Cooooooler

Finally Autumn has come.
It was a rough summer.
Sweat, sweat, sweat.....

"Surprisingly" no power shortages.
Funny that Japan built 52 reactors but none of them are needed.
Hmmmm...

Power to the people......

More Fuji stuff

This time Fuji is predicted to erupt in the next three years

The situation is complex, and unfortunately nothing can really be done to stop the likely eruption of Mt. Fuji that’s eventually coming (seemingly relatively soon). Further, there are secondary considerations, such as the mud slides and earthquakes, that might also be very likely coming soon, too.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2012/09/11/what-can-be-done-to-mitigate-the-effects-of-the-looming-mt-fuji-eruption/


What with he looming earthquake in Tokyo, the possible eruption of Fuji, the Tokai
earthquake likely to happen soon..



It is at times like these I wonder if I should high-tail it outta here.

Well, sayonara Japan.
It was nice knowing you.

Computer Update

FINALLY !! I have a properly functioning computer.
I got it back on the 12 July and have been using it with no problem since then.
The company decided to exchange the MOBO from 
B75H2-M2-1.0-B/K 
( whatever that is) to a Gigabyte  B75M-D3V-JP.

It now works perfectly, as it should.
Why they didn't do this in the first place I don't know.
Cost them a lot more to do alll the repair work I think
I looked up the first MOBO and it seems to be made in China.


 http://detail.zol.com.cn/picture_index_817/index8161676.shtml

This is the Gigabyte
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4151#ov


So it has beeen three weeks and absolutely no problemo.


Yeah !

Computer update

Well,  the same problem is continuing. One crash zapped my opera mail database.
Altogether this has happened 20 times since I bought it. Half that time the computer has been in the repair shop.
So I  sent it back again on the 18 June.
Haven't heard anything yet.
Probably will be a couple of weeks until I hear anything.
Send me a new one?
I am at a loss as to why this is happening.

Computer update

Well here's the deal. I was having the "blackscreen " shutdown problem almost every day
Here is a screen shot of my event log

However the company gave no real solutions to this.
My so checked some info and found it could be a power management issue.
So I changed some options suggested especially to raise the CPU Minimum  Processor State Setting to 50%
All seemed to go well and I haven't had a problem for four days, until today. I was using an application that uses macromedia flash 6 and when I closed it the computer crashed. Well I hope that it was just that reason. Let's see what happens from now.

BTO update 2

Whoa   got an email from the company
They say they have subjected the computer to all kinds of tests
changed the RAM and PSU  but cannot reproduce the sudden power shut down

Time will tell when I finally get it back

Big mistake update

I phoned the company and they said it will come back soon

Oh yeah

Pigs can fly too

We will see.......

Big mistake

I had decided to buy  a Mac for my next computer
However persuaded by the lower price of BTO computers I decided to
order this model from here with Windows 7  Ultimate so I could use the English language pack.

http://bto.goodwill.jp/gwpc/model/sl560ici5-tg_main.php

It seemed like a good idea at the time
When it came I was really happy with it. Nice big monitor /fast/ cool.... BUT
after two days ..... POOF...... everything went dead.

So I had to return it to the company for repair

Came back three days later. ...replaced the CPU  ( not usual I thought)
However it was working OK  BUT soon POOF..black screen...restart...poof.... black screen restart..
Not happy I sent it back last Tuesday....

Heard nothing yet

Well, I should have gone for an iMAC



Will I get it back?
Will it be fixed?
Where is it?


The story continues....

Bye Bye Fuji

This is a comforting report

(Reuters) - Japan's Mount Fuji may be sitting on a large, active fault that could trigger a magnitude-7 earthquake, changing the shape of the mountain and devastating nearby communities, the education ministry said on Thursday.

A survey commissioned by the ministry found a 30-km fault beneath Japan's highest mountain, believed by many to be sacred, and research results indicate it was likely to be active, a ministry official said.

If the fault sets off an earthquake, it could lead to a major landslide and hit communities at the foot of the 3,776-metre-high mountain. Further research was required, the official said.

A magnitude-9 earthquake and massive tsunami hit northern Japan last year, leaving nearly 19,000 people dead or missing and causing the world's worst nuclear disaster in 25 years.

An earthquake in 1707 caused Fuji to erupt and killed an estimated 20,000 people.


Well. so long Fuji.. nice knowing you



Link to the report

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/05/11/us-japan-fuji-idUKBRE84A0JS20120511

Tokyo Skytree

This is one place I will not be visiting
Can you imagine being up there when an earthquake strikes.
Oh yes the designers and builders say it's safe.
Well of course they would, wouldn't they.

Cherry Blossom Time

It's come in this area
I live near a fairly big park and last Sunday there seemed to be an endless stream of people
going to the park from the station and back.
I wonder how much room there was in the park?

But it looks nice.

Going up and up ...

Petrol prices are going up here.

