Crikey it is already December.

We have not sorted out Christmas cards yet so maybe they won't happen. instead perhaps we should adopt the Japanese tradition of Happy New Year cards - that should buy us a few extra weeks!

Okay so here goes I was teaching a student. The topic was sleeping. I found some audio for her to listen to. She said she was happy with all the vocabulary but then could not make sense of the sentence " I get up in the middle of the night to go for a wee."  The dictionary had said wee meant small!

We cover this and then the conversation moved on. Student mentioned she'd been stung by jellyfish. I thought she would be interested in the first aid myth. If you're stung by a jellyfish you need to wee on it.  I tried to explain this but it was tricky! Eventually I ended up drawing. Here it is!  I am not sure BRC would be happy with this focus on what NOT to do, but I did tell her what she should do too, although that did not take as long or require my illustration skills.

Next washing.  Talking about having a bath before bed being relaxing. I told the student I have a shower in the morning. She asked did I have a bath in the evening. When I said no she was absolutely horrified. And I mean horrified. She said if I got into bed without bathing my sheets would be dirty and I would need to wash them often.  We talked about babies and kids having baths in the evening. I wondered when the change from evening to morning happens. I did not dare mention teenage boys and perhaps them not washing in the evening or in the morning!

Did I tell you I have some wheels? After a few weeks in Tokyo I really wanted a bike. On craigslist they were advertised but went before I even had a chance to reply or they were in some far-flung part of Tokyo from which I was not confident to cycle back from. I got a second hand bike from a shop.  It has a lock, front light,  and they registered it for me, alI for £50. I got back home and cycled round the various food vans in the area to make my lunch choice. I was supposed be doing some interview prep in the afternoon but I was just so excited with my purchase that I couldn't concentrate!

Any suggestions for a name gratefully received!

Well I had a couple of random meetings this week.  I went out for dinner with someone who who I had had a quick chat with whilst washing up at a cookery school session. I commented to Makiko that I was amazed that there is always someone standing outside the Kentucky Fried Chicken booth on the High Street...she then told me that for Christmas Eve (a bigger day here than the 25th) that her Mum and Dad tried to get Kentucky Fried Chicken but were told that they couldn't as they hadn't  booked in advance!!!!  The reason is that ovens in Japanese homes aren't very big so they cannot fit in all the stuff they want to cook so revert to buying it...in this case from the great man himself Colonel Sanders!

...and then I met up with Kayo, she's got a masters in History of Art and is applying to do a PHD - or is it the other way around?  I found Kayo by signing up to a website for cultural exchange.  I asked them to find me a Japanese teacher who could teach me and I in exchange would help them with their English.  And she's heading for Scotland to further her studies.  Apparently in the 1800 s there was a connection with Scotland and Japan, and some of the Glasgow boys art group went over to Japan...

A club in town runs various classes....the current teacher for the Japanese womens' English discussion group is leaving.  I found out about this opportunity on day 3.  I tried to find out details, had arranged to meet the teacher etc etc and then I was contacted to say my application was late!  Not sure how but they allowed me to put in my proposal "late".

I also met up with lovely Anujah from the British Red Cross who has been in Tokyo for 3 years and is mad about the octopus balls from Osaka. I am hoping to go vintage clothes shopping with her :)

A while ago (well not that long because I was already in Tokyo) I saw an English language teaching job ad for the business arm of Berlitz.  Applications closed the next day so I quickly submitted mine. I was asked for an interview which would require me to do a trial lesson.  Another email asked me to confirm my attendance as apparently a lot of applicants when they find out that they need to do a sample lesson cancel.....does make me wonder why they are applying?!  Business attire was required...mmm this was going to be tricky! 

.......I got offered the job!!!!   I am very excited about it and go in next week for a half day induction to find out more.   

The church bazaar - Dominic helped man the cake stand and I was on the white elephant stand the aim of which was to get rid of stuff! I walked in at 9am for my stint and within minutes had bought several notebooks and a dry erase board!  The number of people that looked disappointed when seeing the sold sign on it was interesting....especially an older Japanese lady who seemed to get excited and then visibly slumped when someone told her it was sold!

