DumbStick

A kind of momiji and yamaboushi, I believe.

I like this one, May or May not be the one you saw!

Sounds nice! But probably too expensive looking at how much heavy stone ones are. And lots of them are a bit too decorative for what I want. I think the pottery one will do fine, we have some other pieces of Shigaraki too so it kind of fits in.

Thanks yes I was on to those words eventually! Some of them are well expensive, way out of range to even begin considering. I have seen some nice looking onces made from Shigaraki pottery - not as heavy and nowhere near as expensive but still looks nice. And it's what it looks like that's important. I don't want anything overly "Japanese style" as it would be out of place, but I do like them too.

Think I got it! Slow morning.

You'll have to explain that Chriselle

Maybe a bit like this, but more 'rounded' and natural looking.

I am having trouble even knowing what to ask for in English! I'm interested in having something in the garden made from stone. Not a great big huge 'lantern' but a smaller one, a bit mushroom-y shaped. What are those things called?!

Custard Creams. Haven't had one of them for probably decades!

All very interesting. Out of interest, I had a talk with Secom people who made up a mitsumori. Costs about 50000 yen to set up and then around 5400 yen a month. That's for a pretty tight package that covers everything, including fire. And stickers. Their office is 8km from where we live so estimate within 15 minutes arrival. I don't think we'll be bothering, but interesting all the same.

I can't recall if we covered this but..... anyone here with any kind of security on their home (Secom, Alsok or such)?

....or is that A bit mad that we even have to consider somthing like that!

But even if it were local or somewhere I could go to, I hardly expect to have to turn up with a geiger counter or whatever they're called to check that my to-be purchase is within safe limits.

It may well be totally not an issue, but I will probably not spend my money with them because of this lack of information.

Not sure what you mean there, Metabo? I should measure up the stuff before I decide to buy? Not practical when I'm buying online from a distant place, and surely that's not my job? Like I said I didn't really consider this before, it was seeing a different company mention the subject that got me thinking. I feel that the Ibaraki company should really be at least bringing to attention the normal/low radioactive-ness of what they are selling. I understand how they might not want to bring attention to the subject. But if they did it clearly and honestly and there was absolutely no issue

Hmm yes. Once I saw the one company mentioning it, I wondered why the Ibaraki one might not be. Kind of put me off, even if it might be unwarranted. I'm looking at this at the moment http://kanea.jp/product/gold/index.html Interesting one. Looks like some 'really good dirt'!

It wasn't just a rubbisher vehicle was it?

Need to buy lots of "soil" soon. But still having real problems deciding what to buy. Every person I ask gives a different idea of what is best - often influenced by things like price, what they use, etc. Online advice is as expected all over the place as well. I want to put good stuff in there to start off with (will need about 5m) and go from there. Would rather it be good quality than cheap, if that makes sense. One thing that I just noticed on some sites. I was looking at some 黒土 from a company and noticed it was from north Ibaraki (ie just south of Fukushima - incident o

Interesting, thanks. I'll expect it to be a bit more next year then. I'm quite pleased as I had my guess down as closer to 15 man. Always better to overestimate things like this and be pleased than the other way round!

Wonder if the calculation is different by town?

For the house/land, Tubby. One bill it's both our names on.

It was rather hot yesterday outside but was happy that inside the house things remained nice and cool. Our last place was boiling hot inside as soon as it got hot outside. Hoping we have much less of that!

(or whatever it's called in Japan) Today it arrived. I really didn't know what to expect and was kind of dreading opening it. Anyway, it's about 85000 yen. I suppose it's less than I was thinking it would be, though I think I was told that the first year was cheaper than normal. Anyway well up on how these things work?

Here are the ones that let themselves be known through SnowJapan http://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/ski-and-snowboard-lessons-in-english

With the weather warming up now it's interesting how I'm taking shorter baths... actually thinking it's too hot now. Turn it down is one option, but I really like that first dip into the hot water too! Wonder if in summer it'll be showers, not baths.