What are these?

Quiz: Which is the female? (oops!)

Die Hard

Today at the I Lounge there was only E Swan. The table was rather large and an elderly man came in and sat at the other end of the table where he started to eat his packed lunch. He came over and gave us an orange each. E.S. gave him a cake and a cookie in return. Also the lady in charge got a cookie and cake too!
We must be a popular group among all the people who use that place.
Anyway,the room has been booked for the following 2 weeks.
This Friday there will be no lesson.
It will be St. Valentines Day in about an hour so may I wish you all a Happy St Valentines Day . I am getting used to not getting any these days. (sigh)
Nick

This is where my dog works.

A Famous(but tiny) Shop in Grasmere

But what do they sell???? Do you want a hint? You always get the main ingredient with sushi!

Tea Caddy?

Yes. This is called a "tea Caddy". It contains tea. In Japan, ANA planes sometimes have Pokemon on the fuselage(plane body) In England,Wallace and Gromit are on the PG Tips tea caddy!!
No connection? Maybe not.

IT IS TIME FOR A QUIZ!!!

What are these called? They are very traditional in Britain.

I'm back

The bar at The Queens Head (double click to enlarge the picture)
This is outside the Queens Head

Sorry for the lack of posts on this site lately.

I have not forgotten about you all. I sometimes neglect things out of laziness but this time I have been busy making a kids English programme. Making textbooks,flashcards and games. My eyes have been tired with looking at the PC monitor so I didn't feel like using the computer so much.

I have almost finished the book for the first year.

Satisfied? No. I donot have any students to use it yet! (smile)

This Wednesday's class will be at the International Lounge at 10:30.

Tom Cruise cannot attend this week so I will be there instead.

I found this picture the other day.

It is of the bar at The Queens Head pub in Hawkshead at Christmas.

Hawkshead is a lovely village of old houses in the Lake District.

I dropped in there for a beer last year.

It was magical!

People often ask me what I miss about my home country.

I'd have to say "country pubs"

If you were an expatriate (a person living in another country),

what do you think you would miss? (not family or friends as that goes without saying)

See you all soon

I will also add some pictures of Hawkshead.But you already saw them,didn't you?

Good evening. Another chilly day wasn't it?
As usual I have been neglecting the blog.
I added a counter at the bottom ,so you can see how many people come to the site.
I didn't look yet!.
I just had a class at home. I usually give scotty a treat to keep him quiet.
It seems he overdid it and threw up on the carpet during the class.
I have been trying to upload video clips ont this blog ....but failed
Sigh!
I am useless with computers.

By the way. The next class will be at the International Lounge on Wednesday.
Maybe only 2 or 3 will attend.
Last Wednesday there six of you! Great!
I am getting used
I also think we should have a small break (especially in the winter if you knowwhat I mean)
So around 11:15 we will have a 5 minute break to let you powder your noses!
See you soon and keep warm and healthy
Nick

Border Collie Puppies!!

Good evening ladies. It was bitterly cold today, wasn't it?

This is just to remind you or to let you know that the next lesson is at the International Lounge again on Wednesday this week.

Hope to see you then.

Nick

This shows what the average Briton uses or has in his/her lifetime.

Double click the picture to enlarge it.

Hello one and all (That means "everyone")

As usual I have been neglecting this webpage or blog or whatever.

It was a bit chilly this weekend.

Today it was "Coming of age day " and also Dondonyaki day.

I wonder if any people were in a postion where they couldn't decide which to attend.

Maybe not.

Just a reminder that the class on Wednesday 16th is at the International Lounge.

Also if you have any requests for a lesson , please send me an email or a comment on this blog.

Keep warm and don't catch viral gastroenteritis!!

Nick

WEDNESDAY 9th 10:30

There will be a class tomorrow at DOUTOR in Odawara from 10:30. At the moment only 2 will attend. But everyone is welcome ...of course.
It is the season for Snowdrops. This is a Snowdrop wood in Britain.

