Christmas eve dinner

Yes, the famous KFC. And a long queue for that. Also a tiny plant to grow. A sort of real Tamagochi. Cute.

A touch of frost

Not the TV programme but a hard frost here this morning. Fresh clear air to breath. Have a great day wherever you are, and whatever the weather.

Anyone for Judo?

Here I am at Dartford Judo Club's new 5 million pound dojo as guest of Rob and Jonathan.






Rob very kindly gave me a 40 min session on the mat to get my first taste of Judo with Jon.
Both are staff members at Bromley College. Both took time out and made my visit special. I am most grateful to them.
I'm going to look for someone who can teach me judo in Tokyo.

Wet weather?

On the way to Wales and it's been raining heavily. Somewhere here there's a train track!
First Great Western train manager Mike Honey and staff did a great job, as well as the engineers. Thanks.
It's better to travel in hope than not to arrive.

VS901 on G-VRED

Delayed flight, so using the tradesmans' entrance! Or the equivalent anyway, parked out just beyond the back of beyond!

Yes, I'm off to the UK again. Watch for a complete new look when I return. The blog, not me! A twice-weekly digest of the best of exercise science.

Test

Test

Windows Vista again

The nice folk at Yodobashi Camera were promoting Vista. Giving out those pocket tissues that are so weak that a gnat could fly through one! The same strap line: "Manage and edit photos with Vista". But hey, that's the only thing Windows does better than a Mac without needing extra software.

It's a pity Apple doesn't provide something useful. But then Canon make great cameras, it's a shame they don't properly conect to a Mac!

Meanwhile, another bright start to the day here in Tokyo.

Oh what a beautiful morning!

An awesome clear day in Tokyo. We can see Fuji-san from Nihonbashi, and the bay bridge and ships.

I hope you have a wonderful day wherever you are, and whatever the weather.

We choose how we think. We can choose to make our part of the world just a little better each day. Just by what we do, or say, and how we treat each other. Choose to have a wonderful day.

Superheated??

Just been on a Shinjuku line train. Atsui des-ne? I had to get off after 4 stops and it took 10 min outside to cool off. Why do the heat them so much?

Windows Vista

Have you noticed the Fujitsu adverts for their new FMV computers?

What do they offer? "New life" (well they can't deliver on that) and really important, "New colors"! The only featurf they say about it is "Manage and edit photos with Vista". Wow, truly outstanding. And that's thanks to Kodak.

Apple registration

And so it goes on, trying to register AppleCare doesn't work either. Oh well,
The link for "contact" doesn't mention registration problems. Oh well, back to the old technology of phones then! I guess they meant well.

Mac is trouble-free?

A brand new MacBook, with all updates, after iLife 08 version 8.3 is installed...
At least the download and install was quick and easy.
Also when I try to register, even if I select language=English, it switches to Japanese...

Dinner at Noo

A small restaurant near Higashinakano station, run by Aki-san, a surfer, skateboarder, and snowboarder.

Plain, simple, spicy food. Not forgetting a small drink. With friends like Mitsuru-san and Shunichi-san (top photo) along, it's even better. Enjoy life, it's the only one you'll get!

Where am I?

From a rainbow in Wales to sunrise over Tampa Bay. We can see the majesty of nature all around us. Awesome.

Frankfurt Airport

Nice design. Are they supposed to be aesthetic lights, or space heaters? They certainly helped heat up the waiting area.

Is this any way to treat passengers? Bring back the fun and enjoyment to travel!

Lufthansa flight

Nice chap, but somewhat wider than his seat. Oh well, at least I got 60% of mine. Paid for 100% though.

EU Directive?

Directives usually tell people what to do. I hope this is just a statement, not an instruction.

Frankfurt Airport

Nice engineering work! This was the ceiling above one of the departure lounges. Safely held with one cable tie?

The local gym

Here I am, up the top of the Swansea valley in Ystradgynlais. The Maesydderwen Comprehensive school pool, gym and fitness room are available to the public after school.

It has a small equipment and a fitness room. Tucked in the corner next to Shaun Jones is a Versaclimber!

The gym costs \600 a session and so does circuit training. I hope to report on that tomorrow. The young staff are fully qualified and friendly!

Meadow House hospice

A couple of photos outside Meadow House hospice at Ealing hospital (in the background). The staff do an awesome job for patients, including my brother. Thank you all for caring.

Webmaster is away again

First stop London, on JAL 401 on a new 777. No flight deck visit of course :( An easy flight for Capt Watanabe, including a perfect last minute "go around" at Heathrow when we just about to flare for touch down.

Next stop Ynyscedwyn in Wales. Here's an early morning photo of the old iron works. I wonder if the workers saw it as such a pleasant place?

Kettle bell and medicine ball

12 kg kettle bell in free-flight while switching hands!

Press-ups on a medicine ball.

o-Matsuri at Higashinakano

Young Japanese children performing o-Matsuri, carrying a portable shrine. A traditional way of celebrating a festival.

What is it? (3)

A Sanyo washer-drier and two driers in local launderette. I like the pastel colour highlights. Not just "white goods"

Someone lives in a shoe?

Spot the door in the Nike? Acually this was a painting on some boarding at a building site in Omotesando. Wait till you see the building! I love the book title: There's many dog shit in your house.

What is it? (2)

It's an ice-cream vending machine on a station platform. You can usually find drinks machines, but not as many snack machines as in the UK!

What is it?

An old-style pachinko parlour. This one is in Okayama. Usually they are noisy, crowded places, and on the weekend you'll see people queuing up for them to open.

Mitsui Nihonbashi Tower

An office building with the Mandarin Oriental hotel on top and looks like it has a helipad on top of that!
www.mitsuitower.jp/en/access/index.html
The Mitsui Memorial Museum in the main building is worth a visit and is usually open 10-4:30 except Mondays (open if a National holiday) entry 800-1000 Yen. It includes collections from the Mitsui Bunko Museum and Japanese and Asian art.

http://www.mitsui-museum.jp/english.html Mitsukoshimae or a short walk from Nihonbashi.
The free Metro Link Nihonbashi bus stops right outside :) From near Yaesu exit of Tokyo station 10 - 8 pm at about 10 min intervals. http://www.hinomaru.co.jp/metrolink/nihonbashi/

Straight leg RDLs

4 sets of 10 straight leg RDL's, here with 90kg in the fourth set. 100kg next time, on the way to 140kg by the end of the year... I'm most greatful to have Mike Yamaguchi training me even though he's got a cold and has been up late several nights running to be with some friends who were leaving. Thanks Mike.

BBQ steak

A small BBQ steak goes well with a few friends! Salad, hot dogs and beer. All good stuff - once in a while. It was great fun, and we definitely have to thank our new chef "ALEX"...

Ah, the heat!

Why a photo of a Chuo line train? Well it's a very pleasant 21゜C with a light breeze. So naturally JR has to make life unpleasant for commuters.

How? By turning up the heating so that passengers are hot, sweaty and lethargic before getting to work. Thanks guys.

We know autumn is coming because the heating is on in trains! Sad to see your customers wiping sweat off their forehead because you heat the carriages almost to the melting point of lead.

Circuit training at Gold's Gym, Higashinakano

Ryo Pettas, Mitsuru Yamaguchi and Korematsu-san.

We haven't had team training for a while and it was fun! Ryo is gradually recovering from his fracture but still has swollen hand and probably needs a further operation.

Improbability drive escalator?

A typical 3-storey Kone escalator at T5, Heathrow.
Not for the faint hearted! Let's hope the brakes work.
If they hadn't designed half the place as a shopping mall rather than an airport, passengers wouldn't have to go up and down so far all the time!