Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in Mich's LiveJournal:

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Sunday, February 4th, 2007
8:43 pm	Back in the UK + 1 question for Kahala Hello I got back 2 days ago and its not as bad as I thought it would be. England is actually really pretty - lots of countryside and solid houses. However I am finding all the people a tiny bit scarey - I haven't seen so many Gaijin in one place for over a year. In Fukui there are probably less than 200 and whenever I did meet one I usually knew them. I went into Manchester yesterday and was a bit overwhelmed by all the people there - there were just so many of them and they were so loud and big and rude and nobody was smiling. Have no house yet but have managed to get a temporary job - knocking on doors in a council estate in Burnage asking if people have voted - not my dream job but not bad for less than 48 hours in the country plus lots of fresh air and exericse. Oh - also I have a question for Jo - what make is your bread maker and would you recommend it. I am thinking of getting one. (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, December 15th, 2006
11:39 pm	Am soooo stupid - was sending e-mails to the Thailand guidebooks last night to request they include Kuiburi National Park in their next edition. Sent one to the Rough Guide (my favourite travel guide book publishers) but forgot to replace the ??? with the name of their book, so wrote... "I am writing to give you information about Kuiburi National Park in the hope that you would be interested in including it in future editions of The ??name??? guidebook to Thailand. " Bugger - am so stupid. Went bouldering last night (like rock climbing but no ropes and only short courses) didn't mananage any new ones but got much closer on course 15 - hopfully I will make it next time. Also met loads of new gaigin at the climbing wall. They were all non-JETs - didn't relise there were that many in Fukui. Ate dougnuts and other fried goods in celebration of Chanuka. Found out Mapale syrup comes from trees - always imagined it was made from sugar (like tate and lyle's golden syrup) and then had some sort of mapely taste added. But apparently it is the sap of a tree - like rubber - totally blew my mind. Turns out everyone else in the world already knows this, still I was very shocked - it hadn't even crossed my mind that tree sap could be edible I always thougt of it as a somthing you wouldn't even think to eat like wood or concrete...you learn somthing new everyday. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, December 14th, 2006
1:43 am	Am back in Japan now. It's significantly colder here than Thailand by at least 20 degrees. I hate hot weather, I can't stand being sweaty and covered in sticky sun tan lotion, so I am quite happy. However, I would be happier if Japanese houses weren't made of paper and heated by foul, toxious gas emmitting kerosene heaters. Not only can they only heat one room at once, every 2 hours they have to be switched off and the room thouroughly aired (as in window open, cold air in) so that they don't kill you with their noxouse fumes. Cycled to the paper village today (40 minutes both ways). I have decided to do more exercise as I got so hot cycling - I had to take my coat and wooley hat off. Stopped on way to purchase satsumas. Decided to look in neiboughing clothes store on way home to see if they have any thick jumpers for sale and ended up buying a pair of jeans. The jeans were labled 'baggy' but this is Japan where women actually have legs with the circumferance of a match stick - for the gaigin thigh they would have to re-name them snug or even preety dam tight. Still they fit, plus they have blue buttons - what more could you want from a new item of clothing. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, October 31st, 2006
12:08 am	Ok while I’m here I might as well post this as well (not as important as the last two but if you have time please give it a quick read). This is the next page – any comment appreciated. The actual text is 9 pages long but don’t want to bore you with the rest – plus am hoping the first page is so enticing I don’t really need anything too special for the rest. About Kuiburi Only declared a National Park in 1999, Kuiburi is one of Thailand’s youngest National Parks. As such it has neither the huge bustling crowds nor the large tourist developments of its older more established rivals. However, what it lacks in fellow tourists it more than makes up for in animals, birds and forna. Kuriburi contains one of Thailand’s largest remaining wild elephant