Back to S11

We moved into the flat without any fuss. A roast dinner and a kip started us on the road to de-jet-lag; I really dislike waking up at 5am thinking its breakfast time!

Enterprise car rental was as efficient as ever and we were on our way to Sleaford by lunch time Saturday. A couple of pints of good English ale while bro and I sat in the late afternoon sunshine at the local pub and we solved the problems of the world put me onto the road of recovery.


We had a really excellent w/e with sis and bro; too much food and loads of laughs. It felt as if we'd not been back to Oz for the past 8 months - that always surprises me. Sunday morning was taken up with fixing a computer; people WILL fiddle and press the wrong buttons ... I have to report that bro has probably infected me with a curiosity about golf ... where do I find the antidote?

Loading the car with our "things" we had a safe and pleasant trip back to the pad; except for a three roundabout intersection at Newark which bedevils even the locals! Yes, we went round the whole messy thing twice! It's the roads signs; they are hopeless! 

It took little time to unpack and poke "things" into their new resting places - finding them when we want them will prove, as always, to be a bit of a lottery until we get used to their hiding places. "Where's the ......?" "Don't ask me you stowed it away!

After shopping for the "odds-and-ends" that are always missing it was a delight to sit down to dinner and look out of the huge windows at Sheffield in the late evening sunshine. Very Lowry with a tough of Dr Who.

All in Twenty Four Hours

Taking the Keisei line from Ueno to Narita airport brought us to the airport in a packed one and a half hours. We'd checked in on the internet so it was a snip to off load cases and retire to the cafe for an extra breakfast. Flight JL 401 took off 5 mins late - that'll never do for the locals! Twelve hours of bordome later we landed at Heathrow - only 15 mins late. A quick hop on the hopper and we were safely tucked into our room at the Comfort hotel. A pint and a shower to revived spirits followed by a very tasty dinner ended a long day's travel. All went swimmingly so what's to moan about? Nowt!

Into beddy-bys and a comatose sleep - that is untill 4 am when our bio-clock decided to kick-in and tell us that is was really breakfast time. Ignoring the impulse to eat the oatmeal coloured bedspread we forced ourselves to go back to dream land.

A quick continental and a second hop on the hopper followed by an hour-and-ten on the Piccadilly line sufficed to deliver us to St Pancras (who?). Tickets for Sheffield dutifully printed out of the machine so we mounted the Midland Rail Iron Horse for a quick two and a half hours nursing our cases and bags - there was no adiquate luggage storage.

What a strange feeling being back in Sheffield. Have we been away? Doesn't feel like it. We were walking through the town centre and were hailed by Andrew (he of Andrew's Cafe); travel the world and be well know by cafe owners - what a reputaion! On to the hotel and establish camp - again.

What next? Surley it's obvious - supermarket (M&S) and buy dinner ...

Tokyo Metro, Temples and Electric City

After a slight panic at the Post Office - I  used the wrong pin for my card and thought we'd be cashless! A senior moment which I don't think I'll repeat - we got the Ginza Line to Suehirocho and hooffed it to  the Kanda Myojin Shrine. This proved to be a large and very active shrine which was winkled between the multi-storied buildings. There was a ceremony going on and it was interesting to hear and see two of the priests playing traditional Japanese wind instruments.

Wandering on to the Yushima Seido took 5 mins but it look closed. Wrong - the gate was around the corner hidden from our view by the public loo. It is extensive and is now a shrine dedicated to Confucius. It was originally a private school opened in 1630.

As we left Yushima Seito we could see the dome of  Nicholai-do which is a Russian Orthodox Church. Time and gasping for a coffee, we pressed on to Electric City where we had an appointment with Mr Donut who provided sustenance in the form a of a strawberry and cream namesake.

I had a bit of an electronic relapse and drooled over several Sony HDV newsmedia cameras, Casio language translation what's-its and stroked an iPad (several times ) ...

I dragged myself onto the Yamanote line and we stopped of at Ueno where we had a lovely meal of tempura, miso, rice, noodles and barley tea. Walking around we came across a temple we had no idea existed - it's slap-bang in the middle of a very busy shopping area where the streets are filled with stalls so it's like a street market. The Marishiten Tokudaiji is very active and the centre of a major festival which takes place in late July.

