I learned the word for window - マド - this year. Yep, started learning Japanese in 2020. After 5 years, I now know how to say ‘window’.
But I knew stuff like 里心、察知、善悪、and 飴細工 instead, so it balances out, right…???
Surprisingly yes 
reading along and…
couldn’t help but think of someone… modified and putting the whole sentence custom for you
ベンチにすわり、ハトにエサをやっているBraveさんのすがたがあった。
2026 - here we are
What can I say about 2025? Well, I’ll try to keep it short and sweet.
- I think I did some pretty good progress (after my previous reset back to Level 15). I have now levelled up to 21!
- Today I celebrate 1,000 days studying on WaniKani! Double celebration with New Year’s and all that…
(By the way, I was so disappointed you don’t get a special message when you hit that achievement?? I was hoping for a funny pop-up with a heartwarming message/joke, or a badge… @mods maybe a suggestion? 
)
- I have started doing grammar with a textbook as some of you have seen from my latest updates here. I’m also thinking of returning to BunPro, but I’ll see what happens…
- A bit random, but: my mother and I have always wanted to visit Scotland, but for some reason or other, we never really did. So when I started Japanese, I found out the JLPT is offered in very few locations, one of them being in Edinburgh. I then made this amazing decision that we would one day soon visit Scotland (Edinburgh) whilst at the same time I would try the JLPT. Well, it’s now been… What, 5 years? And my mother has lost hope we will ever visit, because every time she asks, I respond with, “I am not ready for the test…”. NOW, I could probably try the N5 (and just about pass it… maybe…), but I honestly think it would be such a waste of money (test costs + train tickets + hotel stay). So in my mind I always thought I would try the JLPT only on the N1 level (or perhaps N2 at an absolute minimum), since the other levels are pretty much useless and I cannot justify their costs… Anyways, at the pace I am going, I might be ready for the N1 in… a decade?? I guess I won’t be visiting Scotland any time soon
I was really hopeful for 2025 (mainly because I love any number that ends with a 5). Although I didn’t achieve everything I set out to do, it was still a nice enough year.
I have realised I am not as excited about 2026. Not sure of it’s because it doesn’t have my lucky number in it, or my personal issues have no end in sight, but I am being very conservative about the next 12 months…
Bah. I don’t want to be too depressing.
I have spent the last hour waiting for midnight doing Japanese studying (yeah, I was pretty bored.)
I wish everyone here a very happy New Year.
To my friends: thank you for being friends with me.
To my acquaintances: looking forward to more awkward, short interactions.
To the ones I hate: hope you trip on some ice and get a bruise. You deserve it.
Wish everyone here a fruitful Japanese journey in this 2026.
Cheers 
only a bruise… 
thankfully no ice here in this part of socal except the freezer…SAFE!
Can’t say what I actually wish on them as I gotta keep this journal PG13 
There’s still time for you to be forcefully shoved in said freezer!
But I don’t hate you, so you’re indeed very safe 
may all your pigeons be piebald!
good to see back around!
And I also wish you the best, pem pem! Hope your 2026 will be a good one 
If it’s cool with you, maybe we should try meet up at some point?
i hope you two can meet up somewhere there are sheep and pigeons!!!
I thought the exact same thing whilst I was writing my previous message. Brain link!
Not 100% sure when I would be able to… Probably in my next holidays / half term (starting 13th of February if I remember correctly?)
Oh yeah, maybe a bit later than that and get rid of the grim northern weather 
Then around the Easter holidays 
optimistic! 
patrol car
Yep! But it was quite funny for a second 