This is my Dad's baby picture and it makes me laugh every time I look at it. He hasn't changed much!
Patrick James Dunn I had just finished the first chapter of The Diaper Diaries when this picture was taken. My Dad knew I was destined for literary greatness, even then! Sharktooth Annie even arranged to have me attend school before I turned six so that I could get a head start on my Magnum Opus!
Ayn P Grandma Dunn has often spoken in the past about what a perfect child you were...until the green bean incident...it was all down hill after that.
Patrick James Dunn Just kept getting better looking and more adorable all the time! Greetings from Omiya! Just waiting on platform 18 for next Bullet Train to take us to Nagano!
Hi Brenda Louise!
Glad NY was so enjoyable. Everyone I know who has been there cannot rave enough about the place. Of course, Cora Lee is mad with jealousy! She loved quip about shoes!
Sorry to hear from you from Emergency! Trust diagnosis isn't serious and incapacitating, especially in light of your coming trip. You and Cora Lee can compare notes,on pre-travel ailments!
Rail pass is certainly the way to travel around this country. System works like a charm. Need to buy them them before you leave home if you choose to travel this way. Highly recommend this comfortable and very, very efficient way to move from place to place. You may know this but it was new to us. One lines up, on the platform, to board the particular car printed on your reservation ticket. All this indicated on platform surface and electronic schedule boards above.. As well, at certain stations, squads of cleaners board the train rmabout ten minutes or so ttbefore it departs to give it a thorough going over. One of the cleaners stands by the door with a plastic trash bag and bows to each passenger as that person puts their garbage in the receptacle. Once the Dust Busters are aboard the train doors close until they emerge, the bathrooms swabbed, the upholsery brushed and the chrome polished, one imagines. Lining up next to the exit door their crew leader stands in front of them and then they all bow, in unison. Quite a show! Still, trains are spotless. One of the endlessly fascinating aspects of a truly remarkable culture.
Another example comes to mind and occurred the day after we arrived in Tokyo when I visited a huge electronics department store to buy a sim card for my iPad. Was there just after it opened and was almost immediately accompanied to counter where I could make my purchase. Had to walk past twenty or thirty other employees, (Canada's stores could learn from this service model!), all standing at their respective counters/posts, and each one bowed to me as I walked past. I felt like Royalty, never mind the Millionaires! However, think I might have a permanent "rictus" grin on my face once we are back at The Island Inn. Everyone is so damned polite that you end up mimicking said behaviour and thanking people for thanking you. This usually involves two or three people as often first person approached has no English, "Sorry, wait please," and then another speaker arrives and on it goes! Must say that we really havehad little difficulty, in spite of our inability to speak Japanese, as everyone is keen to help and genuinely friendly.
Yesterday we spent a wonderful two hours or more at the Fukishima Prefecture Museum. Stunningly informative displays in spite of the fact that few, if any, of the labels or larger panels provided explanatons in English. One of the most striking features of the museum, as a whole, was that, more often than not, the artifacts exhibited were placed in both historical and geographical context. For example, pottery and cutting tools were displayed together with photographs of the archeological sites from which they were unearthed, even specific sections of these sites, (dwelling foundations, burial mounds, middens on lakeshores and river banks, etc.), so that one could have a much clearer picture of how these artifacts were used and where eventually discovered. Furthermore, numerous maps showed the location of such sites, across the prefecture and the country as a whole. Don't think I've ever enjoyed myself in a museum as much. Funnily enough, not really having to worry about reading any of the text associated with the displays, frees one to simply absorb the pieces and let them speak for themselves.
A number of school classes were on field trips while we were there so it was quite a hoot to observe the elementary/junior high students trying rmthemto answer their assigned quizzes. Just like school kids everywhere but perhaps more polite. Many times we would be surrounded, at a given exhibit, by a pack and peppered with "Hellos"! Don't think they really knew what a treasure their community had provided for them. Just a fun outing, I'm sure. Of course I don't begrudge them their youth but I was so taken with the collections, their arrangement and display features that I suppose I wanted the same experience for them.
Back on the bus after our cultural obligations were fulfilled and we rode it to the end of the line, Stop #35, Hiyagami Onsen, a small town, more a village to the north of Aizu itself.
The following message is composed of a number of different installments, (Think of it as a serialized novel in The New Yorker. Editorial staff there are always clamouring for my travelogues, as you can well imagine, Dear Reader!), composed over the last two days here in Aizu-Wakamatsu Town! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Canadian Visit and Greetings from Japan!
Hi June!
At present we are in Aizu Wakamatsu, Samurai City, about three hours, by train, north of Tokyo. Arrived here yesterday afternoon. Went to a tiny hole in the wall yesterday evening for dinner, rice and grilled beef, chicken and pork on skewers, as we'd had a fab sushi meal in Tokyo the night before. Will go to a Mom and Pop sushi spot almost immediately next door to our hotel this evening. Full day of sightseeing and then a spa, mineral hot springs, at one of the numerous places which abound in this area. Snow on the mountains so it is almost like being back in Vancouver Terrific spring weather.
