MERRY CHRISTMAS

This is me Santa-ing at a shopping mall near Fukuoka.I enjoyed making all the kids happy with sweets and toys.
Next year is the year of the Tiger so poor old Tigger got dressed up.Doesn't look too happy about it does he?

The Cats Tucked Up For Sleep

Tigger and Snowy have made up and are friends again.It was cold so we tucked them up in a blanket to keep them warm.Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!

Hope You've Been Good

Yesterday I spent the whole day making a TV commercial as Santa.I had to have false eyebrows glued on with spirit gum.Which is a real pain (literally) to get off.
The first part of the job involved jumping around in Nishi Koen in Fukuoka.They were making it look as if I was flying after a present .
The second part was set in Hawkstown shopping mall.I had to do a kind of dance in front of the Christmas trees.
It was an interesting ,if exhausting,experience.I had to be there for 8 a.m. and we finally finished at 9 p.m..I was very glad to get out of the costume and back into my normal clothes.

Humphrey's Bash

I took Jake with me to a party at my friend Humphrey's place last weekend.Jake had a great time jumping around on the trampoline and playing foosball with some of the other guests.
I also enjoyed the great food which Humphrey had cooked up including mackerel/creamcheese pate and smoked chicken.I couldn't drink as I was driving but I had a quick try of his 'moonshine' which was very strong but delicious.

Keya No Ooto

This photo was taken by my good friend Chris who just happened to be in Keya as we were getting on the boat.
We went to Keya No Ooto today.A short boat trip from Keya takes you to a basalt column cave which the boat can enter.A bit Blue Grotto but not as spectacular.Nice tho!
The cave entrance is on the left of the rock in the shadows in this picture.
Me and Jake inside the cave.
Looks almost Mediterranean coming back to the quayside in Keya.A very pleasant trip.On a lovely sunny day.

Niginohama and Keya no Oto From Highland Park

This is a photo of Niginohama looking back towards Keya.This spot is about a ten-minute walk from our house.It is on the way to our usual sledging place.It was a beautiful day but the beach was almost deserted.

This is our sledging area.As you can see the dunes are quite steep here.This is not the best run but it is still a real laugh and a bit scary!

A view from Highland Park ( where the rich people live) down towards Keya no Oto.Our house is just off the right side of the top of this picture.

Defying Gravity

When we were at Sunset Live we met the other foreigner who lives in Keya.
He,Jeff, sells trampolines, and had a few on the beach at the festival.
He offered us our pick of the ones he had there at a good price.We decided to buy a 3 metre diameter one.Big enough for Jake to have fun on for a few years at least.
Some pics of Jake and S chan (from next door) enjoying the new trampoline.

Sunset Live Keya Beach

These are two views of the 'Sunset Live' three day music festival which is held on our local beach each year in Keya.
It was my first time to go there.I was impressed by the number of things to do and see.It was very good fun even for an old guy like me.
The young things must love it!

This will give you some idea of the number of people who attend.This was only the first day so I guess it must be crazy over the weekend.

A Sunny Saturday

I went for a motorcycle ride with my good friend Chris on Saturday.It was a lovely day so Chris decided to unleash his lilly-white legs on the unsuspecting populace of Itoshima.
At Nijo Parking Area on the way we met up with Paddy,an Aussie lad who is working with Chris .He has recently taken up bicycling.He covered about 50 km that day.I will stick to motor powered transport for the long distances!
We ended up at the top of Kagamiyama in Karatsu.It was too hazy for a great view but was still very nice up there.

More From England trip

Near my parents' house in England there is a nice country park where we took Jake to see the birds.Last year he was scared of the geese but this year he was fine.
We went to an outlet mall near Wookey Hole where Jake was very happy to find this merry-go-round.We bought some nice cups and saucers for half price.We could have spent a lot of money there as some of the stuff was genuinely cheap.
Finally, near my sister's house,in Southend on Sea ,there is an amusement park where the parent accompanying a child can ride for free.A very good arrangement I think.Of course Jake wanted to ride everything but in the end we ran out of time.Mainly because he made me ride the roller coaster with him 5 times! Tjis is Jake and Nat on a sideways Ferris wheel.

