ahead…’ The procedure was a handy one, and it was handled in less than five minutes. Thank you very much… By the way, does this read “toksou clerk”?” “That’s right”, “Assou… I don’t know what that means… I didn’t understand”, “I know it’s hard to understand, but when I joined the company, they told me what a toksou clerk was… and I just did my job”. Assoo, but it’s a little confusing, isn’t it?” he said lightly and left Hello Work.

Perhaps I am too ignorant of the language, but I wonder how many people can immediately recognize what they are in charge of when they see the sign for “Gain and Mourning Section”…?

If this were a private service industry, at least the name of such an attendant would have been lost decades ago. There must be hundreds of thousands of people working in the government offices, but no one is questioning it…?

Speaking of which, I once had a discussion with a government official of Osaka Prefecture, at which I was surprised and impressed. It takes a lot of effort and patience to try to change even a single word of the documents that the government regularly publishes every year.

Therefore, I’m sure that there are information signs called “Get and Mourning Section” at all Hello Workers throughout the country, but changing this from the inside would require a great deal of effort, patience and time.

超多忙にてブログの更新を失念・・・。

　数少ない貴重な我がブログ愛好者から、まっちゃん、最近ブログ更新してないね・・・、冷たく詰問され、「そうなんだよ、ゴメン・・・上手く時間が取れなくて・・・」等と、言い訳にならない言い訳で誤魔化している。何時も気にはしているが、何故か上手く時間がつくれなくて・・・

　小生、今年の４月から月の半ば１０日間位を、故郷、隠岐ノ島で過ごす事にしており、４・５・６月と計画を実行。

　４月帰郷時に廃車寸前の車を隠岐へ持ち帰り、５月には漁船用のプレジヤーボートも出来、準備万端。しかし、操船は思うほど簡単では無く、また、少し風邪が吹けば内海でも結構波立ち、悪戦苦闘。ロープをスクリュウに巻き込んだり、岸壁に上手く着かなかったり、と中々大変である。従って、独りで漁に出るのは未だ不安があるが、７月にもなれば、そう時化る事も無さそうだし、次の帰郷は結構楽しめると思う。

　田舎は、そんなこんなで何とか気ままに遣っているが、大阪に帰ると、仕事と各種予定が目白押しで、大忙し。田舎でのノンビリムードと大阪のせわしさのギャップが大きく、正直そんなに忙しくも無いであろうに気だけが焦っている感があり、中々ブログまで手が回らないと云った状況。

　今日も関西総合調査業協会の理事会と総会が３時からあるが、その準備もまともに出来ていないが、エイままよ、とブログを書くことにしたと云うわけ・・・決して怠けている訳でないことだけはご理解を。

　隠岐に帰るのは高速バスとフェリー利用であるが、朝９時半のバスに乗り、隠岐の別府港着が夕方５時５分。しかし、バスもフェリーも他人任せで気楽なもの。本を読みながらコックリコックリしていれば、故郷に連れて帰ってくれるので楽々である。

　その途中、米子で高速バスを降り、ＪＲ境線で境港へ行くのであるが、この汽車が面白い。

　「ビックリくりくり、クリックリ」（同郷の後輩、吉本の芸人、浜根タカシのギャグ）、何と、米子の駅員に、「すみません・・・、境港まで何分で着きますか」と問うたところ、駅員曰く「４０分から４５分です」。エッ、開いた口が塞がらない。こともあろうに世界に冠たる日本のＪＲが、到着時間を聞かれて、「だいたい４０分から４５分です、と平気で応える。」。ん、ん、ん、凄い。流石は米子駅境線である。

　で、感心しながらホームに向かうと、何と妖怪だらけ・・・これでは正確な時間等云える訳が無 い。ホームと汽車を見て、駅員の応えに大いに納得が行った。

 

米子駅境線のホーム

 

境線の２両編製のキタロウ電車

 

社内も全て妖怪、シートも天井も壁も

また、各駅のホームが妖怪駅

隠岐ノ島着

 

大阪に帰った、その週の日曜は、隠岐の島町関西故郷会の第一回総会（各地の郷土会を一つにまとめようとの思いから立ち上げたもの）。これには参加せぬ訳に行かず、疲労困憊の中、積極的に参加。何時ものことながら、それはそれは賑やかなもので、参加者も２５０名を超えていた。

歌っているのは「しげさ節」で、今年日本一に輝いた娘さん。

何時の間にか、勝手に客席から舞台に・・・・。左の死に装着の鉢巻で踊りだしたのは超有名なお寺の大僧正・・・。

島後に祝い事には欠かせない「にわか」と呼ばれる、寸芸・・

宴たけなわ、　座は乱れに乱れ・・・

最後には盆踊り・・・、会場は太閤宴の別館であったが、多分、藤田公爵も今一度、この藤田邸に帰りたくなったのでは・・・。

 

I’ve been so busy that I haven’t updated my blog…

One of my precious blog lovers asked me coldly, “Maman, I haven’t been updating my blog lately…”, and I deflected with an inexcusable excuse, “Yes, I’m sorry… I haven’t been able to take the time…”. It’s always been on my mind, but for some reason I just can’t seem to find the time…

I have been planning to spend about 10 days in the middle of the month since April this year in my hometown, Oki-no-jima, and I have executed my plan in April, May and June.

When I returned home in April, I brought back the car that was on the verge of abolition to Oki, and a pleasure boat for a fishing boat was made in May, and it was ready. However, maneuvering the boat was not as easy as I thought it would be, and if a cold blows, there are quite a few waves in the inland waters, so we had a hard time. It’s very difficult to wrap the rope around the screw, and it doesn’t land on the wharf well. Therefore, I think that I can enjoy the next homecoming quite well, although there is still anxiety to go out to the fishing alone, if it comes in July, there seems to be no such temporal thing.

