Hanami - Cherry blossom viewing

Our two petals with a late-blooming cherry blossom in K-chan's schoolyard.

Guess this constitutes a post for international women's day. Maybe.

Feeling a bit like I'm on the other side of the world tonight. One of my oldest friends back in Britain is celebrating the birth of his first daughter, and I wish I could be with him to share his joy. Ho hum. Here's a shot of my babies instead taken with my newfangled iPhone thingamy.

Snow - The Tower English musical

I'm posting this video here, not because I think you need to work on your English, although you probably do come to think of it, but because it features views from the Tower English homestead - and has cameo appearances by K-chan, Emma and a speaking part for Yoshie.

Oh yeah, it snowed the other day, but guess that's not big news for folk in the rest of the world.

Exciting new Twitter thing is here!

Can't seem to find the time to post much here these days, so I came up with a brilliant solution. Twitter. Ehhh? It's a "micro-blogging site". Ehhh? It means I can write updates that must be 140 characters or less. Look, I don't have time to explain. Just look at the whatsit on the top right there, and if you can figure it out, click on some of the words there and you could even sign up for Twitter and follow me and all sorts. Or just keep an eye on the whatsit at the right and read fascinating updates on the fascinating life of me. Or not. It's your choice.

Happy New Year folks!

So, Happy New Year to all my faithful readers (and anyone else who typed in "Tiger drinking" into Google). Yes, it's the year of the tiger. I have no idea if that is auspicious or not. I've already given up smoking, I already run regularly and have no intention of giving up drinking, so this year's resolutions will be: learn more Japanese and write a novel. They are useful resolutions, I make them every year.

Merry Christmas from Japan

Here's what's been taking up our time back at the ranch:

Did you spot Emma and K-chan? Me as Father Christmas?

Katherine's piano show

Sorry to be late posting this, but here is Katherine playing La Ra Du (is that spelt right? - only know it in katakana). Take it away K-chan:

Did I forget to mention...

...it was Katherine's birthday last week? To celebrate, we went to the karaoke, but I promised Yoshie I wouldn't post the compromising video, so instead, here are the girls with the cake. You have been spared the worst.

Sweet dreams

Younger daughter: Mum, my friend has hip hop every Thursday. I want hip hop too.
Mum: Well, we'll see. Are you sure you like hip hop?
Younger daughter: Pleeeeeeeeeeease mum, you know I like any kind of sweetie.

Meet the new member of the family

It's a nine-year old Nissan Tino, which the kids have christened "Pandi" for its resemblance to a Giant panda. Hope the world's oil supplies last for a few more years.

Please do it at home. Like Tower English!

Wow. Has it really been since August that I've posted anything here? Sorry folks, if any of you are still reading this.

Well, I've been doing my bit for Queen and country, running the Teganuma Eco Marathon at a snail's pace and been a bit busy with other stuff. While I've been using the internet to - how you say - goof off? I've had a brainwave and thought, why not use my newly acquired knowledge of cheap digital cameras and free uploads to YouTube and do something worthwhile-ish for the business (You know, Tower English? The best darn tootin' English conversation school in Kounoyama no less).

Here's my latest wheeze. I do look a bit pasty and I was a bit subdued as it was after midnight when I filmed myself, but I'm hoping I'm onto something with 3-minute English lessons once a week as a way of promoting the school on its blog (over there on the right) and having fun making them. Whaddaya think?

Something else that's been taking up my time...

Here's what's been taking up all my time recently...

(Oh, best if you click on one of the buttons under the video to make it full screen!)

Why did the snake cross the road?

...to get to the other side. Oh, it's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry about that. Look what we came across the other day on our way to the lake. The fellow in the video told us that the snake is a regular visitor and all the neighbours are used to it.

You're not in Leicester anymore, kiddoes. 

Ode to enjoyable wastes of time

It's been a while, huh? Well, here's a little ditty that K-chan has been working on, y'all may appreciate:

Happy meals

Who says McDonald's is bad for kids (errr....)? Here, the girls demonstrate the play equipment at the Abiko branch. It always strikes me as odd that the packaging on the Coke and Double Quarter Pounders with "Cheese" have pics of Olympians engaged in heroic pursuits. Still, the kids enjoy it and the Happy Meals with free toy must keep thousands of Chinese peasants gainfully employed. Oh, Emma's sweatshirt was a present from Ba-chan, so no nasty comments please.

Don't throw Easter eggs in grass houses (or something)

Hello folks. Happy Easter, I'm a bit busy (as always) but check out the pics here of yours truly and the "double kids" of Abiko doing an Easter egg hunt on the roof of the Abiko library (it's a grass roof - you gotta see it - right here).

Rocking and rolling (the dough)

Hey there, betcha thought I'd forgotten about you? Nahhhh, 'course not. Here's a little Sunday bread-making to warm your hearts.

I told you there would be fewer posts and more of the kids...

One year older, one year wiser

As the kids say, OMG OMG - I've only gone and missed a key anniversary. Yep, this blog was one year old as of March 2nd. Dang.

This blog has been theraputic for me, allowing me to find my feet in this odd brave, non-English-speaking new world I 've found myself in, and it has allowed me to keep contact with the old one. Recently, the posts have been fewer. Does this mean I'm more at home now?

Maybe.

Certainly, the newbie "Wow, look at this crisp packet, isn't it peculiar" phase has passed. And I've lost any appetite for boosting hits at this site. If I may lapse into a little French, the raison d'etre has changed for this blog. Now, I'm not quite sure what the raison is for it, it may be completely d'etred, but T-Tales is still a loyal friend, and one that I am happy to return to when my other blogs are not the right place for my thoughts. Don't wish to sound pretentious, but, dear readers, you have a right to know what's what.

So what to expect for the next 12 months at T-Tales? A little more introspection and maybe fewer posts, and more of the kids. Don't say you weren't warned.

Message from the President