Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Well, as it's June, what better excuse for a new post! Trouble is, unless you're interested in the fact that it's warm and sunny and that azalea bushes have suddenly come out everywhere and you can see a lot of baby koi in the ponds around Akarenga, there's not much to say. If you need something to look at you may as well read the Hokudai blogs (again?) as lots of people have published their work now. Links are on this post from May.
I bought a couple of things from my favourite clothes shop in Sapporo, R. Newbold (in Parco, 6F) today too.
I bought a couple of things from my favourite clothes shop in Sapporo, R. Newbold (in Parco, 6F) today too.
Monday, May 30, 2005
OK, I know there are lots of Phil Taylors around in the world, including the obvious darts king himself, the software developer from the UK who stole the decent URL which should of course have been mine, the electronics company also from the UK (a pattern emerging?) who stole another URL but haven't even had the decency to set up a proper site there yet, the Motorhead drummer (obviously also from the UK)...and so on, and all they have every right to exist...but a Phil Taylor with a blog who rants and raves about stuff? It's just too close for comfort.
(by the way, it's not like I was searching for myself or anything like that, and if I was, it's aliental's fault)
(by the way, it's not like I was searching for myself or anything like that, and if I was, it's aliental's fault)
Sunday, May 29, 2005
The most significant things I've done so far today are:
- done some ironing
- planned some lessons
- sharpened a knife on a whetstone
OK, so the reason I wrote this is because I wanted a reason to use the word whetstone. Well come on, how often do you get to say whetstone anyway? I may as well jump at the chance of using whetstone don't you think?!
- done some ironing
- planned some lessons
- sharpened a knife on a whetstone
OK, so the reason I wrote this is because I wanted a reason to use the word whetstone. Well come on, how often do you get to say whetstone anyway? I may as well jump at the chance of using whetstone don't you think?!
Sunny and warm, warm and sunny. Our seedlings are doing well! Did I mention them before...? We're growing some salad rocket and wild strawberry seeds (that we got free on a bottle of tea a while ago) indoors at the moment, because the balcony's still too shady.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
I wrote an article about useful restaurant English which is now live on UK Strollers. Also Eriko's made a few changes to the site including my page, so have a look if you have time.
Cherry blossom and dandelions (sakura and tanpopo) on the University campus this afternoon. The cherry blossom seems to be going on and on here, I think it's the northern type (Ezozakura) not that I'm a flower expert or anything...)
As you can probably tell, it was another really nice day here today. The same as last week - a little chilly and rainy during the week, then beautiful again at the weekend. There were a lot of people around on campus today, including some lacrosse players and a big judo club practicing out on the main lawn.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Wow, busy. Anyway, some fairly dry news for you - I've finally reinstated the teaching downloads on my site, so there are a few lesson plans available if anyone wants. Nothing that exciting though unless you're also an English teaching (ahem, that should be teacher - Ed.)
Also, the blogs for my Hokudai classes are well and truly established now. Most of the students have joined and written their profiles, which are worth a butchers. And they should start publishing their homework soon too, so please encourage us by reading. The links are below:
Also, the blogs for my Hokudai classes are well and truly established now. Most of the students have joined and written their profiles, which are worth a butchers. And they should start publishing their homework soon too, so please encourage us by reading. The links are below:
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
A couple of things - Nana was an extra in a movie the other day, which seems pretty interesting to me! Also, Miwako's friend has an online wedding dress website called Four Leaf Clover if anyone in Japan is interested in buying a dress...
Monday, May 23, 2005
Yesterday afternoon, during a walk around the city, we stumbled on this place in North 1 West 16:
Surely the definition of incongruous! It's the chijikoukan (former) residence of the governor of Hokkaido - the current residence is almost next door, behind quite a lot of security fences. This building is in a really nice park (also housing the Migishi Kotaro Museum of Art), with very verdant lawns, lots of cherry and plum trees, sculptures and water features. It was a nice surprise to find on a quiet Sunday afternoon. There are more pictures on this official government site.
Surely the definition of incongruous! It's the chijikoukan (former) residence of the governor of Hokkaido - the current residence is almost next door, behind quite a lot of security fences. This building is in a really nice park (also housing the Migishi Kotaro Museum of Art), with very verdant lawns, lots of cherry and plum trees, sculptures and water features. It was a nice surprise to find on a quiet Sunday afternoon. There are more pictures on this official government site.