populations (over 140). As well as elephants, many other noteworthy and endangered animals live in the Park. These include: tigers, leopards, gaurs, barking deer, dusky langars, stumped tailed macaques, white headed gibbons, tapirs, bears, porcupines and pangolins. The park is also home to a large population of wild birds ranging from, the majestic black crested bulbul to the vibrantly cloured Asian paradise flycatcher, from the nocturnal large tailed night jar (whose nightly calls echo through the park) to the timid fairy bluebird. The park is also proud to be home to 4 species of the rare hornbill: the great hornbill, the oriental pied hornbill, the brown hornbill and the wreathed hornbill. Kuiburi National Park not only contains animals and birds but also abundant and diverse plants and flowers. During your visit you will see a diverse range of wild orchids, flowering plants, ferns, trees and fungi. The picturesque landscape of Kuiburi is a pleasure to view and explore. Kuiburi National Park covers a vast 969km² of Central?? Thailand. It is linked in the north to Kaeng Krachan National Park and is only 60 km west of the splendid Sam Roi Yod Marine Park. It contains a variety of terrains from lush evergreen forests to open grasslands; from the tall mountains of the Tenasserim range (summit 998m) to refreshingly cool rivers, streams and waterfalls. Within the park confines are nine villages. The main industries of the villages are pineapple, mango and papaya growing and fishing in the serene waters of Yang Chum lake. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
12:08 am	Sorry to make such long posts but I am also writing a website for the Park. Here is the front page. Am not too great at poetic writing but have tried to throw in a few adjectives here and there. I think some of the sentences are a bit long but not sure how to shorten them. Plus do you think I should mention how adventury the park is and how much there is to do in it – I was going to but wanted to keep this page short? After reading this you should be booking your flights to Thailand and reserving a space on the elephant watching programme – well that’s the effect I’m looking for anyway. Would be grateful for any comment. Front Page Within the majestic 969km² of dense forest, open plains, mountains, waterfalls, streams and lakes that make up Kuiburi National park there is a plethora of diverse animal, bird and plant life. Perhaps the most impressive are the wild elephants of which there are over 140 (one of the largest populations of wild elephants in Thailand). With such a large population any trip to the park is more than likely to include at least a glimpse of an elephant. However, even if you are unfortunate enough to miss an elephant sighting, you are bound to spot many of the other fascinating animals, (including: monkeys, tigers, leopards, gaurs, deer, tapirs, porcupines and bears) birds (including 4 species of hornbill) and wild orchids the Park is home to. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
12:06 am	Hello. Have spent last month in Kuiburi National Park in Thailand. The park has no internet access and I only get to go to the nearby small village for an hour, once a week, if I am lucky. Didn’t realize how much I relied on e-mail and the internet - hope some huge catastrophe doesn’t plunge us back into the dark ages communication wise - I would be lost. The park is very remote and I am here with two other volunteers (one of which is very annoying and drives me crazy – I know I have a tendency to be intolerant but he is really really bad. He is a semi-retired (62 years old) actor (has paid for himself to do acting course), he tells long and incredibly dull stories, slowly, in a over dramatic fashion with many sweeping hand gestures (not sure why the hand gestures are so annoying but they are!). He also expounds extremely populist but selfish points of view; globalization is bad (I would like Thailand to remain undeveloped – no western influences …. what about the Thai maybe they want to eat western food and benefit from western amenities). Yesterday he boasted that he never reads the newspaper…oh Yes! He went on to amaze us with the fact that he only heard about the tragedy in New Orleans by accidentally overhearing a conversation in one (of the two) tennis clubs he is a member of …. Yeah cos ignorance is a virture! Bah! Anyway I digress. The real reason for this posting is to ask for help. Please Please help me! As part of my eco-tourism volunteer activities I am writing to lots of guide books and asking them to include Kuiburi in their books. I have written a draft letter (see