About your visit, I don't think that you'll be able to purchase a sim card for your phone at the airport but perhaps I'm wrong. I've never had to do so, in Vancouver, at least, so I'm not familiar with what is available in this reagrd. At any rate, you van make a local call and need the 10 digit number, (area code and individual phone number), which Chloe provided: 604-341-0291. I know I can speak for her in saying that you are welcome to stay on the dates you mention, or longer, depending on how your plans unfold.
I'll let you deal with Chloe about the key but as she has indicated, it is a tad confusing to find our patio if you have never been to our place before. Not all that difficult, however. When you find the entrance, off Lamey's Mill Road, (Just mention you are looking for Granville Island Market and almost anyone you approach will tell you how to get there.), you are looking for 1425, between the entrance to the Market itself, under the Granville Street Bridge, and Alder Crossing, a small bridge over the rail tracks which run parallel to Lamey's Mill Road. I mention these two end points as if you go beyond either one, you are not in the righ zone. Not a big deal as you can simply turn around and retrace your steps. Dean's Store is a small convenicnec outlet in the bay before our building if you are coming from the east.
Once you've actually found our parkade there will be some visitor parking. It is a small lot so there might not be a stall available but don't worry. Park somewhere that isn't blocking any parked vehicles and send Myrtle up the stairs to the left of the large garage door. Bear to your left once you reach the top of the flight and take the path, to yout right, which runs down a slight slope, between our building and the next. There is a small chain fence at the top, intende dto keep vehicles off the grass. Walk along this path until you come to another small path, a set of paving stones, with a sign which says #20 Island Inn, with a cheeky gray cat below. Walk onto the patio, (not down the small set of stairs to your right), and look for the spot where the key is hidden! I suggest under the mat in front of the sliding door but I'll let Chloe decide.
One of the keys will be to this door. When you put it in the lock, press the door to your left as it makes opening the latch easier. Anyway, you can floow most of these directions to find our palce and the patio but with any luck you'll bbe able to caht with Chloe and arrange to mee tin person, either at our place or at Granville Island Brewerey, but a few minutes walk away.
Thank you for the kind invitation to stay. Much appreciated. All the best for now. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Patrick, Many thanks for the info. Maybe we can contact Chloe on Sunday. Does she work at the Brewery or near it? Regards, June
Hi June:
Chloe works in the Sales Room at the Granville Island Brewery. It is a very small, boutiqyue operation, not something like Guinness in Dublin, for example. If she is working when you arrrive and you talk to her you can actually drive right to the brewery and park near the door for long enouugh to get the key from her. You have to drive onto Granville Island and the road leads right past the brewery. Anyway, you'll need to arrange this with her but it is another option. I'm sure everything will work out.
We went out for an incredible French meal tonight. Young chef trained as an architect but his passion was food. Quite a wonderful pairing of French and Japanese. Five course meal with three different wines, one apperatif, a Japanese plum wine, delicious, then a SB and a Sangiovese. All very respectable. His parents work in the small restaurant, serving, etc. Lovely family. Off to Nagano tomorrow. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Keep looking as you'll need them for Nana! We went out for an incredible French meal tonight. Young chef trained as an architect but his passion was food. Quite a wonderful pairing of French and Japanese. Five course meal with three different wines, one apperatif, a Japanese plum wine, delicious, then a SB and a Sangiovese. All very respectable. His parents work in the small restaurant, serving, etc. Lovely family. Unfortunately, Nana just woke up a few minutes ago and was terribly sick to her stomach. Whether it was something during dinner which didn't agree with her or the sushi I bought at the grocery store to have late this afternoon, we'll probably never know. Since she mentioned that she couldn't have wheat she was presented with a slightly different dish for fish course. I had shrimp wrapped in a pastry while she had scallops and large mussels. I tasted part of one of the scallops but not the mussel. That is the only thing we didn't both have so perhaps they were off. Such a shame as it was probably one of best dinners, of its kind, that we have ever had. Only hope she will not be overly affected by this now that her poor tummy has done its best to empty itself. Ironically, it was me with the case of food poisoning in Stockholm, the night before we left for Berlin. I could hardly move the next day. We make for Nagano tomorrow morning and train is reasonably comfortable. If my experience was any measure, she'll wan to sleep for most of journey. Send her your love and wishes for a speedy recovery!
Hi TNT!
Great snap of Mya! Soccer Woman in the making!!! Have realaly been enjoying Japan. Weather has been wonderful so sightseeing has been more than enjoyable.
Ayn P *he wrote as his muse dashed back for yet another session in the bathroom*...the Japan Diarheas, er...Diaries
Patrick James Dunn Nana will definitely not be amused! She is sleeping peacefully as we whiz past rice paddies and mixed vegetable fields. She's probably dreaming about having Maggie on her lap to comfort her sore tummy since her eldest child is mocking her pain and suffering! Time to get back to the Projectile Diaries!!!
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