Birthday celebration weekend!

The weekend was great! On Friday I went to Jimmy's for Neighbours night! We were very excited about catching up with Scott and Charlene, and Jimmy was looking forward to seeing Cheryl! Paul, Rei, Osamu and his mate Ben joined us too. After beer and yakiniku, it was 11.30pm before we started. First and final for the night was Scott and Charlene's wedding - classic! So Paul, Jimmy and I reminised about characters past (Paul knows way too much about Neighbours and it's peopel to be healthy), we relished in the lingo - "stop pashing on you two!" being the most memorable of the episode, and cringed at the mullets, hideous dresses and hair! Meanwhile, Ben and Osamu read mags, and Rei kept fell asleep! So we didn't inflict any more on them, instead we watched hilarious Aussie movie "The Castle". So funny, love that movie!

Saturday, Jimmy, Rei and I hung about, Rei and I made up silly songs as you do lazing about on a Saturday. Then we headed to Hiroshima. Such a weird afternoon cos not once did we have to call anyone to meet at a particular place - we just kept running into each other! After wandering around the shops, it was time for a quick change in Tokyu Hands loos, then off to the beer garden. Ahh beer gardens! I love them! There is no better way to spend the evening than sitting around with good mates, chatting, drinking, eating, and generally having a lovely time! After it closed at 10pm, finally getting out by 10.30ish - oops we got down to the street, and Jo ushered us into groups of four!? So Jimmy, Rei and someone else - I forget (blame the alcohol!), dashed across the road, made it into a tram, and arrived at Molly Malone's to meet Jack Johnson crew (grr), Angela and Ben first! A drink or two there, Osamu took a turn for the worse and was off home, Sarah told some guy I was 21 to get me a shot of something horrid! Jo arrived and Ben declared "She really does have a small face - its not all lighting and magic!"

Left there and Jo expertly navigated us to the Mac Bar, where we stayed dancing like idiots, and what not for the rest of the night! Paul arriving in the swan suit was definitely amusing... the image of it stretched up on his head, and the tutu and his trousers bunched up around his arse will crack me up forever...!! At one point I was outside and I see Paul out the corner of my eye, strutting down the street as a swan...!! Ah priceless!! Angela enhanced her pig outfit by pushing her nose up in pig fashion beautifully!!!

I don't when it was decided that it was time to leave, but we did. Jeanette was hilariously drunk! After finally deciding to get a falafel pita, eating it and leaving for ramen with the rest of us, she'd fallen in love with them! We were sitting at ramen and she whispers, "can I tell you a secret? I realllly want another kebab!" But despite us telling her there were none left, she had to find them! So off she went to get herself a kebab! We ate ramen, dozed and personally I started to feel the oncomings of a hangover!

Eventually we got to the station, trained to Iwakuni. Left Jenny, Laura and Jeanette on the train sleeping in strange positions, said bye to Angela and Ben, then Paul and I waited for the train to Shuto. Slept sprawled out on the train, until we got to his town, and did the walk of shame down the train looking drunk/hungover/like shit past his students! Paul thought it would sound genki if he said big "Hello"s to them - it didn't, it sounded like he was still drunk! Possibly he was! Anyway, we had to walk to his place, and it wasn't the most pleasent of walks, by the time we got home at 8.30am the heat of the day was starting, and it was time for bed. I was asleep by 8.35am I'm sure.

Slept til 3.30pm about, lounged around then we biked to Sanzoku. Paul said I had to go before I leave, and there is definitely a possibility I won't get back there. So we got on bikes and headed off. It was nice, and definitely good for us to be out in the fresh air...until we got to the damn hill, and I started to die! But it was lovely, good food, and such a fun/strange/cool place! Finally got back to Asa at 10.15pm! What a big weekend! I had a great time, with great people! Thank you for coming out with me to celebrate my birthday those who did!!

Thursday Night Thoughts...!

I just finished watching the movie "Sekai no chushin de, ai ni sakebu", or "Crying Out Love in the Centre of the World". It was sweet, and sad. Subtitled which is all good, though I think I'd definitely got the gist had I not had subtitles.