below) but have no idea about this kind of thing. What do you think? Should I add anything/not include anything? Is the tone right? I have loads more information (such as stuff about eco-tourism and how it will help the park; conservation of the animals; more information about the programmes – should I include that?). I am a bit out of my depth here so any suggestions will be greatly appreciated (and may be rewarded with a chocolate!!!). Also who should I address it to (Sirs/to whom it may concern)? Dear??? I am a working as an eco-tourism volunteer for Openmind projects, a non-profit organization based in Thailand. I have been placed for the past 2 months at Kuiburi National Park which is located in Central Thailand (300km South of Bangkok). I have been working with the park staff, rangers and local villagers to try and increase the number of tourists visiting the Park. I am writing to you to request that you include Kuiburi National Park in the next edition of the ??name??? guidebook to Thailand. Below I have included information that I feel would be relevant to such an inclusion. I believe the Park would be a fantastic place to visit for any traveler to Thailand. Perhaps the most impressive attraction is the wild elephants of which there are over 140 in the Park (one of the largest remaining populations of wild elephant remaining in Thailand). The park is also incredibly beautiful and contains a large number of other endangered animals (including: tigers, leopards, monkeys, gaurs, deer, tapirs, porcupines and bears); many birds (including 4 species of hornbill) and a plethora of forna (including a superb collection of wild orchids). Kuiburi is a very new park; it was only officially given National Park status 7 years ago. The park is very large (969 km2) and has much to offer to tourists from sightings of endangered animals and birds to adventure trekking along the Park’s trails to bathing in the Park’s magnificent waterfalls. At present there are 4 set programs that visitors can take part in: 1. Elephant watching expedition. On this program visitors will observe wild elephants in there natural habitat. Follow the elephants’ tracks through the forest, and watch them forage and drink at watering holes from specially built towers. (2 days, 2000 Baht) 2. 3 Day adventure hiking trail. On this program visitors: hike through the dense forest; wade through streams, spend 2 nights camping in the jungle and climbing up steep mountains and rocky waterfalls. (3 days, 2500Baht) 3. Bird watching program. On this program visitors will spend a day in the forest spotting the magnificent birds of Kuiburi National Park. (This program can be combined with an excursion to the splendid Sam Roi Yot marine park to observe the numerous marine and wetland birds there). (2 days, 2000 Baht) 4. Nature trail. This is a more sedate program allowing visitors to take a 3 hour leisurely trek through the forest, across open grassy plains and up small hills. On the trail visitors will be able to observe the forest’s wildlife; bathe in tranquil streams, and learn about the forest from local rangers including how to identify edible plants and find clean drinking water in tree braches. (1/2 day, 750Baht) Included in the price are: all park entrance fees (400Baht), meals, guiding by an English speaking guide or ranger and accommodation (bungalows for programmes 1, 3 and 4 and tents for program 2). (Discounts are available if you choose to stay in a tent rather than bungalow). Prices based on minimum 2 persons. Kuiburi National Park is different from many of the other national parks in Thailand in that it is committed to ensuring the natural environment of the Park is not disturbed or changed in any way. As such, it has placed a strict limit on the number of tourists admitted daily (max 50) and any tourist developments must not disturb the natural surroundings. Thus in Kuiburi most of the tracks and trails are not metteld and some of the trails will require you to wade through streams and clamber over rocks to get up waterfalls. I am aware that for backpacker one of the biggest hindrances to visiting a national park is transportation. Therefore, at Kuiburi we have tried to make the Park as accessible as possible. From the nearby tourist centre of Hua Hin hourly busses travel the 50km to Kuiburi town. From the town visitors can then call park (within working hours 8.00 -4.00 no: +669212 7274) and request a lift to the park headquarters. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Park; the staff and local villagers are all fantastic, incredibly friendly and giving people. I really believe that Kuiburi would make a wonderful place to visit for any backpacker travelling around Thailand. If you require any further information or have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me at: pumpado@yahoo.co.uk or contact the park directly: Mr Hin (director) kui_nphotmail.com. (At present I am constructing a website for the park and will send you details of this when it is complete) Regards Michelle Brodie (Eco-tourism volunteer, Kuiburi National Park) (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, September 17th, 2006