England Trip August 10 to 19 2009

This is Jake with his cousin Tom in the hall of mirrors at Wookey Hole in Somerset, England.
I found the mirror thing very unsettling.Guess I'm not cut out to be a narcissist.
This is a view from the car park at Wookey Hole.We enjoyed a picnic nearby as we were very hungry after walking round the cave and other attractions ( including a kids' circus)

This is a very pretty house in the same village as the pub where we had lunch.

This is the pub where we had lunch one day. It was very tasty! I had sausage and mash.Yum!
It was a very old pub with very low ceilings and a very nice fireplace.I really miss these old country pubs living outside England.One of the best things about the Sceptred Isle I think.

BY ANY MEANS

I and Humphrey and Nick went down to Kumamoto station on Thursday July 30th to meet up with Charley Boorman and his camera crew.
They are filming a new series of 'By Any Means' , a travel show for the BBC.
This time they were travelling from Australia up through S/E Asia to finish up in Tokyo.
We went with them from Kumamoto across to Beppu.
I was driving the van carrying the crew and Humphrey and Nick were lucky enough to be riding along with Charley.
Halfway up Mt. Aso we stopped for some cornering shots.
On the other side of Aso we stopped for some drinks as it was very hot and muggy.
Everyone had a good time.Charley and his crew were a good laugh.They put us up in a hotel in Beppu where we all had dinner together.The next morning we rode to the port and waved them off on a small fishing boat bound for Shikoku.

Finally Finished Fence Fantastic!!

The fence looks much better now that it has been capped off with split bamboo!The plan is to hide what can still be seen of the sheds with trees which will be donated ( again) by Mr.K. Great thanks to him!Also to Mr. U.


This will be a small Japanese style garden built by Mr. K. Looks great already but will be even better with the addition of some plantings.We will probably take out the small rock in the middle.

Photos Of The Area

Looking from Kafuri fish port towards Mt. Kaya
From Benten Bridge towards Kafuri
From Benten Bridge looking towards Nijo in the distance

Swimming At Nogita Beach

It was a nice sunny day this Saturday so we went to Nogita for a swim.The beach was crowded.Well, relatively!
Jake just before he disappeared sideways.Ha ha!

Meinohama Driving School Bike Event

It was a sweltering hot day.But I still enjoyed riding nice shiny Harleys.
I really like the Sportster.It even went round corners pretty well.Nice smooth power delivery too!
This is the Harley Cross Bones or something.A bit like a circus clown bike.I touched down the floorboards twice.Even at the slow speeds I was doing round the test track!

Breakfast At Current Then Kayaking At Nogita

This morning we decided to go to Current, a favourite restaurant near us for breakfast.We love the view from the terrace tables.
They do a pretty good set menu which comprises several types of bread,a salad, soup,bacon and eggs and a bottomless cup of coffee.Good value for 770 yen.

Jake took this photo of me.It looks like I have a green Mohican haircut!
After breakfast we went to Nogita beach for some swimming and kayaking .It was Jake's first time in a kayak but I was impressed that he didn't get seasick or scared at all.He loved it!We went over to a rocky islet not far from the shore.It was a little choppy in the sea but still great fun!I look forward to doing it again soon.

Latest Fence Report

Well, the fence has taken another step towards completion.We did a few hours work on it today.Including trips to pick up more bamboo.It still needs about one more day's work to finish.
But I think it is looking pretty good!

The Twins On The Cat Tree

The cats have started to use the cat tree nowadays.They seem to like sleeping on it too.Better than them sleeping on my bed!It's no fun being woken up by a cat's claws!

Tanabata Festival At Hikitsu Kindergarten

Yesterday, July 4th, was the Hikitsu Hoikuen Tanabata Festival.Jake had a great time playing with his friends and eating lots of junk.He also seemed to enjoy the dancing this year.Last year he was too shy to take part.