Monday Emi was meeting one of her friends and left me with a task - to retrieve her bicycle from work. So I walked for 20 minutes in the baking sun to her work place and then spent to next 20 minutes looking for her bike as there were hundreds. In the end it was parked where I had started looking only first time around I missed it! I rode it home and then though I'd give it a little TLC.
I rode to the local bike shop to use their pump to put some air in the tyres, I put some lube on the chain and bearing areas and cleaned the frame up with WD40 to stop it going rusty. I then decided as it was a nice day that i'd go for a ride. From Hon-Atsugi I rode past my work and on to Up-Garage (used car parts shop), then up the 129 and across to Aiko-Ishida to visit Part-Off (another car parts place) and then back to Hon-Atsugi. The bike was much better for the lube and air and I got a little fitter - the ride was about 15-20km in the end.
Tuesday started off with a visit to Autobacks in Hon-Atsugi with Emi. I was after some car wax and couldn't finger out what all the different products did on my own. After about 45 minutes we bought one and headed on to a hand car wash place in Aiko-Ishida.
Put 500 Yen in the machine and I had a jetwash for 12 minutes, managed to get it very clean. Afterwards wiped all the water off, used some special windscreen cleaner and fitted some new wipers. Then once we got home Emi cleaned the Leather seats with some special wipes, I cleaned the plastic interior parts with some more wipes and then used some AC cleaner spray. At the end of the day I was quite satisfied with the interior - very clean looking, feeling and smelling - but not so happy with the exterior - found 10 stone chips on the windscreen and plenty on the body.
In the evening Emi threw some onion, cheese, potatoe and eggplant together to make a wonderful dinner.
Wednesday Emi and I went to Yunesan in Hakone, a water park with a different. Most water parks have many water slide and a big swiming pool. This place had lots of little pools each with a different theme. Some where just hot water and you sat surrounded by rocks, one the water had Japanese green tea in it, another had some red wine (and lots of red colouring) in the water etc. The strangest and nicest part was "Doctor Fish". Basically you put your feet in a pool and these little fish nibble on your feet eating dead or injured skin. Initial it feels very strange but after a while it feels very nice!
Thursday was a bit of a lazy day as we where going on a trip Friday-Sunday. However when I wasn't relaxing I was waxing the car. It reminded me why I never waxed me previous car, it is such a ball-ache. 2 hours of sweat and struggle and what had I achieved? I could now clearly see 7 years of paint damage, marks, stone chips and scratches. What a reward!
Monday, 18 August 2008
Summer holiday part 1 - Friday-Sunday
My summer shutdown started on Friday 8th August, Emi's started on the Saturday.
My Friday was spent mostly driving/running around the streets of Liberty City stealling cars, killing drug dealers and I shot a bent Lawer out of a 3rd floor window with a shotgun - I played lots of Grand Theft Auto!
Satruday I met up with Emi, she had spent to Friday night with her mother. When she got to the station she called me and told me to be careful of the rain - looked out the wind and there was no rain. Picked up the unbrella, openned the door and it started to rain. I got half way to the station and it became the heaviest rain I've ever seen, let alone walked in. The umbrella was useless as the splashing on the ground was getting me wet so I ran to the station. Apartment to station only took about 1 minute but I was soaked through!
As the rain was so hard we went to MyLord department store to a resturant. Half way through our lunch there was a power cut that lasted about 20 minutes.
After lunch we headed off to Virgin where I bought 3 CDs and then pottered about the rest of the day.
In the evening we watched Laurence of Arabia. It was rather interesting but we didn't realise it was more than 3.5 hours long so we got to bed later than planned!
Sunday we headed off to Asakusa. There is an area that sells plastic food and I wanted to buy some for my brother as he is a chief. While there I also bought some Japanese drum sticks for my car buddy Nick. We spent ages walking around looking at plastic food so we spent most of Sunday wandering the streets of Asakusa.
My Friday was spent mostly driving/running around the streets of Liberty City stealling cars, killing drug dealers and I shot a bent Lawer out of a 3rd floor window with a shotgun - I played lots of Grand Theft Auto!
Satruday I met up with Emi, she had spent to Friday night with her mother. When she got to the station she called me and told me to be careful of the rain - looked out the wind and there was no rain. Picked up the unbrella, openned the door and it started to rain. I got half way to the station and it became the heaviest rain I've ever seen, let alone walked in. The umbrella was useless as the splashing on the ground was getting me wet so I ran to the station. Apartment to station only took about 1 minute but I was soaked through!
