me jane

Mudguts is correct but just to add my two yen: Meals out - Usually but perhaps not in some of the samller places because they can't afford the high commission fees that the credit card companies charge them. I'd say it's not even worth bringing the Amex. The only place that I've seem accept it is the American supermarket CostCo and there aren't any of those anywhere near the ski resorts!

If you want to be humane and still eat meat I think that the way the animal lives is as, or more, important than the way it dies. Buying from certified organic, free-range (or whatever it is called for the various animals in various countries) would be the way to go.

That second pic is great. I would have been walking around with an umbrella just in case!

Looks like fun!

I agree SJA. I would actually buy the snowglobe if I could... or perhaps SJ could give them out as awards for outstanding contributions?! Any snowglobe manufacturers out there?

Nope, ended up going over a friends for dinner, coming home at 10:45, putting mini me Tarzan to bed and flicking channels deciding which giggly Tarento have congratulate me on the opening of the new year. Think it was Tokio in the end. Then 12:10 one of my friends called me drunk from Hakuba to say that she was on the Gelende with beer and a bonfire! I broke my 18-year drunken new year series! Will have to plan more carefully next year

Just this one and one I set up for a small group of friends to keep in touch. It's not very active cos there are only about 20 of us but it's easier than email. Oh, and occasionally the Japan with Kids forum. It's not much good as a community and there is no real discussion but is a good place to find people, info & links to other stuff. I posted on there looking for people who were pregnant the same time as me and to find people to do a first aid course for kids with me. Like lots of the comments above, all the other forums I've flirted with have so much negative stuff I just can't be

I've used quite a few different ones with all the company cars we have and the only one that doesn't do all the above was an upgraded one that came with a Toyota. That one is really good, and even navigating Tokyo highways she (the girl inside the navi) doesn't get confused. Another good thing about her is that she shuts up when you change the route. Instead of telling you to do you turns she just tells you she's thinking and sits quietly for a while until she has figured things out. I don't know who makes the Navi or if they do it for sale seperately cos it says Toyota on the screen ca

The New Year has opened! Congratulations everyone! (or happy new year) Back in work today.

Thought this thread was going to be about compasses!

Last day at work today. This is the first New Year's Eve since I was 16 where I won't be in the pub! Going over a friends for dinner or staying home by myself and might even finally get to watch that Kohaku thing. Going to the inlaws for lunch and then for MMT's Hatsu-Hatsumode (First "First visit of the Year to a Shrine") on New Year's day. What are your plans?

Madness but I'm sure they could find similar people in most countries. I'm sure half the eikaiwa students I've taught over the years couldn't answer those questions either.

Good info Spacefrog. What do you mean by National insurance? Do you mean the compulsory car insurance we have to pay every May for about 3-4 man?

A few Christmas pics Mini me Tarzan eating Christmas dinner and then up Mt Takao (not really a mountain at 600m!)

Frannyo, Good luck. Hope it all works out - it's going to be a stressful few months. Glad the injuries weren't more serious - whatever happens legally, it will all get sorted eventally but if you had disabled or killed someone you'd have to live with that forever. Unfortunately, none of the logic that domokun mentions above applies in Japan - a car is bigger than a bike so it's the car driver's fault. Also because you are a gaijin and your nose is high, it was probably obstructing your view which means that it is definitely your fault. Blaming the truck driver for running

I think capes and snow globes are great ideas

Poor phonebox, it looks lonely.

How does it affect the speed? My up- and download rates are similar to Stemik but my ping is much slower than his.

What is Ping?

Domo, looks like you did the test from your mobile phone Here's mine at work

Is this the guy? http://mysteriousuniverse.org/?p=1865

probably!

I've stayed at both. Nothing much to do in either outside of the hotel from what I remember. Josankei had a nice village atmosphere that you could go for a short walk around in the evening, it's also very near Sapporo (25mins by car). Food is pretty similar in all onsen hotels. Vegetarians who eat seafood will be okay, others might be hungry.

UK has a lot of frost though. Car was always iced up in the mornings but I never saw anyone leave the wipers up. Suppose they would have got nicked if we had left them up in Swansea.

That makes sense.