The movie is a bit of a tragic love story. The thing about Japanese movies (or TV for that matter) that really annoys me, is the blimin' awkwardness between the couple! Honestly it drives me nuts. It's not that I need to see constant making out, sex and smut, but God damn it, if you love the chick/guy just kiss them for F*&ksake!!! Instead they dither around standing a metre apart, looking at each other with pathetic pup dog eyes. Then they inch closer, and their hands might start to fidget, and they will touch finger tips. They continure to inch towards eachother, before they ever so awkwardly go in for the hug! If they are super risque they'll linger with their faces centimetres apart and then press lips (mouth closed of course) for a few seconds, before going back for that smouldering hug!!! Argh! I never thought I'd be wanting actors to get it on so much as I do in Japanese Drama!! I'd tell you more about the details in this movie but I don't want to spoil the "will they/won't they" tensions for when others watch the movie!

One English teacher told me that that's the reason why so many Japanese women like Korean drama, because they are much more romantic! Apparently they like the fact the guys are passionate in them. I wonder what they they think of western TV and movies..? Oh, I wonder what they think of the truly smutty stuff in some movies..!!?

Anyway, that's my thoughts for a Thursday night!

The weekend+

Had a lovely impromtpu weekend. It was the first in a while that I didn't have any set in stone plans and it left me totally indecisive about I should do! In the end I met Jenny, Laura, Paul and Tori in the Guch, we ate Laura's wonderfully prepared taco rice, which had been layed out on your plate so you get a bit of everything in one bite..! It was yummy! We drank and played Taboo...

So for anyone who knows or doesn't, last year at Rei's, a large number of people witnessed me humiliate myself with really really bad Taboo playing! I couldn't do it without either saying the words you're not allowed, or saying pass (before I realised that you can't pass more than once), and in the end I think I finished my round in the negatives! Not a proud moment! On Friday night, Paul had spread the word and no one wanted to me in my team..! I was like the smelly kid no one wants in their team at school... But Tori and Paul drew the short straws! I had a new approach 'quality not quantity', and it worked! I was so so much better than last year, though it wouldn't have taken much! Though I have to say, I am a very good guesser! After that it was off to karaoke, by this stage Paul was well pissed, and befriended some J-girls in the foot onsen... and Laura laughed at them looking like they wanted to ignore him but he kept leaning into the convo!!

Karaoke was on form that night, and it was almost 4am before we got to bed.

Saturday Jenny, Paul and I went for sushi then to Hofu for some Baskin Robbins. I saw a kid vomit there again...honestly parents need to control what their kids put in their mouth at that place! After, Paul and I got a train to Yanai, went to Kat's and started drinking again. We played numerous hand clappy drinking games with Lee, Lauren, Ellen, and Bruce, then headed to Gotcha for kebabs and drinking. It was a fun night, pretty quiet but a bit of dancing, drinking, talkng and limbo competitioning always makes for a good night!

More karaoke before bed. Lauren and Kat did a brilliant Beauty and the Beast "Be My Guest"!!

Sunday - buying fish lanterns in the white wall street, yakiniku, puri-kura then home. Jolly nice weekend!

Since then I have finished The Secret Life of Us, was very good. Yesterday in class I told two boys to turn round and face the front, and another boy who was talking right in front of me while I did my quiz, to shut up! I got home and started to try sort out piles of stuff, and they went into other piles, before being put away again! I did throw out 2 bags of paper and junk though, and kind of started filling a box. But it depressed me that I have so much to sort out in the next 9 weeks, and I don't know where to start...so I stopped! I hate that I have to pack my stuff, and also sort out the rest of everything since my apartment is over as a JET apartment. I so wish I could just leave everything I'm not taking home in the cupboard for the next person...!!

Is this going to happen to me...

