Spillers in JAPAN!!

So the Spillers finally made it to Japan and on their first day, desperately trying to avoid jet lag, got fully into the swing of things: a shrine, ramen, hanami (sitting under the cherry blossoms and drinking beer) and sleeping on trains. Great start!

tour guide for a couple of weeks

I'm hungover at work once again. Though this one is well worth it. Last night I went out with all the young teachers from school as some of them will be leaving and I can't make it to the official sayonara party.

Filth. Pure filth. Let's just say their new English words are "lick out" and "go down". Also, I can no longer look at the girl who sits next to me without thinking of her loins being blazoned with the word "welcome". To top the night off, a dodgy karaoke version of a little known song (that me and my housemates used to take the piss out of) came on. "Last night" by Az Yet. download it now. At first it's awful but then it gets stuck up there and you can't help but love it for it's pure comedy genius (even if it is unintentional).

There are 30 minutes left to count down before I can escape school. Tonight I'm going to Tokyo to meet my parents and sister. I CAN'T WAIT!! see you in a couple of weeks, brb

why? why? why? why? why?

I have just arrived at school. There are a total of 5 teachers in today including me. Why do I need to be here? This is really starting to annoy me. I have asked for some time off to do an intensive japanese course but they won't let me. Instead I'm sitting here showing the 4 other teachers photos of the crazy gaijin swimming in the sea during March. Which do you think is more productive? ggggggggrrrrrrr!

Beach weather?

The weather is finally getting warmer so I did the typically British thing of rushing to the beach at the first sight of sunshine. Dave and I can officially say that it is not summer quite yet. It was bloody freezing!! I think it's safe to say that we are the first people to go swimming at Hagi beach this year. Matt and Crystal decided to take lots of romantic photos of themselves using my camera. Thanks for that. I will, err, treasure them forever.Potter and I have decided to have a six pack race. Whoever has the best six pack by a yet to decided date will decide a forfeit for the loser. Here is evidence our original stomachs. Watch this space for progress. (I've already been to mosburger twice this weekend)
Victoria cleverly read her book instead of taking part in ultimte frisbee. It was knackering!! After sunset the men were separated from the boys and poker was played. Dan was in a bit of trouble at one point. Dave had the car, Paul had the house, and I had Rosie. Luckily he managed claw his way back and regain all aforesaid items (not that you're an item Rosie, you're priceless. We told him not to bet you but he insisted) I found out that the more I drink, the worse I get at poker.

Jen's Birthday Bash

Happy Birthday Jen!! A night of drinking, yaki niku, more drinking and karaoke was held in Jen's honour but the blurry eyed drunkeness and the behaviour of Crystal resulted in any honour being well and truly lost. The Bucket Bar was frequented once more but I'm not sure we can ever return after Crystal broke the saacred tree of karaoke that is found within. I wasn't present for this act of pure vandalism but I'm going to start the rumour that she tried her hand at a spot of pole dancing. As punishment she was forced to sing the first song: Queen's classic "I want to break tree!". Rosie made an amazing wheat free cake for Jen from rice!! Oishii!

Elementary Graduation

Today I attended my elementary school's graduation ceremony. Being one of the few ALTs that gets to experience teaching at both Senior High and Elementary schools, I gave up my saturday morning to see how the two ceremonies differed. Senior High's cermony is extremely formal, boring and long. I was expecting the same to be true with Elementary but I was pleasantly surprised. There was a lot of standing, bowing, sitting, standing bowing, sitting, standing and some more bowing but once you looked past these formalities there was a glimmer of celebration, nostalgia and emotion. All students took part, not just those who were graduating. They made a arches for the 6th grade to enter the hall through, they sang, they played musical instruments, they made speeches to say thank you and there was a slide show of photographs of their entire time at elementary school. Another thing that impressed me was that they didn't use the stage and everyone sat in a square facing eachother. This made it a lot more informal and intimate. It also eliminated any signs of hierarchy as the parents, the teachers and officials, the students and the graduates each formed a side of the square. The only thing that I found slightly weird was the students marching in to 'Land of Hope and Glory'. It felt like the last night of the proms.

I've been tagged! 6 things you didn't know about me

1. I was a member of the 2001 Welsh Champion Trampolining Team (we were the only full male team so automatically won! Bet you wish you could see me in a leotard - sorry no pictures).

2. I have been for a cheeky dip in Venice's Grand Canal.

3. I have had my eyebrow, nipple and tongue pierced. Just don't let me near a piercing studio when I'm intoxicated.

4. I have a burping problem when I drink alcohol. I have an even bigger problem when people insist on rubbing my back to help - this triggers automatic projectile vomiting. DON'T BURP ME - it passes with time.