As the rain was so hard we went to MyLord department store to a resturant. Half way through our lunch there was a power cut that lasted about 20 minutes.
After lunch we headed off to Virgin where I bought 3 CDs and then pottered about the rest of the day.
In the evening we watched Laurence of Arabia. It was rather interesting but we didn't realise it was more than 3.5 hours long so we got to bed later than planned!
Sunday we headed off to Asakusa. There is an area that sells plastic food and I wanted to buy some for my brother as he is a chief. While there I also bought some Japanese drum sticks for my car buddy Nick. We spent ages walking around looking at plastic food so we spent most of Sunday wandering the streets of Asakusa.
Hanabi at Hon-Atsugi!
Hanabi is Japanese for fireworks festival.
Every year every major town or city in Japan has a fireworks festival and on Saturday 2nd August it was the turn of Hon-Atsugi.
We didn't visit much during the day, basically a number fo the streets were closed and there were plenty of stalls selling the usual tat and unhealth but tasty food. There were also 2 or 3 places where there was live music - some of it sounded pretty good, some of it was truely dire!
In the evening we headed off to the side of Sagami River where the fireworks were to take place. We had reserved out place earlier in the day - the Japanese are like the Germans - and we grabbed some food on the way. The fireworks were very pretty but as you can see for some of the pictures we had some problems. Unfortunately were we near to the main thoroughfare and people were walking along this the whole time except when the stopped to watch the fireworks of course. The Japanese Police that were patrolling this were as expected a total waste of space, shouting into there loud speakers which no one could hear and doing little else. A number of people were shouting agressively for people to get out of the way, even Emi joined in!
Afterwards we headed home and the police of some reason directed everyone away from the main 15m wide enterance/exit south down the river. When we got there there were thousands of people climbed up the river bank to pass though a 5m gap in the security fence, this was the exit the police had directed us to. To say I was pissed of would be an understatement, I wanted to swing at one fo the police men!
On the Sunday Emi headed off to see her mother so I spent some time playing Grand Theft Auto on PS3. In the afternoon I met up with Jamie to watch "The Happening". Don't bother to watch this film - a good story but the end of the film and the acting, particularly by Makr Walberk was very poor. Also some of the characters were very strange without adding anything to the story line.
Every year every major town or city in Japan has a fireworks festival and on Saturday 2nd August it was the turn of Hon-Atsugi.
We didn't visit much during the day, basically a number fo the streets were closed and there were plenty of stalls selling the usual tat and unhealth but tasty food. There were also 2 or 3 places where there was live music - some of it sounded pretty good, some of it was truely dire!
In the evening we headed off to the side of Sagami River where the fireworks were to take place. We had reserved out place earlier in the day - the Japanese are like the Germans - and we grabbed some food on the way. The fireworks were very pretty but as you can see for some of the pictures we had some problems. Unfortunately were we near to the main thoroughfare and people were walking along this the whole time except when the stopped to watch the fireworks of course. The Japanese Police that were patrolling this were as expected a total waste of space, shouting into there loud speakers which no one could hear and doing little else. A number of people were shouting agressively for people to get out of the way, even Emi joined in!
Afterwards we headed home and the police of some reason directed everyone away from the main 15m wide enterance/exit south down the river. When we got there there were thousands of people climbed up the river bank to pass though a 5m gap in the security fence, this was the exit the police had directed us to. To say I was pissed of would be an understatement, I wanted to swing at one fo the police men!
On the Sunday Emi headed off to see her mother so I spent some time playing Grand Theft Auto on PS3. In the afternoon I met up with Jamie to watch "The Happening". Don't bother to watch this film - a good story but the end of the film and the acting, particularly by Makr Walberk was very poor. Also some of the characters were very strange without adding anything to the story line.
Into Top Gear
During the week I had discovered a websote where I could download the recent series of Top Gear. Therefore on Saturday 26th I downloaded the whole of the latest series. Those of you that say that is illegal, I am still paying my TV licence while in Japan so I feel I have the right to download it, I have paid for it!
As Emi was out I basically watched some Top Gear, some Peep Show DVDs and got my hair cut, nothing too exciting.
On Sunday I met up with Emi for some lunch and went into Tokyo. Unfortunately my notes of that weekend are rubbish so I can't remember exactly what we did other than we visited Yodabashi Camera in Shinjuku.
In the evening we rented the DVD "The Brave One", it is rather good.
