(01/07/04 - 31/07/04)

 

See July's photos

 

 

03/07/04

   
Minato Elementary School International Day
"Let's Enjoy The Miracle of Dreams"
I was lucky enough to be invited by Laura to her elementary school for their international day.  It was absolutely exhausting, but fantastic fun.  Admittedly, an 8.15am start on a Saturday is a little!  The kids were absolutely wonderful, despite the rising heat and humidity.  We played so many games, and generally ran around a bit! 

 

And we even got a free lunch into the deal.  Thanks Laura!

 

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Sayonara Party at Zenya's and on to Nana Iro

The time is fast approaching when we must say goodbye to our fellow JETs who are returning home.  The traitors.  Anyway, the new FJET committee, headed by Emily and Ruan, did a fantastic job organising this shindig.  Most people were horribly drunk by the end of the evening, and woke up the next day sore and battered from all that dancing! 

 

Were you there?  Can you find yourself in my photos?

 

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04/07/04


Ben, Tom's friend from Belbroughton (who also just happened to go to the same uni as us), came for a fleeting visit to Fukui while visiting Japan.  We did tea ceremony at the Yokokan garden and visited the museum, amongst other things...

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You'll have to check Tom's website for more news about the visit...(you never know, he may actually update it again soon.  If I relinquish the laptop for long enough...) 
   

05/07/04

  
Meal at Tengu
Whoever was around joined us for a meal at Tengu...oishiiiiiiii

 

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11/07/04

  
Dianzenji Temple
Tom and I spent a wonderful day in the sun pottering round Dianzenji, chatting to a lady who has just started working there, and taking lots of photos!  

 

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15/07/04

  
Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy)
Ok, ok, so I know you've already seen some photos, and read the blurb...  Here are two photos from Sarah and Brandon's last shodo class.

 

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16/07/04

  
Last Friday we're all together...  :(
After the Returners had their conference at the FIA, I met up with Laura, Mary, Brandon and Tom and enjoyed drinks and gossip at Laura's before moving on to Katamachi.  Ah, the delights of Creme - where we met up with some of the rest of the crowd...

 

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17/07/04

  

Preparations for Mount Fuji Expedition!

While Tom was at work, it was up to me to get everything ready for our attempt at Fuji-san.  This was to be my second try, and Tom's first.

 

See the photo-diary

  

18/07/04 - 19/07/04

  
Mission: Mount Fuji, Take 2

FOILED AGAIN!!!  Last time I was beaten by time, this time it was the weather. 


The weather seemed to be holding but at about 1am, the wind seriously picked up and it went bitterly cold.  Tom and I were actually blown off our feet a few times, and when you're clinging to a rock face in the dark on a precarious out-crop, you don't want to be blown off your feet.  And it was COLD.  To give you some idea, this is what I was wearing:  tank top, thick t-shirt, safari shirt (long sleeved), Mustoe jumper (proper thick hiking sweater), proper hiking fleece, wind/waterproof, scarf, gloves, wooly hat, medium-weight hiking trousers, two pairs of thick socks and my hiking boots.  And I was frozen!  When the hot chocolate failed to warm us at all, and we couldn't find shelter outside from the biting wind, we decided we had to take drastic action.  

 

So we struggled up to 3,100m in weather like this, then stayed the rest of the night at Station 8.  We were originally only going to stay an hour or so, but we lay awake listening to the wind getting stronger and stronger.  We decided to stay put and not attempt to get any higher.  This turned out to be completely the right decision - we got a beautiful sunrise, but  when we looked up the mountain we saw from maybe 20m above us thick fog and cloud.  If we'd pressed on to the top, or even just to the next station, we would have missed sunrise.  

 

We ended up having a really fantastic time, despite the fairly frightening end to the ascent.  I enjoyed the experience so much more than last time.  But never fear: I have absolutely no wish to make a third attempt!  Fuji-san and I have now come to an understanding.

 

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Meanwhile, back at the Ranch...


There was severe flooding in Fukui while we were away.  This was no joking matter.  We were lucky enough to escape with no damage.  I've included more details with the photos.


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20/07/04

  
Haruko Closing Ceremony, and Teachers' Enkai

School's out for Summer!  I don't have to be at my desk again until September!!!  (yes, we Fukui JETs get a great deal!).  

