I'm not at all contemptuous of
comforts, but they have their place and it is not first. -E.F.
Schumacher, economist and author (1911-1977)
Hi Sarge!
I gather you enjoyed
a great haul from The Naramata and environs! Have really been on a
whirlwind last few days, ever since leaving Hiroshima. Time in Kyoto and
Maibara, (nearbye), with Toshi at the family home, (second home,
"cabin"), of Naomi, the auditor of the company she works for, and his
wife, Meiko, and then back to Kyoto again, yesterday, (Shinkansen,
Bullet Train trips of only an hour or so, were simply remarkbale. The
temples and shrines in both places, many that we saw are desognated
World Heritage sites, are stunning in their beauty and quite different,
in terms of garden style, architecture, etc. We are taking the train
into Osaka around 10:30am this morning to have a lunch at Tomiko's
cousin's yakatori restaurant. Tokio has very kindly offered to host a
party for about 15 relatives. His daughter Ayako, is Toshi's second
cousin and her husband, Takao, runs the restaurant with his
father-in-law. Gorgeous day here as I see is the case in Vancouver as
well.
We head into Tokyo tomorrow morning, about three hours
with local connections, etc, where we will stay for three nights. Leave
quite early Thursday morning to be back in Vancouver at 1:20pm, in time
to go for a ride to Seymour Demonstration Forest while Chloe vacuums!
Cheers, Cora Lee and Patrizzio!
Hi June!
So glad all went so
well with your visit to Vancouver and environs. Terrifc that you found
your old school! I did the same a few years ago, In Elliott Lake,
Ontario, where we moved after leaving Cyprus, in 1959. Yes, sorry that
we won't connect this time around. You'll simply have to return!
Has
really been on a whirlwind last few days, ever since leaving
Hiroshima. Time in Kyoto and Maibara, (nearbye), with Toshi at the
family home, (second home, "cabin"), of Naomi, the auditor of the
company she works for, and his wife, Meiko, and then back to Kyoto
again, yesterday, (Shinkansen, Bullet Train trips of only an hour or so,
were simply remarkbale. The temples and shrines in both places, many
that we saw are desognated World Heritage sites, are stunning in their
beauty and quite different, in terms of garden style, architecture, etc.
We are taking the train into Osaka around 10:30am this morning to have a
lunch at Tomiko's cousin's yakatori restaurant. Tokio has very kindly
offered to host a party for about 15 relatives. His daughter Ayako, is
Toshi's second cousin and her husband, Takao, runs the restaurant with
his father-in-law. Gorgeous day here as I see is the case in Vancouver
as well. Hope Tofino weather has cooperated.
All the best. Enjoy last bit of time in Vancouver and then in Rockies. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Morana!
Trust you are well. Yesterday, Ayn, our daughter in LA, reminded us that
it was, in fact, the Victoria Day Long Weekend, first long summer
weekend in Canada. (One simply loses track of time after a while. Each
day seems just like another on the travel roller coaster!) By chance, we
enjoyed Victoria Day at the Victoria Hotel, a booking made some time
ago. We dined at a lovely Chinese restaurant, (Cora Lee claimed she
needed a break from Sushi this and Sushi that, mainly the pickled
vegetables, I suspect!), about two minutes away, near the entrance to
the fairly large Chinatown here. Gorgeous entrance gates and attractive,
colourful metal dragons overhead along the narrow streets of the
precinct. Apparently, according to Coramandel Steves, the Chinese had a
very early influence in Japan, here, following the Portuguese and Dutch
when foreigners were allowed in. At the moment, my local guide is
snoring gently, resting her foot, which still acts up, particulary with a
lot of walking, for the busy tour of the city's highlights to come! We
plan to buy a one-day tram pass to get around the city, a comfortably
sized place with very friendly inhabitants, based on the people who have
gone well out of their way to help us when we've asked for directions.
Time to make another hit of java, (Starbucks Instanto sticks purchased
in Tokyo as emergency rations!), and sip it from our multi-purpose
tea/sake cups!
Cheers, Coriandre "Rick Steves", broadcasting, semi-live, on location in Japan, and Patrizzio, her trusty, underpaid Sherpa!
Dear Patrick,
Your travels sound lovely and I must admit I'm super-envious. Australia
and Japan have always been on my must visit list, but I'm afraid I'll
have to wait for quite some time to muster the money necessary to travel
to that part of the globe. Are you putting some photos up somewhere?
I’m a big photography enthusiast and I’d love to see all these wonderful
places, although reading your e-mail also gives me quite a good feel of
what it’s like.
Zagreb is all work and work as always. Andrija and I took some days off
at the end of April to attend a friend’s wedding at the coast, so we
enjoyed some off time on the beach and visited our cousins. I’m planning
of taking a short vacation at the end of June – again a short trip to
the seaside or maybe paying a visit to friends who recently moved to
Vienna. We still have no idea where to spend our big two-week vacation
at the end of August. I wanted to go to Greece or Egypt, but we’re quite
budget-challenged, so I guess this fact is going to bear the most
weight in making the final decision.
I’m looking forward to hearing some more about Japan when you come back.
I’m a big admirer of Japanese culture and actually tried to enroll
Japanese studies some time ago, but did not get in on the first try and
second time around I was already finishing college so I was too late.
Arigato for the lovely e-mail and hope to hear form you soon.
Love,
Morana
Saturday, 9 June 2012
SDBT: Friday, May 25th
Every increased possession loads us with new weariness. -John Ruskin, author, art critic, and social reformer (1819-1900)
Home.
When are you back. Sarge 
Chloe Alexis Dunn Nana is always ahead of the trends!!!!
Home.
When are you back. Sarge
Patrick James Dunn Nana's glasses are now "IN", here in Tokyo!
Chloe Alexis Dunn Nana is always ahead of the trends!!!!
SDBT: Thursday, May 24th
People change and forget to tell each other. -Lillian Hellman, playwright (1905-1984)
GRAINS OF SAND MAGNIFIED 250 TIMES!