9:10 pm	Stressed Brodie Ok so I am off to Thailand on Tuesday to be eco-tourism voluteer and am predictably wracked by stress/self doubt/worry. Am ok most of the time, but then remember what I am about to do and suddenly begin to get a bit shakey and want to scream Waaahhh! Mummy Brodie recomends sharing worries (she's an expert on worry so I am following her advise). STRESS: - Not started packing yet (although have written a list so am half way there - right?) - Not even finnished all holiday washing yet! - Not done lots of important niggeling tasks like e-mail people, sort out train tickets to airport, cancel phone contract etc. WORRY: - Being usual unorganised Brodie idiot failed to read all e-mail about volunteering and missed the bit about e-mailing them with flight details if you want to take part in the orientation and want somwhere to stay before the placement starts - sent frantic e-mail yesterday but no reply yet - so potentially I am arriving on Tuesday without any accomadation/people expecting me etc. - I am so lame! - Also am worried about missing flight/forgetting important documents/sorting out getting to the north of Thailand. - Am worried I will get really upset (as I often do when I am overtired and stressed) and will start crying when I arrive and make a total fool of myself (like I did in America). - It took me at least 2 months to settle down (and stop crying and missing then boyfriend) when I went to America - but I am only in Thailand for 2 months so what if I hate it the whole time. SELF DOUBT: - I am not a people person (this I have learnt over the last year) - I can't just chat to people easily, it takes me ages to make friends and I am really nervous and thus very quiet (somtimes inaudiable) round new people and find myself unable to think of things to say and plauged by evil uncomfortatble silences. I am even worse around non-English speakers. - I am navigationally challenged. Lauren and I have travelled around Japan together for the last two weeks and I can't even count the number of times I have got us lost - even to places I have been many times before. On one memorable occasion in Osaka I spent half an hour trying to find an art gallery using a map before Lauren pointed out not only had we walked in exactly the opposite direction to the way we were supposed to be going but where we had been walking wasn't even on the map. - So basically I had been directing using a map which bore no relation to the roads we were actually walking along. - I can't spell (no! - I hear you all cry - surely not?) yes, yes, it's true I am an English teacher that can't spell and convinently failed to mention my dislexcia on my application form. - I seem to have become very forgetful. Last Wednesday I left my coat at a Sushi restaurent. Today I picked it up, then 5 hours later left it at a cinima. (X-men 3 - very good one of the best super hero films I've seen in a long time 8/10.) - Why am I doing this anyway. I have (or had) a perfectly good job here. Plus I am going to miss Keith so much (and not just because he is a navigational mastermind). Ok - feel better now - really I think I am just being a bit stupid. In other news I have bought a Creative Zen MP3 player (8G microphoto) which is loverly and much cheaper in Japan. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, August 28th, 2006
11:14 pm	Received this e-mai from my Mum this evening dear michelle please ignore rather eccentric email but we are at an hotel with free internet access but the space bar has been disabled so you can only type one word per line wednesday morning is fine will email in more detail tomorrow when I'm back home lots love MinandPLxxxxxxxx (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, July 22nd, 2006