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Actually, it worked out well - I sat out and had lunch during my break - it was almost too warm and sunny to sit outside for longer. In the evening we went to Nakajima park for a while. There were a lot of people enjoying the remnants of the cherry blossom and the finally springlike weather. Among these people were a group of three seemingly ordinary folk who decided to launch a small inflatable battery powered jet-ski shaped device, which they took turns in sitting on and silently cruising around the pond. A nice evening.
Friday, May 20, 2005
It's virtually hit the magic 20 degrees here in Sapporo today, very nice! Nicer if I wasn't working though...
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Went to that new drug store last night, and it's nice...but INCREDIBLY bright. They must have thousands of high powered fluorescent tubes blasting away in there - we couldn't see properly for a while afterwards.
There's a new HBC web-cam online now, showing the Chizaki rose garden which is up on the hill quite near us. The camera is looking roughly in our direction I think. Also, the Susukino camera has moved it seems - it shows a little more of the area now.
There's a new HBC web-cam online now, showing the Chizaki rose garden which is up on the hill quite near us. The camera is looking roughly in our direction I think. Also, the Susukino camera has moved it seems - it shows a little more of the area now.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Just a note to say that C. also got her 3-year visa, picked it up today, so we're all sorted now!
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Miwako's blog is now up and running too, replacing her old diary page. I'll transfer the full design over soon.
You might be devastated to know that we didn't go to the new Sapporo Drug store last night in the end; we thought the excitement might have been a bit much for us so we just had a cup of tea and watched the news instead.
You might be devastated to know that we didn't go to the new Sapporo Drug store last night in the end; we thought the excitement might have been a bit much for us so we just had a cup of tea and watched the news instead.
Here's some proof that cherry blossom did indeed blossom. Note the underadvertised willow tree which I think looks nice too!
Big white magnolia and a weeping cherry - not fully open but still nice.
2 more things: I've now set up Miwako's blog, and put her old diary entries on to it. Still need to finish making it look right and proper, as it's anything but at the moment, but at least it's there now.
And secondly, as I did say "2" things after all: Colin, of aliental fame, has posted a sample of his design work on that site now. It's definitely worth a look!
And secondly, as I did say "2" things after all: Colin, of aliental fame, has posted a sample of his design work on that site now. It's definitely worth a look!
Monday, May 16, 2005
News stories of the day from Japan...which do you think is stranger?
1. Gundam-like robot developed
2. Two melons sell for 300,000 yen each
1. Gundam-like robot developed
2. Two melons sell for 300,000 yen each
I went in to the university today for a bit. The campus is looking a lot nicer now, lots of blossom and grass and stuff like that - a lot better than last time I went when everything was really bare with only a few dirty mounds of snow scattered around like decrepit sheep.
PS - it seems that new Sapporo Drug / Daiso 100 yen wonderland will finally open tomorrow, or at least it will be "pre-open". So we're going to mosey on over tomorrow night to check it out. Bet you can't wait to read that post!
PS - it seems that new Sapporo Drug / Daiso 100 yen wonderland will finally open tomorrow, or at least it will be "pre-open". So we're going to mosey on over tomorrow night to check it out. Bet you can't wait to read that post!
Sunday, May 15, 2005
I forgot to mention that we're converting my students pages to real blogs...Nana's is the first. Her new fully fledged blog is now up and running. We still need to finalise the design and info about her but all the entries are there so please read it!
My new job at Hokkaido Uni. starts this week, so I'm busy getting ready for that. There'll be some major blog activity related to that actually, more later...
My new job at Hokkaido Uni. starts this week, so I'm busy getting ready for that. There'll be some major blog activity related to that actually, more later...
Saturday, May 14, 2005
It was a very nice day today, as predicted by the forecast - so I (partially) take back my criticisms.
The cherry blossom is at its peak in most places in the city now, so we went out this morning to see it. First stop was around the Akarenga (the "old red brick" mentioned before), then we got some lunch from under Daimaru and took it to the Hokkaido Universiry botanical gardens (Hokudai Shokubutsuen which is listed on the the Sapporo attractions page of Lonely Planet).
Cherry blossom is nice, of course, far be it from me to say anything against it, but it's a bit unfair on all the other blooming things that are nice too...so I'll post a few pictures later but perhaps slip in a bit of magnolia too - just to even things up.
The cherry blossom is at its peak in most places in the city now, so we went out this morning to see it. First stop was around the Akarenga (the "old red brick" mentioned before), then we got some lunch from under Daimaru and took it to the Hokkaido Universiry botanical gardens (Hokudai Shokubutsuen which is listed on the the Sapporo attractions page of Lonely Planet).
