Speeding into 2026
With a slow jog around a lake.
A speeding ticket. A smashed phone camera. A dog bite.
This was how 2025 ended.
Always around Christmas, isn’t it.
A list of things to get through. Rushing to get to the meat counter at Japanese immigration one morning, flashing lights in my rear-view mirror. Two young policemen beckoned me to follow them along the highway as we pulled over.
“I’m not sitting in your car,” I told them firmly in Japanese, as they asked me to check their speed camera. Quizzing me on speed rules, I ducked my head in with light relief.
25,000 yen and three points for my 113km in an 80km zone.
My friend said he got a 90,000 yen fine and 12 points for doing 124km earlier that month. I knew better really, especially at this time of year, and it could have been much worse, I thought, as I headed home.
I’ll just have to go tomorrow then.
Heading back from Tokyo a couple of days later, with time before my train, I noticed a phone case shop. Wondering about the fit of one, I could have asked the staff — except for my aversion to speaking to shop assistants about anything.
I clicked off my sand-, dust-, dog-hair-filled plastic case and snapped on a pale pink, leather-type one. Lightweight. MagSafe. Seemed fine. In the sale.
Then I tried to take it off.
What now seemed like tough metal had no give. I stuffed my beanie into my pocket and pressed down anywhere I could — the screen, the edges. One corner finally came loose. I breathed out, wiped the sweat, and started on the other corner. I glanced at my watch. The first corner snapped back in.
With more force this time, a tiny pop — and my finger was covered in fine glass. The screen on the left camera had smashed inward. Glass everywhere.
I headed to Reddit and then my train.
“Not too bad,” said Reddit.
Once home, I found masking tape. At least it would be fine until after the holidays to get fixed.
The final moment came a couple of days later. Fresh mochi, still warm from a local maker, arrived. We cut it up with scissors to freeze, grilling a few pieces before our trip to Yamanakako, one of the Fuji Five Lakes.
In running clothes, we were planning to run a lap — 14km — and end the year in an onsen. Fresh nori from our local sushi place, and I went to give Senbei a little. I should have known better.
He didn’t see or even smell the tiny piece of seaweed, and as I moved my hand near his mouth (after feeding him another piece), he thought I was trying to take the first one back and snapped.
Finger bite. Washed with soap. Wrapped in a bandage. In the air.
He felt terrible.
I felt worse.
The onsen place. The run. Some band-aids and antibiotic cream. ChatGPT reminded me it’s not a doctor, but that I should keep it clean and look out for any infection. A run was okay, it said.
The 14km loop was really something. Mount Fuji to the side. Crisp sunshine, sunglasses, a gentle jog — completely doable. It reminded me just how much I enjoy running.
Finger injury now well on the mend. No ceramics just yet — but the final edits are done with the graphic novel and the reworks now with the illustrator. I needed some long sessions for this; it took longer than I thought. I’m happier, though. Now the cover to do, and a plan to get this out.
January is almost gone already. It’s not really a month where I think much about the year ahead. I’ve been in audit mode for a while now. So it’s more a time to slow down and enjoy this version of me.
Doing her best.
Doing.
Thanks for reading x
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Bit’s worth mentioning
Christmas Day spent alone, away from all the fuss, is really nice. No better time for cheese on toast.
Fingers are really useful. Best not to put hands near dogs’ mouths.
Winter is best for hibernating and slow jogs.
