• Trapani harbour. Nuff sed.

Everything online is a glimpse of the past, a slice of time, a moment caught digitally, preserved for posterity, forever, or at least until a great solar storm EMPs the entire electronic world into oblivion, plunging us into deadly chaos, foraging for scraps, warring for resources and succumbing to every illness and injury we’ve thusfar managed to conquer, until death’s blessed release from the hell of existence frees us all.

So, I thought I’d write a cheery run-through of my plans for the first half of 2023, as they stand at the moment. The photos are purely illustrative, not visions of the future made real. Why would you even think that?

• The big man himself. Well, about 7″3 in this shot.

Early March – Back to Marsala, Sicily. It’s a peaceful idyll, its cozy historic centre and ample shore a lovely salve to the grind of the city. I hope to keep myself to myself, take in the clean Mediterranean air and delve deep into teaching, writing, walking and reading.

• Bikes, bikes and more bikes. If you squint a bit, you can see a bit of Ho Chi Minh city in the background.

Mid-March – Back to Vietnam. A quick pitstop in Ho Chi Minh for a couple of days before Secret Weekend, a tiny beachy festival that promises to be full of strange bleeps and odd bloops. 600 cap, transportation and accomodation laid on, with art, food and medium-sized rigs. I hope to make many friends and perhaps even keep a few in the aftermath.

Then, I’m heading north along the coast via Da Nang. Day trips to Hue and Hoi An, at last, and more by-the-sea tranquility. Not 100% settled on this at the moment, but the ocean-adjacent lifestyle suits me so I may as well run (swim) with it.

• Fig Tree Garden, Tay Ho, Hanoi. A beautiful little spot by the lake.

On into April, and my Vietnamese experience will culminate in Hanoi, plunged once again into the aforementioned grind of the city, to catch up with friends and perhaps even take in an evening or two of debauched electronica. I spent a long time there last year so it’ll be nice to see how the persistent and rapid expansion has marched on.

Mid-April – Return to Osaka. Only for a weekend, mind, Osaka isn’t good for me, it brings out the very best in me and I can’t be trusted. Still, people to see, music to be assaulted by and I hope to break the 79% barrier on Level 10 (Hard) of the perenially popular tumble-dryer-em-up MaiMai rhythm cabinets. (Truly glorious, have a goosey -> maimai DX International ver. (sega.com))

• Seriously one of the most fun arcade experiences ever. I’ve got a couple of videos of local heroes doing lightning-speed 100% runs which I’ll dig out and upload one day.

• Here’s some absolute mad lads doing incredible, beautiful things (video not mine).

Then, on to Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. I’ve only ever seen the middle and the south of the elongated wonderland, so I am very excited to make idle comparisons of all and sundry, from the varieties of ramen that are most popular to the warmth and hospitality of the people. I expect great things, and will take the chance to climb some majestic peaks before hapharzdly clambering back down them again.

We march into May, and south to Sendai. I’ve wanted to visit for a long time, I’ve heard it’s pretty cool and the people are apparently really nice. I think Abroad in Japan lives around there too and I’m keen to bump into him / press-gang him into a pint as he’s the main inspiration for me tirelessly/tiredly plugging away ineffectually at this ridiculous hobby I’ve had for the past few years.

• Josh of 72% smashing it out at The Moon, Cardiff. God I miss the UK music scene. Like, really, really miss it. I hope you appreciate how good it is. Go see bands. I’ve seen what it’s like when there’s nothing good to go to and it’s B.L.E.A.K. (Not my photos, obvs)

Early June – Back to the UK. Many events, many people to see, fingers crossed the supermarket shelves will be heaving and the weather will be splendid for a joyous seasons of beers, berks and barbecues.

After that… Who knows? Well, back out in September, for sure.

That’s if the world can just hold itself together for a few more months. I need to spend less time on Twitter. That place is a sink. Gross.

Love you all, x