Cherry blossom is nice, of course, far be it from me to say anything against it, but it's a bit unfair on all the other blooming things that are nice too...so I'll post a few pictures later but perhaps slip in a bit of magnolia too - just to even things up.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Kept awake a lot last night by sirens wailing all around the city...for ages, for a very long time. For about 5 hours, on and off. We thought it was some kind of exercise, but now I've found some news on the HBC site (Japanese only but here's the babelfish English translation) about a big fire at a building only 3 blocks from here.
It's turned out very nice today here in Sapporo. And suddenly the week's weather forecast has changed to good weather! But I don't trust it.
It's turned out very nice today here in Sapporo. And suddenly the week's weather forecast has changed to good weather! But I don't trust it.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
I made a final visit to Immigration today and got my visa extension stamp put in my passport - and unexpectedly it was for 3 years! So that saves a lot of future hassle.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
...and back to grey skies and cold cold rain today. Oh well, a good day to go shopping and then spend the afternoon drinking PG Tips (courtesy of Eriko!). Unfortunately it doesn't make for very interesting blogging, so I think I'd better go now.
Oh actually though, yesterday we finally got around to going inside the Hoheikan, which is a large, very beautiful wooden Western style building in Nakajima Park (formerly a hotel for visiting dignitaries) now used for weddings etc. and housing a small cafe and some historical artefacts. Quite atmospheric, almost better than the reknowned "Akarenga" if I can dare to say that!
(PS - thanks for the comment Yuki!)
Oh actually though, yesterday we finally got around to going inside the Hoheikan, which is a large, very beautiful wooden Western style building in Nakajima Park (formerly a hotel for visiting dignitaries) now used for weddings etc. and housing a small cafe and some historical artefacts. Quite atmospheric, almost better than the reknowned "Akarenga" if I can dare to say that!
(PS - thanks for the comment Yuki!)
Friday, May 06, 2005
...but really nice again today! We had a Lawson lunch (i.e. bought some rice balls, cold noodles and drinks) in the park at lunchtime, eating out for seemingly the first time in living memory. Pocari Sweat are giving away a free miniature inflatable flying disc at the moment, even on the small 500ml bottles. Great freebies in Japan. We also got some free seeds on a large bottle of green tea today (wild strawberry and salad rocket).
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
The third holiday in a row, "Children's Day". Pretty freezing again today, we seem to have lost that summery feeling now. And unfortunately too cold to enjoy our newly floralised balcony.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
(Nana has put a couple of pictures on her page...have a look, especially if you like cute bulbous fish)
A good day today - we got all the windows and the balcony clean and ready for the rest of spring and summer. We also spent some time in the park and stumbled on a big gardening market in the large public square near the concert hall. It looked like garden centres from all around Sapporo had set up stands selling plants, flowers and gardening supplies. It looked really nice though - the square is usually just a featureless area of gravel. Convenient, as we needed to buy things for our currently empty plant pots. There were even some fully grown, perfectly pruned trees for sale, including a Japanese black pine, about 8-10 feet tall, going for 700,000 yen...it was a bit big for our balcony unfortunately.
Monday, May 02, 2005
Constitution Day dawns sunny in Sapporo.
It's almost like they have some kind of instant-Spring-in-a-can or something. Yesterday, Nakajima Park was completely back in full swing, with boats for rent on the lake, kiosks open, cafe tables outside the Hoheikan. Odori Park was packed with people sitting on the grass and taking pictures of the hundreds of pansies which now fill all the flowerbeds (I saw them all being planted last week by groups of middle-aged women all wearing identical sunhats).
It's almost like they have some kind of instant-Spring-in-a-can or something. Yesterday, Nakajima Park was completely back in full swing, with boats for rent on the lake, kiosks open, cafe tables outside the Hoheikan. Odori Park was packed with people sitting on the grass and taking pictures of the hundreds of pansies which now fill all the flowerbeds (I saw them all being planted last week by groups of middle-aged women all wearing identical sunhats).
Sunday, May 01, 2005
We continued and completed the tidying up yesterday, and got rid of quite a large volume of old bags, boxes papers and general bits and pieces.
It's sunny and looking quite promising today, so we'll be off to buy a laminator very soon!
It's sunny and looking quite promising today, so we'll be off to buy a laminator very soon!
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]