GRAINS OF SAND
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2011471/Pictures-sand-Close-p
hotographs-reveal-incredible-beauty.html
Beauty in every grain: For the first time remarkable photographs reveal
hidden charms of ordinary SAND
By Daily Mail Reporter Created 3:12 PM on 5th July 2011
Viewed at a magnification of over 250 times real life, tiny grains of sand
are shown to be delicate, colourful structures as unique as snowflakes.
When seen well beyond the limits of human eyesight, the miniature particles
are exposed as fragments of crystals, spiral fragments of shells and crumbs
of volcanic rock.
Professor Gary Greenberg who has a PhD in biomedical research from
University College London said: 'It is incredible to think when you are
walking on the beach you are standing on these tiny treasures.
Magnified:The grains are shown to be delicate, colourful structures each as
unique as a snowflake.
Colourful: The miniature particles are exposed as fragments of crystals,
spiral fragments of shells and crumbs of volcanic rock.
HOW SAND IS MADE
Sand is tiny fragments of rock that have been worn away over thousands of
years.
Contrary to popular belief, sand is made as rocks crash and break in rivers
and streams on their way to the sea, rather than the ebb and flow of the
tides.
Deposits left by breaking rocks in the sea turns to silt and is much lighter
so is dispersed over a much wider area out to sea, rather than on the shore
line.
Some of the rock is soluble, but other bits remain and as they are slowly
rubbed down over time they get smaller and smaller until they become what we
know as sand.
'Every time I look through my microscope I am fascinated by the complexity
and individuality created by a combination of nature and the repeated
tumbling of the surf on a beach.'
Prof Greenberg, who searches through thousands of tiny rocks with
acupuncture needles to find and arrange the most perfect specimens, then
uses a painstaking technique to create his images.
He has spent five years searching the globe for remarkable sand grains like
these to photograph.
He said: 'Extreme close up photography normally gives a very shallow depth
of field so I had to develop a new process to make the pictures that I
wanted.
'I take dozens of pictures at different points of focus then combine them
using software to produce my images.
'Although the pictures look simple each grain of sand can take hours to
photograph in a way that I am happy with.
'The beach nearest my lab is Haiku, Hawaii but my pictures show sand from
all round the world from Japan to Ireland.'
Hi Pat and Corine,
We haven't had a dispatch fro Pat lately so hopefully all is well and you haven't been kidnapped or robbed or anything..... I don't think we are clear about when you plan to return to sunny Vancouver.
I got back from my trip a week ago, it was really great. It was action packed and I will tell youna bit about it when we meet up, although your travel stories will be more interesting, I am sure.
We plan to stick around Vancouver most of the summer... And I was just wondering if you might be planning on attending the Folk Festival at Jericho this year? I have wanted to go to this for ages but never find anyone interested. The lineup this year looks pretty good. So if you plan to go, I will too.
When are you due back here? Looking forward to catching up with you both.
All the best, Sylvia
Greetings from Kyoto!
Hi Chloe!
Arrived here today, around noon, and after checking into our Japanese Inn, (back to sleeping onthe floor), Matsubaya Ryokan, we bought a one-day bus pass and took a ride to the Ginkakuji Temple. It is noted for its Zen Bhuddist garden and it was truly amazing, stunningly beautiful. Back in our hotel now and I'll have a shower as soon as I've sent this message. We will head out for dinner shortly. Love to you and Maggie and Mom. How is she? How did visit with June go? Fondestos, Tatami Mat Dad!
Greetings from Nagasaki!
Hi June!
Trust you are well and were able to "break-in" to The Island Inn! Thanks, in advance, for bringing the single malt. Much appreciated. Yesterday, Ayn, Chloe's sister in LA, reminded us that it was, in fact, the Victoria Day Long Weekend. (One simply loses track of time after a while. Each day seems just like another on the travel roller coaster!) By chance, we enjoyed Victoria Day at the Victoria Hotel, a booking made some time ago. We dined at a lovely Chinese restaurant, (Cora Lee claimed she needed a break from Sushi this and Sushi that, mainly the pickled vegetables, I suspect!), about two minutes away, near the entrance to the fairly large Chinatown here. Gorgeous entrance gates and attractive, colourful metal dragons overhead along the narrow streets of the precinct. Apparently, according to Coramandel Steves, the Chinese had a very early influence in Japan, here, following the Portuguese and Dutch when foreigners were allowed in. At the moment, my local guide is snoring gently, resting her foot, which still acts up, particulary with a lot of walking, for the busy tour of the city's highlights to come! We plan to buy a one-day tram pass to get around the city, a comfortably sized place with very friendly inhabitants, based on the people who have gone well out of their way to help us when we've asked for directions. Time to make another hit of java, (Starbucks Instanto sticks purchased in Tokyo as emergency rations!), and sip it from our multi-purpose tea/sake cups!
Looking forward to Kyoto as well. Enjoy your holiday in Canada. Cheers, Cora Lee "Rick Steves", broadcasting, semi-live, on location from Japan, and Patrizzio, her trusty, underpaid Sherpa!
GRAINS OF SAND MAGNIFIED 250 TIMES!
GRAINS OF SAND
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2011471/Pictures-sand-Close-p
hotographs-reveal-incredible-beauty.html
Beauty in every grain: For the first time remarkable photographs reveal
hidden charms of ordinary SAND
By Daily Mail Reporter Created 3:12 PM on 5th July 2011
Viewed at a magnification of over 250 times real life, tiny grains of sand
are shown to be delicate, colourful structures as unique as snowflakes.
When seen well beyond the limits of human eyesight, the miniature particles
are exposed as fragments of crystals, spiral fragments of shells and crumbs
of volcanic rock.
Professor Gary Greenberg who has a PhD in biomedical research from
University College London said: 'It is incredible to think when you are
walking on the beach you are standing on these tiny treasures.
Magnified:The grains are shown to be delicate, colourful structures each as
unique as a snowflake.
Colourful: The miniature particles are exposed as fragments of crystals,
spiral fragments of shells and crumbs of volcanic rock.
HOW SAND IS MADE
Sand is tiny fragments of rock that have been worn away over thousands of
years.