David from Ireland came to stay a couple of nights and he took us to a print museum just a short walk away, and also advised us about an antique fair on Sunday as well as loads of other things, he's lived in Tokyo and seemed to digest the entire what's on in town calendar! Also went to Gonpachi the restaurant featured in Kill Bill.  Dominic did not wear the outfit.

Our stuff from the UK showed up.  So how come our flat in London is half the size of where we are living yet our things barely fit in this place?  Perhaps this question will feature in next years GCSE maths paper?

Tune in next time to find out what happened when I told a student of my washing habits.....and a first aid myth!

We had a full on week. Dominic was out most nights and I was out most days being sociable! We had a long weekend so went to Osaka. Famous for food it's motto is something like eat till you die!

So we headed straight for noodles.

We booked to stay at an Airbnb. A flat in a non-descript Tower block. The guy had had everything ripped out so it was concrete walls and visible ventilation tubes. We liked it.

In the evening we went to candle festival. We decorated our own candle tops so contributed to the overall display! Heading back into town the place was in full Halloween mode. They don't limit themselves to Halloween themed things, any dressing up is good.

In our view the winners were these blokes...would have loved to have been there when they decided on their outfits!

We met the lovely Tomoyo at Catherine and Patrick's wedding.  She lives near Osaka.
We got to spend a day with her and had a great time doing loads of things. Visited a print museum and did some printing of course.  Dominic got so excited he decided to call Catherine and Patrick to tell them of our adventures with their friend.  He got the times a bit mixed up and rang them at 5am, he thought it was 10am.  Very sorry both . 

Ate balls of batter filled with squid (takoyaki)served in different ways. Osaka is famous for its balls...

Octopus ball selection!

It's a wrap!

Visited Kitchen Street -it does what it says! Went into one shop which was packed with stuff. Some piles of plates and dishes looked as though they were about to fall over. So we walked around the place gingerly. Especially me! Get it?
We then stopped for a beer at a stand up bar. But just to be contrary we sat down!

Smelt the roses at the island park and then went for dinner of dumplings.

Next day we went to the instant Ramen museum. Despite being packed with kids on school trips we were soon decorating our own Cup Noodles containers and selecting our flavours and contents! Brilliant. They seal them up and shrink wrap them so you can take them home. Denise I was thinking of you!

In the afternoon I'd arranged a volunteer guide to take us wherever he liked in town. He took us to the sky tower. He suggested we stop a few floors below the top from where you could see very little but it was free.I wonder where he doesn't like in town? We paid for us and him to go to the top so that we could actually see something of the view!

We did a whistle stop tour of the castle and a museum and then ended up in the old town.

In the evening we headed off for Kushi Katsu - another food item that Osaka is famous for. Basically deep-fried things on sticks. Even tomatoes aren't saved from this process! However raw cabbage is served on the side to create a balanced meal!

Before leaving town we headed for the aquarium. In the summer when its boiling here the penguin display with constantly falling icy snow must attract the human crowd! 

Month one - things I've noticed

Things I've noticed one month in...

All bus drivers have a microphone to talk to us passengers! And they wait at the stop in order to keep to the schedule.... this is for a bus that runs every 10 minutes!

Zoo keepers in Tokyo are better climbers than Malayan bears.  The bear went round retrieving the food the keeper had put out for him but found climbing up to it very difficult!

At first the Metro seemed daunting but you soon realise that there is a whole load of information. All the stations on each line are numbered. On the platform they tell you if you are going in the direction of the station numbers going up or down. They also have info as to which carriage you should be in if you want to change to Y line at X Station. Denise- with that map in your diary it will be a doddle!

Also at the Metro stations are maps as to the exits. If you get out of the wrong one or even at the right one it sometimes feels as though you are walking for miles. 

There seem to be more people asleep on the Tokyo metro than on the London Underground.  A full survey is needed but said observation already backed up by another UK bod so it must be a fact!

Crossing at a traffic light controlled junction? Even if there is nothing in sight I'm now reticent to cross!

