tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62698642024-09-11T07:09:35.423+09:00山から野菜畑までbiffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.comBlogger329125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-54713376686560130402012-08-14T09:52:00.000+09:002012-08-14T09:58:52.789+09:00

 We made a little sign to catch their attention at arrivals, but there were very few people around.     We went to an electrical store and mum had a go in the massage chairs.    This is the Neputa festival in Hirosaki. We went to Aomori to stay with Aki's family for a couple of days, stopping in Sendai on the way up and Zao onsen on the way back down. It was great

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-58187901301367956182012-02-25T23:18:00.009+09:002012-02-26T00:08:08.115+09:00

A fireworks display in Nikko. ChuuzenjikoSenjogaharaSenjogaharaSenjogahara

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-1433003220110419592011-09-19T06:49:00.006+09:002011-09-19T08:14:52.090+09:00

It sounds dodgy, but the mountain itself is just as far away from the nuclear power plant as our apartment in Tochigi. I didn't bother to go out and buy a brand new geiger counter just for today's climb, lets put it that way!We climbed from Urabandai ski ground, which isn't as dull as it sounds. You soon get out of the desolate summer ski area and on to the first small sulphur lake below the main

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-56161167826674029832011-09-04T05:58:00.011+09:002011-09-04T07:45:33.695+09:00

This post is generally about my failed attempt at climbing Mt. Sukai on the border between Tochigi and Gunma. It was a real challenge and I was out of bed at 3AM to get cracking with it. At the trail head by 6AM and at the first peak, known as Koushin dake by 9AM. I gave myself a noon cut-off, whereupon I was to turn around and start walking back. Our new house (I wish!) This is the hut close

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-43160708299335387942011-08-12T18:04:00.006+09:002011-08-12T18:31:27.537+09:00

We went back to Hirosaki at the weekend. Though it reached at least 30 degrees each day, it was a cool contrast to the weather we have here now in Tochigi - 36 degs yesterday, and as sweaty as you could ever imagine. The humidity is through the roof, though we're starting to get used to it now. Aki is ready to jump on the train to Aomori city for some rasera! 青森市へ行こう！！　ラセラ　ラセラ！！ Shea is

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-54606969219161328852011-08-02T22:09:00.008+09:002011-08-02T22:19:56.853+09:00

The tallest mountain in Tochigi prefecture, at 2,578m. I won't bore you with the details, here are some pics I took though:The dodgy hand as proof I was there!A sound support strategy!

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-34827686561340127602011-08-02T21:42:00.008+09:002011-08-02T22:09:28.760+09:00

This is creepy...and this is crawly!Not really, I actually do have some pictures of insects. If you're into that sort of thing, that is. The pic above is a night shot of a regular cricket who appears to be enjoying the eggplant leaves that I've prepared for him and his friends.This, I think, is one of the Bell Crickets which send me to sleep at night with their gentle clicking sounds. The

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-1415633422190878552011-07-18T08:54:00.013+09:002011-07-18T09:42:03.878+09:00

Both Aki and I climbed the local 'hyakumeizan' mountain yesterday called Mt. Nantai. I thought it was a great day on the mountain, Aki thought otherwise. It doesn't seem that high when you look at it from lake Chuuzenji at the bottom, but the elevation that we climbed was equal to climbing Iwaki (about 1200m) and the altitude was higher (2486m).The weather was definitely on our side though, and

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-17165873108749546152011-07-11T22:07:00.014+09:002011-07-11T22:36:35.539+09:00

Our garden is crawling with insects which I am unfamiliar with. Yesterday I went to get some shots of those creatures but sadly, they were a bit camera shy and all I could manage were the following.Some sort of ladybug.The dragonflies are so tame you can literally pick them up and play with them.No, the third critter in this series is not me, though I'm probably responsible for most of the damage

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-89331601015674530242011-07-05T21:44:00.009+09:002011-07-05T22:01:16.380+09:00

Here are some photos from the sky above south Tochigi. I apologise for the lack of updates, I am a lot busier than I expected to be. Here are some pics though:And a few more images from the days when we mess about.Caught this guy messing about in my salad leaves!Messing about at Kegon Falls near Chuuzenjiko.A load of folks messing about on the combo birthday party we had at ours a few weeks back.

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-83138657150802636942011-05-29T07:04:00.008+09:002011-05-29T07:48:45.963+09:00

Eggplant in the front row, mizuna, then broccoli at the back.It's been a while since I last updated this blog so I thought I'd capitalise on a brief pocket of spare time and post some pics of what we've been doing lately. I seem to spend at least 60 hours a week either at work or studying (I have a paper coming up which is keeping me super busy), so I don't find a great deal of time for anything

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-44885265519046190842011-03-31T14:22:00.015+09:002011-04-23T09:42:46.778+09:00

I started this draft about three weeks ago on our last day in Hirosaki and I decided to keep it. I've asterisked the paragraphs that are old and added new annotative ones, along with some photos. We've been without the internet for a while you see, but we're now back online.*Well, it's been two months, but they've flown by almost as if we arrived yesterday. The snow has held out longer than I

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-73799653246492059992011-03-16T16:18:00.013+09:002011-03-16T16:56:20.655+09:00

I have uploaded some shots here which give some idea of what Hirosaki has been like over the last few days. There has been a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the availability of goods and transport, following the tsunami last Friday. Fuel has been particularly scarce, and for a while it was being rationed out at 10ltrs per car at each gas station. I'm not sure what the real problem is behind

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-67423782460394440672011-03-13T22:41:00.004+09:002011-03-14T22:16:40.115+09:00

