Next Time

Some inspiration for the third batch:

Sushi Attempt: Take Two

Not bad again, with Oli joining in this time, as Head Bamboo Mat Roller. I think he was impressed, and said it was the same as the stuff he tried in Las Vegas. Maybe a review from him in the comments to follow.


A tip for cleaning rice stuck on the bottom of pans: wash with cold water; hot water cooks starchy food further onto the pan.

Easier still, ask your Grandma to wash it!!

Here Comes The Sun, And I Say It's...

...Autumn.

Yesterday was the first day of the new season.* Perhaps in apology for a rubbish Summer, the Sun made a brief appearance this weekend. A farewell perhaps?


The beach was beautiful, and the sky was clear, with views over to the Isle of Wight, Old Harry Rocks and Corfe Castle.


*The Autumnal Equinox being the first day the Sun crosses the celestial equator southwards.

Blog Ben

On Thursday, I had an enjoyable day in London showing a friend the main sights. I think I appreciated it as much as him and, if anything, it made me remember how much I ejoyed being a tour guide back in Kamakura/Enoshima and that it could be a fun side-job if I live there in the future.

My bearings are pretty good around the most famous areas, but I wouldn't say I know London well. I'm sure I've been to the Changing of the Guards before but can't remember it, so I must've been quite young. Luckily, Buckingham Palace is just a stroll from Victoria Coach Station, and we arrived there just before 11am. The Police were out on horses, clearing a path between the gates and the Victoria Monument. Strangely, however, the procession didn't pass through there, and just continued into the Palace at a side gate.


We strained our necks over the crowds, me sadly realising that Europeans are taller; much easier to see over the Japanese!


We gave up soon after and strolled to Westminster. Suddenly, another procession came down a side road, so we had an excellent view. (By the way, Dad explained that there was significance behind the leopard-print vests, but it's a fashion faux pas regardless.)


Liran, my friend, spotted a squirrel in some grass, and was excitedly trying to take photos. To him, camels are typical, he said, but I laughed at the idea of a crazy tourist snapping a creature a few hundred yards away from one of the most famous attractions happening that moment.

He was impressed by Big Ben, although the sky gloomed over. I was nearly flattened by a crane if it hadn't have been for the operator pushing me out of the way.


We timed a boat ride along the Thames to perfection and set off, with a funny and informative guide explaining the monuments/buildings as we passed, including Cleopatra's Needle, the Tate, Shakespeare's Globe, OXO Tower, where Oliver Twist was formed, St Paul's, and onto Tower Bridge.




Incidentally, Tower Bridge is NOT London Bridge, whatever popular culture may deem. That's you Fergie I'm talking to.


Google too! Type 'London Bridge' in and look at the Image results...

The boat terminated at Greenwich, where International Time is set, and we had a beer in a typical pub. We took the Docklands Light Railway and Jubilee Line back to Westminster and walked to Trafalgar Square which has lost a lot of charm since the pigeons were deported.


On to Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, which Liran was amazed at how close they were to each other. Along Regent Street, we stopped at Hamleys to buy a present for his cousin, and then further along Oxford Street. Every tenth shop was an H&M which was slight overkill, and I even saw two UniQlos - the Japanese alternative which has just come over here.


We cut through Green Park, and past the Palace, to Victoria for the return coach to Bournemouth. Of course, the bus from Bournemouth Station was twenty minutes late, but that didn't detract from a grand day out. There's lots more to do and see in London but I was thrilled when Liran looked at the postcards in a souvenir shop and said he had seen everything displayed in the pictures.

Post Box

Finally my boxes arrived this morning! Books, photos, souvenirs, clothes, my coat, and lots more, least not forgetting my... bongos!


I like to imagine they've been on an adventure. Touristing around Kobe at the ferry port, a nice cruise along the Ganges, hitch-hiking in Russia, kidnapped by pirates somewhere in the ocean, and a leisurely cross-country drive back to Bournemouth.

The most curious part is that everything smells like Keiko's house in Sendai. I can't imagine why, but it definitely has that fragrance about it.

Maybe they stopped off for tea, or something.

Instincts, Don't Fail Me Now

I really miss Japan.

I Timed That One Well

Yesterday, H&M unveiled their first store in Japan, in the centre of the Ginza shopping district. Apparently, over 3000 customers queued before the shop opened.


In a few weeks, the second branch will open in the more suitably located fashion capital, Harajuku.

Turning (My Readership) Japanese Part Three

Because I couldn't resist.

Turning (My Readership) Japanese Part Two

Fancy a Japanese date of birth as well?

The Gregorian Calendar is used in general now, since 1873. However, for official documents such as bank accounts, the 'Emperor' method is imperative. Even for foreigners! This is represented as the name of the Emperor at that time, followed by the Year of their ruling. For example, mine is Showa 59 (Emperor Hirohito - Showa means 'illuminous peace).

To convert your birth year, click here.

(It also tells you your Chinese year of the animal.)

Turning (My Readership) Japanese Part One

Hands up if you're feeling a little oriental today? How about reading your name in Japanese for starters?

Click here and type your name in for the katakana spelling. Katakana is the script used for foreign names and loan words (mi-ru-ku tea, for example!), whereas Kanji or Hiragana are for Japanese native words. Try the calligraphy or manga (comic-book) styles too.

You can copy and paste it into the comments, if you'd like.

Re-Learner

I passed my driving test over six years ago and, apart from a drunk occassion in a friend's driveway, that was the last time I was behind the wheel. So you can guess I'm not the most confident of drivers, and I wouldn't trust myself on the roads now.


At least the Japanese and Honkonese(?) drive on the left as well, so I don't have to worry about swerving into the wrong lane.

I'm doing a six hour Pass Plus course, which is for advanced driving and reduces the insurance. I spoke to the instructor, Trevor, on the phone today and explained my situation. We decided to start with a refresher and see how it goes, and if I don't have enough time to pass all six modules, I can add on an extra hour to finish the course.


Wish me luck.

I miss the train, sigh.

You Call That A Potato?

This is a potato!

Ei?

In Japanese, ei means stingray. This guy is rather cute:


Since it's breathing, it's good enough for the Japanese to eat, of course. People in North Japan dry them out and then snack away. But look at it:


Are you sure?


I'm warning you.




Scary! It looks like an ei-lien.