Image Of The Week #95

I'm ba-ack!

(taken in Dublin - 16th October, 2008)

Top O' The Morning To You

I have a couple of guilt-free weeks now before I start work, so it seems like the best time to do some travelling. I'm planning to go to France for a week, and tomorrow I'm off to Ireland for the first time. A friend from Nova, Fiona, lives an hour outside of Dublin, so I'm flying with the cheap and (I hope) cheerful RyanAir straight from Bournemouth Airport. It's very convenient!

The trip's a bit complicated as Fiona was just offered a job, and I don't begrudge her for it, but it meant for a last minute hostel booking and change of plan. I'm going to spend Thursday and Friday in Dublin on my own, and then travel down to her Friday afternoon, flying back Tuesday morning.

It suits me fine as I'm quite content travelling on my own, I get to spend a solid bit of time in Dublin without going backwards and forwards from Dundalk, where she lives.

Incidentally, the only person in Japan to know about this blog is Keiko. Actually, Julian too - another friend from Nova. I don't know why I never told anyone else, I just never did.

I'll blog on Tuesday.

On And Off The Job Hunt

It's never a worry watching a film or reading a book where the character is looking for a job, or struggling in another way (romantic etc), because you know it will end with them happy, in love, in a successful job, and so on. (Or the ending is bleak, but then again it's just a story). Either way, the end is in sight. Which is where it differs from real life. I knew I'd be employed at some point, but when and whether it would be a good job is a different matter altogether. Which is why I've been quite quiet on here recently.

I've mainly been looking at NHS positions, as they fund the D.Clin.Psy (Clinical Psychology PhD) which is what I'm aiming for, but they are few and far between, with hundreds of applicants per vacancy. I applied for about 60 and received interviews for five of them; rejected on the basis that my experience didn't match others, or that nearly everyone applying has graduated with good results (a huge flaw in the government campaigning for more Uni students).

The first interview on my return was at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and that was offered to me one afternoon, with the meeting the next morning. I wasn't well prepared for it, and was rejected immediately because the MSc would interfere with the full-time position. Which made me reconsider the UCL course; in the end I have been able to indefinitely defer it, with thanks to the gracious staff there. It's something I'd love to study and am still passionate about, but it's irrelevant to the PhD and would prevent me from full-time working.

Finally, a good position near Southampton was offered to me and, like buses, so was a decent part-time job in Bournemouth (thanks Grandma for driving!). Meanwhile, I was offered another - but unrelated - chance at GOSH for an Assistant Psychologist job. I was quite stressed out leading up to the interview, as I would be disappointed being rejected again. GOSH, the most famous children's hospital in the world, is a prestigious organisation and one I would be proud to work for. As I've said before, the NHS is one of the best things the UK has going for it. This was the job I wanted and, luckily, the interview went well. A bit of a shock when I was faced with four women rather than the expected two. I explained how much I wanted the position, how my experience was a good match, and we even talked about how I deferred the MSc because GOSH was a higher priority and this was effectively a second chance.

Looking for jobs is never fun, and it's taken two months but I finally got there. That's right, I was offered it! The Motherload, the Golden Ticket of locations/job experience, and I'm really thrilled. I'll be working in the Psychology and Psychosocial teams for the Oncology and Cleft units, assisting in psychometric testing, counselling support, and research. I can't say much more, for obvious confidential reasons, and I'll try and update how the job is going, but it's going to have to be quite minimal. I won't be starting for a few weeks, as they have to process references and the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) Check.

All of which means...

I'm moving to London! A whole new range of opportunities and experiences, and it will give the blog a boost in terms of trips and places to sight-see. Not sure how the title fits in, but Mr Phil in London isn't so catchy. Any ideas?

Phil-San in Londan?

Not Just Memories Of A Geisha

Seems like there are more young girls interested in the Geisha industry, reaching one hundred for the first time this century. Click here for the article.

Jump Like A Kangaroo

Was the beginning of one of the songs I used to sing in the really young children's lessons at Nova.*

These are Powerbockers/Pro-jumping stilts, and apparently they are the latest craze in footwear. I ws able to try it out a few nights ago. With a fear of breaking my legs, for the ten minutes I wore them, I was safely gripping onto a wall. They feel unstable at first, but slowly I suppose you would get used to the balance.

Here's a picture of me pretending I'm not terrified. I could've photoshopped the fence away, but I would probably have still fallen over digitally.


And here's a video of how they should be used:

*Jump like a kangaroo, jump jump jump
Swing like a monkey, swing swing swing
Fly like a bird, fly fly fly
Swim like a fish, swim swim swim

Back To School

Last Saturday, I took a road trip with my Aunt, Uncle and cousins to see my oldest cousin in her new digs* at Warwick University; the same Uni I went to. It was a fantastic day, walking around the Parade and Jephson Gardens in Leamington Spa and brought back a lot of memories. I was also able to meet up with Andrew, who came to Japan to visit.


It's hard to believe that three years have passed since I was a student there; the same amount of time I studied for. The town was full of students and I felt some jealousy, some nostalgia (already!) and a strange sensation that is tough to explain: although I've moved on, the University hasn't and now it's full of new students, of which only a handful of Masters and PhD students would have actually overlapped with the time I was there. I guess I'm no longer a part of the University I loved, and it's tough to revisit and see all the fresh faces in their Warwick hoodies.


It also made me feel old!


Still, the weather was lovely, with a visit past the yellow-leafed trees to the hot house and the boats.


The drive home was straight out of a horror movie - the fog was the thickest I've seen - and I'm glad it wasn't me behind the wheel.

*Above a sex shop, no less. I should mention, they deal in 'part-exchange'...

P(o)unned Sterling

Following the problems in the financial sector in the UK, uncertainty has now hit Japan.

In the last 7 days Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.

Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song, while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived.

While Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black.

Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.

And The Trains Keep On Ticking

Now on my Christmas wish list: a Yamanote Line watch that chimes with the station tunes!

Money, Monkeys and Mischief

What a busy News week for Japan. Along with the rest of the World, their finances aren't doing so good; Tokyo's biggest one-day fall since 1987.

On a more interesting note, a monkey has been given the role of waiter in a bar north of Tokyo (Utsunomiya). The owner found that when he was given a handtowel or bottle, he would take it to a customer. Forget robots taking over, we need to employ more monkeys! (The part at 44 seconds is the best)


Finally, a Western man thought it a good idea to scale the wall of the Imperial Palace naked, and then go for a swim in the moat:

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.