Pool Party and Donya!!

This weekend marked the start of summer for most with some kids having to wait until Tuesday, poor things. Still, the weather wasn't waiting around and we had scorching hot (32 degrees) weather with blue skies and a nice sea breeze. Friends came around and the kids jumped in the pool and played for ages! I got a little BBQ going and grilled some sausages and squid for lunch along with some rice balls and chicken wings. Then it was across the road to the beach for a surf and a cool off. Everyone was starving again so we decided to visit Ken-san and his family at Donya. He was super busy which is good and we were lucky to get a table. Super good food as always! Thanks Ken, Ma-san, K-chan and H-kun!

Summer is coming!

Finally the end to the 'RAINY' season is in sight! The city has been cleaning up the beach front, clipping hedges, mowing lawns, trimming the palm trees, etc in anticipation of the hordes of visitors that come when summer officially kicks off on Marine Day, July 20th.
Here's the crew in front of my place working hard in the heat! (check out the old codger in the top right of the picture taking a not so subtle leak in plain view for all to see...something you'd get arrested for in NZ)
The freshly cut grass, trimmed palm trees and blue skies. It's hard to get motivated to don a suit and tie and head off to work at times like this.
The pool at our mansion has been cleaned and is awaiting filling. Pool party and BBQ this weekend maybe....weather permitting.

WASABI in KAMOGAWA

About a month ago, we celebrated the completion on 10 years since I opened the school where I work in Kamogawa. It's been amazing to see the growth in the school itself and the students, too, some of whom have grown from pre-pubescent elementary school students to successful University graduates. It hasn't always been plain sailing and there have been numerous developments along the way we as we strive to find the best curriculum and teaching techniques to enable students to reach their potentials. It's gone from scratch back in 2000 to a point where we now have two native teachers employed full-time, a Japanese manager and several other Japanese teachers that teach supplementary lessons. Thanks to everyone who has been a part of creating this fun and successful work and learning environment!

As a founding teacher it was a kind of personal accomplishment to have worked 10 years here in Japan. As such, my wife and I decided to hit up a local restaurant, Wasabi. It opened about a year or so ago I guess and every time we go past the parking is FULL!

Then menu is very extensive with a focus on seafood dishes. Aiko in particular loved the Namero(?) (diced 'Aji' or Horse Mackerel). We also had a Tempura teishoku (set), some Tofu and fried Shirasu (like small whitebait) salad and some Katsuo (bonito) sashimi salad.

There is so much more on the menu I want to try. I'll have to go back again sometime soon with some friends so we can explore what there is to offer in more detail.

Congratulations SPAIN!!!

(image courtesy of Getty images and FIFA.COM)

Spain managed to outlast the Netherlands in a game of marathon proportions with the game tied nil-nil until the dying moments of extra time to claim what is their first ever Soccer World Cup!! They were deserved winners in my opinion(despite some rather weak presence in the tackle ball area...'diving'? or playing to ref? Enough to get under the dutch skin anyway) with some crisp football and the wealth of possession. The Netherlands can hold their heads up high and be proud but were just never really able to find that cohesion that had got them to the Final.

I know at least one happy camper (a student of mine) as he swept the pool at his hotel where he works and gets the kitty to himself. A nice little 'bonus' I'm sure.

As for me, it signals a return to a more normal sleeping pattern as these late nights/early mornings have been wrecking havoc with me and my energy levels.

Here's hoping that both NZ and Japan get to qualify in 4 years time for the Fifa World Cup 2014!

Small wave diet...

The rainy season is in full swing and there are yet to be any typhoons which means I've been getting by on the small stuff. Still, good to be in the water especially with the humidity so high.
(photo courtesy of Kentaro @ Grace surfboards)

PIZZA INDY'S

Just down the road in Chikura is an amazing little pizza restaurant which we were introduced to by a friend recently. They used to operate out of the back of a lunch wagon and had the custom built pizza oven installed specially. It must've been hot work, especially in the summer, but now they have their own spot and the very same pizza oven taking pride of place in the open kitchen so you can see them bake your pizza right in front of you. We went with a group of four and ordered 4 large (25cm) pizzas half and half so that we could sample eight different toppings! The menu is reasonably priced and the pizzas are probably the best I've eaten here in Japan. The homemade bases and the natural smokey flavour from the wood oven seals the deal. If you're in the neighbourhood and craving some pizza drop by or call in an order as they also do take out.

Here are the details;
Tel. 0470-44-0599
167-1 Makita, Chikura-cho, Minami Bosou machi, Chiba
web. www.h2.dion.ne.jp/~indy87

Long Weekend

We had planned to do our annual pilgrimage to the south of Izu Peninsula this weekend but as it's mid rainy season the weather can be unpredictable. The call was made to flag it after consoling the weather maps and as we watched the Soccer WC semi unfold a news headline flashed on the TV screen warning of flash flooding in that area. Good call to stay put.