Not to spoil any surprises for Tori, I will keep this brief. Last night I was watching Season 3 of The Secret Life of Us. This chick on it had just come back from two years in Japan where she worked in some scientific computer research/design place or something. Now she is back in Australia, and has been to 5 job interviews. The people praise what she has done in Japan and what not, and sound really interested. But then they want to know what she has done in Australia, and about experience in Australia - which she doesn't have cos she's been in Japan! She feels like she's destined to be a bartender for life now!!!

So, now I fear this is what I have to look forward to... Is this what is to come of me in 3 months or so..? Mind, I did think as I was watching that she should read a copy of Parachute!! I must do the Parachute tasks to be prepared for the worst!

Bored at work

...I'm not anymore cos I'm home, but I was earlier so I typed those exact words into Google. The first hit was a site called www.boredatwork.com! Who would've thought! So there is a huge list of things to do, read, etc. Of course the games are a little obvious that you are not doing anything remotely work related, but luckily for me, there was no one in the office with my computer in their sight. I played a fun strategic puzzle game called Reflections, it got too hard at level 4 so I quit. The next game was a little sick, but really amusing....obviously been bored for too long..!? It was a kitten throwing game. You shoot the kitten out of a cannon, then it flies, and bounces on things that can get it further, and it gets bloody and is obviously dead when it lands. Yeah, as I said a little sick! There is also this weird guy Ryan Donovan who has posted lots of things on the site, like Oscar predictions (for the last 3 years!?), and other random things.

So yeah, next time you're bored have fun with this!

Hello!

I haven't posted for a few days now, and I still don't really have anything worthy of saying! I had to get a bus this morning at 7.30am because the teacher wanted me here at 1st period to discuss the lessons and the next bus wasn't until 9am. I thought I have 2nd, 3rd, and 5th periods but the last one has changed to 6th...so I will have to keep myself amused all day! Of course I'm not complaining cos I know many of you out in the Guch blog world sit in offices and schools all day long, every day!!!

I had a lovely chilled out weekend with Tori, Paul and Rei in Yamaguchi city. Nice to not have any major event to prep for, and travel to. I also talked to mates at home, and exciting news is my mates Jo and Paul (in NZ) are getting married in December! Weird that a friend is getting married, but very cool! And I also won a CD from this NZ website who are giving away a CD a day for NZ Music Month. I don't know what the CD was for that particular day I won! But it will be waiting for me at home!!

Other news is Jo, Laura and I are going to Korea for 4 nights, 3 days at the beginning of June. Got cheap flights which is always good. I fear this will be my last trip, so sad. I really want to go to Hokkaido, but I know I won't be able to. I finish school on the 15th July, and then I will need the 2 weeks left to pack, clean and box the rest of the apartment with my supervisor etc... Oh well, will have to go when I come back to Japan one day!

Might go and read some. I also got my orders from Amazon yesterday, "How to Teach English" and an English Grammar book! How exciting! I'm going to get all informed and prepped before this course...hope I don't discover that I'll be a terrible English teacher!!

Janken Craziness...

People really do make major decisions with Janken, and I thought we just joked about it!
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_entertainment_story_skin/550401?format=html

boredom

Have just finished one of my dreaded days at Omine. No English club thankfully, but I have to wait for til 5pm to get a lift home. Typically, to combat boredom I use the computer (and even this gets boring!). I have a set routine.

First I check my email, read and reply to any that I want to. Then I move onto reading my local newspaper at home online - The Timaru Herald. Next I read the goss and what not on the website of Jay Jay from the Edge Radio station at home. She is my source for all star goss in the world! Then it is on to the blogs, and comment sections. This also follows a pattern..! I go to my own, then down my list of links, skipping Jo's. After I have read them all, commented, etc, I go back to Jo's read, comment, etc. Then I go down Jo's list of links, and visit the sites of any blog I still haven't put in my own links list! That covers my reading of Yamaguchi bloggers! If I am particularly bored I will visit blog links on the blogs of people I know! How sad is all this!?