As Emi was out I basically watched some Top Gear, some Peep Show DVDs and got my hair cut, nothing too exciting.
On Sunday I met up with Emi for some lunch and went into Tokyo. Unfortunately my notes of that weekend are rubbish so I can't remember exactly what we did other than we visited Yodabashi Camera in Shinjuku.
In the evening we rented the DVD "The Brave One", it is rather good.
Thursday, 14 August 2008
BBQ by the river
Saturday 19th July Emi and I joined one of Emi's friends Yuki and her palls for a BBQ by a river. I can't remember exactly where it was but it is about half way from where I live to Mt.Fuji.
As you can see from the pictures the view was was good. Also the Japanese were like the Borg - they just set everything up without more than a few words said ebtween them. Also they were very good at preparing the food and getting it all cooked, much better than us Brits!
It was a really nice day in the sun.
The funiest part was when another Nissan guy came over the speak to me. He worked on the GTR engine and had driven a GTR for the first time earlier in the week. He was also very drunk. The conversaion went like this:
"You know GTR"
"Yes"
"It has best acceleration, it has best...cornering, it is the best car in the world"
"Really?"
"have to driven one?"
"No"
"It has the best acceleration...cornering, it is the best in the world"
"Realy?"
"have you driven one"...
Sunday Emi was visiting her mother again so I met up with Jamie and went to Yokohama.
In the Red Brick building (I believe it was an amour store used in WW2) there are various shops and resturants. One of the resturants is a Burger chain whose other 3 resterants are in Santa Cruz (USA), and 2 in Hawai. The choice was very good - you could pick different bread/rolls and cheese plus get extras like bacon - and the taste was very good also. I'm not sure if it was better than MOS Burger but it was very good. Only way to tell would be with a Burger-off!
In the evening I was on my own so rented Death Proof from Tsutaya. Strange film, not realy sure if I like it or not. It might be one of those that had hidden elements to get behind, maybe a second viewing is required.
As you can see from the pictures the view was was good. Also the Japanese were like the Borg - they just set everything up without more than a few words said ebtween them. Also they were very good at preparing the food and getting it all cooked, much better than us Brits!
It was a really nice day in the sun.
The funiest part was when another Nissan guy came over the speak to me. He worked on the GTR engine and had driven a GTR for the first time earlier in the week. He was also very drunk. The conversaion went like this:
"You know GTR"
"Yes"
"It has best acceleration, it has best...cornering, it is the best car in the world"
"Really?"
"have to driven one?"
"No"
"It has the best acceleration...cornering, it is the best in the world"
"Realy?"
"have you driven one"...
Sunday Emi was visiting her mother again so I met up with Jamie and went to Yokohama.
In the Red Brick building (I believe it was an amour store used in WW2) there are various shops and resturants. One of the resturants is a Burger chain whose other 3 resterants are in Santa Cruz (USA), and 2 in Hawai. The choice was very good - you could pick different bread/rolls and cheese plus get extras like bacon - and the taste was very good also. I'm not sure if it was better than MOS Burger but it was very good. Only way to tell would be with a Burger-off!
In the evening I was on my own so rented Death Proof from Tsutaya. Strange film, not realy sure if I like it or not. It might be one of those that had hidden elements to get behind, maybe a second viewing is required.
Hotest day of the year so far
Saturday (12th) was not too interesting. B asically Emi and I popped into Machida and i ended up buying a couple of CDs from HMV.
On the Sunday we went to Emi mother's apartment in the car. On the way we stopped of to eat some Ramen, it was rather good. Emi's grandmother was visiting so she came down to say hello to me. I tried my best Japanese and made a slight faupas - to show my command of the Japanese language I used a little informal Japanese which apparently was rather rude!
Afterwards Emi and I headed off to Konami Sportcentre in Ebina where we should get a Nissan discount. Emi was OK but I wasn't bcause although I had my Nissan pass with me I aparently needed Japanese national insurance number. This made me very mad and I was going to kick up a stink about them being racist but they let me have a trial membership for the day so I calmed down. Having not swam in ages I only managed 1/2 a mile in two goes rather than my old mile non-stop, I was absolutely exhausted.
Sunday was also one of the hotest days of the year so far, it was somewhere in the 40s (in new money, over 100 in old).
On the Sunday we went to Emi mother's apartment in the car. On the way we stopped of to eat some Ramen, it was rather good. Emi's grandmother was visiting so she came down to say hello to me. I tried my best Japanese and made a slight faupas - to show my command of the Japanese language I used a little informal Japanese which apparently was rather rude!
