Why??

I trust in IMDB 100%, so I am convinced that Leslie Ash is British. Born in London it says. So why has she been appearing on Japanese TV for the last few months promoting Nescafe instant in a broad American accent. She only says about three words and 99% of the Japanese population have no chance of discerning the difference between a British and an American accent, so why has someone decided she should talk like this? It is a total mystery to me. Is it a lifestyle choice she has taken on? Does she always talk this way now?

(click here to watch the adverts)

The fruits of my labour

Last night I got a little over excited to find my first tomato on my plant. ok, so it is only about 1/4 inch wide, still green and likely to be eaten by birds before it gets to an edible stage, but hey, it`s a tomato all the same. Well, I was excited...

Moving to Hell

On Saturday JTB and I went house hunting. We found three houses that looked ok on paper and trekked around Kuriyagawa to see them. The first one was tiny, so we ruled that out, and the third one was a nice size, but had a very dodgy looking neighbour and was quite old, so probably freezing in winter, so in the end we went for the second one we looked at which is modern and very clean, if not a little small, and most of the other people living there are students.


Later we were eating lunch and JTB mailed his friend to tell them where we had chosen. He knew they lived in the area, but it turns out they weren't just in the same suburb, but will actually be living just two doors down from us!!

So, why the title? Seems like a good place to live right? Yes, but, from August we will be living in...Room 101!!

A marvelous thing

JTB tried a tea cake for the first time the other day. After making a small alien and making it fly at my head for a while, he got round to eating it. The verdict: it`s very yummy, but the white stuff is kind of suspicious. Well summed up I think.

Bananas could split for good

Having finally worked out that bananas are the cheapest fruit in Japan, it appears my new healthy eating plan may be in jeopardy...

Go bananas while you still can. The world's most popular fruit and the fourth most important food crop of any sort is in deep trouble. Edible bananas may disappear within a decade if urgent action is not taken to develop new varieties resistant to blight.

The main hope for survival of the Cavendish lies in developing new hybrids resistant to the fungus, but this is a difficult and time-consuming task because the seedless modern fruit does not reproduce sexually and has to be bred from cuttings.

New Scientist compared the current threat to bananas to the potato blight which caused the devastating Irish famine of the 1840s.

(taken from New Scientist and BBC News)

Howzat!!

Today we had our first practice with the Morioka cricket club. When we woke up, it was bucketing it down with rain, but when did a drizzle stop a bunch of foreigners?! For a 10am start, there were a surprising amount of people already there when we arrived, and by the time we left for lunch at 2, there were about 15 or so on the field, including 3 rather confused looking Japanese boys, including ozzys, Brits, a few yanks and handful of Canadians. Very international.

The rain held off for most of the morning, but then the heavens opened. Did we stop?...oh, no! Despite the rather bewildered looks from the Japanese, we splashed and sploshed our way through the rest of the game.

I was spectacularly bad. You could certainly tell the people who had done it before, and the people who have only played baseball were even more obvious, with some bent armed throws and a scared batsman, and a few flung bats.

I did take a camera, but unfortunately, it only got as far as the car park, but the organisers were taking pics, so I guess some will appear at some point on the site.

Musical massacre

I have just had to sit through some very bad, bad noise. I group of professional musicians came to give a recital to the students. To be fair, the first half was very good. They had a nice piano-flute combo doing Mozart mostly and it was sending me into a nice Friday afternoon daze.

However...

then the flutist decided to do some improv new-jazz thing that involved blowing into the wrong end of the flute and making low gurgling noises with her mouth. Very strange. Then we had to sit through a whole hour of a percussion section. I have nothing against percussion as such. I agree they are needed in most music, I just don't think they should be out there on their own. Whenever someone plays music with a xylophone in it, it just becomes a 70`s throw back hour and I feel like I am in a lift listening to piped music whilst wearing brown flared cords.

The worst part however may have been the speech by the person who was leading it. She was a graduate student from a long time ago. Highlights of her speech included "I never wanted to go to Numakunai, but I failed all my exams" and "I bet all your lessons are quite dull". It is sad because the students weren't listening and didn't care, but she obviously offended the teachers. Not a way to get invited back I feel.

I wont even go into the failure of trying to get students to go "aaaah, un" for Mambo #5!!

Death Note

I have recently become slightly obsessed with a comic called Death Note. It is soon to be made into a film and having seen the trailer, I decided to start reading the books. A very bad idea!


To steal a plot synopsis from Wikipedia...