I managed to get a surf in each of the three days so I was happy but cabin fever was beginning to grip my wife so we decided Monday afternoon to hit the big smoke....Tokyo and more precisely, Odaiba.
It took about an hour and a half from our apartment to where we parked on the rooftop of an outlet mall, Venus Port. The mall has a european flavour to it with stores from England, such as Harrods, to those from Italy, and some very pricey shoes!! They also had a tribute to Michael Jackson with large photos on display and a video playing on a large screen for all to see.

I'm not usually much one for window shopping but the mall was reasonably compact and on the ground floor there were 5 or so surf stores which made it a bit more interesting. Not a lot in my size, but Aiko picked up some shoes and a silky blouse which put a smile on her face.

Also, there was a free historical car museum which I found very interesting. Lots of things to interest my brother in-law too, I'm sure.

Annual Seminar

Just finished our annual 2 day seminar which was held in Kawasaki this year. It's always a good chance to listen to the publishers voice ideas on how to teach lessons as well as to swap ideas amongst ourselves. Good bunch of teachers at present which made for really productive group planning activities and the like. Thanks to all the crew based in Head Office who make this happen every year. It's a genuinely worthwhile experience even for an old hand and (I think) gives us a gentle nudge not to become complacent within our schools and with our lessons.

BUT, after two reasonable intense and lengthy days (including driving there and back both days) I needed this beer! Sucker went down a treat!

Sea Kayak

The waves have been small for awhile now and so when we got a call from a friend to go sea kayaking on the Uchibou coast north of Tateyama in Tokyo Bay we jumped at it.Aiko loading the 3-seater kayak on the car (thanks Cetus for letting us use it)Indian Summer's Indiana Jones (Hiroshi) unloading his car with our destination, the island, in the background.Disembarking for a little island exploring. There was an abandoned building and extensive ladders and bridges around the rocky foreshore which fisherman must've used to get to their best spots over the years. Good fishing here I imagine with a little oyster farm in the secluded bay. After a quick look around and an onigiri to fuel the fire we were back on the water where we circumnavigated the island before heading back.
Time for a quick spot of fishing on the way back. Aiko reeled in a fish with her first cast before the sinker would have even hit the bottom!! Unfortunately our luck didn't continue in that fashion and time was against us, so it was back to the shore where we loaded up the cars and made our way back. Right near where we launched the kayaks was this "earth" home which has featured in several house designer books and was very interesting so I stopped and took a pic. Thanks Hiroshi for a great time!

Gifts

A Katsuura specialty, this Ramen (Tan Tan Men) is super spicy just how I like it.
These potato chips are a souvenir from Nagoya
This vase/flower stand was hand made over three weeks or so. If you look closely at the label inside the collar you can see the name of the very kind student that gave me this. It also has a light in the base which, at night, gives the vase an added dimension.

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to some of my students that were very kind to give me presents recently for my birthday and to say how much I appreciate the effort they went to...
ARIGATOUGOZAIMASU

Sunrise & BBQ

SUNRISE

I was up early the other day for Japan's final pool game in the WC in which they dispatched of Denmark with style. Awesome sunrise with pink skies reflecting across the bay. Let's hope Japan can do one better than NZ against Paraguay tonight!!

BBQ

Good friend, Jun, and I have birthdays about a week apart so, we more often than not, we combine for a little BBQ and some celebratory beers with friends. He cooked up some of my favourites, lamb chops! These guys are to die for!! I don't know anyone who does these better. Fact!
Sunny was salivating as the smells wafted his way and he waited patiently for any bones or bits tossed his way.
Dave's surfboard sponsor recently got back from a sales trip and bought a souvenir in when he popped in to work to pick up his boy. Thanks Taro! These little crabs were really good! I was a little hesitant at first but after tasting one there was no stopping me.

Dave and I enjoying the crab snacks above and one of the little fellas about to meet his maker below.
Jun's boy Yashi is really growing up fast and is so much fun to hang out with. He has the same mischievous look in his eye as his father and a contagious laugh that brings smiles to everyone's faces.
Once the sun set the kids got to bust out the fireworks under close supervision from Jun and Toshiyuki which made the day for the little ones and was a great way to wrap things up.A huge thanks/mahalo to all those that came and bought mouth watering food for the grill, salad and beers, etc and to Aiko for the killer Cheese Cake she spent the previous night baking after a very long day at work. It was super delicious.

How's THIS guy?

This guy was snapped in front of Nonkey Surf & Sports (see side link) in Kamogawa as he rides and surfs his way around Japan. Awesome effort! From what I gather he aims to ride the length of Japan from Okinawa to Hokkaido and stop for daily surfs along the coast as he works his way up. Best of luck to him and I hope he finds some secluded magic waves on the way for all his efforts!