Contrary to popular belief, sand is made as rocks crash and break in rivers
and streams on their way to the sea, rather than the ebb and flow of the
tides.
Deposits left by breaking rocks in the sea turns to silt and is much lighter
so is dispersed over a much wider area out to sea, rather than on the shore
line.
Some of the rock is soluble, but other bits remain and as they are slowly
rubbed down over time they get smaller and smaller until they become what we
know as sand.
'Every time I look through my microscope I am fascinated by the complexity
and individuality created by a combination of nature and the repeated
tumbling of the surf on a beach.'
Prof Greenberg, who searches through thousands of tiny rocks with
acupuncture needles to find and arrange the most perfect specimens, then
uses a painstaking technique to create his images.
He has spent five years searching the globe for remarkable sand grains like
these to photograph.
He said: 'Extreme close up photography normally gives a very shallow depth
of field so I had to develop a new process to make the pictures that I
wanted.
'I take dozens of pictures at different points of focus then combine them
using software to produce my images.
'Although the pictures look simple each grain of sand can take hours to
photograph in a way that I am happy with.
'The beach nearest my lab is Haiku, Hawaii but my pictures show sand from
all round the world from Japan to Ireland.'
Hi Pat and Corine,
We haven't had a dispatch fro Pat lately so hopefully all is well and you haven't been kidnapped or robbed or anything..... I don't think we are clear about when you plan to return to sunny Vancouver.
I got back from my trip a week ago, it was really great. It was action packed and I will tell youna bit about it when we meet up, although your travel stories will be more interesting, I am sure.
We plan to stick around Vancouver most of the summer... And I was just wondering if you might be planning on attending the Folk Festival at Jericho this year? I have wanted to go to this for ages but never find anyone interested. The lineup this year looks pretty good. So if you plan to go, I will too.
When are you due back here? Looking forward to catching up with you both.
All the best, Sylvia
Greetings from Kyoto!
Hi Chloe!
Arrived here today, around noon, and after checking into our Japanese Inn, (back to sleeping onthe floor), Matsubaya Ryokan, we bought a one-day bus pass and took a ride to the Ginkakuji Temple. It is noted for its Zen Bhuddist garden and it was truly amazing, stunningly beautiful. Back in our hotel now and I'll have a shower as soon as I've sent this message. We will head out for dinner shortly. Love to you and Maggie and Mom. How is she? How did visit with June go? Fondestos, Tatami Mat Dad!
Greetings from Nagasaki!
Hi June!
Trust you are well and were able to "break-in" to The Island Inn! Thanks, in advance, for bringing the single malt. Much appreciated. Yesterday, Ayn, Chloe's sister in LA, reminded us that it was, in fact, the Victoria Day Long Weekend. (One simply loses track of time after a while. Each day seems just like another on the travel roller coaster!) By chance, we enjoyed Victoria Day at the Victoria Hotel, a booking made some time ago. We dined at a lovely Chinese restaurant, (Cora Lee claimed she needed a break from Sushi this and Sushi that, mainly the pickled vegetables, I suspect!), about two minutes away, near the entrance to the fairly large Chinatown here. Gorgeous entrance gates and attractive, colourful metal dragons overhead along the narrow streets of the precinct. Apparently, according to Coramandel Steves, the Chinese had a very early influence in Japan, here, following the Portuguese and Dutch when foreigners were allowed in. At the moment, my local guide is snoring gently, resting her foot, which still acts up, particulary with a lot of walking, for the busy tour of the city's highlights to come! We plan to buy a one-day tram pass to get around the city, a comfortably sized place with very friendly inhabitants, based on the people who have gone well out of their way to help us when we've asked for directions. Time to make another hit of java, (Starbucks Instanto sticks purchased in Tokyo as emergency rations!), and sip it from our multi-purpose tea/sake cups!
Looking forward to Kyoto as well. Enjoy your holiday in Canada. Cheers, Cora Lee "Rick Steves", broadcasting, semi-live, on location from Japan, and Patrizzio, her trusty, underpaid Sherpa!
Hi Patrick,
Thanks for your email. We
are in Tofino and will be returning to Vancouver on Saturday. I am
sorry we will not be able to meet this time as we are going on
the Rocky Mountaineer on 29th and then we will be in Alberta till we
return to UK. It is beautiful today and we have seen whales and sea lions. Tomorrow we are hoping to see bears.
I
have managed to go to White Rock and Cloverdale where I was as a young
child. I even found my first school which is now a private school
called Cloverdale Traditional School. It has changed a lot but the
original school building is still there! I am glad you are enjoying
your stay in Japan. Many thanks again for your hospitality.
Regards, June
SDBT: Wednesday, May 23rd
I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars. -Walt Whitman, poet (1819-1892)
SDBT: Tuesday May 22nd
Patrick James Dunn Terrific picture indeed! No wonder Ayn always claimed that you were adopted! George could certainly have been your father!
Hi Patrick
Lovely to hear all your news - you certainly get around you lucky bugger!
June
left on Sunday, I think, so should be nicely installed in Hotel Dunn by
now. Thank you very much for offering her accommodation - she has your
single malt, by the way!
Had a party in my garden for Lisa's birthday last
Saturday. The weather had been so awful that we cancelled the band and
told all my friends that party postponed until good weather. All Lisa's
friends came (about 40!) and thank God it stayed dry albeit rather
chilly. I woke with a cold so decided the only way to get through the
day was to crack open the bubbly at 1pm when Carol arrived to help out!
BBQ started at 2.30pm and the last people left at midnight - we had
completely used up all the food and most of the booze. Max burnt his
arm on the bbq so had to be taken to Barnet General and Shebana's new
man managed to consume bottles of absinthe, JD and gin and stayed
upright!
When I re-arrange my party, I will do vats of chilli and rice as barbie's are too difficult to maintain for large numbers.
Will send you some piccies when I download them.
Take care and hope to see you soon. Penelope x
Annual Care Conference for Anne
Hi Patrick and Corinne:
Good to hear the ins and outs of your Japan adventures... especially loved your account of a quaint anniversary dinner spent observing local customs among the natives!
