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Japan Day 2 - The Loos Of Nagano

Hajimemashite, ("pleased to meet you" in Japanese. And no, the 'shite' bit doesn't sound like you think it does; you rude person!)

Well, I've awoken from my afternoon nap. I just opened the double doors into the lounge and sent Sayaka's best friend, Nonchan, flying 15 feet into the air with surprise. She was obviously asleep on the couch. Not any more, she isn't.

I'm doing this blog now as I am unlikely to have time to do it later on this evening. This is due to the fact that we will shortly be heading over for dinner with Sayaka's family - dinner and alcohol. I'm told that there will be 8 of us there, including me, so I'm feeling quite nervous. I only know about 4 Japanese phrases and none of them is "no thanks, I'm not really a big drinker".

This morning we left our accommodation in Tokyo and jumped on the bullet train (blurred photo 1) to Nagano; a journey which took us about an hour and a half. We were met at the station by Nonchan who drove us back to Sayaka and Mark's place. Whilst Sayaka was busy preparing a delicious spaghetti lunch, I had a quick inspection of their flat and found the toilet to be most interesting (stay with me on this one!) See photo 2. The toilet seat is pre-warmed and it has lots of cool buttons down the side, which Mark told me are especially nice for your botty if you've consumed a troublesome curry the night before. I might have to test some of the buttons out at some point, but am slightly fearful that one of them might suck me down the toilet, never to be seen again! So, if you don't see a 'day 3' on this blog, you'll know what has happened.

After lunch, we went into Nagano's main retail area so that I could get a new suit ("ooh, suits you!") for Mark and Sayaka's party tomorrow. I've chosen one and paid for it and they are altering the trousers ready for pickup tomorrow morning.

Mark is feeling nervous about his speech tomorrow - he's having to learn and recite a whole load of words in old-japanese. I know how nerve-wracking it can be to deliver a speech in a language that I understand (fairly well), let alone doing one in a language that I don't.

Oh, and I've been introduced to Fred; think 'common garden spider' but about four times the size. He is sitting in a web just above the front door steps (see photo 3) and I hope he remains there for the entire duration of my trip. If he's tempted inside the house to say hello, then I may have to stand on the chair and scream like a girl!

Au revoir (sorry, I don't know the Japanese for 'goodbye' yet, so this'll have to do!). I'm off to peel Nonchan off the ceiling.

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Comments (2)

Dec 15, 2009
Vicky said...
is that a gloden orb spider? dont they make quilts from thier silk??<< shudder>>
Dec 15, 2009
Alastair Hazell said...
Good question, Vicky. I'm not sure. Whatever it was, by UK standards it was big!

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