 

The closing ceremony was as boring as ever, but I was allowed to leave work at 11.30am.  


This evening we had another enkai, where my colleagues took great pleasure in plying me with as much alcohol as possible - beer, wine, more wine, more beer...I had a really great time, and even managed to keep a straight face when my supervisor announced to me that his girlfriend "is a cock".  (i.e.  she does a lot of cooking.)
  

After the enkai I met Tom, and we went to Bear's bar for more drinking - meeting up with Mary, Kara and two teacher's from Kara's school.  (Mary is moving schools and will be taking on Kara's old position.)
  

21/07/04  
Fukui Final Fling
A meal at Tengu and on to The Big Echo for karaoke.  We said a final goodbye to Katie (returning to Australia via England!) and Melanie (going back to Canada),  and "te-rar" to Beth (coming back to Japan after the summer).

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22/07/04   
Sushi Dinner :) and Final Goodbyes  :(
Sushi at the new place over by Mary's old place (she's moving into Kara's place...), then wine, chocolate and chatting.  We said goodbye to Kara and Teresa (both going back to America via an amazing adventure through Egypt, amongst other stops!).  Brandon, Laura and I said goodbye to everyone else.  We set off tomorrow.  Bran and Laura are heading home (Brandon to America, Laura to Canada) via Laos and Bangkok, and I'm going home for a holiday before coming back to Japan.  

Christina and Jose are staying in Japan, and heading up to Hokkaido on the 8th to climb several mountains...while Mary stays in Fukui city!  ;)  

Tom will be coming back to the UK for a few weeks in August.
  
23/07/04   
A Very Interesting Experience in Kyoto
Laura, Brandon and I headed down to Kyoto to spend a last day together before Laura and Bran headed off on their travels.  We had an amazing experience, being dressed up as maiko (trainee geisha) in full kimono, wigs and makeup!  It was fantastic!

See the photos we took
See the professional photos

After the maiko experience, we went for a really nice Italian meal (and the largest wine glasses I've ever seen!), before going to a sento (hot bath) and getting naked together!
  
I had a fab time, guys...I'm really really gonna miss you  :'(
  
24/07/04    
A nice evening in a nice hotel
I booked myself into the Hotel Nikko - the hotel at Kansai Airport.  I spent the day shopping, snoozing, reading and swimming.  A really relaxing day, and a good meal and drinks with Tom in the evening (he came down after work).
 
25/07/04   
The Manic Journey Home
After a relaxing day the day before, and another swim first thing in the morning I was ready for the l o n g day ahead.

A year to the day since I left Jersey, it's time to return!

12 hours on a plane from Kansai to Heathrow.  Watching the same two films over and over and over and over (the other films were rubbish).  Waiting for an hour at the baggage reclaim.  And realising that I was the only person left standing there and there were no bags left going round the conveyor belt.  Heading to lost luggage.  Fluttering my eyelashes.  Three-quarters of an hour later I'm reunited with the bag.  Finding an ATM (remembering how to use it).  Finding the National Express bus stop.  Buying a ticket to Gatwick.  Waiting.  Waiting.  Waiting.  The bus leaves late.  Arrive at Gatwick at 7.30 for an 8.15 flight.  Queues.  Running to gate 57.  Made it for the flight.  Impatient.  1 hour on the plane.  Waiting at Jersey airport for my case.  And realising I was the only person left standing there and there are no more bags going round the conveyor belt.  Just about to head to lost luggage, when finally...it arrives...The Last Bag.  Through customs and the sliding doors, and to my waiting parents!  A short drive home, to the cats and a bacon sarnie!!!  Twelve months without a bacon sarnie - OVER!

And I'm home!  
  
26/07/04  
Lots of shopping and a walk on the beach with Mum and Dad

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27/07/04
More shopping, and a tipsy stagger along the beach with Mum

See the photos (same as above)
29/07/04
Meal out with "The Pinkies"
Girly evening at the Rozel Bay Hotel
30/07/04
Meal and Drinks with some Jersey Boyz 
Met Andrew and Simon at The and pottered over to Central Park for Dinner...caught up on 12 months of news!
31/07/04
Off to London for Suzy's Hen Night

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