I imagine you are nearly home or actually home by now, and hope you find everything in order - all traces of wild celebrations erased from your abode, cat in one piece, etc. I wonder how Annie is? Given that you didn't mention her, I assume that she has recovered from her turn, or at least is holding her own - glad for your sake.
I have had a quiet weekend of pruning the shrubberies at Old Oak, with another one to come, in anticipation of a joint 60th birthday party here at the start of June for friends Ferne and Frank - our weather has been quite sunny in the daytimes, so hoping to make use of the deck, spa, etc.
My bookclub this week dispatched Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff - surprisingly it was quite popular with my highly choosy club buddies, and we had lots of fun nominating modern day Cleopatra equivalents over glasses of red in the back room of the Court House hotel in North Melbourne.
Steve is a free agent as of today, and hopeful of soon sorting out finer details of his contractual arrangements for the balance of 2012, meanwhile doing good works for his brothers on their various properties. He's doing regular 2 - 3 hour walks / hikes to prepare for outrunning the bears in the Rocky Mtn foothills. Love and cheers from Kathleen and Steve
Greetings from Kyoto!
Tuesday, May 22nd:
Up at 6:30am to have a shower and then a cup of java. My Starbucks sticks are dwindling so I'll need to look for more today. Cora Lee was awake, but not up, when I emerged from the shower. She had tea and we ate the oranges we'd bought yesterday, preferring to have but a light breakfast before heading for the nationally designated historical site, Dejima, site of the former Dutch Factory. This "window to the West during Japan's period of National Isolation played a vital role in the modernization of Japan." We only had about a ten minute walk to visit the reconstructed site so were buying our tickets, (¥500 each), at just after 10:00am. "Built in 1636 to isolate Europeans and prevent the spread of Christianity, Dejima was a tiny island, (formed on land reclaimed from Nagasaki Harbour), that served as Japan's only gateway to Europe for more than 200 years."
Reconstruction work started in 1996 and to date, ten of twenty-five buildings have been completed, to their early 19th century state. It really is an impressive and fascinating museum. We were both reminded of our experience at the Fortress of Louisbourg in Cape Breton. Latter is far larger, of course, but Dejima is similarly fascinating. Some of the buildings, (Chief Factor's Residence, Japanese Officials' Office, First Ship Captain's Quarters, for example), are furnished as they would have been while others, (Old Stone Warehouse, No.1 and 2 Warehouse, and others), house exhibits, of one sort or another, (tools, pottery and ceramics shards, broken clay pipes, bones of animals raised for food, weapons, and the like), as well as examples of medical and scientific equipment that was either used by early practitioners or developed as a result of teaching and the transfer of knowledge.
Of particular interest, a number exhibits of reproductions of historical paintings and photographs showed how these records were used in the reconstruction process itself, to determine building details, construction techniques, even the width of the roadways. In fact, archaeological excavation work is on-going and we witnessed about ten, white boiler-suited individuals working on the exposed stone foundations for six planned reconstructions, one man atop a step ladder taking photographs of an exposed section of one of the digs close to a public walkway.
We spent about two hours there, (and certainly could have spent longer as the detailed exhibits warranted close inspection), along with hordes of school groups. However, the layout is such that it can absorb many, many tourists and the experience is not diminished. A short, 10-15 minute film provides a valuable overview of daily, political and business life, from the point of view of the local Japanese translators, critical figures, as one might imagine, employed to facilitate business transactions, to translate everything from ships' manifests to personal letters. A number of the elite translators were responsible for the publication of many of the key medical and scientific works brought to Japan by the Dutch and other Europeans. Conversely, reports about Japan, its flora and fauna, and examples of its culture and fine arts, flowed in the opposite direction. A simply remarkable glimpse at a community where two cultures literally collided.
It was close to 12:30pm when we walked back towards out hotel and decided, en route, to have lunch back in Chinatown. Settled on a restaurant not far from where we'd eaten the night before. Surrounding streets were filled with troupes of school children, searching for places to eat themselves. Place we settled upon was similarly awash with uniformed middle-schoolers and their teachers but everything was very orderly as we've come to expect, having seen many such field trips at most of the museums and other points of interest we've visited so far.
Meal was truly delicious, My selection consisted of a huge bowl of rice topped with vegetables, with a large plate of rice noodles with vegetables and another plate of braised chicken, for Cora Lee. I used the small bowl of rice which came with the chicken dish to sop up the considerable amount of remaining, ever so tasty sauce, from Coriandre's vegetable platter. While waiting for our food, which didn't take but five minutes to arrive, we enjoyed watching the students at the surrounding tables. Restaurant had a second floor and Cora Lee could see more classes being sent upstairs as all of the tables on the first floor were filled.
Paid our bill, well satisfied with both the excellent fare and the reasonable price, (£2,600=$32.50), and a few minutes later we were on the Blue Line, #1, taking the tram to Stop # 19, Maysuyama-Machi, where we visited the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter, a large open space with a sand surface, surrounded by a dense border of mature trees, where we found a number of different memorials to the victims of the blast, some laden with hundreds and hundreds of colourful strings of paper cranes. One memorial was a wall remnant from Urakami Cathedral, (the grandest church in East Asia at the time), located about 600 meters northeast of the hypocenter. The explosion destroyed the cathedral and a portion of the southern wall was brought here when the new cathedral was rebuilt in 1958.
Close-bye, down a series of steps, an original portion of the ground in the hypocenter area is preserved and displayed behind large plate glass viewing windows. AS one could imagine, ground level was strewn with huge amounts of debris from destroyed buildings, scorched earth, melted glass and other material. A difficult sight to witness and we had not even started on our journey into the hellish nightmare, made all to real, by the dropping of the plutonium bomb, (nicknamed "Fatman"), by the American B29 "Bockscar", detonating about 500 metres above the site at 11:02 am, August 9th, 1945, causing approximately 150,000 deaths or injuries.