"Light Yagami is a bright young high school student who has until recently led a boring and uneventful life. That changed very quickly when he found a strange notebook with the title "Death Note" lying on the ground one day in 2003. After realizing that the "Death Note" was a shinigami's tool with the power to kill anyone whose name was written on its pages, Light decided to use it to "cleanse" the world of evil.

Soon the many unexplainable deaths of newly released criminals is being noticed, and Light becomes hunted by the Japanese police force and a mysterious detective known as "L". L quickly discovers that the murderer, that they decide to name Kira, is located in Japan, and that he can kill just by knowing someone's face and name. Light realises that L is also a genius, and L and Light begin a cat and mouse chase to see who will be the first to have their identities exposed."

There is a whole load more on the Wikipedia entry, including the rules of the Death Note and character profiles.

Strawberry days

At long last my strawberry plant is on its way to giving me something to munch on this summer. Ok, so it still has a long way to go, but it is a start. And yes, there is more mould than plant, but I am happy it is doing anything!

Talking of mould, I saw a very gross program on TV the other day. It was about a woman who worked in a shop where there was some normal household mould behind the counter. Everyday she sat there and breathed in the vapours from this fungus. After a few years she had a really bad cold that never really cleared up and then here eyesight went all strange and it turned out that the mould had started growing in her nasal cavity and was heading for her brain! How yucky is that?!

Life`s a Lottery

On Monday on the way back from fencing I stopped off at the vending machine paradise in shibutami. There is a big lay-by with about 20 vending machines all lined up in a row. For those of you not in Japan who have never seen this phenomena, I am not exaggerating, there really are that many. Some of the machines have a lottery system, so when you buy a drink, 4 numbers appear on a little LED screen. If they are all the same number, for example 4444, then you get a second drink for free. It didn`t believe that they ever actually paid out, but for the first time ever I won something!! I got 1111 and a free orange juice. Just made my day that did!

The free juice in all it`s glory!

It made up for a rather bad fencing night. The fencing itself was good fun as always, but during one match I looked down to find a lot of blood dripping from my finger after a rather nasty whack of which the resulting remark made me quite glad there were no other fencers in the room. Anyway, I played to the end of the match and then was fully bandaged and ice packed up (hey, if you are going to get injured, a medical uni is the best place as ever), then I got on with my next game. Not long after a boy got a very similar injury to the wrist, and I was sure he was going to die he was moaning and yelling so much. He did not continue fencing, but sat at the side looking sorry for himself and touching his wrist gingerly. Tut, boys!

Peer pressure

Yesterday I went to see the Da Vinci Code. I was sitting watching the opening credits and I suddenly wondered why I was there. I had read the book and thought it was quite interesting, yes, but I had no real desire to see the film, yet there I was 10 quid worse off, in a hot little room, sitting next to some Japanese guy who appeared to believe he was Marley and who had already fallen asleep and was gradually tipping towards my shoulder.

The thing that made me realise that maybe I had no real interest in the film was the fact that the first time I found out that it starred Tom Hanks was when his name appeared on the screen. There are many actors I like less than Mr Hanks, but let`s say he is not in my top 10 of people I want to spend my Sunday watching, yet I had ended up doing just that.

Actually, he wasn`t nearly as annoying as his hair cut suggested he might be and the film was generally ok. I guess if you take a reasonable story it is hard to make a total mess of it. I must admit to being a little bored in the middle, but came out generally pleased that I had gone. However, the highlight may well have been the trailer for the new Pirates film. It is out here in July and I can tell you now, that date can`t come fast enough!! Moving house, changing jobs - quite big events that are happening in July, but watching Mr J Depp for a couple of hours has to top them both!!

Best friends again

I had had a little falling out with Nick Hornby after reading How to be Good. I love About a Boy and High Fidelity as much as the next person and have read them countless times, but I felt quite let down by his 2002 effort and had since been sulking. But then Jo intervened and lent me A Long Way Down, and after reading that, all was forgiven and he was back in my best 5 authors list.


It is a hard book to describe. My student asked me what I was reading and the reply "it`s about 4 people who don`t kill themselves and become friends but don`t like each other. It`s very funny!" seemed a fairly accurate outline of the plot to me, but was met with rather blank looks.

As a gesture of reconciliation, I ordered Fever Pitch this morning. JTB is now reading it in Japanese, so I thought I might as well give it a go. Whilst on Amazon I noticed two books; Speaking with the Angel, and The Polysyllabic Spree. I have never heard of these two. Any opinions on them most welcome.

