Daily Archive for June 13th, 2006

Now I like Japan but….

Just a quick post. Japan is putting pressure on some of the smaller, economically disadvantaged countries of the world, in order to get control over the International Whaling Commision. Japan being the economic power house that it is, it is pretty much poised to succeed and being the world’s most stubbornly pro-whaling country, this is a potential disaster for whales. We are losing enough species as it is through our own stupidity and greed. Don’t let Japan add whales to the list! You can see more information on this and what you can do about it here:

http://oceans.greenpeace.org/en/the-expedition/news/2006-whale-meeting

It should take about a minute. I think you can manage that, eh?

Lots of News

Anyone see Japan play Australia last night? I tuned in for the last (and most important) 15 minutes and what a funny game eh? I especially liked the scenes after the match of the delighted dancing Aussie fans and the speechless Japanese. Today, at school, I kept accidentally dropping the name “Australia” into different contexts. Tee-hee.

Last week, (Monday June 5th) Hyon Joo, Yu Gyong and I went up to Hiezan and had a lovely day. Here’s a picture of me looking gay among the poppies at the Hiezan Garden Museum.

I’ve been meaning to get up to Hiezan for the last two years but have somehow never managed it - until now. Anyway, last week the weather was perfect. You can see more pictures of flowers and temples and other recent stuff (sakura and so forth) if you click to my Flickr site here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/46253270@N00/sets/72157594164482825/

As it turns out that’ll be the last Monday I have off for a while as there’s been a major upheaval at my main place of work. Leilani has had to quit her full-time job so she can go home to New Zealand and look after her sick mum. As a result, my hours have increased from 12 to 19 a week… and though I’m a lot busier, it does mean a big increase in my monthly wage. And I still finish no later than 2 o’clock (and sometimes 12). It’s a shame to see Leilani go but good news for my bank balance.

Here are some pictures you won’t see on my Flickr site of Paul Spark’s 10th Beer tasting party held last Saturday at his Tokyo pad. Once again Mr. Sparks excelled himself, getting all the beers, keeping us all fed and well imbibed and funtertaining us with his impossible quizzes. Sadly he was so busy running in and out of the kitchen I didn’t get any pictures of HIM. Still, thanks for another good night Paul!

Below, left to right: Graham Chave, My Clam, and Chris Cotter.
We’s tasting the beers, innit.
Graham looking coy…

True Chave comes out and finds new uses for chocolate “Pocky” sticks.