We've seen it before - a person goes "missing" on TFL.
But I'm still out here and kicking. Just not baking.
My time in Okinawa "morphed" just a bit and I'm still commuting across the Pacific. I've already survived earthquakes and tsunamis and now am looking forward (not) to typhoon season. It's a beautiful place, but it has a lot of ways to kill you (won't even mention the snakes, spiders, and cone shells -oops, I did...)
I managed to ship quite a bit of Okinawan flour to that property that I own in the US, but alas, have not managed to pack it up and ship it to the lab for testing. My theory is that the ash content is lacking, thus these beautiful but bland breads. Really, I will get to it soon... Inquiring minds want to know.
To all of you who are baking beautiful breads, I say "Nice breads!" but understand that even when I get home time is so short (and stuff to do so much!) that baking is difficult and the baking deprivation is hitting me hard.
I did go to an upscale department store on Kokusai street where one of my colleagues had to pull me away from watching the baker slash breads (with the very same tool I use...) and use a very ingeneous folding loader to load them in the oven. I'm sure he was quite alarmed by the big blonde woman who practically walked into the tiny space near the oven, but was too polite to give any clear indication of it. We did try the bread there which had the most taste of any I have tried in Okinawa.
I am no stranger to being set down in places where the culture is different and I don't speak the language, but this has been quite an adventure. They tell me I'll be back in the US for good - soon. Although I've heard that before :>) When the time comes for the summing up, I feel that I will never be quite the same. Some things I will be able to talk about then - others not.
So, best wishes to Norm and his test bakers (I knew I wasn't going to be able to do that...), happy milling to all you new (and old) home millers, and don't worry - although breadless, I am happily nourished on Okinawan soba and sticky rice!
Oh, and - I'll be back!
Pat