It's been a few days since the biggest earthquake on Japanese records took place, and even here in safe-old-Hirosaki things still seem quite weird. There's a lot of uncertainty in the air, particularly with regard to our power supply. I've just been forwarded a circular e-mail from the Tokyo Electric Company saying that we should be frugal with our use of electricity, and to expect further cuts

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-91422254843114005842011-03-08T07:59:00.013+09:002011-03-08T22:53:33.068+09:00

It seemed to blend into the sky. The snow reflecting blue light into my eyes was a really dreamy sight.The top station at Hakkoda. Things have changed - there are now numerous screens with more information and photos than there were before. No shop selling cheap souvenirs anymore. Outside is still the same though!The entrance to Fukuzawa Onsen. Rustic to say the least.I just had to have my photo

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-8609882036436537652011-02-23T07:45:00.012+09:002011-02-23T08:46:51.924+09:00

The following shots are from my 5:30AM walk to a bridge in Hirosaki where both the Hakkodas and Iwaki can be seen in relatively good perspective. I have scattered them throughout the post.Since my last post, the most prominent daily concern for us has been purchasing a decent car. Initially, we had come to Japan with the idea of getting our hands on a little old banger that would see us through a

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-54708446382150296562011-02-13T11:43:00.011+09:002011-02-13T13:40:34.763+09:00

The following pictures are from this last week. It's been a good week, with lots of things going on. We've got ourselves some mobile phones, which has kept us busy working out how to use them. We've also been car shopping, trying to work out what we can get with our money. We haven't bought anything yet though.I've started a routine of running, physical training at the gym and studying in the

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-6420421018835395722011-02-06T17:25:00.013+09:002011-02-06T18:07:55.399+09:00

I've been in Hirosaki for five days now, and funnily enough the weather's been fine. It's plain to see that before I came the weather was quite different though.There has been a lot of snowfall in recent weeks, but now the temperature has risen and things are heading in the opposite direction. Lingering still, are the huge mounds of snow that people create when clearing snow from the roads.

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-77306248217651588802011-01-29T12:40:00.007+09:002011-01-29T13:36:24.341+09:00

Yesterday, Aki and I arrived in Tokyo (or what seemed like Tokyo; it could have been anywhere we were so jet-lagged), and it now feels like we have moved up a gear in our giddying experience of moving to Japan for a long term stint. I know it will work out, but making the jump is unsettling and jet lag simply exacerbates that feeling. The streets of Minami Senju are even more surreal when you

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-12113515905519588872010-09-30T05:46:00.036+09:002011-03-08T08:26:54.078+09:00

Here's a draft post that I forgot I had from last summer's trip down south. I won't write much, but I will explain certain shots.Some familyThe streets of Deal, Kent.Me and my tash.Dave, Aki and a dead shark.The following shots are from the time we spent at Graham Wrigley's house and the local horticultural centre.Graham's place came with a wicked swimming pool, minute frogs and a huge pack of El

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-14900512709087677732010-08-08T01:05:00.009+09:002010-08-08T01:39:49.237+09:00

This video is one of Chloe Charles playing I Wish I Were a BearThe other video, Salamander, won't load through Youtube or Blogger, which is a shame because it was a cracking song. I still have the video on my hard drive if you want it though.Some more photosAli playing; Chloe supporting.Alan enjoying the company.Chloe playing; Ali supportingAnd again.Mack Daddy Lukey.

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-25023551956025190162010-08-07T04:49:00.002+09:002010-08-07T17:19:03.441+09:00

I would first just say that Blogger has cost me about six hours of upload time with the first video, due to some error (!**@%!). Most frustrating. However, I'm going to skip it and embed them all using Youtube instead.About this video and the shots.We went to Screveton on Thursday evening to watch a couple of North American girls play their guitars and sing at Alan's house. One of the girls was

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-71786695982255848982010-08-05T00:20:00.023+09:002010-08-11T07:20:20.172+09:00

こんにちは、日本語でブログを書くのはお久しぶりですね。　これからは日本語オーンリーです。　これからの写真はウェールズのバケーションです。一週間で素敵な自炊式の山荘に滞在してあっちこっち観光したり、バードウォチングしたり、暖炉の前で本を読んだりしました　（夏目漱石の’坊ッちゃん’を読み終わった）。本当に楽しい時間を過ごしました。カナーヴォン城を歩いています。スノードーニア国立公園で散歩したりバードウォチングしています。　（日本語のバージョンがなくてごめんね）彰チャンのんびり、暖炉の前に座ってゆっくりしています。羊ちゃんの親子、右の方は赤ちゃんで左はママ。蜘蛛の巣が見えなくて家の中がきれいでしょう。スノードーニア国立公園の一番高い山からの眺め。どこに行っても羊がいる！風が吹いたり雨が降ったりしても羊ちゃんが草を食べ続ける。空が暗くなって山登りが怖いよ。頂上に着いたら何も見えなかったびょん。

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-27306719385426230532010-06-06T04:07:00.003+09:002010-06-06T04:54:04.031+09:00

English city centres are all pretty much the same really. Some are just bigger than others. Leeds is pretty big among the pack, and it's vibrant too.At least on a sunny Saturday afternoon it is. This is me getting restless as Aki sets up the perfect frame.Aki, framed at the Cornhill Exchange.

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6269864.post-82237478106007625412010-04-03T05:34:00.008+09:002010-04-03T06:47:40.922+09:00

Deep thought and deep hairdos at Chatsworth House （チャツワースハウス）　Aki, observing history　（チャツワースハウス）Deep water and long noses in Hull （水族館）The old and the new in York　（ヨーク市）Improvised charity work in Lincoln　（リンカン市）

biffahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06623479168064338980noreply@blogger.com0