NEW YEARS' RESOLUTIONS

As you probably predicted here it is!
Did you make any new year resolutions?
I didn't. But will now......
errr ,let me see.
I am going to try not to lose my job again.
I will try and eat healthier food and lose my "love handles"
And I am going to try to stop playing Solitaire on Windows.

How about you young ladies???

The Old Look Scotty

This is when Scotty took part in the elections last year. At least he did better than Mr Kobayashi, who was disqualified!

A mop? No ! Just sleeping and being guarded by my old friend Jack Sparrow!! Jack!! Come home!!

Actually, just cooling down on a hot summers day. He looks sad, but really is saying "AHHHHHHHH!!!! Just the thing!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I hope everyone enjoyed the new year break and didn't over-do it!
The weather was good. Did you do the usual things? Flying kites.badminton in the garden, karuta(hyakuninshu)??? Maybe not.
More likely you watched the NHK song contest and the Ekiden.Right?
Not my cup of tea to tell the truth,but the seem to be new year favourites.
Did anyone go back to their home town to visit relatives?
I did very little. I intended to go to Tokyo to visit relatives, but was a bit under the weather, so gave it a miss.
I got a bit bored being in the house so gave Scotty a hair-cut. I kind of regret it now as no one seems to like it, apart from me.Ah,well. You can't please everyone.
And I did some baking! I made some pies and scones. Very British, aren't I? Especially the spare tyre I now have with all the calories! (it means "fat stomach")
I am not sure when the first lesson will be on Wednesday.There will be a lesson on the 16th of course but I heard from Miss Swan that some people can not attend on the 9th. So if you would like to have a lesson on the 9th please reply to this post.
Otherwise the first class will be on the 16th in a place I will inform you of later.
Nick.

.

Tomorrow there will be a lesson at Akiko's house in Kayama from 6:30.
There will be one last lesson this year at the international lounge on Dec26th(boxing day) Yoshimi and Kumiko will not attend.
Yesterday we had a class at Bistro Janome. It was quite a good location as it was quiet. One problem was that the smells coming from kitchen were appealing!
I wonder if it was crocodile or maybe kangaroo...
Keep warm everybody!

Christmas Quiz

1)What is this bird? It is often associated with Christmas.

2)What are these called?

3)It is a tradition in Britain for kids to go to a --------

4)A bit different than Japan but just as noisy . But there is a present inside. They are used for Christmas table decorations.

5)How does Santa Claus laugh? - - -

6)What does Santa drive?

7) What does Santa Claus climb down?

8)What do you do under the mistletoe at Christmas?

9)What is this called?

10) What is another name for Santa Claus used in Britain?

11)What is this plant called.? It is used for Christmas decorations.
12)What is this animal called? Rudolph was one.

13What do you put under the tree at Christmas?

14)What is DECEMBER 26th called?

15)What is Santa Claus translated into English?

Today, it was the turn of Elizabeth Swan and her choir to take the stage and
sing some Christmas songs.
Seaurchin will appear in Luska on the 23rd with her choir.
What a lot of talented people we have near us.
I can't sing for toffee!

Details and Information

Next Wednesday the class will be at Bistro Janome from 10:30.
It is a restaurant, but the owner will provide coffee and cake for
700 yen each.
Well, it is Christmas!!!(almost Christmas anyway)
The telephone number is 22-4021.
It is situated on the same road as the Mizuho Bank and Yokohama Bank about 50metres past Uokuni fishmongers on the left.It is a salmon pink building with a green sign on the wall.
It is next to a car park (at least there is a blue sign next to the restaurant with a "P" on it.)
If you get lost, call me or the number above and I will send out a rescue team!
I forgot to give you the lesson for next week. I posted it on the blog. I also sent a copy to Tomoko and Eri. I will fax one to Yoshimi and drop one in Akiko's and Kie's post box when I take Shep and Scotty out for a walk later.
Today's expression*
"It's a must!! " You must do it. It is necessary
"It dries up quickly"
"Put your feet up" rest
"Let your hair down" Relax and enjoy it . Party!!
"Bare hands"
"Green fingers"
"Cater for". Nova catered for many kinds of people....R.I.P.
"I have a lot of----- on my hands" I'm busy with -----
".....around here" Do you live around here? Areyou from around here? Can buy a sandwich around here? Is there anywhere to smoke around here? etc
Have fun!