From the Hypocenter we walked up a slight hill to enter the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, opened in April 1996, one of the 50th anniversary projects for the bombing. Once again, the entrance was crowded with orderly groups of school children, in neat formation, waiting patiently for their turn to visit the exhibits. Must say, the horrific and often grisly nature of the subject matter aside, the museum does quite a remarkable job of detailing the historical development of Nagasaki, the modern military history of Japan, focusing on the events leading to WW II and operations and campaigns in the Pacific Theatre, with an emphasis on civilian and military life in Nagasaki, after the declaration of war and up until the time the bomb was dropped.
As one moves through the museum one passes exhibits of photographs and large scale models of Nagasaki prior to the bombing; through the ruins of the atomic wasteland, the state of the city immediately after the detonation; political events leading up to the decision, on the part of the Allies, to use the bomb against Japan; a life-size model of "Fatman"; the twisted water tank from Keiho Middle School, about 800 meters away from the hypocenter; a schoolgirl's lunchbox, all that remained of Satoko Tsusumi, (14 years old), identified by the name and class number written on the bottom of the small metal container, the uneaten rice within, charred by the heat of the fires started after the bombing; the silhouette of an air-raid lookout, and his ladder, who came down from the roof of the Nagasaki Fortress Headquarters, exposed to the flash, about 4.4 kilometers south of the hypocenter. The tar covering the wall exposed directly to the flash burned and disappeared but that in the victim's shadow remained. A literal atomic photograph.
Countless other examples abound, (bones of a human hand stuck in a clump of glass that melted, scorched clothing worn by exposed workers, a helmet with remains of a skull), but one of the most poignant is a wall clock, found in a house about 800m from the hypocenter, shattered by the blast, its hands stopped at 11:02 am, the moment of the explosion. Time, at this instant, literally stopped for the inhabitants of Nagasaki and by extension, for the rest of humankind.
Following exhibits record rescue and relief activity, testimonies of survivors and then those which detail modern nuclear weapons and the victims of nuclear tests and accidents. The last section, From Nagaski to the World, makes a powerful plea for a world free of nuclear weapons. Obviously, a very, very difficult experience but one that is so terribly important to recognize. The horror of war cuts across time and space. Both the immediate and lasting devastation which the atomic bombs unleashed on Japan took cruelty took unparalleled levels.
Somewhat mentally dazed and slightly disoriented by the unthinkable carnage, wrought, by and large, on civilians, we decided we needed some respite from all the death and destruction so we made our way to back to the nearest tram station where we caught the Red Line, # 3, to Kokaido-Mae, Stop # 45, near Nagasaki City Auditorium, to tranfer to the Green Line, # 5, Stop # 38, to ride it all the way to Ouratenshudo Shita, Stop # 50, where we wanted to visit Glover Garden. Quite a hike, up some fairly narrow, tourist shop lined streets, a series of wide stone stairs and four escalators, (two of them very long), later we reached our goal. In 1863, Thomas Blake Glover, a Scot, built a house on the hill in Minami-Yamate. One is afforded a magnificent view of much of Nagasaki and its working harbour. (By chance we chatted with a young American, working on the Korean cruise ship docked there, while on the tram. He plays in one of the bands aboard and I was reminded of our brief encounter with a Canadian, from Whiterock, on our river cruise in Brisbane, who played in the rock band on the cruise ship docked near the last stop on our outing.) Among many other business ventures, he founded, together with Robert Neill Walker, (He was another influential businessman in the world of the the the Nagasaki foreign settlement, a cold drink pioneer, naming two of his beverages "Banzai Cider" and "Banzai Lemonade". William Alt, from Britain, established the Alt Tradiing Company and in partnership with Nagasaki businessman, Kei Oura, he bought up and exported tea from all around Kyushu, introducing the world to Japanese tea. Fredrick Ringer, also from Britain, was involved in a wide range of activities, including the construction of Nagasaki waterworks, milling and electric power generation.) the Japan Brewery Company, the predecessor of the current Kirin Brewery Company.
His son, Tomisaburo Kuraba, born to Glover's Japanese wife,Tsuru, contributed greatly to the promotion of the fisheries industry in Japan and created a social group for foreigners, the Naigai Club, and subsequently established the Unzen Golf Course, Japan's first public course. Glover was closely connected to Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi, and after his death, his younger brother, Yanosuke, the second president of the company, invited Glover into Mitsubishi as a consultant.
While the Glover, Walker and Alt residences were built on different sites of this hillside, other buildings, important to Nagasaki's history and culture have been relocated here:
the Mitsubishi No. 2 Dock House; the Jiyu-Tei Restaurant, Japan's first Western-style eating establishment; the Nagasaki District Court President's Official Residence and the Steele Memorial School, a mission school built in 1887. Numerous statues, historical stone markers and fish ponds dot the lovely, manicured grounds. Of particular interest, to me at least, were the statues of Puccini and Tamaki Miura who became world-famous for her role as Madame Butterfly, set in Nagasaki, of course. Some of the costumes she wore and props she used are also on display.
Just before 6:00pm a guard came by to usher me out as the gardens close at 6:00pm on the dot. Coriandre and I had gone in different directions about thirty minutes before as she wanted to ride the escalators down. Her foot was sore after almost six or seven hours of sightseeing. I wanted to follow the lovely paved paths that wound around the edge of the property so I descended that way and we met at the entrance. Short stroll back to Stop # 50, riding as far as Stop # 31, Tsuki-Machi, close to the entrance to Chinatown. After we alighted we went into a grocery store not far from our hotel and bought more picnic and breakfast fixings for next morning and our trip to Hiroshima. By the time we were actually back in our room, it was after 7:00pm, a full, full day. We both plopped down on the bed and put our feet up, watching a bit of BBC World News. Around 8:15pm we wondered if we really wanted to go out for dinner, both of us still feeling contentedly full form our delicious lunch. We decided we were happy to stay in, and munched on some cheese and crackers around 9:00pm, after we'd both showered and changed into our kimonos.