Afterwards Emi and I headed off to Konami Sportcentre in Ebina where we should get a Nissan discount. Emi was OK but I wasn't bcause although I had my Nissan pass with me I aparently needed Japanese national insurance number. This made me very mad and I was going to kick up a stink about them being racist but they let me have a trial membership for the day so I calmed down. Having not swam in ages I only managed 1/2 a mile in two goes rather than my old mile non-stop, I was absolutely exhausted.
Sunday was also one of the hotest days of the year so far, it was somewhere in the 40s (in new money, over 100 in old).
Hard and low
Saturday 5th July was car tuning time.
I met up with Hirakawa-san and headed off for some tasty Ramen at his favourite ramen shop.
After that it was off to his parents house to fit some bits.
I had bought a NISMO suspension kit for my Nissan Silvia but had desided to fit it. The standard suspension is rather good but the NISMO kit lowered the car so it would look better!
It was very hot and humid, I can't imagine how much body mass I lost in sweat. After about 2 hours it was all fitted and the car looked good.
Initial impresions are that it is way to firm for driving in the UK, the buffer clearance is not enough at the front and the rear rebound damping is too much - sorry for the techy talk.
In the evening I met up with Jamie and went to watch Indian Jones film. I wont spoil it for those that haven't seen it but it had some good bits and bad bits but I am glad I watched it.
After the film Jamie and I met up with Mark and wne to MacArther's Garage for a few drinks.
Sunday Emi was at her mothers.
I decided I would ride to the nearest gym that gave me a discount for working at Nissan. I checked it on the map, hopped onto EMi's bike and off I went. After about 45 minutes I could see NTC (Nissan Technical Centre) which was in the next city so I knew I had missed it!
Instead I headed off to QB at Akio-Ishida.
This is a marverlous hair salon. Turn up, put 1000 Yen in a machine, take a ticket and wait in the queue. When it is your turn sit in the seat, tell them how you want your hair - in my case "3 milli kudasai (3 mm please) - and in 5 minutes my hair was cut. When they had finished they put a funny tube on your head and vrooooom. They fuuny tube is a vacuum cleaner that removed all the cur hair! In the end it took 10 minutes, very stereotypical Japanese efficiency.
In the even i met up with some guys over form the UK for food at Outbacks in Ebina. because of this I missed the British GP but I did get to watch it a few weeks later. Hamilton was lucky but then again Ferrari were playing "my first F1 race" and making all sorts of mistakes from bad strategy to a poorly setup car for Massa.
I met up with Hirakawa-san and headed off for some tasty Ramen at his favourite ramen shop.
After that it was off to his parents house to fit some bits.
I had bought a NISMO suspension kit for my Nissan Silvia but had desided to fit it. The standard suspension is rather good but the NISMO kit lowered the car so it would look better!
It was very hot and humid, I can't imagine how much body mass I lost in sweat. After about 2 hours it was all fitted and the car looked good.
Initial impresions are that it is way to firm for driving in the UK, the buffer clearance is not enough at the front and the rear rebound damping is too much - sorry for the techy talk.
In the evening I met up with Jamie and went to watch Indian Jones film. I wont spoil it for those that haven't seen it but it had some good bits and bad bits but I am glad I watched it.
After the film Jamie and I met up with Mark and wne to MacArther's Garage for a few drinks.
Sunday Emi was at her mothers.
I decided I would ride to the nearest gym that gave me a discount for working at Nissan. I checked it on the map, hopped onto EMi's bike and off I went. After about 45 minutes I could see NTC (Nissan Technical Centre) which was in the next city so I knew I had missed it!
Instead I headed off to QB at Akio-Ishida.
This is a marverlous hair salon. Turn up, put 1000 Yen in a machine, take a ticket and wait in the queue. When it is your turn sit in the seat, tell them how you want your hair - in my case "3 milli kudasai (3 mm please) - and in 5 minutes my hair was cut. When they had finished they put a funny tube on your head and vrooooom. They fuuny tube is a vacuum cleaner that removed all the cur hair! In the end it took 10 minutes, very stereotypical Japanese efficiency.
In the even i met up with some guys over form the UK for food at Outbacks in Ebina. because of this I missed the British GP but I did get to watch it a few weeks later. Hamilton was lucky but then again Ferrari were playing "my first F1 race" and making all sorts of mistakes from bad strategy to a poorly setup car for Massa.
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