5. I'm not. Skye and Letty are not. Bob is definitely not.

6. I'm not actually Welsh.

International crimer

It was only a matter of time before the fuzz (the police) caught up with me. It's been nice knowing you all but soon I will be going to Jail. My evil rating is about to rocket past 50%. The truth is out - I'm an international crimer. I recieved an email from my father today saying that he needed my wrist size so that they know what handcuffs to bring. How can he joke at such a serious time? His favorite son (sorry Adam but deep down you know it's true) is about to go to jail. (I really hope my school don't know this blog address).

So about 9 months ago I travelled to London to pick my brother's car up from the airport because he was leaving for New Zealand. As I arrived home from work late, I was in a rush to get there in time. As a result I left my wallet in my work uniform at home. I got off the train at Reading and was stopped at the exit gate so that they could check my ticket. My ticket was only valid if I had my student rail card. It's very common to buy one of these tickets even if you didn't have a card because they didn't usually care. You've guessed it - my card was at home
in my wallet along with my cashcard and today was the day that they would decide to check my tickt out of the whole 3 years I had been in University.

The ticket inspector called over an undercover police man. He wanted me to pay the rest of my ticket. I couldn't - my wallet was at home. The whole situation looked ridiculous. It was the middle of hayfever season and I get it bad. I was there with scruffy hair, scruffy clothes, ripped jeans, a red nose and swollen bloodshot eyes. I looked like a druggie. They asked to search my bag - for some mad reason all it contained was a book on beginners Japanese. They asked why I was going to London. It sounded a bit suspect.

Then things got worse. They asked for my address - 16B High Street,..... Our landlord had done something very dodgy when he converted our flat so 16B did not exist on any records. I gave them my parents address and they did a police check on them.

They made me make a statement and sign it. They made it seem that it was all sorted, that I had been giving a telling off and to never forget my railcard again. I thought that was the end of it, however, 9 months later....

my father recieves a letter stating that following a court hearing at the end of January 2006 I need to pay £224 in compensation, court costs and fine order otherwise I will be arrested next week! They have been sending mail to my student address but I haven't been there to recieve it.

What really annoys me is

1. I told them when I would be moving out of that address
2. they told me that my student address didn't exist - so how could they send mail there?
3. I gave them my parents address as an alternative
4. they said nothing about any further action
5. I could have produced my railcard or a fine quite easily at any time after that day
6. They didn't bother contacting me for the two months between then and leaving for japan
7. WHY AREN'T THEY OUT THERE CATCHING REAL CRIMINALS?!

I don't know whether to be angry or laugh. I will keep you updated.

me? evil? never

You Are 50% Evil

You are evil, but you haven't yet mastered the dark side.Fear not though - you are on your way to world domination.

How'>http://www.blogthings.com/howevilareyouquiz/">How Evil Are You?

Akiyoshidai Yama-yaki

Ginny promised fire and we had fire - a whole mountain's worth! This weekend a few of us headed to Mito for a half marathon (why oh why). Saturday night we made our way to Akiyoshidai to watch the mountain being set alight. They made the kanji for fire 'hi' out of, wait for it... fire! How clever is that? The next day we were to run 21km across Akiyoshidai. I was still in denial.

Describe yourself using one band and song titles from that band

Choose a band/artist and answer only in song TITLES by that band:: stereophonics

Are you male or female:: local boy in the photograph

Describe yourself:: devil

How do some people feel about you:: last of the big time drinkers

How do you feel about yourself:: I'm alright

Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend:: help me (she's out of her mind)

Describe your current girlfriend/boyfriend:: she takes her clothes off

Describe where you want to be:: caravan holiday

Describe what you want to be:: superman

Describe how you live:: maybe tomorrow

Describe how you love:: I miss you now

Share a few words of wisdom: pick a part that's new

Memory Loss

Today I was able to regain my memory from a night out 7 months ago. Letty has kindly provided these photos. It was my final piss up before I left for Japan and I honestly have no recollection of the time between the first few drinks and being dragged out of a swimming pool semi-conscious and unable to move in the early hours of the morning. Until today the night has been a total mystery to me. I have been told many things about my behaviour that night and now it's all flooding back. It was an awesome night. Miss you guys loads!!

Fire Limbo - mum don't look

Finally got hold of some pictures of my fire limbo triumph at koh pangan over the New year. How stupid am I? I was off my face!!