Ho Ho Ho

Christmas is nearing and despite being in Japan I am feeling the ho ho ho. Last weekend put together a splendid cookie house, complete with Santa stuck in a chimney. Thank you MUJI. Taku and I also made it to the Luminarie in Kobe a few weekends ago. Chose the best night as it wasn't so crowded- only took 30minutes from Motomachi to the end of the path. Have also eyed some houses in the inaka with lights displays and planning to pop round and ogle them on Christmas Eve. Christmas dinner will be KFC style- did try to nab a whole chicken but the store was sold out so will make do with the regular secret herbs and spices. Special touch for christmas dinner is a 100yen lucky dip for everyone. Thank you 100yen heaven for yoyo's, novelty lighters, Winnie the Poo combs and plastic Minne Mouse cookie key chains!



Off to interview the local priest tonight. Very looking forward to it and glad to be back in the freelancing spirit again. It has been a long long time since I had any inspiration to write. Have been researching Buddhism and Shintoism a lot recently and feel a little wiser to the Japanese and why they tilt their head like a perplexed puppy when someone asks them if they have a religion.

And in true sense of the expression 'when you least expect it' another job offer has materialised. In a pickle now about what to do. But in the spirit of positivity I have decided to weigh up both options and if possible negotiate my way into the best situation for myself.

Don't know if I'll be making an appearance here again until the Year of the Tiger (though really should be this year after Mr Woods was exposed for his philandering ways, no?) so I will wish you a Merry Christmas and a much better year/decade ahead dear Blog.

Stay tuned...

Sardine cinema

Well after gazing over my previous post, I owe Kobe an apology. I finally found a cinema in Sannomiya showing New Moon (at the exorbitant price of 1800yen!) and peddled/trained myself over there today. Was an odd experience really, not the movie, but the cinema placing. Arrived with about 30 minutes before the flick was due to start, browsed the snacks on offer- churos, chicken nuggets, caramel corn etc-and after grabbing a much appreciated blankie at the entrance, made my way to my allocated seat. Was enjoying the central location in a virtually empty cinema until two teenage girls came in and after checking their tickets plonked themselves down right next to me. Took a deep breath and slurped away at my caramel machiatto. Five minutes later two young women entered the cinema, checked their tickets and plonked themselves down right infront of me!? Scanned the room for hidden cameras in case I was being taken for a ride but nothing. Not 2 minutes later a middle-aged and creepy looking man with bad skin made his way down the aisle and, you guessed it, plonked himself down on the other side of me, while at the same time a loved-up couple bunked down behind me. Effectively I was sandwiched in from all corners, in an otherwise empty cinema!! What the truck is with allocating patron's seats in a cinema so that they are huddled in a little pack while the rest of the room is empty?? As soon as the lights dimmed, I grabbed my machiatto and headed straight for the back of the room where I enjoyed New Moon in peace. Was a bit put off by the few eldery men scattered about at the back though. What would bring them to such a film? Ah well, can't complain, after all I was there solo too. Am just so very satisfied I managed to see New Moon around the same time as the rest of the world and can now waste my time contemplating the change in directors and Edward vs Jacob blah blah blah:)

Popped on over to GAP after the flick (of course) and was miffed to find my must-have blazer ridiculously reduced. Forgot GAP goes nuts with discounting very shortly after premiering new looks! Will be more GAP-savvy next time. Well was today, as well, really. Picked up a 3/4 army green hooded jacket reduced from it's silly original price by 6000yen! Also nabbed a lovely grey grandpa cardigan at an also ridiculously slashed price. Woop woop for me.

Haven't been to 100yen heaven lately, however, a few weeks ago it came in quite a treat when I snagged my brand new 80denier opaque tights on the ride to the station. Ducked into 100yen heaven, grabbed some needle and thread and shut that little ladder up! Also managed to walk away with some suprisingly un-tacky christmas decorations which I put about the classroom. Thank you 100yen heaven.

Stay tuned...