This the Flower arrangement in the church. Very simple,isnt it?

Double click to enlarge the image. It is better to see it big!

The container is a milk pitcher (jug) used on farms. And look at the thickness of the walls!!!

This is the lesson I forgot to give you for next week. Oops!

Christmas is a time for goodwill and sharing. We don’t just give Christmas presents to people who are close to us, we also send Christmas cards to people we know. We also show our appreciation by giving gifts to people who help us on a day to day basis, like the postman or deliverymen. Do you have a similar custom in your country?

Special food is prepared and eaten with great gusto. Turkey with cranberry sauce, mince pies and plum pudding are the most famous of these. People tend to only want to eat these things once a year.　It is a father’s job to carve the turkey! Probably as they soon get tired of them. Have you ever tried any of these things? Do you ever get tired of eating the same thing day in,day out?

Christmas trees are decorated inside the house. Young children look forward to this event. A real tree is preferred, but can be a bit costly. It is a father’s task to choose the tree. Presents are put under and around the tree on Christmas Eve and opened on Christmas Day. These days some people like to put up illuminations outside their house. How do you feel about it?

Holly, evergreen branches, pine cones and wreaths are used to decorate the inside of the house. There is a special Christmassy smell in houses that use the real thing. Churches also are decorated the same way.

Carols are sung usually on Christmas Eve in a church.　There are many familiar tunes. People like to sing the “old favourites” every year. Sometimes carol singers walk around the neighbourhood . They sing in front of houses or public places and you are supposed to give a donation, which goes to a charity. What is your favourite carol?

Kissing under the mistletoe is a very old tradition. If you stand under mistletoe, then you can kiss anyone that stands under it with you. If you were at a party and noticed some mistletoe hanging above the door, what would you do?

Children are taken to the “panto” or pantomime by their parents. It is a kind of musical comedy based on a famous children’s story. Cinderella, Aladdin, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves etc. There is always a prince, a princess a kind comedian who loves the princess, but can’t get her, called “Buttons” and of course the “baddie”. When the baddie appears all the children boo. Does it sound the sort of thing you’d like?

In Britain, the Queen gives her yearly message to her “subjects” on Christmas Day. She addresses the nation about certain issues. The speech is written by the Prime Minister. It is not political. Would it interest you?

People tend to go out on Christmas Eve, stay at home on Christmas Day and watch some sporting event on Boxing Day. Most people finish work on Christmas Eve and go back to work on January 2nd. They don’t clean the house at the end of the year. They just eat too much, drink too much, spend too much money and watch “anything” on television. How does that compare to your year-end? Similar or nothing like it? Whatever you like, please enjoy it…Merry Christmas!!!!

YEW TREE FARM

This farm was used as a location shot in a movie that was on quite recently. Do you know the movie?

Autumn

We've been having lovely weather recently. It is hard for me to stay at home as I like the mood of Autumn. What is the season you like the best?

These pictures are of my home area in Britain.

NEWS

The next Wednesday class will be at the International Lounge (again) From 10:30 to 12:00.

I will mail the lesson to Kumiko and Tomoko. There will be no Friday lesson next week, so Akiko, Midori and Kie will join the Wednesday morning class.

Tomorrow there is a get-together of the ex-Odawara Nova teachers. I wonder how much they have changed. Maybe they have lost weight!!! .....I have. But not enough to notice .

Have a lovely weekend!

By the way, The picture is of Daiichi Seimei Grounds in Oi Town. Now is the peak!

And if you want to see any picture in a larger size on this blog. Click the picture twice and it will enlarge.