kinuta

Have a goodun', Jazzbo.

Many happy returns of the day. Mine is next week.

Me too, it must be catching. Thought I'd watch a couple of episodes but ended up watching it all in two sittings.

H36 L26. Even the Sri Lankan waitress at my favourite restaurant was wilting today. Tokyo in mid summer is truly murderously hot.

Her ultra short opening address was a nice contrast to the trend towards florid verbosity. Well done all round, a fine effort.

I was six but remember clearly going round to my grandma's to watch the coronation on her brand new tv, we didn't have one of course. It was quite an event, all the neighbours were crowded into the tiny front room, the men in suits and ties, the women in their best frocks, sherry, beer, salmon sandwiches and coconut macaroons. Just like a Mike Leigh film.

The Apollo 11 moon landing of course. It was a supreme moment of optimism and belief in a bright future. I'm gobsmacked that it doesn't warrant a mention in the Washington Post gallery.

9.30am, the balcony thermometer reads 42C.

The thermometer on my balcony is reading 44C at 10.35 am. Phew. A day indoors is called for.

The 2nd & 3rd episodes of the new Wallander BBC series. The Dogs Of Riga & Before The Frost. I thought they were both well done and it was nice to see him actually smile at the end of Before The Frost. Not as good as the original ,Johanna Sällström and Krister Henriksson are unmatchable.

Excellent, recommended.

The Closer Only a few episodes left. Very lightweight treading water episode with poor attempts at humour that didn't work.

Just watched S5E1, wow, that was the dog's bollocks. Call me Magneto !

BBC The Hollow Crown Part 1 Richard the 2nd Brilliant. If only Shakespeare had been presented to us like this at school. Looking forward to Henry the 4th.

The Newsroom Watched the first and second episodes. I found it rather manic and a bit too in y'r face. Keeping up with the rapid fire dialogue got very wearing. The scriptwriter needs one of Woody Allen's patented hockey puck size valiums.

As yet it's a one off, there seems to be an unconfirmed plan to make another four episodes in 2013 I thought it was very well done, it exceeded my limited expectations.

High Anxiety, The Wrong Box, Kind Hearts & Coronets. Late addition Bowfinger

Digitally downloaded books seem to have made zero impact in Tokyo. Personally I'll stick to real books. Seeing someone actually reading a book on the train is becoming more and more a rarity. The zombie smartphone and I-pod brigade rule.

Yes, an excellent page turner. I'm really enjoying it.

Dallas They didn't waste any time jumping into plotting, back stabbing and intrigue . Trashy but at least it wasn't boring.

The Troubled Man - Henning Mankell Suitably downbeat end to the Wallander series. LeCarre meets Ingmar Bergman. I wish they would lose the Sir Kenneth picture, it ruins the cover. Case Histories - Kate Atkinson Excellent, full of witty insights. I wonder how the following Jackson Brodie books compare to this ?

25C and lovely today but we are in for a solid week of rain starting tomorrow. Just got back from a stay in Hokkaido, the temperature difference between there and here is incredible, 25 in Tokyo but only 13 in the south of Hokkaido. I thought I was back in a bad Yorkshire summer.