It sounds like you've nicked our heat!

I was checking the BBC and I saw temps of up to 38 degrees in the UK!! What's going on?!
It's cooled down a little this week (20-28) but flooding has kicked in across the country, landslides and mass evacuations. Today or tomorrow I'll put up some of our Takayama/Hida pictures. We had a great weekend (despite the torrential rain).

Very quick post...

Just posting to say that the temperature hit 35 degrees C today... Whew! It's hot!

Another tough one

Ok... so it seems that having one less teacher means very long days.... We taught 22 lessons each on Monday and Tuesday. Yesterday I was in the office from 9:30am to 9:30pm. Luckily today is a little easier for me (working from 3:15 to 10) but Sarah has a normal 1-10 day. Next week should be a little easier without a couple of intensive students. I have taught a few TOEFL lessons this week and find them to be a bit of a minefield for potentially embarrasing language. I certainly don't want to teach a lesson involving Uranus again.
This weekend we are heading to Takayama and Hida Village. It should hopefully be a nice break!!

A tough week

This week has been tough and next week looks to be similar. One of the other teachers is moving to greener pastures and it will be interesting to see how the teaching schedules will change to take it into account. We have had a few intensive students recently (50 lessons a week!!) and it really does make the working day considerably busier. It has, however, changed my appreciation of my free time and sleep. Sunday is my only day completely free of lessons and will be wonderful!!!
Tristram Shandy was an unusual film. It really felt like an extended BBC2 comedy special rather than a movie. It was funny but not in a laugh-out-loud way. I would recommend it to Steve Coogan/Rob Brydon fans only.
Everything is Illuminated was a great film. I was expecting a quirky comedy but it is actually a fairly moving story about Ukranian Jews in WW2 and the effects still being felt by their families. So... I was really off the mark with the comedy genre. It has many humorous characters but it is definitely not a film to watch if you are feeling in need of some belly laughs...

Bonjour - A random blabbering today

Last night was a Berlitz summer party for staff and students.
We went to a French restaurant called Deuxieme. It was nice although French restaurants are not known for their veggie options... It was a little strange eating 'French' food with chopsticks! Afterwards we headed to an Australian bar where we witnessed the destruction of Englands world cup dreams and I spoke to a local Brazilian guy about repairing engines. I was completely in my element - football and cars ;)

This morning I tried a new Fanta flavour, Melon Cream Soda, and it wasn't bad. It doesn't beat Pepsi Red, my latest favourite non-alcoholic beverage. The combination of Pepsi and Cinammon works for me! I also purchased some shochu made with a herb called perilla giving it a nice taste and a crazy name, "Tantakatan". Our fruit liqueur hasn't gone mouldy yet and is already looking quite appetising..........

This week we watched Chronicles of Narnia (or Narunia as it is known in these parts) and it was a fairly bland but watchable film. We also watched Troy which was a bit pants but again passed the time. I think I should be a film reviewer... Tonight we will either watch Tristram Shandy or Everything is Illuminated. Keep visiting for my insightful and entertaining opinions on the world of cinema...

This is a great picture that my bro took. I have exaggerated the colour saturation a bit and now have this as my wallpaper.

A unappetising picture of fruit in a jar... Actually it is our attempt at fruit chu. It contains lime, lemon, kiwi and grapefruit. I am keeping an eye on it... We have to leave it for six months (meaning we can crack it open on Christmas day) but I am a little worried about it going bad. Oh well, I am sure mouldy fruit will add extra nutritional value....

This chap was caught napping near the temple. I couldn't wake him. He probably drank a few too many beers.

Seeing lights...

We went on a lovely evening visit into the countryside the other night. Our friends Akira and Reiko took us to a little spot popular with an insect with a particular talent. It was not quite an aurora borealis but it was pretty. I have never seen fireflies before and they are fascinating to watch. The light show was backed by a frog chorus. It was great! After spending time tormenting them for while we wandered in the darkness to a nearby temple where we provided the local mosquitos with a slap up dinner.

Matsuri video

Maybe this will bring back memories of swollen feet bro.... (link in the post title)

This is a float for Sakana machi. Lots of children get inside during the parade.

This was a kite for the team/town we supported during the festival.

We joined Hamamatsu matsuri... The chou we joined requires these particular outfits. Fetching dontcha fink?

Two of the insanely friendly locals of Gujo Hachiman.

So that we could experience a different side of Japan we both got sex changes and travelled back in time.

Gujo Hachiman jo. It overlooks a town shaped like a fish...

We tried to stop it but we were too late.... the mutant apple ate him completely. It was horrible to see.

Korean-style barbecue, so I'm told.

Meeeeeeeeat!

We found this man sleeping in our apartment. We were not sure how he got there but he eventually left without needing to resort to police intervention.