Jolly day out

Today was the school class trips. This year I was with 2-3 class. We had a very educational day going on a boat trip and visiting a shopping centre in Hachinohe. We came close to going to the prefectural museum, which I would have quite liked, but no. All the same, it was a nice day out and the weather stayed nice. Plus, I got to do print club when we went to the mall, and we know that always makes me happy!!

The beach was really nice, but there were a scary amount of seagulls around. Hence the whole place had nasty white stains all over it and I spent more time worrying about getting pooped on that enjoying the scenery. There was a very cool temple stuck up on top of a rock just out to sea. I didn't get time to go up there, but even from a distance it looked...well, like a temple on a rock.

Some of the boys decided to try to feed the gulls by holding the crisps in their mouths. It was impressive when they actually managed to get them to take them, but much more entertaining was that they spent most of the ride with the three of them hanging off the back of the boat with their necks stuck out and crisps hanging out of their mouths.

There are a few more pictures on my Japanese blog.

I bet she has a caravan too!!

A great story from the people at Tokyo Times:

Oops!

This has to be one of my favourite news stories of the year so far...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4774429.stm

It`s a matter of odds

In continuation of my recent horticultural bent, I purchased a small tree yesterday. I am not sure why exactly. I went into Kanbun to get a new filter for my fish, and there it was, looking all green and small and on sale, so I bought it.

I figure though, the more plant life I own, the more likely it is that some of it will survive. I expect Crust will have some mathematical explanation involving time available for each plant which means this just `aint true, but in my world, it makes sense.

So here it is, in all its minature glory....

How long `til all its leaves die and drop to the floor I wonder.

Baking Weekend #2

Well, I was going to detail what we did this weekend, but due to the weather being rubbish, it actually amount to very little other than eating stuff and drinking wine, so rather than bore you with that, here is the proof of the pudding...a rather drunk and very full Jo.

I know Jo doesn`t like this photo, and I am sorry, but in the end we know only you, H and my parents read this site, and I think it is cute, so I put it up. I hope you wont hate me forever.

We did get round to doing some baking and made little shortbreads with people`s names on who we were going to give them to. It was fun, but I tell you, writing kanji in dough, not easy.

Best thing since Python!

I was recording Planet Earth the other night and after it had finished, it ran into a program called Salaryman Taisou (gymnastics). This made me laugh more than anything has in a really, really long time. I have taken a video of it, but as of yet cannot find a way to get it up on line. There is possibly footage here, but my computer wont let me look at it. Maybe the funniest thing about it is that because it is an NHK program, it is probably done in all seriousness.

Will work on trying to get video up here, well, when I say work on it, what I really mean is I am going to ask Crusty to do it.

I dont take after my mother after all

Today I had the first set of little yellow flowers appear on my tomato plants that we bought last weekend.
This signals two things:
a) despite being a stupidly cold spring, they are surviving.
b) I have not inherited my mother`s ability to kill even plastic plants.
Bad news is that the seeds are still refusing to turn into sprouts. Maybe my career in farming will be limited.

Maxims de Paris boycott

Ok, so being stupidly expensive anyway, I guess these are not chocolates you often buy anyway, but please join my boycott. I bought some of their chocolates in February for Valentines and found a 2cm piece of wire in one of them. Since then I wrote to the company TWICE (admittedly with the vague hope of getting free chocolate, cause they are very yummy, however crap their customer service), but not only did I not get free stuff, I didn't even get a reply to even acknowledge my problems existence, let alone go as far as to apologies for almost choking JTB. I think for a world wide company that is fairly rubbish, so please join my nose-in-the-air campaign.

The aforementioned offending article

Sadness and Light

If you are feeling suicidal or just feel like depressing yourself, I suggest visiting "The Saddest Thing I Own".

Then if you want to cheer yourself up, go see Brad Pitt speaking Japanese!

Dreams

Today a student asked me what my dream for the future was. I couldn`t answer. At first I thought it was quite sad, but then I realised it is because I have done everything I wanted when I was younger. I have been to uni, I have found a nice bloke, I have lived in a foreign country, I am half way there on learning another language, I am doing a job I enjoy, and I was the proud owner of a My Little Pony Castle. I think that covers most of my ambitions (apart from wanting a cat, but I don`t think that really counts as a dream as such). So now I need a new dream. Any suggestions most welcome.