The worse thing is, I repeat this routine OFTEN...throughout the day, depending on how much boring time I have to do nothing..! I was just bored again, so I decided to actually blog! Today I have been particularly impressed with Dan (3 entries in one day!!), and of course Tori for addressing the grammar issue and I always like to have a blog dedicated to me! I will be a much better blogger for having my grammar rectified! So...15 mins to go. Weekend report:

Tonight I am going to dinner at a J-friend's for an early birthday dinner for me. Early because our friend is due to have her baby near my birthday, so will be out of action later. So I'm sure it will be a lovely evening. Tomorrow I am possibly going to do pottery in the morning (if I call the right person tonight, and it suits the pottery lady). Then I'm going to go to Yamaguchi and hang out with Tori, Rei, Paul and whoever else who might be lingering around... Should be a lovely, quiet weekend.

10mins left...ok I won't try fill it blogging...I might just check to see if anyone's updated!!

5mins left - just edited my blog!! Yes!!!

this is the type of occasion I will miss..!

Tonight I went out for dinner with an elementary school teacher I used to work with (Kyoko - for Abra who knows her). So we went to this restaurant in Otsuki that she had told me about ages ago. It's a regular Japanese house, and the woman has converted all the downstairs rooms to accommodate guests for meals. So on the way there, Kyoko tells me that when she called to book she said she was coming with a gaijin (I'm guessing she said it to sort out the menu..?). On the phone, the woman must've been pretty excited, asking my name, age, nationality, etc! So I was a bit nervous about what to expect..! Also on the way there, Kyoko was talking about Abra's visit, and said that the principal at her school thinks Abra and I look the same! I cracked up of course!

Anyway, we arrive, and the woman is happy to see us. We were the only guests, and our food was already layed out, so she ushers us in, we sit down, she leaves, and we begin to eat. Then Kyoko notices that there is a fork. as well as chopsticks, in her setting, obviously the woman meant that to be my place! Then she comes in and asks if I know this guy who worked at NZ Village 6 years ago. She had his address - he is from Christchurch! I didn't, but she continued to chat away, and she said something about the Shuho-cho ALT. I thought she meant also 6 years ago, but then she said she'd met more recently, and I looked like her!!? So I asked what her name was, but she couldn't remember, so I said "was it Meagan?" It was!! Kyoko and I cracked up again, cos now I look like both Abra and Meagan!!

After a bit she goes out again, and Kyoko and I got up to look at the old Japanese things in the room, and as we do, the woman came back! She is chatting away about this and the next thing, got a photo with us, raved about wanting to go to NZ...and saying how lovely I am and what a beautiful face I have!? She takes us out to the other wee rooms to have a look, and somehow talk gets back to me, and my face. She goes "can I have your nose!?" and we laugh! Then she says, "Can I have your chest too!?" We laugh hysterically! Then she says how Kyoko is beautiful, and we look a little alike!!? I mean Kyoko is quite tall for a Japanese person, and I have to admit that her nose isn't as flat and round as other Japanese women, but she really doesn't look much like me!!

The woman then says she'll get us coffee. We go back to the room and wait, then the woman comes in without the coffee, but sits down and starts chatting away!! She told us about a friend, who is going to go to Aussie with her kid to study English, because she won 3 million yen in lotto, and then 1 million yen after that, then inherited a lot of money... She talked about Hokkaido - she'd just been there cos her daughter lives there. I said how I wanted to go, and then woman was like, "Oh, if only we'd met sooner..!" Anyhow, she went on for ages, and I used the brilliant strategy of saying "sou desu ne" whenever she said "...ne"!! Priceless "I don't know what your saying, but I can pretend" technique!

When she realised she'd forgot the coffee, she headed back out. While she was out I told Kyoko that I just pretended to understand. Right then, the woman came back with our coffee, so Kyoko said, "Selene is enjoying talking to you!", and the woman replied, "I'm just enjoying looking at her face!" So funny, Kyoko and I were hysterical!!

