Ippoippo

Hmmm, smallholdings… but where? UK or Japan.

Anyway, been busy looking around, and found some good sites which I’ll be following from now on.
Ken Elwood
Happy Black Sheep (Transition Initiative)
– Thing Transition Town initiative, like in the UK.
Inaka Life 田舎の生活
Kitchen Garden Japan
SHIZEN NOU 自然農　- Natural Farming in Japan
Wallabi’s Farm

Well done to the BBC for actually showing this.

Not so well done for not making this available again on DVD. Ahh, well, it’s out there now.
During one of my tutorial meetings for one of the Open University courses I’m doing, the tutor and I were discussing that this video is a pretty good bit of material that should now be included in the courses as a good discussion point.

Ahh, good old Englishman in Osaka. What more do you want than three Japanese ex-PMs dancing away to some festive music.

Meanwhile, I’ve got problems with the neighbours. Grrr, silly buggers decided they fancied the look of our Parsley and other things growing in the garden. So, he jumped over the fence, breaking it in the process. Grrr, stupid cow. Well, actually, stupid bull!!

Not easy trying to persuade a very large animal to get back into the field from where it came
The first time he did this was a couple of weeks ago. He’s decided to do it again this morning. At least this time, he seems to have got used to me and went more quietly.
Eventually, I shall have my revenge on him, when part of him is sitting on my plate, mwahhhhhh!!!!

Still, he’s added a few more potholes into the lawn with his big hooves. Ahhh, the joys of living in the countryside.

As I type this, the roast is on the go in the oven, and myself and Yuko are about to chill out with a nice bit of sparkling white wine!

It’s been a bit of a busy week, despite me being on holiday since last Friday (and I go back to work on Tuesday). Yuko has been off since Saturday, and she also goes back to work on Tuesday as well.

Rugby

So, Saturday was rugby day with us watching Wales vs New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium.
The second half was a bit of a disappointment, though the first was quite entertaining. Behind us, we had two Welsh chaps who were exceedingly good singers and got everyone going.
One of the big talking points though was the showdown before the game even started!! As New Zealand started their Haka, the Welsh crowd got quite vocal and started singing Cwm Rhondda. Great stuff. Then there was the stare-off!! There had been rumours that something was going to happen. This time, the Welsh players refused to move away on completion of the Haka, and that seems to have annoyed a few New Zealanders. Indeed, it’s a bit of a talking point leading up to the England vs New Zealand game tomorrow.

Was it disrespectful? Hmmm, don’t know. I suppose I should do some proper research into it. However, at the time, the crowd loved it.

Chilling, and then down to business

After all the fun and games on Saturday, we had a bit of a pampering and chill out session. Well, it was both Yuko’s and my birthday so a bit of pampering at a Spa. Tense back and shoulders well and truly sorted out.
It was a shame then that work got all undone when Yuko and I headed up to Liverpool.
Grrrrrr, what a bloody horrible, badly sign posted one-way system.

We were up in Liverpool for the evening, since Tuesday morning was Yuko’s appointment with the immigration department. Hurrah, after two years of entry clearance, she now has permission to stay here indefinitely.

With all that done, we took the scenic route back through North Wales and stayed over at Dolffanog Bach.
Great location, great food and great hosts.