In the countryside, I’ve managed to get away with my carefree life like this, but when I return to Osaka, I’m busy with work and various plans. There is a big gap between the relaxed mood in the countryside and the sluggishness of Osaka, and to be honest, I don’t think I’m that busy, but I feel like I’m in a hurry, and I haven’t gotten around to blogging yet.

I’ve got the board meeting and the general meeting of the Kansai Research Association from 3:00 p.m. today, and I haven’t been able to get ready for it, but I’ve decided to write a blog about it… I’m not idle at all, please understand.

We returned to Oki by express bus and ferry, but we took the bus at 9:30 am and arrived at Beppu port at 5:05 pm. However, both buses and ferries are carefree and left to others. As long as you’re cockeyed while reading a book, it’s easy because it takes you back to your hometown.

On the way, I got off the express bus at Yonago and went to Sakaiminato by JR Sakai Line.

I asked the station clerk in Yonago, “Excuse me…how long does it take to get to Sakaiminato?” He said, “40 to 45 minutes. Ew, I can’t keep my open mouth shut. Japan’s JR, the world’s leading railway company, is asked how long it will take to get there. . Mmm, mmm, great. As expected, it is the border line of Yonago Station.

So, I headed for the platform with admiration…there were so many yokai…there was no way I could say the exact time. I looked at the platform and the train and was greatly convinced by the station staff’s response.

　今週の日曜日（２６日）は、我が故郷、近畿国賀会（近畿に住む西ノ島町出身者の親睦会）の第４８回総会が北京料理徐園で大々的に開催された。何時もの事ながら郷里、西ノ島町からは町長、町会議長ほか多数の方が駆けつけてくれ、歌に踊りに三味太鼓と逸れはそれは賑やかな宴であった。隠岐民謡は勿論であるが、今年は京都を地盤に活躍中の隠岐大 好き演歌歌手「大林幸二」氏を招いて、花を添えていただいた。大林氏は私の大好きな、坂本龍馬や中岡慎太郎を朗々と歌い、最後は俵星げんばで締めくくってくれた。流石はプロ歌手、凄い歌唱力でしばし聞きほれてしまった。

　そっそくＤＶＤを買い求めたのは勿論のこと。これで練習に励み、持ち歌にしようかと・・・・。　　それだけは止めてくれ・・・と、伏して頼まれそうな気もするが！。

話はコロッと変わるが、今年も丹精こめて、徹底した放任主義で育てたサボテンが見事な花を付けてくれた。ごらんあれ・・・

昨日の夕方５時ごろ

昨日の午後８時くらい

午前１０時の開花。しかし、今日一日の命、

ついでに、デジカメに写っていたので・・・。廣太郎、１年ぶりの美容院帰り・・・

小生の布団が大好き

座布団もお気に入り・・・

 

ついでに、我が家の庭園公開。　　庭に所狭しと咲き誇る「どくだみの花」

さて、これは何でしょう・・・答え「シュンギクの花」。今年、我が家の庭園で冬野菜に挑戦、しゅんぎく、ほうれん草、大根と、それはそれは丹精こめて栽培にあい努めたが、結果がこれ。殆ど食べれる状況になく、自然に任せほったらかしにしていたら、可憐な花を咲かせ始めた。従って、抜くにぬけず、今では大根と春菊が畑の全てを席巻し、この状態。実は、早や夏野菜を植えなければならない時期であるが、この状況では抜くのは可哀そう・・・・。故に、しばしこの状況に留めおき、今年は休耕畑にしようかと・・・。決して怠けている訳ではない事だけはご理解頂きたい・・・。

大根の花

どくだみとサツキの見事なコントラスト。自然環境に優しくと思うと、ついこうなってしまう・・・。

 

This Sunday (26th), the 48th general meeting of my hometown, Kinki Kokaga Kai (a fellowship of people from Nishinoshima town in Kinki) was held at Beijing Cuisine Xuoyuan. As always, many people from my hometown, Nishinoshima town, including the mayor and the chairman of the town council, came to the party, and it was a lively party with singing, dancing, and mami drumming. In addition to Oki folk songs, this year we invited Mr. Koji Obayashi, an enka singer who loves Oki and is active in Kyoto, to add flowers. Mr. Obayashi sang my favorite songs, Ryoma Sakamoto and Shintaro Nakaoka, and closed with the Tawarabei Genba. As expected, I listened for a while with a professional singer and great singing ability.

Of course, I bought the DVD right away. Now I’m going to practice hard and make it my own song….　　Don’t do that…I have a feeling he’s going to ask me to keep my head down!

This year, too, the cactus that I had grown with great effort and a thorough leave no stone unturned policy was in full bloom. Look at that…

Yesterday evening, around 5:00 PM.

Yesterday at about 8pm.

Flowering at 10:00 am. But one day’s life…

As a side note, it was captured in a digital camera…. Kotaro, after a year’s absence from the hairdresser…

I love my futon.

And I love the seat cushion…

Also, my garden is open to the public.　　The “camellia flower” blooms in the garden

Well, what is this… the answer is “shungikku no hana”. We tried to grow winter vegetables in our garden this year, such as chrysanthemum, spinach, and radish, with great effort, but the result was this. It was hardly edible, so I let nature take care of it, and it started to bloom lovely flowers. Therefore, it is impossible to pull out, and now a radish and a garland chrysanthemum dominate all of the field, and this state. Actually, it’s early time to plant summer vegetables, but in this situation, it’s too bad to pull them out…. Therefore, I’m going to leave it in this situation for a while and make it a fallow field this year… Please understand that I’m not lazy at all…

daikon flower

A stunning contrast between the dogwood and the satsuki. When we think of being kind to the natural environment, we end up with this…