Time to head home meant a quick coffee at a Doufor cafe where the staff seem to have got to know what we want. That brought us to the end of  our last day in Tokyo - well nearly because we had to visit the super market to get some delicious food for dinner.

The final, final of the day - washing cloths and packing ....

Let's Take A Train Ride ...Again.

Just to do something a bit different we decided to take a tip to the Eastern Tama area which is just outside Tokyo to the west. Yes to the west; Tama is to the west but we went to it's east ...

It's a subway ride from Ueno on the Yamanote line to Tokyo station and then on to the Chuo line (Rapid Service) to Tachiwara. We thought we had to exit the subway at Tokyo station and buy a ticket for a JR line - a train ticket. Well no, that was where we made a slight error so that we only had a 190 Yen ticket which payed for the Yamanote subway - hope you are keeping up; there will be questions later ... Not to worry because there are Fare Adjustment machines; insert the ticket you have when you get where you want to be and pay the difference - no fuss; no drama.

At Tachiwara we caught the monorail to Takahata Fudo and then walked to the Takahata Fudoson temple where we wandered around the various buildings. Very peaceful and well used; it's always a surprise to step of a busy road into a quiet oasis.

Hunger began to gnaw and restaurants/cafes/eateries abound almost everywhere to sate said gnaw.

The eatery was inside the Keio Rail Station - not the JR Monorail we'd arrived by - so we took pot-luck to Fuchu to visit Ookunitama jinga shrine. This is one of, if not the, oldest of the Shinto shrines in the Tokyo area. Fuchu has a tree-lined street leading to the main gate of the shrine. The trees are huge and give the immediate area a really pleasant atmosphere.

Mid afternoon means coffee - air conditioned comfort and a little rest.

Time to head back to Tokyo. The Keio line took us back to Shinjuku but we made a silly mistake with the ticket so had to use the Fare Adjustment machine when we got there. A packed station didn't seem at all claustrophobic mainly because people don't push and shove or shout at each other. The last leg for the day meant the Yamanote line from Shinjuku to Ueno - packed train but air conditioned and quiet.

Home at last! I'll leave the next bit to your imagination ...

Monorail to Odaiba

A quick visit to the cafe - morning coffee - and onto Ueno to catch the Yamanote subway to Shimbashi. A quick change of train and a vista-rich run on the Yurikamome monorail took us to Tokyo Big Sight - a ginormous conference and exhibition centre. The whole of the Odaiba area is awash with fantastic modern architecture as well as the usual dock-side mess. Shops? Er, more than a shopperholic could cope with! Plus much, much, more including a wedding village, maritime museum (shaped like a ship!) and, most wierd, a sewer museum - honto!

We walked through the skyscrapers to Palette Town and ventured into Venus Fort - a three floor of every type of shop plus restaurants. Each floor is fashioned after a Italian street style with ceiling that have a sky-like quality. The lighting is such that you really begin to feel like you are walking down a street during late afternoon or early evening. There is even a real fountain in one of the larger "nodes". All very spaceship like or a film set.

Next to this monster shopping centre was the huge "Maga Web" Toyota car showroom and a gigantic Big Wheel.

Since it was Sunday the Anime and Manga people (Cosplay fashion) were out in force photographing each other. Quite a sight and each person must have spent hours and loads of yen getting the costumes they were wearing. It was difficult to tell if the boys were girls or t'other way around.

Catching the mono-rail back to Shimbashi allowed us to cool down and drop into a quick noodle shop for lunch. We hopped onto the subway to Roppongi but were disappointed by the park and an outbreak of Yankitis. So it was onto the Hibiya line for a restful trip back to Ueno.

End of the wandering for the day naturally meant - you guessed correctly - supermarket, food and beddy-byes.

Narita Gion Matsuri

It took about 1 hr 15 min in air conditioned comfort on the Keisei Line to go from Ueno to Narita city. The wall of heat (about 32 C) sort of hit us when we got off the train. We wandered into town and broke the first rule of the culturally aware traveler - MacDonnald's for a loo pit stop. I have to admit the coffee was OK but the loo came as a surprise. Let me explain ... Maccer's usually has a nice clean loo so we old crispies find it more pleasant than the usual grotty holes-in-the-ground that seem to plague most of the worlds public places. This Maccer's is in Japan so there is a little surprise in store for the unwary round-eye ... no not a squatter. A fully fledged, electronic throne! DON'T fiddle with the buttons unless you want to get soaked, de-odourised or hot-air-blown. I kid you not. Once, I had to search for the power socket to turn the thing off ... not a happy bunny at that point in time. Rested but definitely shaken and stirred!