I caught up on email and the Infernal Diaries while Cora Lee read and watched TV. By 11:00pm Cora Lee was sound asleep and I was reasonably pleased with my daily entry so I brushed and flossed and read a few chapters of Cold Granite before setting the alarm for 6:15am. I wanted to be up early enough to finish working on the last entry and then wake Cora Lee up, with a cup of tea, to be ready, without rushing for our 9:57am departure for Hiroshima. We had a ten or fifteen minute tram ride to get to the station and I still needed to find an ATM which accepted my RBC debit card and was hoping there would be one near the terminal. Fell asleep, troubling images from the hypocenter flickering at the corners of my mind.
To be continued...
Very best wishes,
Robert.
Annual Care Conference for Anne
Dear Patrick
Having heard your voxbox message I gather there is not much chance that we will see you next week. But here is the invite:
Please be advised that the next annual Care
Conference for Anne will take place on Wednesday May-30-2012 at 10:30 AM
in the Broadway Lodge’ Conference Room on the main floor and you are
very welcome.
If you are not able to participate you are welcome
to appoint a designate, or call me in advance with concerns you would
like to have taken to the table.
Taking Anne’s state of mind into consideration it will probably just cause unnecessary anxiety and confusion to be invited.
At the Care Conference that is scheduled to last a
maximum of 30 minutes we have our house physician Dr. Peter Grantham
plus the in-house staff members that deal with Anne:
Les Borowy - RN Team Leader on 3rd floor where Anne lives
Chaplain Anne Scarrow
Les Borowy - RN Team Leader on 3rd floor where Anne lives
Chaplain Anne Scarrow
Dietician Jill Vanderlinden
Fe Hernando - the Activity Worker assigned to 3rd floor
Myself, Paul Henrik Borup-Jørgensen, Social Care Worker and Master of Ceremonies for the event.
You may also see Famella Altejos - Director of Care and we may have our Dental Hygienist Leeann Donelly at the table too,
We will go over the events since Anne’s last care
conference, June 1, 2011, and we hope you will take active part with
questions, comments, and suggestions.
We will also make a call about the Care Conference.
Yours Truly, Paul Henrik
Paul Henrik Borup-Jørgensen
Social Care Worker
Broadway Pentecostal Lodge
Catching a brass ring
Photo: Audrey Lawson
Confirmation of: DAVID COFFARO WINE ORDER
Hello Patrick, great to hear from you and thanks for submitting a new
order for 2012 futures in response to our recent offer. Sorry I haven't
communicated with you recently. Life's been getting in the way and going
by too quickly!
This will confirm that $400 was processed to your charge card account on
5/20/12 to confirm the order which you've requested. Once we upload new
orders to our website in a just a few days, you will be able to verify
this order by using your personal Coffaro ID code number in our online
database. Please keep in mind that since you have ordered a mixture of
the 10-month and 16-month aged wines from the same vintage, you will
probably want to wait until both versions are bottled before arranging
pick up. If you have any questions, of course, please let us know.
Thanks again and hope all is well with you and Cora Lee and the rest of
the extended Dunn family. Cheers until next time, Pat and Dave
Follow us on Facebook!
Check us out at http://www.facebook.com/DavidCoffaroWinery
David Coffaro Vineyard and Winery
7485 Dry Creek Road
Geyserville CA 95441
707-433-9715
Fax 707-433-6008
On 5/10/2012 9:52 PM, Patrick Dunn wrote:
order for 2012 futures in response to our recent offer. Sorry I haven't
communicated with you recently. Life's been getting in the way and going
by too quickly!
This will confirm that $400 was processed to your charge card account on
5/20/12 to confirm the order which you've requested. Once we upload new
orders to our website in a just a few days, you will be able to verify
this order by using your personal Coffaro ID code number in our online
database. Please keep in mind that since you have ordered a mixture of
the 10-month and 16-month aged wines from the same vintage, you will
probably want to wait until both versions are bottled before arranging
pick up. If you have any questions, of course, please let us know.
Thanks again and hope all is well with you and Cora Lee and the rest of
the extended Dunn family. Cheers until next time, Pat and Dave
Follow us on Facebook!
Check us out at http://www.facebook.com/DavidCoffaroWinery
David Coffaro Vineyard and Winery
7485 Dry Creek Road
Geyserville CA 95441
707-433-9715
Fax 707-433-6008
On 5/10/2012 9:52 PM, Patrick Dunn wrote:
2012 Grenache [aged 16 months] 4 @ $18.00
2012 Zinfandel [aged 10 months] 4 @ $16.00
2012 Escuro [aged 16 months] 4 @ $18.00
2012 Petite Sirah [aged 16 months] 4 @ $18.00
2012 Petit Verdot [aged 16 months] 4 @ $21.00
2012 Aca Modot [aged 16 months] 4 @ $21.00
Hi Kathleen!
Trust you are both well. Sorry I've not written sooner to thank you, once again, for all your wonderful hospitality and marvellous generosity. Made it to Sydney but had to wait until 3:00pm! Long story. Will save it for later!!! Have certainly been enjoying Japan. Weather has been wonderful so sightseeing has been more than pleasureable. If anything, have had to open window to our room here as am not able to understand heat/fan function on thermostat. Wonderful and cool is the night mountain air and as only a duvet for cover I would otherwise be far too warm. Cora Lee, on the other hand, is happy to be snug, beneath layer upon layer! Just about to catch a taxi for the short ride to station where we will catch a local train to Koriyama to transfer to Bullet Train to Omiya and then another train to Nagano. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Trust you are both well. Sorry I've not written sooner to thank you, once again, for all your wonderful hospitality and marvellous generosity. Made it to Sydney but had to wait until 3:00pm! Long story. Will save it for later!!! Have certainly been enjoying Japan. Weather has been wonderful so sightseeing has been more than pleasureable. If anything, have had to open window to our room here as am not able to understand heat/fan function on thermostat. Wonderful and cool is the night mountain air and as only a duvet for cover I would otherwise be far too warm. Cora Lee, on the other hand, is happy to be snug, beneath layer upon layer! Just about to catch a taxi for the short ride to station where we will catch a local train to Koriyama to transfer to Bullet Train to Omiya and then another train to Nagano. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Good to hear the ins and outs of your Japan adventures... especially loved your account of a quaint anniversary dinner spent observing local customs among the natives!
