Winter is upon us...

Winter has arrived and in Japan that can only mean three things...mikans (clementines), kotatsus (heated table contraptions) and hmm, kerosene.

Today, as a waft of kerosene drifted in my direction, I was filled with mixed feelings; relief that my extremeties would not be grey forever, exasperation that this constitutes a heating system for 127 million people and a pang of loneliness since the installation of the "heaters" (read archaic kerosene stoves) has resulted in my desk being moved away from what I now realise is the fun side of the Staff Room. Here's to 3 months of sitting next to my head of department, light-headedness and small oranges.