Back to reality ...

We walked through the old town and had a quick look at the Shinshoji Temple. After watching a couple dashi (floats) being hauled up the hill we decided to have lunch. A very pleasant restaurant with loads of fans to cool us down. Tempura and cold noodles - excellent!

Late afternoon and a temperature in the high 30's persuaded us to retreat to the air conditioned train back to Ueno.

Last, and obviously, ... the supermarket for a health dinner.

Walking, Walking, Walking - Asakusa and Ueno

It's the Morning Glory Festival at Asakusa, so off we went, hot foot, to see the plants via a cafe - what else. Loads of people - naturally - and food stalls. All the plant stalls were loaded and it seemed the price was fix across the board.

Catch the Ginza Line metro to Ueno so we can wander the streets looking for - yes, you guessed right - lunch. Lovely tempura and cold sorba noodles. I desisted looking at the iPad again at the 6 floor electronics store opposite the station; buying "out of country" is a bit daft because, if there's a problem with the kit, service guarantees are often difficult to use even if the product has world-wide distribution; I made this mistake and didn't like the hassles.

On to the Tokyo Met only to find that it's closed for restoration until 2012. A quick glance at our well worn map showed that there were several temples in Taito-ku that we hadn't visited, so we legged it in their general direction. That proved to feel a lot further than it measured - aged limbs and a the need of coffee probably explained the dragging of feet.

Onward back to Ueno Park and a cafe of choice seemed to recharge feet batteries. A final sortie to the super market, where we were assaulted by heaps of delicious food, ended the day - a total of 5 hours hoofing in all. Temperature 28 C and 100% humidity with light, intermittent rain sort of oiled the limbs for the whole escapade!

Watercolours Everywhere

 We had a nice restful day just pottering from cafe to cafe via the odd shop - I do like iPads; must be loosing my  grip on my wallet! A visit to the Ueno Royal Museum which had a Tokyo waterclour exhibition - a huge number of paintings most of which were worth hanging; some traditional others contemporary in technique. A good few hours in the cool and looking at some really lovely works.

The vast sum of 160 Y took us by the Ginza Line to Asakusa where we indulged ourselves by visiting two super markets, buying enough grub for an army (a small private army of four) and - yes, we have no self control - a light repast at Mr Donut!

Now we are filled to the brim with fresh food and sashimi so it's time to turn on the lunatic Japanese TV and sit goggle-eyed wondering what the Devil we're watching ...

JAL Does It Again!

After a 4 AM start we had breakfast in the new terminal facilities - very nice architecture so it actually looks like an international terminal (at last). The aircraft took off exactly on time from Sydney and landed on the dot in Tokyo. We were suitably filled with food and drink - I do love Sake! A quick 55 min train ride in air conditioned comfort brought us to our favorite hotel - The Oak in Asakusa - well almost; it's a 10 min stroll from station to door.

What a welcome! The people on the desk greeted us like old friends ... that's the reason for sticking to somewhere you know that fits your bill. Temperature outside 26 C and light rain; inside a cool 21 C. Next stop the supermarket and loads of lovely nosh. And so to dream land ...

I watched "Battle of the Titans" and "Alice In Wonderland" on the flight and thoroughly enjoyed both - maybe it was the GnTs and Sake ...

10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - ...

Only a few days to go and mission control has begun the countdown sequence. Packing! Who do you know that likes packing? What to put in, on and out ... more angst ... but you know you want more ... That's the beauty of travelling it shakes the tree and gives the old brain a workout: "Did I redirect the mail? What about changing the insurances? Do we leave the water on? Have I got all the medications I need? Have I got enough foreign currency? Embrocation; where's the bottle of embrocation for my knees?... Why the devil am I doing this? ... Pass the whiskey please ..."