6:36 pm	Jolly hols:part1 Holiday to India Not written for a while but thought I would keep you up to date on our holiday. We have a month. Arrived in India on the 17th had to get a train from Takefu at 4.20 in the morning so was shattered by the time we arrived in New Delhi airport at 9.30 at night. Evil taxi driver tried to scam us by taking us to a fake tourist office and making keith speak on the phone to somone he claimed to be an "opperator" who told us we had no hotel reservation. I suspect he would then have told us that luckely enough he knew of a hotel nearby that would be able to accomadate 2 gulible looking tourists for next to nothing. However Keith was having none of it and after tryting to take us to 2 other hotels he finally dropped us off 2 km from where we wanted to be; Keith and Michelle 1: scamming taxi drivers: 0. Not an auspious start to our holiday but one that is quite representative what with fake tour guides, rickshaw drivers (of which there are hundreds), beggars and small children that sing and make strange mieowwing noises walking down the street can be very hasselsome. Luckely we have Charlie with us who as a fully trained teacher has her 'NO!' skills honed to perfection and can make even the most persistant catawaling child srink away in fear. Left New Delhi after 2 days mainly due to the smell (Ali your farts smell like perfume compared to Delhi railway station). Before we left we managed a quick tour of Gandhi's momural (privet hedges and grassy lawns), a couple of shrine (can't remember name but one looked like a miniture red Taj Mahal) and an excellent cheese curry. Next we went to Agra (which is just as smelly incidently) saw real Taj Mahal which is wonderful (much rich decorations and beautiful inlaided flower motifees)Keith called it "too pretty and symetrical". Also suprisingly surrounded by beautifly lush gardens with pink orange flowers on bottle green shrubs with huge trees hanging with vines and vast grassy lawns intersected with red stone water channels. Cost over 7 pounds (only 50p for Indians) so due to holiday bugget was not able to see anything else. Next installment will contain details of; a 6 hour train journey, with 4 and a half hour delay and thus annoyinly uneccessary 5.00 start to Jaipur - the pink city. Only time left to appolojise for the hinouse spellings (sorry Jo). Hope all is well with you. Love Michelle (Comment on this)
Tuesday, July 4th, 2006
9:58 pm	COMBAT CARDS 2.0 watch pumpado fight CREATE YOUR CARD Why am I so unsophisticated and slow and socially inept? (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, June 20th, 2006
9:22 pm	Sunday: Brunch: porridge and all bran Tea: Sushi (burie (yellow tail) crab salad, crab sticks (not very nice and the most expensive), tuna mayo) Went to Dianzenji Temple where they had given me free tickets to the Iris festival there. Went to a speach that the head Priest Yufu san gave. He is really really funny. I hadn't a clue what he was saying (what with it being in Japanese and me being a really bad student) but everybody was laughing and he was really enegmatic - I now see him as a kinda of Japanese Jackie Mason. Plus he mentioned me in his speech !!! he said "Michelle san ....(the dots indicate Japanese being spoken)... What did you do today? (which is what I always ask at the start of lessons)...." then he said my name a couple more times and everybody turned round a looked at me an laughted - was very embarressed. Not that keen on Irises but they were very pretty. Was driving Wilson a bit nuts taking loads of pictures with my new digital camera - impatient boy. (I say new - its actually second hand, bought from mitch who lives next door - I have finally entered the digital age.) Monday: Breakfast: porridge and all bran Lunch: picknick - cheese and samami on rasin rolls, banana, grilled cheese pringles Tea: veg stirfry with sweet and sour sauce (cooked by Keith) Day off so went to the watering hole in Ono. Weather was really hot so went for a swim, following the river along swimming in the deeper sections and scrambeling over the rocks when it was shallower. It was completely deserted (apart from the evil mosquitoes) - idilic. (Comment on this)
Saturday, June 17th, 2006
12:55 pm	Monday: Went to Nara for Keith's Birthday. Walked lots as Nara mainly consists of temple and shrines spread out over a huge park land. The most impressive temple was Todaiji, a big temple with huge budda inside, it also has the impressive claim to fame of being the biggest wooden structure in the world. They also have tame deer there which harass tourits, poo on the paths and and steel little kid's ice-creams. Tuesday: Worked lots Wednesday: Morning off so played tennis with Kelly, Hitman (one of Kelly's students) and Hitman's wife. Despite being and overweigt, small guy who is at least 60 hitman is fantastic at tennis (hence his name). I on the other hand am not. I can't even serve in the box. After humilating us at tennis hitman and his wife took us out to an amazing resturant where I had sushi. Was knacked for the rest of the day. Thursday: Lots of work. Hideouse kingergarten lesson in which I am ment to be teaching them to sing songs for a performance thing they are having ... me teaching music ... if only my high school music teacher (who kicked me out of choir) could see me now. Friday: Very sleep after staying up till 3.00 am to watch the football. Had Japanese lesson - am crap at Japanese. (Comment on this)
