Friday 13th unlucky for some

Hey all,

I hope the weather is a little better where you are. Here it is ridiculously humid. Seriously, I have never experienced anything quite like this, and everyone says it is set to get hotter too! Damn! I’ve never before broken a sweat sneezing, but I swear I did the other day!

So it’s Friday 13^th, unlucky for some, but aside from the insane humidity it is set to be a good one for me. Yes, today signals the official/unofficial start of my summer holidays! Unofficial in that I still have 1 morning of work to do on Tuesday next week. Still, my main classes, and kid-packed days are done for this term! Awesome!

Not awesome in the sense that I hate work can’t wait to get out, but awesome as in I finally get some decent down time!

It is going to be a glorious 7-week break, that’s for sure! Here is a quick rundown on all that I have planned.

1. Next week a trip with Michiko to Tokyo Disneyland (knock it all you want, it's a damn good day out). We did DisneySea last year, and I for one was happily surprised by the fun we had!

2. My trip to Kyushu! After so many years of wanting to visit, I am off to Kagoshima and more importantly....Yakushima! For those of you who are unsure where/what Yakushima is, I suggest you Google it....breathtaking. I’m off to the island alone for 5 nights where I plan to cycle, hike, and photograph my way around. I’m seriously excited!

3. A visit from an old fellow Kita Hiroshima ALT, Creag. Will be the first Hokkaido friend I’ll get to see since I moved down here. Beer o’clock!

4. Summer Sonic Festival. Michiko and I have scored tickets for the Sunday. Our first music festival together. What will make this even better is that we also got a car park ticket, so I’ll be driving....that means we can pack the cool box with drinks and food and travel there and back at our own pace and in total comfort. Bliss. Lineup is not so bad either, should be a mighty fun day. Green Day headlining the main stage, or Sigur Ros on the second stage....that will be a tough one!

5. A visit from Barney. Sure it is only for one evening of grub n beers, but will be great to catch up and hear how everyone is getting on since my departure (still beyond themselves in depression, I’m sure)

6. A Gamba Osaka football game. Yep, Sapporo Consadole are coming down for their away tie against Gamba, so I’m going to try pick up a couple of tickets for Michiko and I. Go Gamba!

7. Video games! I just got SSX in the mail yesterday, and I’m still to complete some of my older games. Air conditioning on, arse on sofa, hours of gaming. Prefect.

So all in all it is set to be a truly fun summer!! After all the madness and mayhem since the start of the year (moving, new job, all that jazz) I think I’ve done enough to justify such a summer break!

Photos and stories to make you jealous coming soon!

Take care, and have yourselves a mighty fun summer too!!

Another busy month crossed from the calendar

Afternoon all, I trust you are well.

Another month has passed, and with open arms I greet this new one.

As previously mentioned, I’d get around to updating this blog around this time to bring you up to speed on how my “power month” went.

Well, It has been a success on some fronts, not so much on others.

The diet went very well to start, as I’m sure these things do. The weight dropped nicely...I even stood on the scales at one point to see a reading of under 58kg! That figure has creped up a little since that time, but I’m still under 60kg so, I’m happy with that. The motivation to eat light and healthy really drops when the weekend arrives, and the football is on TV.

The most positive shift that has come from this diet venture is that Michiko and I have discovered some great new dinner ideas. We are eating lots more fresh vegetable and fish based dishes, and we’ve really cut back on the rice and other carbs (though I still enjoy my bread), also my mid-week beers have stopped!

The muscle building routine also began well and things were going in the right direction, but sadly I threw my back whilst playing dodge ball at school with the kids. Nothing too serious, it is almost okay again, but I decided not to strain it with exercise for the last 2 weeks. I threw it out pretty seriously last year, and didn’t want to aggravate it any further. The routine will resume from the start of July!

Am I speaking more Japanese?...urm...I am at school, with the teachers and kids outside of class (to expect total communication in English is ridiculous).

At home? No more than I was before. Oops, I guess speaking more Japanese at home will have to come of it’s own accord / motivation.

More private students? Not yet sadly. Not for trying mind you, I have signed up to several student finding websites, and so I guess I’ll just have to continue being patient. Fingers crossed! A little extra cash would be very welcomed.

So bearing in mind that I threw my back, and have been ill with a crappy cold for the last three weeks, this month has been pretty good, and has passed pretty smoothly.

Only 2 more full weeks of work until my summer break begins!! Damn, I can’t wait. Got so much fun planned! I promise to let you all know what I'll be getting up to!