Thats all fokes! Its all over until September.
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Hello you lot, Monday; Had to wake up a bit early to see Simon off. He said that he quite enjoyed his time here in Japan but did find that his money went very quickly. I can agree with that.
Tuesday; Last day at work for me! Made sure that everything was packed, as far as I could and went to work. I think the weather know that I was leaving as it started to rain but I didn't get too wet going to work. In the morning we went to Asahi TV and on the way back we had a very bad Taxi driver who skidded around a couple of corners because the roads were wet. I was glad to get out of it. Reza was going to Canada for a holiday followed by some training at Montreal so left about 3;00 to get to the plane in plenty of time. We shook hands and he said that he was looking forward to me coming back in September. I asked who was going to do the tech support for the three weeks that he was in Canada now that I wasn't going to be here. He said "Ryo" and that he would still collect his emails. I wished him luck. When I cycled home that evening it really peed it down, I was sopping wet by the time I got home! Still, I had a hot bath to comfort me. My last one in a Japanese bath for some time. I made my final dinner out of all the leftovers and listened to Radio2 on the internet for the last time. Next time I listen to Radio 2 it will be live in England. About 11 at night I put the laptop and all the bits and pieces that I didn't want to take home but thought that someone at the office could use. It wasn't raining and was quite a nice night. I dropped off all the stuff and the saddest bit was leaving Bikey-sans keys on my desk. Hope he is looked after while I am away. On the walk back to Takanawa I stopped to get my last Japanese cake, I couldn't find a custard filled one so had to put up with a plain one. It made a nice pudding anyway. Went to bed just after midnight. Wednesday; Woke up with the sun and did the final bit of packing and left the Takanawa flat for the last time ever. The landlord is going to knock it down at the end of May so I could come back here even if I wanted to. As I put the keys to the flat and the office in an envelope in the post box I thought what that I would miss this place, when I had gone. It was a lot better then the Ichinoe place.
The Narita Express was not quite as fancy as I remembered it. I think that going on the Bullet Train had spoiled me. The flight back was OK with nothing much to report. I was really happy to be back in England and even the rain didn't dampen my spirits as I took the Rail Air Coach to Reading. I chatted to the coach driver who was a bit of a laugh and I liked the fact that I could understand everything that he said and all the road signs etc. You don't know what a relief that is.
Well thats it for now. Hope you enjoyed visiting this website as much as I did making it. Cheers me dears. Paul Fincher.
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That night after work we went out to a Korean BBQ place for my Office Sayonara party. Kevin gave this one because he had missed the one on Sunday night. I know that it sounds like all I do is go out for meals but that is probably because I do! Most of the people from the office turned up and Kevin invited three women from a Hong Kong magazine publishing house. It was a great night even if the food was a bit meaty. I would have liked some carbohydrate or veg to offset all the meat that I had to eat.
On the way home I had Reza take a photo of me outside a dentist that looks more like a posh club. Reza explained that dentists earn so much money from cosmetic dentistry that their customers expect a fancy front to their clinic because of the prices they are charged!
The walk to Shinagawa Station was great, the sun was up and last nights rain had freshened up the whole place. I had to drag the case with wheels around a couple of puddles but like most things in Japan, the drainage is very efficient and even though it had been a monsoon torrent of rain yesterday, it had all gone by then.
Pity that it has rained almost constantly since I have been back. The cherry trees at the bottom of my garden are all in bloom, just like an English version of Hanami! Even the Bluebells are gorgeous in the wood near me. Now all I have to do is ring all my friends and family to say I'm back.