Donki (Don Quijote) sells everything it is the equivalent to Woolworths on acid!  Needed a smaller suitcase to conform with reduced take on luggage so I popped into Donki and got one for a tenner. Maybe not one for Dave, a big fan of a quality item! Or Ian's customers...

Rubbish bins - there aren't any on the streets.  The nearest thing you'll find is recycling for bottles and cans next to some of the many drinks machines and recycling inside some of the many corner shops.  We've got 3 within 200 metres.

Well we went off to the horse racing on a very sunny day. The place was large and very impressive. No great money was made but we met some great people. Of course Dominic bumped into someone who is the son of a guy that Raymond knows really well....

After a tasty Italian meal just at the end of our street we went to a sports bar to watch the Irish game. Painful!

Dominic faced his first full week at work. 

Whilst I went out and about meeting people.  Done a bit of teaching, had a yoga lesson and took part in rice cake making. It started over 25 years ago when a priest gave his breakfast to someone who was homeless. So now every day rice cakes are made at the church and then distributed.

Went to see a flower show over in a park. A company called something like Tokyo window box services was doing a great job of creating wonderful looking things in various containers. I was particularly inspired by one in a plastic water bottle. On the way home I bought some plants and created my own version. When I told Dominic how great the displays were he had difficulty suppressing his laughs at my attempt.

On Saturday we headed off to a Frank Gehry exhibition. And then for pancakes. OMG the crepes were so good we could've been on the market Square in Ile de Re !

A journey out north-west to buy a second hand bike was fruitless. I almost bought a blue one for 30 quid until Dominic told me it didn't have any gears!

Out in the evening to a gathering at someone's gallery in their apartment - ticket price was either with or without wine tasting. Went without otherwise I would have been tempted to get value out of my tenner!

Tokyo celebrated Halloween on Sunday so loads of people were dressed up and we stayed to watch a bit of the procession in town. Then back home to cook the thing we learnt in our first week here.

But of course the important news Back to the Future!  Liz and I had dressed up for the Red Cross Christmas party as the Doc and Marty with the car!  Chris Evans was apparently talking about the film and so Liz sent in the photo of us and a text and apparently he read it out. The text not the photo! 

So off we went to Hakone – where bods go to glimpse Mt Fuji and enjoy the hot springs.

Arrived into town and went straight to the onsen – male and female separate facilities. Basically take your kit off and then wash yourself to within an inch of your life and making sure to rinse off any suds.  Then go outside and sit in the pools from where you can look at the trees and see the kite birds gliding. Big porcelain bowl full of water – was I supposed to get in it or drink from it?  Decided to get in which was the right thing to do!

Off to our hotel – a bit confusing.  Get off the bus and go into a posh hotel – go to the 7^th floor and then go out of the building which rejoins the steep road and then go up it 50 yards and into our hotel.  I had a craving for chocolate and was regretting not getting some in town– but at reception they had a bag of mini kit kats for less than £2 – perfect product placement!

Next day decided to walk some of the Old Hakone Way – only problem was no one knew where it was!  Eventually we found it and shortly after we headed across the river walking along some bamboo poles tied together which balanced on the rocks at a 30 degree angle – a bit like it’s a knockout but we weren’t wearing the costumes.  Of course having crossed the river we then noticed a sturdy bridge!

We stopped at the tea facility, one has been there for over 400 years and the tea provided is for free!

Our walk ended up by a lake.  I headed into the posh bakery whilst Dominic got the coffees.  He’d grabbed a couple of chairs at the counter outside overlooking the lake – and it had a foot bath!  So there we were in glorious sunshine enjoying the view, our feet bathed in warm water eating a chestnut and chocolate pastry.  Delish Marge!

A couple of great art places in town – an open air sculpture park and a private gallery the latter set up by a rich bloke.  He’d been overcome by a panel showing trees, snow and ducks and from this decided to set up his own collection and bought the work that inspired it.  Another coffee and foot bath, thinking about it finding a café in town without a foot bath could be tricky!

Ryokan owner and her mother - Dominic must have grown with all the sushi!

Dominic went off to work on Tuesday and I pondered what I would do the next day for my first English lesson in Japan!!  Yikes!  Group of  4 x 7 year olds. 