I filled up today and it was 151 per litre.
That is a bit below the actual price 'cause I 
have a COSMO card.
So I get a secret number each month that gives me 1 or 2 yen off the 
regular price + 3 yen off for having the card.
There will be another increase from tomorrow so it will probably hit
160 per litre from then.


Hybrid car anyone?

or bicycle?


Power assisted bicycles are becoming popular


http://www.japantoday.com/category/new-products/view/electric-bike-recharges-itself-as-it-goes

Nice!

Variety is the spice..

One thing about living in Japan is that you can find almost anything.
I have seen really old British cars that you would never see in England except at an enthusiasts rally. But here I have seen old minis and a Humber running on the road.
Saw a Riley the other day and unbelievably a Hillman Imp. One that actually was running.

How these people maintain these old cars I really don't know.
Must cost a bomb for parts, if they can be found.

I'll try to keep my camera with me so I can post the actual sighting if I can.

Told you!

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/02/fukushima-crisis-awakes-after-reactor-heats-up-mysteriously/

This is just the start. You wait. There will be trouble in all the other reactors as the fuel that has melted down starts to heat up again. Probably it is still at a very high temperature somewhere down there. When is the rest of the world going to wake up and try to help with this. It is not just a Japan problem it is a global problem.

Unprecedented, yes. But if enough resources are focused on the problem it surely can be dealt with. It has to be dealt with. This is not something that can just be ignored and hope it will go away.
Get moving..get going. Bury it, remove it. Chuck the reactors and fuel in to the Earths magma..whatever  ..DO SOMETHING. This stuff has to be got rid of however much money it takes.

Hi Fuji San

Saturday morning was interesting.( 28 Jan )
Just about to get up and..... jugajagajagajaga... hmm haven't had 
one of those for a while. Then about 3 mins later
JAGAJAGAJAGAJAGAJAGA..Hmm something's up here I though to myself.
Seems a 5.5 mag earthquake happened around Fuji go-ko ( Fuji 5 lakes area).


Good morning Fuji I thought to myself.. are you waking up too?


Anyway the news covered the event for a while but nothing too drastic seems to have resulted from the shaking so it fades off the screens.


HOWEVER, later the a government spokesmen came on TV and apparently said that there is no indication that Fuji is about to do anything.


Oh well, that makes me feel better. I mean coming from the same people who said "Don't worry there is no meltdown" at Fukushima, when actually all three ( or 4 ) reactors were totally out of control and melting down at that very time.


So my take on this is to have the completely opposite view. Fuji is waking up and will make his / her ? presence felt pretty soon I think.


Of course I hope I am wrong but ..time will tell.




http://www.asiaviews.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25985:reportalias7160&catid=2:regional-news-a-special-reports&Itemid=9


http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/07/060717-mount-fuji.html


http://www.jma.go.jp/en/volcano/map_3.html ( So they say!)


PS  : There was another pretty strong shake at 4:46 today ( Sunday) in the same area. Registered as 3 in Yokohama.

Toilet

Another most welcome thing about Japan are the toilets.
Today I installed my new toilet.
I had one of these "spray your butt" things for 5 years.
I didn't think that I needed one at first but came to really like it.
Recently it started to do strange things. The spray wouldn't stop or the seat was
cold, or wouldn't work at all.

Repair is out of the question as it would be much more than buying a new one.

Looked on Rakuten and found a very similar one for a good price.
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/murauchi-denki/4984824884120/

Ordered it ( with a 5 year guarantee) and it came about three weeks ago.
However, the water fitting needed changing or I could order another part which would make the
installation much simpler. That cost me a 2 week wait and 800 yen.
Finally it came and I was able to fit the new one today pretty quickly.

Now ..back to normal.. heated seat, butt spray..what else could you ask for.

Snow

It snowed in Yokohama for the first time this winter yesterday.
Well, snow fell but didn't accumulate so much
I am suffering with a cold.
Being a English teacher you have to teach when you have a cold whether you
like it or not and of course a new teacher turned up to observe the class.
However it went OK but later it was tough as my temperature was going up.

Later I crashed out, took "eve" ( ibuprofen) to get rid of my temperature.
This morning I feel like death warmed up and have a full day of classes to get through. ( groan!)
Temperature feels normal though.
Definitely need the morning cuppa today.

yes we can!

Friday, Jan. 20, 2012
Headline in the Japan times

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120120f1.html

Scientists say they can find melted reactor fuel

Well, that's nice to know.

Here Melted fuel, here melted fuel , come to daddy...

You can't hurry Curry

Recently there has been a influx of Indian/ Nepalese restaurants opening up.
My favourite one is ROTI BOTI near Sobudaimai Station on the Odakyu Line.




There are three reasons why I like this place. One is the name.
I guess if you eat too much curry you can get a rotty botty.
The second is the name of the chef/owner.
His name is Khan Ukil. ( Can you kill ?)