Before we left, the woman came back with omiyage for us both! She gave me a shoyu glass decanter from Otaru in Hokkaido! Supposedly its from a famous glass makers - even Kyoko had heard about it!? I was so surprised! Then to cut the mustard on a truly bizzare night, as we were putting our shoes on, Kyoko says, "Oh that's cute" about something. And I say the same about two porcelain hinamatsuri dolls... She says, "I'll give them to you! And her husband is like, "yes please, they are a gift from me!" By then I was really embarrassed, and with my presents, and promises to go back we left!

Such a unexpectedly funny night, and I've told Kyoko that next time we go, let me know what things she wants, cos I'm sure I could get them for her! We are also sure, the couple will have booked their NZ holiday by the time we go back!!

something to look forward to...!

Apart from the obvious things to look forward to about going home, my friend just emailed me about a new thing going on the market at home...!

To give you a bit of background first. In NZ when you go to the pub and you're off the alcohol (yes there are times I do this thank you!), I and I'm sure a lot of NZers order a 'raspberry and coke'. When I was a kid and even now when at home and out for a meal somewhere, I'd get a raspberry and coke. They are honestly the greatest mix of flavours together that could ever be put together. For my birthday last year Mum sent me out some "Schweppes Raspberry Cordial" so I could make my own, and it was rationed and only drunk on special occasions!

So anyway, Coca Cola is bringing out 'raspberry and coke' premixed!!! So very exciting!! I have very high expectations, cos it's going to have to taste just like one you have mixed yourself. At home, the "Budget" brand brought out a premix, and it was terrible. You see it can't be fizzy raspberry soda mixed with coke, or any other fizzy cola. It must be raspberry cordial (possibly only Schweppes - that is all I've had).

Right, too much time on my hands....! But be waiting in September for my report on how the bottled "Coke and Raspberry" goes down!

Just finished classes for the day, so have a couple of hours til English Club. So last night I went to bed quite early...well the intention was there, but ended up watching Dawson's Creek episodes that I have seen before (possibly more than once!?)! When I did finally finish watching, it was 11.45pm. Now what follows is becoming routine...

I lie there going to sleep, then my mind starts to think of how its not long til I leave Japan, about the people who I haven't been in touch with for ages - both in Japan and at home, about all the stuff that I have to do before leaving, about preparation for going to Thailand for CELTA (yeah, I'm in by the way), cleaning, packing, EVERY-F&#KING-THING!!!!! I tell you its driving me nuts, and getting me tired! So last night the topic of my thoughts was people I haven't been in touch with for ages in Japan...so I got up, wrote a list of people I have to email. Then lay down again. But I still was thinking. My computer was on, sending something to Paul, so I ended up emailing two of the people I was thinking of at 12.30am!! Arghh!

Thank God, I am not feeling too sluggish today, but I am concerned about what I will be like when I only have a month left, or a week left..! I'll be a wreck thinking of things to do, people to see! It doesn't help that time really is motoring towards the end of J-days. Less than 3 months...in fact I let my supervisor know on Monday that I would leave on the 27th July, that's like only 10 weeks...10 weeks today even!!! Oh Lordy...!

The Week that was Golden...

Sunday's here again, and back to work tomorrow. So much has happened, and possibly too much to write in a blog, so it's going to be as brief as possible so not to go on and on for ages!

So Jo, Abra and I went to Osaka on Wednesday, we had to sit in the smoking car since the shinkansen was busy. Abra and I had joked that we should wear masks, so we did! Very amusing, but of course very Japanese so not an eyelid was battered! We got to Osaka, met Paul and checked into the Kinki Hotel. Paul had previously sited a beer garden, and we were ready to go! But Abra thought we should be cultural, or at least walk around a bit. In the end, we went to check what time the beer garden opened (5.30-9pm - nomi/tabehodai), so we wandered around til that time!