Thursday I headed out to a fabric shop.  It was brilliant, but now think my sewing machine won’t work out here.

Friday was Dominic’s welcome party at work (about 35 colleagues).  It was really good fun with an agenda provided!  We had to stand up and introduce ourselves.  There was then free time before the quiz started.  10 people got up and told us two things and we had to guess which of them was true about them.  We found out one colleague had flown to London to see The Who – left Tokyo Thursday, arrived on Friday saw the concert, got plane back on Saturday and home on Sunday.  Then Dominic had a few true and false questions about himself.  Joan will be delighted to know that people thought she was 10 years younger than she is.  All attendees had to pay for themselves and then between them they paid for Dominic and I.

Today we’ve been out in Tokyo with an American colleague of Dominic’s that he only met this week and his wife.  She loves a bit of crafting – I said I do too but more the grab a cereal packet, a bit of glue and make something that looks homemade rather than anything professional.  She said she was the same!

We are off to the races tomorrow!

Cill came to visit for the weekend. Her train was 90 mins late!!  Thought if we rang the restaurant and told them we were cancelling for this reason they would think we were lying! Bought some knock down sushi from a posh shop in the station.  Packed with ice blocks to keep fresh...Enjoyed with gin that Cill had generously bought with her.  

Saturday went to a farmers market. Japanese woman had a union jack flag and various British cakes. Plus Irish granola!  DK could not resist commenting and she said she had learnt to make it in Ireland so DK asked at Bally Malloe? yes she'd done the 12 week course. Took Cill to cookery class to cook Mick Jagger ( Niku Jyaga) much discussion as they weren't expecting non-Japanese speakers. Lots of huddling and phoning. I resorted to Google translate.  Still not possible and was given a date in two weeks time. More Google translate. "Please speak Japanese we will watch and learn.  We love Japanese food and cooking." Well that's what I hope it said and it worked. We got given potatoes, carrots, onion and meat.  We were making the first meal that a Japanese woman learns to cook for her husband. In our world it is Irish stew but with vinegar sugar and mirin. Found a cool restaurant bar which has a couple of big fish tanks. This counts as nature along with the puppies in the window in a nearby shop. (Calm boys it's not Amsterdam).  

Tokyo American Club - I signed up to do a "here and now" 2 day session. Basically advice for people living in Japan and especially Tokyo. 50 newbies- a lot of them on a return assignment to the place. 

Thanks to the Harpie set - you know who you are - for the delivery of the decaff tea bags!

I sat next to a Korean American who asked me where I was from. Instead of just saying the UK I said UK Lancashire from a town called Blackburn. Imagine my surprise when she said her husband ancestors were from there.  She was researching the family tree and had just found someone born in Blackburn in 1812! 

Signs
cafe le Landemaine think they may have meant le lendemain. But then again perhaps their coffee is explosive?
Fungus sandwiches anyone? Name of a local shop!

Long weekend in Japan. Have headed for onsen town of Hakone.  Was told getting accommodation would be very difficult but DK managed to book a couple of places. Clever sausage!  

Blimey!
Okay so here it goes.
A manic month spent doing stuff ready for the move and doing the intensive teaching English course. Hooray I passed!  Putting that amount of effort into something and not passing would not have been pretty.

Due to a change of plan we ended up bringing 16 pieces of luggage with us.  However we got a man and a van to take us to the airport - we travelled in the front rather than in the back.

Said goodbye to Victor.  Hope the new driver -you know who you are -enjoys him.  I won't say as much as I've enjoyed Victor as this would be tricky.

Managed to squeeze in a visit to the RA to see Ai Wei - very good.  Went to dinner at the Colony Bar and Grill.  Had starters which meant we missed out on the fabulous looking baked alaska.

Arrived here on Tuesday.  Yesterday was all the admin. and getting household stuff.

Today is first day at work for himself.  Meanwhile I at home am trying to stay awake and decided to try and create a blog to get things going.

Sorry no photo but yesterday saw a clothes horse type thing mounted on a moped parked outside. Wonder if the person rides it around town if it is now very windy.

Must go stuff to do, and want to see if this has worked!