Been to Japan

Ginza Tokyo

I've longed wanted to travel to Japan. I dreamed of practicing aikido at Honbu dojo. Now, I'm back from a three week long sojourn in the Land of the Rising Sun with Susan, after the trip of a lifetime. I didn't manage get to go to Honbu dojo for some aikido, which was just down to a matter of practicality.

I've reached an age where that wasn't practical.

Being an old fart means the time I have left to do all the things I dreamed about doing requires more  time than I have left lived. Just an acknowledgement that can't do everything you want in life, and is not meant to be a downer.

Everyone's life has an end date. It's just what it is.

Now I'm back, and I have some thoughts. Japan is awesome, in both meanings of the word. Amazing, yet overwhelming in how it leaves you feeling. It's a strange combination of the future, which somehow manages to feel like the late 1970s.

As a Japanophile I thought myself prepared for the trip.

I already have a smattering of Japanese, from practicing aikido. Though I've been told most of what I know is either technical, or rather old fashioned ways of speaking. None of which is surprising given how formal Japanese martial arts are. 

However, I diligently spent time learning new words.

Spent a whole bunch of time watching YouTube videos making copious notes, and repeating useful phrases. It wasn't enough, but probably better than not trying my best.

Then you step off the plane and reality hits. 

The signs.

Arriving in Tokyo, is to experience what feels like to suffer aphasia after a stroke. I couldn't understand what I was reading, even when in it was in Romaji. Later in Osaka we witnessed Taco Bell's victory in the franchise wars.

That's a joke referencing Demolition Man, for those who have never seen the movie.

Just look at the menu.

The culture shock isn't the fact that Japanese dress conservatively. Men in white shirts and ties, and women wearing twin-sets and jewellery. Or, that everyone is polite, and all the other superficial stereotypes we're all know. 

What puzzled me were the shopping outlets.

These ranged from multi floor stores, to what I would describe as 1960s style covered markets, and corner shops. Both seemed to defy economic sense. In Britain, these sort of shops have gone out of business, or exist in niche places. 

An example would be Brixton Market, and the more tourist driven Camden Market.

But, while there were a bunch of tourist from all around Asia, some of the places we visited were off the beaten track,because we weren't just there for tourist spots, even if we did go see the tourist sights.

But, enough for now. I took 300 pictures, and I have to process them before I can write more on our itinerary. Catch you all later.

Tokamak Oxford

Shrove Tuesday I was at Tokamak Energy. All bundled up because it was freezing cold in Oxford. The whole machine is housed inside this huge warehouse, which has structures and cranes inside it to move machinery around the building.

 

We got an introductory talk about Tokamak's spherical Tokamk from the chief engineer, and one of the senior data analysts. 

Here's what the boards had on them. 

If I understood what I was told, the fusion reactor is very much a science experiment, requiring the complicated machine to be partially disassembled to allow them to upgrade parts for the next round of tests, which are going to be run next year.

Here's the core of the Tokamak.

I did ask about the whole fusion has been 50 years away promise, and while they said they can deliver a prototype working fusion reactor by the late 40s, early 50s, it's going to cost big money, and that might be a problem for profitability.

Anyway, it was a fascinating tour. 

Merry Xmas 2025

Merry Xmas. I once wrote Xmas in an email to an American friend, which confused him greatly. Now Kylie Minogue has this number one Christmas song, I should be able to use the abbreviation Xmas without fear.

So, Merry Christmas to one and all.

Now, indulge me while I recap the state of the year's writing.

Back in May I reported I was sending out my completed draft of The Bureau. I have had both of my trusted Beta readers report back on the story. One totally loved it, with caveats that the ending might upset people in the current political crisis. The other struggled with the story until it became clear what year the story was set in.

The former reader was British and inferred the setting and time period from the text. My American reader was lost at sea with all the British cultural call outs that set the story in time and space.

It is what it is.

So, I'm going to re-edit the order of the narrative, which will make the time and place more obvious, and add a couple of things to clarify some descriptions, and make things clear to those who haven't been brought up in Britain as to what is what.

That just leaves me to wish everyone a good holiday break, and here's to a prosperous and happy New Year.

LIVE CHAT With Author Ashley R Pollard

 

It only goes to show how out of it I've been recently that I forgot to post this. Dirtbaggery Book Reviews invited me for a live chat, which I've shared elsewhere, but I thought it might be good to also link to the explanation of Quantum Mechanics that I mentioned during our talk.

The part I referred to starts around the 7.30 mark.

As I said, this illuminates how our understanding of reality is at odds with Quantum mechanics.

That's all for now, catch you all on the bounce.

The Errorist Strikes Again!

I found this YouTube channel, and it made me laugh. So, I'm spreading it here, and suggest if you like this sort of humour, go subscribe to her channel.

As for me, I'm still dealing with health issues, which are probably related to living long enough to be classed as old, but I am writing again. Spending a couple of hours each day butt in chair, hands on keyboard. Reading through a story I left unfinished, and making sure to finish the work.

What does this mean for my readers?

The next book will be The Bureau. My homage to Lovecraft and the TV series The Professionals. I'm currently near the end of editing Act 3, and I'll finish the rest in due course.

Note, weasely words avoiding a hard deadline, because I don't make promises I can't keep.

Once finished, I'll have my Alpha reader check for typos, and then look to what formats I'll release it in. I'm not sure I can justify the cost of setting up paper versions, so I might only release it as an ebook. It is what it is.

Once done, it's back to Two Moons, which I need to redraft. Basically, throw away the old versions and start from scratch. The good news is, I have a much better idea of where I want the story to go.

It still won't be the action fest of Bad Dog, because Anderson is not that kind of character, but it's going to reveal more of what's going on behind the appearance of the pillars. Insert evil chuckle.

That's all. Catch you on the bounce.

Shock, Horror!

Today I discovered, quite by accident that Waterstones have a page for my books. How cool is that?

I must be a real writer now.

Bad Dog by Ashley R. Pollard - Military Sci-Fi Book Review

Another YouTube book reviewer has put up a post on my first novel. If only the trilogy had gained more traction, but that's down to luck. You can write a good book, but it doesn't guarantee it will go big.

Still, it makes me want to finish writing Two Moons, if only because I get the chance to revisit the Gate Walker universe for one more adventure.