Back in the JA of P to the AN..

Well I'm back, after being up for about 24 hours, a 14 hour plane journey next to a very long legged member of the Finnish athletics squad, a 3 and a half hour train journey fighting off sleep and a short but expensive taxi journey I'm back in my Japan, back in Kawai cho, back in my house and back at the computer. Hurrarrr?

So England....err yeah its big, there's lots of people from all over the world there, Everyone makes big hand gestures, pubs and take aways.
It's a little odd to be back, as while I was in England Japan seemed like a bit of a dream, I'd try and tell people about some of the things I've done there like "this one time I went on an all you can eat weekend where I ate my own body weight in beef (the only time I've ever seen really big Japanese people) , or the restaurant where you eat Ina prison, or this other time I dressed as Harry potter for School" and then cue the blank stares.
But now I'm back in Japan my three weeks away all seem a bit hazy, did I really head off all around the Midlands while basking in the sunshine, head on down to London, wander through Brick lane potter around the new Rough trade, and then indulge my geeky side and see that Star wars exhibition all the while eating all that food? Errrr Actually my credit card says I did.

Anyway I've brought back as much Angel delight, toothpaste, stuffing and Take a breaks as I can fit in my bag so T.O.H is happy. And I get to see T.O.H so I'm happy, Every ones a winner.

Well I should also say thanks to everyone I saw, ate take aways opposite, drank beer next to, and sang "I am the music man" with. I couldn't actually have wished for a better three weeks holiday so thank you everyone.
I can't really write about everything I did, you'll be happy to hear, but will add some bongs and highlights.

Bong. Well first up the weather, yep as I mentioned before, and to anyone who would listen, was it an amazing coincidence that it was bright sunshine from when when I arrive and now raining again when I leave. hmmm no it's me. Thank yous' can take the form of checks if that's easier.





Bong. Well Leicester currently looks like its a massive massive building site, because it is a massive massive building site, the Shires has been ripped open, scaffolding and cranes are everywhere and there's so many people walking around in neon jackets, oh no that's just the dog end of the (spits on floor) new rave fashion.
Actually speaking of fashion, it appears the current trend in Leicester and Birmingham is for explorer/Sahara style scarves wrapped around peoples necks which look ridiculous because;
A) In the bright weather they look very very bad with just T shirts and shorts while making me want to shout COME ON YOUR NOT IN THE DESERT NOW!
B) I might be wrong but weren't they the fashion from last year? Although it might say something about how slowly fashion trends trickle upwards from London.
However if you do happen to be in Leicester ( or Li - ces- ter shir--eee, as Americans would say) I would still recommend going to the New Walk museum and seeing the Picasso exhibition there, a huge range or pottery pieces either made by Picaso or straight from his own designs, I've never really enjoyed pottery but these are all extremly vivid, and sometimes truelly beautful, helped by an extremly well thought out curation (is that a word?) which helps highlight every raised texture and change of colour. Sadly I couldn't take any photo's for security reasons but I did take a picture of a mummy breaking through a wall, which is almost as good.

Right more later but in the meantime here's me and my mother and father enjoying my first morning in England for 2 years, well I say enjoying but I think I still look as if I need several more hours of sleep and a lesson in smiling for the camera. Still you gewt the picture.