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How could you not take photos there! its a lovely little town Still, you got zenkoji, and since zenkoji is my favorite temple in Japan (not just nagano bias - i really love how monolithic and imposing it is), then all is right with the universe.

If i was going to propose, id probably do it in winter in shirakawa to be honest. Kinda tacky probably, but romance is kinda tacky Oooh oooh! if you want to propose somewhere in or around nagano, id also recommend a trip to the Hokkusai museum and a wander around Obuse. It also puts you in spitting distance of nozawa, myoko et al so you can go skiing or something.

Still in China. Contract ends at the thoroughly useless date of October 21st. So unlikely a public school is bringing me in given that the school year is going to all but end on December 25th or thereabouts. Still, at least ill have a) savings and be) time on my crc (have only just applied for a crc application form. It wont even be complete until July at the earliest, with the apostille, that makes it around August/spetember before its ready, which sort of beats the 20 or so days after my tefl course finished). As for cash, 10,000 RMB is about 964 quid or 1600 US. Its almost 10/1 for

Of that story Off to gym now, ill photobomb it if i have time when i get back.

So China: Day 1 (THU): Welcome to China. No! dont wander about aimlessly and try and get your bearings. Instead your boss will come and take you all around the local area and feed you up and keep you awake. Eugh! cant i just rel... no no! boss! coming! get ready! its going to be a long day! (got back to the hotel around 10pm). Day 2 (FRI): Medical check, bank, phone, and meeting at your school. And in that meeting i learned the following: A) Id be teaching at THREE schools. Two of them would be right next to each other. One of them would be 60km away on the other side of the city

Two weeks! Only two more weeks left in thailand. God i couldnt wait. I didnt hate Thailand to be honest. Its a nice place, but dispositionally Im a bureaucrat by nature and its a little erratic for my nerves. The whole 'life is cheap' concept sends shivers up my spine as well (being in part a coward, to boot). Still, two more weeks in Bangkok, working out at the gym, getting up when i feel like, wandering around the city and coming back to a nice hotel every day. Its hardly the worst I've had it. But strangely it came close. I was eating into my credit card of course, but so long as we

get a dog dude. Its the instant solution to all fart and smell related issues. Think of it like chopping off your hand to stop your headache. Once that dog starts ripping it, your girlfriends farts will comparatively smell of roses.

Mata ne! (Theres something rather angry about times new roman, i find).

Joy of six on the graun just posted this, and ive only finally stopped laughing. Its phenomenal. Its just so... brutal. Theres no let up at any point. He ****ing charges that ball, smashes through (admittedly soft) tackles, and instead of rounding the keeper, just sends a screaming **** you! to every footballer in the world with finesse and skill. Its the hulk smash of association football.

no no, comic sans all the way!

haha! i think i will. Itll add a more sinister tone than i could ever hope to evoke through my writing.

chill chill, im busy leveling a druid in warcraft. I dont have any time at the moment for stories or dreaded FLASHBANGS!!! BOOM!!! /Smoke bomb!

Kinda wanted to do it now, the internet is LUDICROUS at the minute (took me almost 5 minutes to just sign in). But too drunk alas. Manyana!

Part 3: Or how i learned to love the bomb. The company and school were both hugely accommodating and organised a replacement. All I needed now were my apostilled docs from the foreign office and a 60 day tourist visa to avoid the border hops and i was set. Popped to Cambodia around the 18th July and handed my passport and cash to the Cambodian Mafia to get it done. Crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. After a few days of being ripped off here and there, (but mainly twiddling my thumbs) arrived at the border expecting the worst, only to find the dude with my passport all ready to go.

nah, will get onto it. But too sleepy at the moment.

haha, i know right. I did think itd be a stupid idea and i could bail on it, but like falling off a cliff, you need to commit, so suck it up princess. Part 2: Scored a job almost immediately the week after Songkran. Well, thats that ticked off! Thirty two thousand per month, in Trat! by the beach! Awesome! Apparently would start early May so er, brilliant! Had time to just chill out in Bangkok in the hotel id paid for right up until the start date! All was sweet. The company would start on the work permit, so just kick back and relax. Wandered about bangkok, spent time in the pool

Still in China. Im just explaining (so i can remember for myself) the shit kinda hitting the fan a bit.

Duuuuude! dont be evil. 4,5, 6. Then go read up about the old republic. If you really must know about the clone wars watch the cartoon. Its best if you never watch 1-3. To this day, i wish i could unwatch it. Your imagination is going to paint a far better picture than that shit. Its over Annakin! I have the high ground! <collective groan by the theatre audience>

Rightyo, this ones huge and rather self indulgent. Its really the summary of the last year since i was shitcanned in japan (er, i mean 'not recontracted' by the BoE). Im breaking it into two or three parts just because its too woe is me for good taste. So hopefully, by the time it hits the last bit, the wry irony chip will kick in in my head and ill be a little less of a cry baby. The first few sentences though are a teensy bit self pitying. What a day. Just two days prior, the reports had come in from the BOE meeting. They were positive! F (my supervisor) sent me an email congratulating

2 days in togari, GinmaBoarder!!! whee! maybe a day and a half too many, but still, if the conditions were good, its an awesome little cheap ticket. As for me, donut. Not a sausage.

according to youtube, hes fine.

Key points: 40 seconds, first serious warning flag. 43 seconds, MASSIVE red flag. 47 seconds, why the hell did he turn away from the line he was on to the OBVIOUSLY far more exposed (even if you cant see the landing) and dangerous drop? I know there was a couple of trees he was turning from, but he had time to get back on his line once he saw the drop and realised he couldnt stop. 47 seconds, commit to the landing or youre going to eat serious shit. There we go. Its a good educational lesson

I know nine! yay! Am i an academic yet?

I used to live in Germany on the dutch border. We had one lousy TV channel that showed nothing good (BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) later known as SSVC (services sound and vision corporation) i believe). German TV had a tonne of oompah bands and 'discussion' crap. Any foreign programmes were dubbed. The only saving grace was (The netherlands) TV II which used to show married with children, tour of duty and then the best tv an adolescent could ever hope to watch: The pin up club Stay at home and watch your television. Layback in your lazy chaaair. We come to cheer you up! W

Quick heads up for the smug, condescending and sneering middle classes: Stewart Lee's comedy vehicle is back on the telly (or youtube if you like) for its third season. Still hilarious. Im also loving that hes physically planting his tongue in his cheek whilst cracking more mainstream gags now and again to stop himself from looking like hes enjoying it all a bit too much. I cant decide, but its between him, kitson and stanhope for my favourite at the moment. Im such a guardianista ETA: i think i forgot to mention it, but archer is also midway through its run. Not entirely in