Thirdly, of course the taste. It is really good. Well prepared dishes and good quality ingredients.
Not just "take the roof off your mouth" stuff.

There is no home page but you can get a review here.

http://r.tabelog.com/kanagawa/A1407/A140703/14037583/

Fortunately good curry is easily available these days.
When I first came to Japan it was expensive and hard to find.

Second to tea, a good curry is essential to survival in Japan.

Electricity

Want to know the daily situation in Tokyo?

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/forecast/html/index-e.html

Good doughnuts?

There is a shop that sells doughnuts near where I live
It is called Natas
I wonder if they know that natas backwards is SATAN !
Satan doughnuts.....

Want to know about Fukushima?

Try this blog


http://fukushima-diary.com/category/dnews/

Take the dog for a ...ride?

Here is an interesting way to transport your dog.

A change in the law

Just found this information.

http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/en/index.html

No more alien registration card but a new registration card.

Good or bad?

I have to think about it a bit.

The train ( again)

It had to happen.
I knew that as soon as I posted a blog about the train culture something would happen
Yesterday I got the NOSE PICKER !
I mean this guy was mining. A full 15 minutes on the train to Ebina.
Pick, investigate, roll., flick. Pick, investigate, roll, flick......ad infinitum
I tried not to look but he was directly in my field of vision.
I was on my way to eat curry so it kind off put me off....as you can imagine
At least he didn't EAT the result of his mining activities.

Blaaaaaaahhhh.....

The Train

Living in the city ( Yokohama to be exact) most people use the train especially to go to work rather than a car.
There is a "train culture" that eventually becomes clear the more you use the train.
My main train line is the Sotetsu line which runs from Yokohama to Ebina.
If you want some information on this line you can read about it here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagami_Railway_Main_Line

I am sure that if you ask anyone they will tell you their train story.
Here is mine.

I was riding the Sotetsu line and I had been able to get a seat.
In front of me a man, probably in his 30's was standing reading a book and chewing gum.
I though nothing of it, as I was also absorbed in reading something, when I heard a 'plop'.
I looked up from what I was reading to see a lump of chewing gum stuck on the handle of my bag that was on my lap.
Of course I was surprised, as well as somewhat taken aback ,and I looked up at the man in front of me.
He was looking down at the gum. Saying nothing, he picked the gum up, put it back in his mouth, and nonchalantly started chewing and reading again.
I was speechless ( fortunately) so I just sat there taking in what had just happened.
My stop came soon, so I got up and got off the train, thinking to myself, only in Japan.

Perhaps you are thinking to yourself what you would have done under the same situation.
But remember there is a train culture which affects everyone, including myself, it seems.

On being an English teacher

"Why don't you get a proper job?"
"The last thing I want to do is teach English in Japan"

I have heard such comments about the English teaching profession in Japan.
Having been a teacher (or instructor) for the past 25 years I believe I have some
credibility when it comes to commenting on this particular occupation.

I got into this field mainly because I was not able to do anything else.
That is probably true of many of the teachers in an "Eikawa."( 英会話 )

However, I have to say despite that, I have found teaching English to be one of the
most satisfying jobs. Why do I say that?

Being a teacher is not just a case of opening your mouth and speaking English (as many think)
Over the years I have had to be a counsellor, a father figure, a mentor, a salesperson, a sounding board,
an entertainer, an advisor + more.

I have seen some of the students go from very basic beginners to achieving a level of fluency
that surpasses a lot of so called "native " speakers in the UK.
( I didn't do nuffin, honest )

I have met some really wonderful people, ( as well as some not so wonderful people).
I have seen some students pass the CPA exam in the States and publish medical papers using
English that would confound most people brought up in an English speaking country.
Truly amazing achievements in a foreign language,and I feel that , in part, I have contributed to their success by means of my teaching. I still keep in touch with some even though they are no longer students at the school,
and they continue to impress me.

So " get a proper job"? Well, what is a proper job? A dustman, a salesperson, a doctor?
I believe that it is not getting a "proper" job that is important, it is doing the job that you have.. properly.
and that applies to being a teacher in an Eikaiwa as well as any other job.

Just for fun, some teachers produced this recently.

Enjoy..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhAc1CCgxiI

Why this blog?

Hi ..
I am an Englishman who has lived in Japan for 25 years
I moved here in Dec 1986.

I have found life in Japan to be both exciting as well as frustrating.

Being English I have found out that whatever problems I encountered the good old cure for the "Blues"
was to enjoy a "nice cuppa tea". ( Not the green tea stuff although I like that too..
I mean the good old British cuppa. )




Fortunately I have always been able to purchase good quality tea.







Recently the choice is quite good

and the price has become much more reasonable

compared to when I first moved here.

After a quarter of a century living in Japan I thought it might be

interesting to start a blog of my experiences of living here and what I have found to be

either interesting or unique or downright strange.


Anyway ..here goes....