Sunday, June 11th, 2006
9:30 pm	Yesterday Breakfast: porridge and all bran Lunch: sushi (salmon, 2x crab salad, tuna mayo, burie, pinapple) Tea: pizza Good day. Taught lesson, went to Kenko no Mori with Kelly. Played two games of badminton (won both), ran 18 laps, swam 20 lenghts. Was really, really hungry afterwards so ate loads of Sushi... yummy. Taught anouther lesson. Watched England match. (Comment on this)
Friday, June 9th, 2006
4:00 pm	Yesterday Breakfast: porridge and all bran Lunch: Tomato salad (freshly picked by my boss's wife's friend) Tea: Thai green veg, chic pea and prawn curry (cooked by Kelly) Have had loads of work this week (all my classes that are only twice/thrice monthly seem to be this week). Had very little free time and got a bit stressed. Today, however, I had nothing till 1.00 pm - but what did I do with all this luxsrious free time???? Did I tidy the house? Did I plan next weeks lessons (which also seem to many) so I don't get stressed again? Did I write all those e-mails that I have been meaning to write for 7 months now ... no...I slept late and hemmed my trousers (now 3/4 lenghts) while listening to 2 episodes of "I haven't a clue" (I love the BBC). Some people just don't deserve the morning off. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, June 6th, 2006
10:45 pm	Ok - had busy week Highlights: Saturday: Went to a fantastic BBQ in Ono. It was at the watering hole which is a gorge up in the mountains where 3 streams meet. It is a beautiful crystal clear pool surronded by huge mountains covered in pine forest (really idylic). Lots of JETs were there, many people are leaving this year (including me) so it was a kinda of last get together for some of us. Some of the Jets (especially the Americans) can be a bit annoying at times (just a bit over confident and up themselves) but I was drinking plenty of alchol so I didn't really notice too much. Sam and I made home made burgers. Camped out there. The cheese cake shop is really close so we had cheescake for breakfast on Sunday morning (decadant ... me ... never). Played frizbee on Sunday afternoon but was a bit hung over and sunburnt and generally blah. Plus Angela, an incredibly patronising American, was there and she was at here worst (I know I am intolerant but she is like ... really annoying - even Keith dislikes her). Worked Monday (because Heather was sick). Keith tided the appartment while I was working which is good because it really needed doing. Planted my tomato sappling - they look a bit wilted but I have great hopes of tomato salads to come (one of them already had 2 green tiny tomatoes on it). PS Jo - was looking for fabric for you and wonder what size you wanted for your quilt? (yes I know this is very late for your birthday, but you should just be greatful - Toby hasn't recieved his present and his birthday was in January (by the way Tobes would you like the present sent to Canada or would it be easier to send it to England so you don't need to ship it back?) (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, May 31st, 2006
10:28 pm	Sunday Breakfast: cheese cake (I know - I'm just a decadent person - what can I say) Lunch: porridge and all bran Tea: veg stirfry with fried chicken Went to FJET play - was very funny - good mix between English and Japanese - both spoken and characters. Watched the "vanishing". Was about a couple - Keifer Sutherland and Sandra Bullock. Sandra goes missing at the begginning of the film and Keifer spends 3 years looking for her. Thereis also a creepy guy with a cabin involved. It was really good - for that type of film. Plus Keifer wears a Yellow wooley jumper which should be given an award in inself. 8/10 Monday Breakfast: porridge and all bran Lunch: ate out with Mrs Keiko at escargo - jummy meat/salad/loverly sauces and rice Tea: can choppy salad Went to Miyazaki pottery village festival. Pottery no v. interesting, but there were some amazing sculptures in the village. Including one which was a trail of people shaped flowerbeds (kinda like lifesize gingerbread men) which streached all round the park. Watched the "Da vinci code" at the cinema. Not bad. Plot a bit far fetched and flawed in places. Plus I hate Tom Hanks. But very gripping. 