I imagine you are nearly home or actually home by now, and hope you find everything in order - all traces of wild celebrations erased from your abode, cat in one piece, etc. I wonder how Annie is? Given that you didn't mention her, I assume that she has recovered from her turn, or at least is holding her own - glad for your sake.
I have had a quiet weekend of pruning the shrubberies at Old Oak, with another one to come, in anticipation of a joint 60th birthday party here at the start of June for friends Ferne and Frank - our weather has been quite sunny in the daytimes, so hoping to make use of the deck, spa, etc.
My bookclub this week dispatched Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff - surprisingly it was quite popular with my highly choosy club buddies, and we had lots of fun nominating modern day Cleopatra equivalents over glasses of red in the back room of the Court House hotel in North Melbourne.
Steve is a free agent as of today, and hopeful of soon sorting out finer details of his contractual arrangements for the balance of 2012, meanwhile doing good works for his brothers on their various properties. He's doing regular 2 - 3 hour walks / hikes to prepare for outrunning the bears in the Rocky Mtn foothills. Love and cheers from Kathleen and Steve
Greetings from Kyoto!
Tuesday, May 22nd:
Up at 6:30am to have a shower and then a cup of java. My Starbucks sticks are dwindling so I'll need to look for more today. Cora Lee was awake, but not up, when I emerged from the shower. She had tea and we ate the oranges we'd bought yesterday, preferring to have but a light breakfast before heading for the nationally designated historical site, Dejima, site of the former Dutch Factory. This "window to the West during Japan's period of National Isolation played a vital role in the modernization of Japan." We only had about a ten minute walk to visit the reconstructed site so were buying our tickets, (¥500 each), at just after 10:00am. "Built in 1636 to isolate Europeans and prevent the spread of Christianity, Dejima was a tiny island, (formed on land reclaimed from Nagasaki Harbour), that served as Japan's only gateway to Europe for more than 200 years."
Reconstruction work started in 1996 and to date, ten of twenty-five buildings have been completed, to their early 19th century state. It really is an impressive and fascinating museum. We were both reminded of our experience at the Fortress of Louisbourg in Cape Breton. Latter is far larger, of course, but Dejima is similarly fascinating. Some of the buildings, (Chief Factor's Residence, Japanese Officials' Office, First Ship Captain's Quarters, for example), are furnished as they would have been while others, (Old Stone Warehouse, No.1 and 2 Warehouse, and others), house exhibits, of one sort or another, (tools, pottery and ceramics shards, broken clay pipes, bones of animals raised for food, weapons, and the like), as well as examples of medical and scientific equipment that was either used by early practitioners or developed as a result of teaching and the transfer of knowledge.
Of particular interest, a number exhibits of reproductions of historical paintings and photographs showed how these records were used in the reconstruction process itself, to determine building details, construction techniques, even the width of the roadways. In fact, archaeological excavation work is on-going and we witnessed about ten, white boiler-suited individuals working on the exposed stone foundations for six planned reconstructions, one man atop a step ladder taking photographs of an exposed section of one of the digs close to a public walkway.
We spent about two hours there, (and certainly could have spent longer as the detailed exhibits warranted close inspection), along with hordes of school groups. However, the layout is such that it can absorb many, many tourists and the experience is not diminished. A short, 10-15 minute film provides a valuable overview of daily, political and business life, from the point of view of the local Japanese translators, critical figures, as one might imagine, employed to facilitate business transactions, to translate everything from ships' manifests to personal letters. A number of the elite translators were responsible for the publication of many of the key medical and scientific works brought to Japan by the Dutch and other Europeans. Conversely, reports about Japan, its flora and fauna, and examples of its culture and fine arts, flowed in the opposite direction. A simply remarkable glimpse at a community where two cultures literally collided.
It was close to 12:30pm when we walked back towards out hotel and decided, en route, to have lunch back in Chinatown. Settled on a restaurant not far from where we'd eaten the night before. Surrounding streets were filled with troupes of school children, searching for places to eat themselves. Place we settled upon was similarly awash with uniformed middle-schoolers and their teachers but everything was very orderly as we've come to expect, having seen many such field trips at most of the museums and other points of interest we've visited so far.
Meal was truly delicious, My selection consisted of a huge bowl of rice topped with vegetables, with a large plate of rice noodles with vegetables and another plate of braised chicken, for Cora Lee. I used the small bowl of rice which came with the chicken dish to sop up the considerable amount of remaining, ever so tasty sauce, from Coriandre's vegetable platter. While waiting for our food, which didn't take but five minutes to arrive, we enjoyed watching the students at the surrounding tables. Restaurant had a second floor and Cora Lee could see more classes being sent upstairs as all of the tables on the first floor were filled.
Paid our bill, well satisfied with both the excellent fare and the reasonable price, (£2,600=$32.50), and a few minutes later we were on the Blue Line, #1, taking the tram to Stop # 19, Maysuyama-Machi, where we visited the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter, a large open space with a sand surface, surrounded by a dense border of mature trees, where we found a number of different memorials to the victims of the blast, some laden with hundreds and hundreds of colourful strings of paper cranes. One memorial was a wall remnant from Urakami Cathedral, (the grandest church in East Asia at the time), located about 600 meters northeast of the hypocenter. The explosion destroyed the cathedral and a portion of the southern wall was brought here when the new cathedral was rebuilt in 1958.
Close-bye, down a series of steps, an original portion of the ground in the hypocenter area is preserved and displayed behind large plate glass viewing windows. AS one could imagine, ground level was strewn with huge amounts of debris from destroyed buildings, scorched earth, melted glass and other material. A difficult sight to witness and we had not even started on our journey into the hellish nightmare, made all to real, by the dropping of the plutonium bomb, (nicknamed "Fatman"), by the American B29 "Bockscar", detonating about 500 metres above the site at 11:02 am, August 9th, 1945, causing approximately 150,000 deaths or injuries.
