Fall in the dark, bowling

Been horribly busy since going back to school after christmas. 8-6.30 every day. At an extra school now too, an elementary school. It's fun, because the kids are infinitely better than junior high school but tiring.
Yesterday went driving to Fuji with Al and Michelle. By the time we arrived at Fuji Falls it was dark. So we jumped around a bit in the dark doing kung fu kicks (more pics to follow) and then went to find food.
When we got back to Hama we met up with a few more people and went bowling.

Gotenba, the 3rd best view

Went up to the far-side of Mr. Fuji with Doug for a spot of hiking before school starts up again. Gorgeous day, snow on everything but clear and sunny and NO WIND!









Only one of these is the official 3rd best view of Mr.Fuji.

Naked-senseis in Niigata

The last two days I went skiing with one of my schools. They were checking the place out for when they will return later in the month for a first year trip. Unfortneately I won't get to go as I'm at my other school those days; but I did get invited along anyway.

It was way up near the North shore in Niigata prefecture, not far from where the Nagano winter olympics were held a few years back. As we passed through the Japanese Alps on our seven hour bus journey the snow appeared and it got progressively more and more heavy as the snow banks gained in height.
Eventually the coach had to stop to put the chains on the tyres, and shortly after we arrived in Myokou. The snow was now a good two floors high and considerably more than I have ever experienced before.

I had never been skiing before, and so my Principal took me under his wing and with no-English told me how to ski... I nodded and "hai, hai, hai"ed my way through his explanation and then watched him demonstrate... Oooooh! Wakarimashita!
So off we went through the blizzard like conditions. Gaining in the process a delightful white over-beard, which after being noticed by my teachers entitled me to the name Santa-san for the rest of the day.

Despite frequently feeling compelled to lay myself prone on the ground, I started to get the hang of it and faster and faster did I find myself resting on the ground; no effort required!
After the skiing, we collectively retired, got some grub and then the whiskey came out. Suntory times no less! This carried on for a little while until a collective shout came out to go for a nice bath. Course this was a Japanese public bath. So I whipped off my pants and waded into the water. Sitting inches away from my colleagues in a hot steamy bath while they try talking to me in Japanese in a mild-whiskey fuzz was entirely pleasant. Couldn't tell who was talking to me though as without glasses my vision (perhaps just as well) was restricted to the end of my nose.
I suppose it was an 'only in Japan' moment... I mean how often do you get hang around naked with your boss in England?


The second day was clear and sunny, and I found my body had remembered how to ski. Inuzuka-sensei (Japanese teacher but also a qualified ski-instructor) showed me how to zig-zag and after that you couldn't stop me! Awesome fun, I hope I get to go again...

This is Uno-sensei, the teacher I teach the ichi-nensei at Kami with. He's the guy who went out and bought a bass guitar so he could play the Beatles with me in class. Hopefully soon, we're going to hire a studio for a little while and play some songs. This was a quieter moment on the way home.

15/20 - Happy New Year

Proper Moments for Drinking Tea - Hsü Ts'eshu

When one's heart and hands are idle.
Tired after reading poetry.
When one's thoughts are disturbed.
Listening to songs and ditties.
When a song is completed.
Shut up at one's home on a holiday.
Playing the ch'in and looking over paintings.
Engaged in conversation deep at night.
Before a bright window and a clear desk.
With charming friends and slender concubines.
Returning from a visit with friends.
When the day is clear and the breeze is mild.
On a day of light showers.
In a painted boat near a small wooden bridge.
In a forest with tall bamboos.
In a pavillion overlooking lotus flowers on a summer day.
Having lighted incense in a small studio.
After a feast is over and the guests are gone.
When children are at school.
In a quiet secluded temple.
Near famous springs and quaint rocks.

Last Year I came across this poem. I decided to use it as the basis for my resolutions of things to do in 2005.
I suppose a lot of stuff has happenned this year; I finished formal education, grew two beards, got a haircut (if only a trim), got a job, and moved to Japan...
and 15/20 ain't bad.

あけましておめでとう。

Butter Trails

My Mum and sister just left for home. They left trails that have changed my way of life. They moved glasses and plates and put spoons in the wrong places. And they left my butter in a mess. But in a week or so that'll be gone, I'll gradually put things back in their places. Some things I'll decide are better where they now reside. And that'll be that.
I was just getting used to them being here; to my spoons being in a new place; to my butter being in a mess. And now they're gone...
Most unsettling; at least my butter's in a mess.

雪だるま - The Snowmen

In the last week of term as a filler activity (in case they finished too early) I had my kids draw snowmen on their heads.