Ah it was lovely, we ate and drunk ourselves silly! Towards the end of the night, Paul had the bright idea to go talk to a rawkous (sp!?) group of J-folk. So we headed over, and were befriended immediately. There was yelling and cheering, whooping and celebrating the gaijin drinking with them! Then of course things got onto, "Do you like sex?", penis size, breast poking, and general Japanese drunk guy sukebe-ness!! All this was from one particular guy in a pink shirt! When it came time to leave, somehow it was decided that that one guy had a small penis, and he was very proud of this! So we were in the foyer, and he is trying to show ushow small! Very bizarre and hilarious at the same time - especially when the lift door opened and all his girl mates come out!! I think they found it hilarious/embarrassing and shocking all at the same time! We were all so drunk it was fabulous, and only 9pm! We then went to puri-kura with another group of guys who wanted in on some of the gaijin action. The pink shirt guy and his mates thankfully headed off. After going back to the hotel to change, waking Paul up again, we headed off to Sam & Dave's. Not as good as Fukuoka's - they wouldn't play the music we wanted.

So Thursday we woke up and not a hangover in sight! How brilliant is that! We all went to Kyoto for the day. Such a nice day, having all been to Kyoto at different times, we all knew where different cool places to wander and shop were. So we cultured ourselves at Kiyomizu-dera (4th time for me!), sighted a Maiko in Gion area going to work, shopped in the wee streets, and downtown, and generally had a lovely day. I bought some omiyage for myself to take home.

We got back rested and some how decided to have a "P" night, don't know how that letter was chosen... After yakiniku (the p-things were starting after), Abra when into the Porn cinema to ask prices! Very amusing! Then we tried our luck at pachinko. We were hoping to have Laura's luck! We didn't, and we also got to sound really lame saying an attendant "I want to play, but I don't know how!" Thanks Paul for stepping up to the plate! So we all lost our 1000 yen, and stood in awe at the people who had baskets and baskets of balls lined up! Then we went to a pub...

So enjoying a few drinks, and towards the end this guy comes over to chat... I'd previously chatted to him at the bar, I'd said I was from NZ, and he had lived there for 2 years, said it was terrible place financially, and luckily Abra, Paul and my drinks came so I left him there at the bar. He was weird, cos he had bad teeth, and kind of frothed at the corners of his mouth when he talked..! So fast forward to him talking to us... WEIRD!!!!! I will keep it brief, here are the facts according to him in relation to us all:
Abra: Portland is strict, full of Mormons, and has "people-sized infrastructure"!? No we never did find out what this is!
Paul: "Oh, you're a handsome guy, yeah I like you, you look like you're from California - yeah, you're a good guy"... Paul had said he was from England earlier...!? The guy had been to various places in England, including Rugby. Paul:"Why have you been to Rugby?" "Because my Grandmother's Indian."!!!!!??????
Jo: To Jo, he said "I can tell you're from England, cos you're plain."!!? Pretty much interest stopped there concerning Jo!? How rude!
Me: (remember I have talked to him about NZ before) He says, "Where are you from?" I let him guess, so he says America, so I agree, then I say "Where in America do you think?" He says Massachusett (sorry can't spell that!?), so I agree! He is a world traveller after all, and can pick nationalities! I asked him what he knows about Massachusett, and he says "Racist." Then gets angerish..."You're walking down the street and you see a black man, what do you do? What do you do? - You run scared." Alright then...!?

So that was the weird guy, total freak and I cannot believe he is teaching English here! We escaped him for home asap! Friday Abra left us, another good bye..! Then Paul and I went to Himeji for more culture. Cool castle, but terrible weather unfortunately. Stayed at Pauls Friday night, watched some downloaded TV... slept some. Didn't work on Celta stuff which was meant to happen! Saturday came back to Asa, and met Louise for dinner and a movie. Today Jo came to Asa and we met Louise for a Joyfull lunch. Now I am watching "Secret Life of Us", and enjoying it greatly!

So good GW, going to post some photos later.

ok, so not a great picture...but Happy Birthday Tori!! (yes it was a couple of weeks ago now!)

A lovely day for a BBQ in Yamaguchi City...sun was shining, drinks were flowing, and flowing....

Karaoke for Tori's Birthday!! Fun times!!

the pile of big rubbish I got rid of after my weekend away the other week. I forgot to mention that as I was getting it all outside ready to begin my bike trips, the nextdoor neighbour heard the commotion, and insisted on having her husband help me take everything!! So he drove me and all my gomi around to the rubbish place!!! Love Japan!!!