This is a test

test test test

Booking A Trip Sure Wears Me Out

So we decided to go to Strasbourg for a few days in August. Three hours later with the computer having apoplexy and sweat dripping from my fingers and brow, I managed to book everything. What with passwords for every site and booking payments I think I've covered every combination of birthdays, weddings and funerals plus dogs names and favourite teachers and school subjects I've ever known. That's the internet Freddy Boy; quick as a flash so long as you don't actually want to do something a bit complicated.  I think it's time for a little nap ...

What? There's No Butler!

By Jove, things have taken a queer turn. From hovel to the recognition we deserve - yes it's Bilton Manor. Being a Fitz has some compensations but there are some drawbacks - there is no butler! Well, we had to say no. Sorry, just couldn't take up residence without one. I say, it's just not done. What would the people at the hunt say. No. We will do the right thing and take up residence in a modest apartment adjacent to a high class purveyor of  quality victuals and fine wines. Between you and me, modern plumbing and under-floor heating has advantages that just can not be overlooked.

A Handyman's Project

All it needs is a lick of paint and a tidy-up. Situated in a quiet rural location this prime property only needs some TLC from a discerning tenant. Ideal for a holiday hide-a-way and priced to go. Don't miss this exceptional opportunity to experience a unique life-style.

I'm getting the a distinct feeling of PANIC!!

Anyone Got Space for a Small Tent?

We're beginning to panic a tad. No flat found to date, but the folk we're dealing with say there's no problem - yet. We've got a nice little Wendy House stored away so the last resort is to find space under a bush in the Botanic Gardens with the Homeless or, failing that, there's a nice park bench or two ...

Watch Out For The Extras!

I thought I'd have a qiz at flight availability EMA to Amsterdam in early August. Why? I received an email touting cheap flights with BMI and August is a birthday month. I started to get very excited and reached for my clogs, clay pipe and silly bargeman's hat. But, yes, you guessed it, then there's the extras. The initial return ticket price for 2 pax was less than 8 GBP. Add: taxes, seat allocation, 1 check-in bag, and insurance and the price came out at 165 GBP! We thought we'd forgo the priority boarding and use of the airport lounge facilities which would be another handful of shekels.This price was at least 80 GBP cheaper than over-the-counter prices.

So much for cheap flights. The Devil, as always, is in the detail; read small print ...

Soooo Boring Sydney

Oh dear I've committed sedition! That's if finding Sydney boring is the criterion - the trouble is we're not really Ozzers; we don't booze, do drugs or like sport. I've given up on the Oz theatre including film; it's supposed to be professional but I just can't see it ... something always seems to be lacking or maybe - and more likely - I'm not all that keen on year 12 humour and I've seen so much "Gay" stuff over too many years masquerading as entertainment to be even mildly shocked. As I say, Sydney seems so boring and it's getting scruffier each year.

We went to the Gal NSW to see Archibald et al and, honestly, the shows were poor. I suppose you have to take into account the desire to present something controversial but, really, there is so much of  not-leaving-your-mates-behind  that things get very stale. A few of the chosen portraits were excellent but the rest ... er ... crap. The Wynne had a couple of notable pieces and the Sulman was, as ever, a complete mystery - what were the selectors on? This was the Sulman winner. Explain it if you can. Still, it's all good for the arty-farty crowd I'm sure. The show at the Ervin gallery has some good work; much better than some of the stuff selected for the "real" shows.

Didn't see so many ugly, fat lessos in Newtown this time. Has there been a cull?

Tickets. Get Your Tickets Here!

That's done and dusted and we're a lot lighter in the purse. So it's off to Tokyo in July for all stations ... we still don't know!

Sydney ... not as exciting as ...

Up to Sydney for the w/e. Another painting delivered and expected to be reject by the dunks at the GNSW; got to be in it etc etc. Weather was disgusting - hot and steamy. I don't think I've seen so many grossly over weight, tattooed and unimaginably ugly people (sadly women) on the streets before. Must have be an ugly's convention in Newtown. Yes, I know it's not PC, Christian or "nice" to make such a comment but you had to be there to believe it was actually the case.

Best part was going to a small, noisy cafe which had excellent Italian food and a splendid Thai restaurant. Plus, a demonstration of Japanese wood block printing. The printer lives in Tokyo and has been printing wood blocks for over 50 year; he was expert!

Shifting Sands ...

All has changed ... the best laid etc ... so watch this space.