Sweaty and Hot and Noisy and FUN

Just a quick update:

Taiko is cool and next time I go I'll take my camera so you can get more of an idea. Until then here is a super quick description (cos I'm at work and should really be doing something more useful):

If you've heard about Taiko before then when you picture it in your head you might imagine lean, muscley chaps getting rather intense and not wearing much more than a loin cloth. That is pure and very cool too. My experience is a little different. The main difference is age; I am 26 which makes me roughly half the age of the other fine members of the Kuni-Umi (Land and Sea)Taiko club crew, although there are some significantly older peeps there. The second difference is gender, of the maybe 23 people, there, 5 were men including the two instructors and the rest were lovely ladies. Not that this is a problem at all, most of the people playing are really good, I just thought I should paint a clearer picture for you. LIke I say: next time - photos!

The chap who runs it is a 63 year old hero who loves showing me all the dramatic stick swirling stuff that makes you look really cool, while his no.2 is a short, stocky gentleman of 77 or thereabouts. He is tough as teak and keen for me to get my technique sorted.

Perhaps the best feeling though, is arriving and being presented with the biggest drum they have. It's a really big drum. They want me to hit it really loudly. I do, and it feels wonderful. There is also a rather fine collection of blisters, callouses and general bits of pink skin already gathering upon my little hands. Long bike rides and extended periods of ryhthmic, audio violence are becoming actual parts of me and I'd being lying if I didn't think it was pretty cool.

OK. Time to start work again, thanks again everyone who got in touch last night. I feel like a right berk for not saying hello sooner. It's great to be back.

Love and good things to one and all!!

Wx