Abra's back in town!!

Angela and a Cock dancin' as a girl and a cock do..!!

The end of a night of Cock! Happy Birthday Jo!!

The Weekend that was...

FUN!!

Yes, had a fun ol weekend with lots of fun and excitement! Abra arrived on Friday night, and Jo and I waited excitedly at the station, deciding whether or not to sneak through the ticket booth to wait on the platform (we didn't). Then we laughed about lying down and commando crawling under the automatic ticket barrier thing!! That would be funny to see! Then Abra arrived, and that was cool!

So Fukuoka on Saturday (after 2 sushi visits in 2 days!). Fun ol' times all round. Abra, Jess and I checked into the capsule, then met the others at Voodoo lounge. Quick drink then Small Cock. Felt quite privileged to be there for the last night as the Small Cock! Also felt little like I go there too much when sexy bouncer and I hugged hello! So we stayed there dancing and chatting. I chatted at the bar for a few minutes with a Navy guy, he was leaving Japan in 10 days cos he is either done in Japan or in the Navy all together... Us girls danced and drank, then headed for the other Cock.

It was raining, and en route, at the crossing met three guys, gaijin, and 2 J-folk. We chatted a little, then Gillian and I crossed, thinking the rest were coming. The didn't so we yelled, then ended up going back over. This one guy knew I was from NZ, turns out one of the girls had said! So he has lived in Christchurch and Nelson for 7 years, since 1994, just coming back a few months ago. It was cool cos we could talk about places and so knew where we were talking about! The funny thing is, he talked and his mannerisms were very Maori!! More Maori than some Maori friends I have at home!! Oh it was brilliant! I couldn't help laughing at him! Which was bad one time cos I was still laughing, when he went on to say his father had a stroke last week. Oops! But yeah, nice group of guys.

The Big Cock, since it will now be Fukuoka's only Cock is bigger and better! There is some more room, which was crowded of course, but the ultra high ceilings make it cooler, and the air not so smoky feeling. Definite plusses! And the dance stage is higher, I guess good for people who want to be seen, or the people who want to watch..! Angela did a brilliant dance effort up there, much more tasteful than the skanky J-girl! Then bless the J-woman who danced up there for ages alone, in a side-steppy, hand clapping, boppy fashion, thinking that all the guys were loving it, but they were so paying her out, mean guys!

There was this guy who wanted to dance, and I said what's your name, he said "Dingo" I think, so I said are you from Australia? And he said he wasn't. I also asked if I'd met him before!? He said I had... I doubted him. Obviously not off to a good start from the beginning! But he irritated me a little, and he got less irritating, but sweatier. He undid his top to mid chest, and had a big necklace thing on, and wiped his sweaty head on my arm - ick! Anyway, yeah we left (as in the girls and I)! N.B. On Sunday Jo said that it was the guy I'd talked to at the small cock...oops! Kind of felt bad after that I was so off with him!! No worries though!!!

So we hung about for ages outside talking to our new mates, and working out what was happening from there. Eventually Jess, Abra and I left for the capsule, and the others all headed on there merry way. Went back to the Big Cock when Jess lost her glasses, and we waited for it to close. The owner was being worshiped by the niteclubbers on the stage in the final songs. Thankful the glasses were safe in a corner near the lockers, so we could leave. On the way out the owner guy, gave me a big smile and "arigato gozaimasu". Another sign I have been there too often over the past 2 years!!

So yeah, slept, went back to Shimonoseki, slept at Jo's, went for some fried chicken, and Abra and I came back to Asa. Were asleep by 9.30am. We both woke, and I said "is that an earthquake?" and it seemed to be, we checked the time, and it was about 1.30am. It seemed like we'd been asleep for so very long! Then we woke (or I was woken by Abra) at 6ish, 8ish... And the whole earthquake thing seemed dreamlike..!? Very strange.

Anyway, good times! Looking forward to Osaka now on Wednesday.