xxx

I see we have another high profile suicide today. My colleagues here are saying it might be the end of Abe - not sure how that works....

Not into cicadas myself - they mean it is hot. Agree with you on water, trickling water on a traditional garden in a very quiet location is great.

The Kraziness of Ken (father of ps), fun read http://www.shacknews.com/extras/kutaragi/070705_kutaragi_01.x

I was wondering that as well actually.

Zodiac does look good and getting some good writeups as well. It's The Simpsons I'm looking forward to most.

I want one of those new "robot chicks" (as in baby chicken) that Sega are making. Kawaiiiiiiiiii

I did it when I first came here, group of Japanese friends took me. Glad I did it, but no need to go back.

Quote: i too was perplexed by the buried snow cat. Sounds like a good thing that. Nice pics.

5th floor of an apartment building. High enough for me that.

Hardly surprising it is profitability reasons of course. Lets hope they keep both versions.

Don't worry about it me jane. I've had that before. If you get on with the person well, you might be able to tell them how it came across!

Quote: The mountains here have receieved 6 FEET SINCE LAST THURSDAY!? You are kidding and totally pulling our legs, right? Have a good time (and bring back some size 12 socks with you for me will you? )

That thread that WantToSki got me thinking about lessons. Are there any 'standards' - either in Japan or worldwide - for what should be in a ski/snowboard lesson or does each ski/snowboard school just decide what they want to do in the time? It all seems so hit and miss. I have never actually taken a lesson I learnt by just going out with friends and having fun but I have heard other stories ranging from lessons being spectacularly successful to the opposite of that and a total waste of money.

I bet they are hurting. I spoke to some colleagues who were under the impression the place was closed for the season. When I mentioned the way they are announcing their status every morning, they just shrugged. You're not going to get as many people going if you can only let them know if you are opening or not on the day.

It's good to have something that you really enjoy like that. I have never really gotten myself really into sports in that way. Football does seem to have a strong hold on many peoples lives though.

Understood. I actually was referring to in general - ie. there are things that I can only get back home and I look forward to eating them when I am back there as a treat.

I am signed up for another 2 and a half years.

Oishida pasties sound good to me. I have not yet had a really successful pie-like pastry here in Japan. I suppose it is good to have things to look forward to like that when you make your way home.

Frank Darabond (?) the director of Shawshank is very interesting to listen to. Green Mile is good too.

Paperwork. (Hey what happened to the paperless office?)

Quote: Women on the street begging to give you a massage. What streets are they then on then tesselator? Ski resorts saying they have 150cm of snow when the bottom slopes are half brown and muddy makes me laugh. (Not if I went there to find that out though)

They will probably be the one ski resort in Japan that is happy that there isn't as much snow as usual!!

Doesn't ice melt above 0 though?

Happened to me, luckily less than a man. It was a real pain though having to change things with my monthly payments, not to mention the anger at being robbed and having to wait to get your own money back.

Some people seem to feel the need to change their names. I can understand if your name is Nigel or something (just kidding), but how about this: ------------- UK Bond fan David Fearn, 23, has officially changed his name to: James Dr No From Russia With Love Goldfiner Thunderball You Only Live Twice On Her Majesty's Secret Service Diamonds Are Forever Live And Let Die The Man With The Golden Gun The Spy Who Loved Me Moonraker For Your Eyes Only Octopussy A View To A Kill Goldeneye Tomorrow Never Dies The World Is Not Enough Die Another Day Casino Royale Bond. -------------