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Couple of fun things in the post today. Apple sent out their certificate for the Apple Certified Technical Co-Ordinator qualification having completed the OS X Server exam a month or so ago – it’s every bit as impressive as the first one for the ACHDS level, they’ve simply changed the title! Still, it’s better than nothing.

And, Insure&Go finally got around to paying out the claim on cancelling the Japan trip in September. Twiddled their thumbs for 3 months on this one. Sneaky little bastards too – cheque + covering letter were dated 6th December, but only postmarked yesterday, so had sat in outgoing mail for a week. On top, they didn’t pay out on the tax on the flights as they’re recoverable from the travel agency, although there is nothing of this in their documentation, meaning another claim and delay on that coming in, plus they don’t cover the £5 postage for the rail tickets. That one is just ridiculous, as I’m assuming they would also refuse to honour a booking fee or airport tax on flights, for example. Needless to say, I won’t use them again and would recommend anyone looking for travel insurance avoid them!

No SMS from the courier saying they’ve collected the visa though

Still another week and a half until I head down to London for the interview at the US embassy, but with the way the exchange rate is, am very tempted to have a couple of thousand pounds changed to US dollars in the next few days. It’s been slowly creeping up, and is about 1.98 dollars to the pound now – that’s unreal considering what it was back in the summer, but of course very handy indeed for me Is giving me an extra $1000 or so over what I would have got in the summer!

Would be even nicer if Insure&Go would actually refund the money from my cancelled Japan trip – that’s been 3 months now, and would definately recommend people avoid them for their travel insurance, as if something does go wrong (like in this case), they take a ridiculous amount of time to respond to your claim. Less the excess, they’re sitting on £800 of mine which I’m not too keen on

After little more than an offer of anti-inflamatories and codeine, Japan’s off. Wasn’t expecting much more from the doctor as to be fair, there wasn’t much more he could do. Having done a good hour or so walking around today, there’s just too much discomfort to try going to Japan as although the logic of “it might pick up in a few days” is sound, it’s already been a slow 10 days without a great deal of improvement and bottom line, it’s just not strong enough To make it even better, since I’m not claiming job seekers allowance as unemployment benefit I had to pay for the medication too – another £20 down the drain.

Very disappointed, annoyed and even more frustrated than before. Not quite sure where to go from here either.

Some people are dreamers and some people are do-ers. I’ve got a tattoo on my right arm that in Chinese reads “With determination and purpose anything can be achieved” (and yes, I had a good friend check the translation beforehand – I’m not interested in debates about whether Chinese tattoos are cool, I like it, along with the other tattoo covering most of my upper left arm thankyou very much), but now I’m starting to doubt that.

After dropping my guitar on my foot a week ago, things haven’t healed as quickly as I’d hoped for. I got it x-rayed after going through to hospital last week, which revealed a lot of brusing to the bridge and the first two metatarsals, but no indication of any underlying fractures. That said, it’s still incredibly uncomfortable walking, and when I then take the weight of it and sit down, very painful.

6 months ago I was mentally strong enough to just roll with it, fly to Japan, and make the most of it. Never say never, but now I’m just drained from the weight of everything else, and when am I going to get the chance to go to Japan from a time + money point of view in the future? Back at the doctors in a couple of hours to see what the deal is, but it’s looking unlikely I’ll be going. Seems so stupid to miss out on such an amazing trip over an injury like this, but am I going to fully appreciate Japan and enjoy it if I’m struggling to walk around and meant to be on + off trains, wandering around temples + shrines, up + down hills, in + out of bunk beds in hostels, etc.? If I’m not in the right frame of mind mentally, is it the right time to go to Japan, or will going anyways clear everything up and give me a refreshed view on things?

Realistically, not being able to walk properly without discomfort and pain over-rides how I feel mentally about it all, and risking further damage isn’t ideal, nor would a lack of medical coverage by travelling with an injury like this. I’m terrified of making a decision like this now, as when I’ve tried to move forward, plan for things, and look at making a change rather than sitting back, something goes wrong or doesn’t work out, and doesn’t give me much confidence anymore Least I’ve always been able to say at least I tried, but maybe always trying so hard and trying to force things isn’t the way to go?

We’ll find out in a few hours when I get out of the doctors I guess.

With all my music gear now despatched or collected after the eBay auctions, all I’m left with is my acoustic guitar. Last night, managed to drop it onto the bridge of my foot rather than placing it back on the guitar stand I think I might have said “ow, bugger, that hurt” or words to that effect…

Seems like it’s just bruised rather than broken any bones in the foot, or really would have been fun with heading to Japan in just over a week. The acoustic is fine too

Will give it a couple of days of rest, as really can’t be bothered to sit in a hospital for 3/4 hours waiting to get it x-rayed only for them to tell me just to rest it. With so many little bones in your foot, I was a bit worried, but I can just about walk around on it and bend my toes, aside from the swelling, so fingers crossed it’s nothing too bad.

Pretty much got everything booked for Japan now which is a bit of a relief after all the car problems! Got all the hostels bar somewhere in Sendai/Matsushima booked through Hostel World which has been very easy, and a lot of the hostels have since been in touch confirming everything personally and offering extra info on directions and local attractions. Never come across that before when booking accomodation! Travel insurance was easy as ever through Insure & Go. And the most important bit maybe, the 14-day Japan Rail Pass which lets me jump on pretty much any train, bus or ferry ran by Japan Rail arrived too. Really looking forward to the ’shinkansen’, bullet train, even if some do say they’re over-rated!

So, the plan at the moment is into Tokyo for 3 days, 2 days in Osaka, a day in Nara, 2 days in Hiroshima, back across to Kyoto for 3 days, through Tokyo up to Nikko for a couple of nights, over to Sendai/Matsushima for a couple of nights, then back down through Tokyo again to Fuji 5 lakes + Mt. Fuji for 3 days (hopefully climbing Fuji-san too, depending on weather conditions!) before heading to Narita for the night to make it easy to get to the airport first thing in the morning to fly home. Phew! Before anyone asks, swinging through Tokyo a couple of times simply lets me make the most of the rail pass without occuring additional charges, and Kawaguchiko (Fuji 5 lakes) to Tokyo then Narita is very cheap on the train since the rail pass will have expired by then.

I’m still pouring through guidebooks + websites, so anyone with ideas, suggestions or recommendations – get in touch

Realising that the US visa isn’t going to be coming through any time soon with the jobsworth’s continuing to balls things up and cause further delays, I figured that rather than all my savings just slipping away on things I don’t really want or need (you know, bills and stuff…), I’d make the most of having an abundance of time on my hands + cash in my pocket to go travel somewhere I’ve always fancied. As much as Ireland + Wales were a good getaway, they didn’t really feel like holidays being so close to home!

So, 3 weeks in Japan should just about do it! Flying out on 6th September until 27th September and nabbing a Japan Rail Pass to zoom out of Tokyo to Mt. Fuji, Kyota, Osaka, Nara + Hiroshima, as well as north up to Nikko, Sendai + Matsushima (plus maybe Kakunodate + Akita) on the ’shinkansen’ – bullet trains

That’s the plan anyways, but I’m open to ideas if anyone has suggestions on places to go and things to do in Japan!