Bicycle blunders

Recently, JTB seems rather cursed when it comes to bikes. Just before Golden Week, he got a puncture in the bike he uses at uni. We packed up the car with pumps, new inner tubes, a whole kitbag of screwdrivers, pliers and spanners, and headed off to Takizawa. We arrived and made a penitent purchase in Lawson so we could leave the car in their carpark, and headed off to find the bike. We discovered it among the thousand other bikes in there, but low and behold, the tire was perfectly fine. There are four explanations we can think of: a) some kind person fixed it for no reason b) his friends fixed it cause it was his birthday c) it is bewitched d) he is off his rocker and it was never broken. Personally I am going for d.

In Numakunai, he has taken to riding my bike (because of the gears he claims, but I think he just likes the pink colour). It is quite distinctive, being pink rather than the standard silver. So yesterday he was riding along, when a police car came right up behind him, and a loudspeaker voice said "could the bicycle in front please pull over". He thought it was someone else, so he kept riding, but then they came right up next to him and made him stop. Turns out that a pink bike had been stolen, and as ours is maybe the only other pink bike in the whole of the town, they rightly suspected ill deeds. Luckily, the security numbers were obviously authentic and didn`t match the stolen bike, so he was let off. Poor JTB.

Today I have been reading...

These are two interesting sites I have stumbled upon recently.

• The Daily Nooz - a light hearted news round up
• The Wandering Scribe - have been meaning to post about her for a while, but only just got round to it, so most of you have probably already read about her.

Jesus!

Another faultless Japanese production.

GW in 10 photos

The first two days of Golden Week I had a horrible cold and didn't want to do anything, but rather than waste the sunshine, we took a walk around Numakunai. I visited Numakunai castle, which I didn't know existed, and we got to play on the playground.

On the Wednesday night we went up to Kunohe for a meal out with Hazel`s parents who are visiting from Scotland. I felt quite bad as I was all drugged up on cold medicine, so less than entertaining, but they seemed very nice people.

On the Thursday we took a picnic lunch to the park at Takizawa and ate lunch, played football, badminton and catch, and climbed some trees. It is a long time since I last climbed a tree and although going up was like old hat, coming down was more of a problem. This photo was taken before I realised this.

Friday night I went to my headmaster`s house for dinner to meet his family. His daughter is very sweet and loves speaking English, so we had a chat and looked at some photos of England while we ate yummy curry and rice. I was a bit apprehensive about it, but it was actually really good fun.

On Saturday I went Iwate park in Morioka for a cherry blossom picnic. There were about 20 people in our group and the park was swarming with drunk viewers. It was a pot luck lunch and someone brought the most delicious French toast. I made shortbread and sushi. The shortbread in particular went down very well.

But nothing can beat beans on toast, which is what we ate on Sunday. You have no idea how good they taste after 5 months of deprivation!

Golden Week

It`s holiday time!

I`ll be back May 8th.

ER

(click for a big ER)

At long last I have got round to taking a picture of the English Room. Here it is in all its glory.

Master of the brush

Saturday was a beautiful day here in Iwate-Numakunai, so we took advantage of the fine weather and went on a long walk. I may have lived here for almost three years, but I have never really been very far out of the town, so JTB took me to a little park that is actually only just off the main street, but I had never seen before. Stupidly, I didn't take a camera, and I was kicking myself, because the view was so beautiful and there was a cute little pond and I even caught a student smoking, so photographic evidence would have come in handy! I also risked life and limb crossing a bridge that was totally rotten. After JTB stepped on it and one of the planks disappeared into the murky waters below, it took a little convincing to get me to cross, but as he pointed out, it was only 3 inches deep and so unlikely to do anymore damage that slightly soggy ankles, so I darted across and reached the other side safe and dry. At the very top of the hill was a little picnic table and the most amazing view of Iwate-san and the town. After that we headed to the art museum and sat outside in their garden enjoying the sunshine, before having lunch in their cafe.

Other highlights of the weekend included a vigorous game of footie, making samosa, and a Ewan McGregor double bill. I also found out that I have passed level 4 of my calligraphy at last, so I am only 3 steps away from being a shodo master! Yay me.

aah, cute!

JTB and I were playing scrabble the other day and quite by accident, this turned up on my letter bank. Lovely.

Spring feeling

The cherry blossoms may not have quite made it to Numakunai yet, but the daffs are out and trying their best to let us know spring is on the way. On the way to school, here and there, they are poking their heads out.

Close to where I took this, I also found this...

I have no idea what it is, but there is a nasty looking creature inside it. One that I am not sure I want to meet when it eventually breaks out of that thing.