miteyak

For a photo printout up to 2L size, lesser pixels will be fine. If you really never want to crop or go larger, save the money and the memory!

You forgot to add log cabins to the list, my prefered option by far...

Damn race, lost fifty bucks on the Japanese contender, eye popper. Ironically, I lost fifty bucks on Makybe (sp) diva when she lost to eye popper in the Emporer's cup in Kyoto back in May. And so ends my brief encounter with the world of horseracing...

I'm hoping the ale will reappear next winter. As for poor me... the wine more than makes up for the lack of beer... and stops me looking like the average Aussie my age! (Although here in Tassie, I must admit the men seem a little slimmer 'n trimmer than the mainland).

Absolutely... non of this one-third head crap Unfortunately, they seem to be discontinuing the Strong Ale and the Original lines. Seems like the Aussies really don't have a taste for traditional ale.

I haven't taken the plunge here yet re: home brew... I'm trying desperately hard to curb my excessive drinking habits, and I know that a garage full of ale would be quite the nail in the coffin...

I forgot the winkey smiley... to compliment my definition of good beer! On visiting my local home brew supply outlet, I was impressed with the obvious love Aussie beer affectionados have for their local brews, and so concede that your standard Aussie beers must have some redeeming features that I just don't get. James Squire is more than good, I'd go as far as to say it's one of, if not THE best bottled ale i've ever tried. Brewed in NSW by the Malt Shovel Brewery

The only good beer in Oz is James Squire... so far But Oceans right, we've been here before. (above beer tried, drinkable if you've forgotten what good beer tastes like)

The balcony thing is definitely a weekend treat, but I always make time for at least a full, non-rushed breakfast. As for the broadsheet... I no longer buy newspapers or magazines. The way they pile up is just too 'in your face' wasteful for me. A definite loss regardinmg the full experience on the balcony, though!

Our Sunday morning breakfasts have been rather good lately... lazing in the sun on the balcony, sea view, birds in the Eucalypts... croissants, mangos, Greek yogurt, eggs benedict (well, variation of), jiuce, fresh coffee... It's most definitely not lowering my chances of getting large, malignant lumps on my skin, however.

Sava, look to the top left of the picture, you can see snow.

I used to have high speed internet (48Megs) in Osaka without a phone, cost about 5,000 a month all up. Can't remember how it worked, but I didn't have to pay for a line. Just call up NTT and ask about their broadband options. Alt. how about cable? (I now have 1.5 for about 9.000 a month and half the income!)

Gear in the Thule, skis on a rack (wrapped, of course) and sleep in the van. Rach... the roof boxes don't have to be too expensive. Check around, I got a huge 'Thule' from a car accessory store for 30,000, down from over 120,000. I've often seen them on sale (although this may not be the best time of year to score one).

To avoid dumping the digi photos straight onto the computer, why not get a small compact flash card, and take it to a shop/print out your piccys every time you fill it up. As for film. there's very little going for it anymore. Maybe for those who want pro quality in a 35 but don't have a coupla thousand dollars to spare, and don't shoot enough film to make the saving, and of course medium/large format affectionados.

Are you sure you lost it so badly that a nice bottle of sake and some humble pie wouldn't fix it?

Some will, some won't; some do, some don't. On the whole, we're pretty civilized. In many ways, Brits and Ozzies are more polite than the Japanese (I'd say a greater percentage would acknowledge a misdemeanor(sp) with an apology... ie yesterday I was pulling into a parking spot and a guy opened his door as I was doing so. He apologised profusely as I smiled, nodded and said, "not at all." In Japan, a nodd and a grunt would be the norm (or is that just Osaka. ) Having said that, a greater number of people than in Japan are impolite, rude, balls of anger that think the world owes

Can't say I've ever known the carrots not to grow... But if me organic 'erbs don't sprout soon, I'll probably be chewing down on the ol' green fingernails meself. As for stressful things, my move to Oz has been a weird mix of the most stressful and the most relaxing experiences of life to date.

It's good to hear you're going the whole hog; Re: environmental responsibilities... a veritable beacon for us all. (although dishing it out beforehand might negate the benefits of tying the knot)

Fat's powder shack...

A very timely piece of news...

I should have said 'in Nagano' Nisekos nighta is pretty damn good...

Sun Alpina Kashimayari has just about the best nighta I know of, esp. if it's snowing hard. Often some good OB under the main quad from the bottom.

How long are you going for? Are you coming just for the skiing, or some Japanese culture? Best best, for a short trip, ski and culture, hit Nozawa... all the best, no car needed... For a longer trip, Hakuba or Niseko... Niseko gets a bad rap. but it's fun and has it's own special kind of magic, esp. for beginners. January is probably the best time to go, esp. recently, for best snowfall So, summary, stick to researching Hakuba (variety), OR Nozawa (shorter trip/jap culture) OR Niseko (easy fix) in January, avoiding Japanese holidays where possible. As for skipping betw

In Osaka there're some called New Japan, not capule hotels, just 24 hour sauna/massage/rest area as described above. There are male and female ones. I think it might be a chain, so the same may be available in Tokyo.

Repression, morality, need/desire, disgust... a rather obvious battle between the Id and the Super Ego perhaps? Is your Ego rationalizing/playing out behaviour that you've yet to come to peace with? Or the obvious one... you need to leak and slight methane stench from your neighbours septic tank is seeping into your subconscious... (or could it be the fertilizer on that organic veggie patch? don't forget to wash those overalls thoroughly after a session on the hill!)