6/10 Tuesday Breakfast: porridge and all bran Lunch: corn soup, toast with plum jam Tea: Ramen and corn and tuna and mushrooms and lots of mayonaise Many, many lessons. Ikeda lessons were viewed by other teachers and parents - this was very stressful especally as it forced me to stick to the ridiculous lesson plan, which for 3rd year (8/9 years old) students had me teaching the names of the fingers (which apparently are Thumkin, pointer, tall man, ring man and pinkie). Tall man???? pointer???? not only is this not English, this is harldy important vocabulary for well anyone ... I also had to teach lots of stupid songs. I hate teaching songs. Watched "Ferris Beauler's day off". A bit cringe worthy. But definatly one of the best of those kind of comedies. Genuninly funny. 8/10 - and I don't really like those kind of comedies. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, May 30th, 2006
1:10 pm	Friday Breakfast: got up to late Lunch: was busy planning lessons so didn't eat till after my lesson at Miazaki Elementary school at 3.40 - had choppy pasta salad Tea: went out for Sushi (salmon, tuna, crab salad cucumber rolls with extra wasabi) Spent 2 hours (2 frikin hours!!) planning a "shopping" lesson which only constituted 20 minutes of the lesson I was teaching and didn't go so well anyway. Left phone in car (which Keith was out in) so couldn't call Akemi for a lift to my next lesson so had to borrow Sam's car to get there. Was late for lesson - not really sure why because I had loads of time before it but I just left the house very late - I think it maybe that I am getting bored of teaching and thus can't be bothered going. Saturday: Breakfast: porridge and all bran Lunch: sandwich (tuna, egg, potato and green bean on sundired tomato and cheese bread) tres yummy - from loverly sandwich shop in Fukui Tea: salmon onigeria and some yaki udon (meat and squishy noodels) cooked by sam Went to Ultimate frizbee practice in the afternoon. Am competing in a tournement so have to get better. Am very bad at frizbee (I only had one throw but I learnt a new one at practice so now I have 2). The American girl that was teaching me is very patronising. I just nodded and smiled though - how very English am I. Went to Sam boy's house in the evening (up in ono which is 40 miuntes up into the hills from Fukui). We were ment to have a bbq at a hut he knows up in the hills but it was called off due to lack of light and sam girl falling over (she falls all the time - is very clumsy). Drank many chu hai (Japanese alchopop) and much wine. Played epic game of Taboo (girls vs boys) which ended in a draw. Slept at Sam's. It was like a sleep over - we played guess that theme tune untill we were too sleepy to think of any more. (Comment on this)
Friday, May 26th, 2006
8:10 pm	Yesterday Breakfast: All bran and porrigde Lunch: can salad with pasta Tea: pizza okonomiyaki at konomy restaurant Was given slightly unpleasant gelatanous caramel dessert at ikiawa - ate it and proclaimed it very tasty (oishi kata desu!) - the things I do for this job. Am bad at taking critisism. I love Johny Cash. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, May 25th, 2006
4:21 pm	You scored as 5th Doctor. Always a little confused and vunrable you never always help. All the same you are good at Cricket! </td> 5th Doctor 100% 4th Doctor 67% 1st Doctor 67% 3rd doctor 67% a Dalek 33% 9th Doctor 33% 10th Doctor 33% 2nd doctor 33% 7th Doctor 0% Davros 0% 8th Doctor 0% 6th doctor 0% What Doctor Who character are You? created with QuizFarm.com (Comment on this)
4:07 pm	Yesterday Breakfast: porridge and all bran Lunch: boiled egg with soilders Tea: ramen noodels with veg and tuna mayonaise Lesson at Dianzenji temple - was given loverly wafer biscuits plus free tickets to their iris festival - they do love me after all. Watched "Dog Day Afternoon". Film starting a very young Al panino. Based on the a real bank robbery that took place in New York in the 1980s. Really good dialouge and some lots of interesting observations about human nature ect. Story was very slow and very long (I guess this was to show how long the ordeal must have felt for those involved - but it just made me want to give up half way through the film). Nevertheless the story kept moving with interesting twists. The most stricking thing about the film was how old fashioned the people's attitudes were. For example how the women who worked in the bank told the Al Pachino stop using bad language and when the reaction of the people when Al Pachino's wife turned out to be a man. 5/10. (Comment on this)