From the Hypocenter we walked up a slight hill to enter the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, opened in April 1996, one of the 50th anniversary projects for the bombing. Once again, the entrance was crowded with orderly groups of school children, in neat formation, waiting patiently for their turn to visit the exhibits. Must say, the horrific and often grisly nature of the subject matter aside, the museum does quite a remarkable job of detailing the historical development of Nagasaki, the modern military history of Japan, focusing on the events leading to WW II and operations and campaigns in the Pacific Theatre, with an emphasis on civilian and military life in Nagasaki, after the declaration of war and up until the time the bomb was dropped.
As one moves through the museum one passes exhibits of photographs and large scale models of Nagasaki prior to the bombing; through the ruins of the atomic wasteland, the state of the city immediately after the detonation; political events leading up to the decision, on the part of the Allies, to use the bomb against Japan; a life-size model of "Fatman"; the twisted water tank from Keiho Middle School, about 800 meters away from the hypocenter; a schoolgirl's lunchbox, all that remained of Satoko Tsusumi, (14 years old), identified by the name and class number written on the bottom of the small metal container, the uneaten rice within, charred by the heat of the fires started after the bombing; the silhouette of an air-raid lookout, and his ladder, who came down from the roof of the Nagasaki Fortress Headquarters, exposed to the flash, about 4.4 kilometers south of the hypocenter. The tar covering the wall exposed directly to the flash burned and disappeared but that in the victim's shadow remained. A literal atomic photograph.
Countless other examples abound, (bones of a human hand stuck in a clump of glass that melted, scorched clothing worn by exposed workers, a helmet with remains of a skull), but one of the most poignant is a wall clock, found in a house about 800m from the hypocenter, shattered by the blast, its hands stopped at 11:02 am, the moment of the explosion. Time, at this instant, literally stopped for the inhabitants of Nagasaki and by extension, for the rest of humankind.
Following exhibits record rescue and relief activity, testimonies of survivors and then those which detail modern nuclear weapons and the victims of nuclear tests and accidents. The last section, From Nagaski to the World, makes a powerful plea for a world free of nuclear weapons. Obviously, a very, very difficult experience but one that is so terribly important to recognize. The horror of war cuts across time and space. Both the immediate and lasting devastation which the atomic bombs unleashed on Japan took cruelty took unparalleled levels.
Somewhat mentally dazed and slightly disoriented by the unthinkable carnage, wrought, by and large, on civilians, we decided we needed some respite from all the death and destruction so we made our way to back to the nearest tram station where we caught the Red Line, # 3, to Kokaido-Mae, Stop # 45, near Nagasaki City Auditorium, to tranfer to the Green Line, # 5, Stop # 38, to ride it all the way to Ouratenshudo Shita, Stop # 50, where we wanted to visit Glover Garden. Quite a hike, up some fairly narrow, tourist shop lined streets, a series of wide stone stairs and four escalators, (two of them very long), later we reached our goal. In 1863, Thomas Blake Glover, a Scot, built a house on the hill in Minami-Yamate. One is afforded a magnificent view of much of Nagasaki and its working harbour. (By chance we chatted with a young American, working on the Korean cruise ship docked there, while on the tram. He plays in one of the bands aboard and I was reminded of our brief encounter with a Canadian, from Whiterock, on our river cruise in Brisbane, who played in the rock band on the cruise ship docked near the last stop on our outing.) Among many other business ventures, he founded, together with Robert Neill Walker, (He was another influential businessman in the world of the the the Nagasaki foreign settlement, a cold drink pioneer, naming two of his beverages "Banzai Cider" and "Banzai Lemonade". William Alt, from Britain, established the Alt Tradiing Company and in partnership with Nagasaki businessman, Kei Oura, he bought up and exported tea from all around Kyushu, introducing the world to Japanese tea. Fredrick Ringer, also from Britain, was involved in a wide range of activities, including the construction of Nagasaki waterworks, milling and electric power generation.) the Japan Brewery Company, the predecessor of the current Kirin Brewery Company.
His son, Tomisaburo Kuraba, born to Glover's Japanese wife,Tsuru, contributed greatly to the promotion of the fisheries industry in Japan and created a social group for foreigners, the Naigai Club, and subsequently established the Unzen Golf Course, Japan's first public course. Glover was closely connected to Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi, and after his death, his younger brother, Yanosuke, the second president of the company, invited Glover into Mitsubishi as a consultant.
While the Glover, Walker and Alt residences were built on different sites of this hillside, other buildings, important to Nagasaki's history and culture have been relocated here:
the Mitsubishi No. 2 Dock House; the Jiyu-Tei Restaurant, Japan's first Western-style eating establishment; the Nagasaki District Court President's Official Residence and the Steele Memorial School, a mission school built in 1887. Numerous statues, historical stone markers and fish ponds dot the lovely, manicured grounds. Of particular interest, to me at least, were the statues of Puccini and Tamaki Miura who became world-famous for her role as Madame Butterfly, set in Nagasaki, of course. Some of the costumes she wore and props she used are also on display.
Just before 6:00pm a guard came by to usher me out as the gardens close at 6:00pm on the dot. Coriandre and I had gone in different directions about thirty minutes before as she wanted to ride the escalators down. Her foot was sore after almost six or seven hours of sightseeing. I wanted to follow the lovely paved paths that wound around the edge of the property so I descended that way and we met at the entrance. Short stroll back to Stop # 50, riding as far as Stop # 31, Tsuki-Machi, close to the entrance to Chinatown. After we alighted we went into a grocery store not far from our hotel and bought more picnic and breakfast fixings for next morning and our trip to Hiroshima. By the time we were actually back in our room, it was after 7:00pm, a full, full day. We both plopped down on the bed and put our feet up, watching a bit of BBC World News. Around 8:15pm we wondered if we really wanted to go out for dinner, both of us still feeling contentedly full form our delicious lunch. We decided we were happy to stay in, and munched on some cheese and crackers around 9:00pm, after we'd both showered and changed into our kimonos.
I caught up on email and the Infernal Diaries while Cora Lee read and watched TV. By 11:00pm Cora Lee was sound asleep and I was reasonably pleased with my daily entry so I brushed and flossed and read a few chapters of Cold Granite before setting the alarm for 6:15am. I wanted to be up early enough to finish working on the last entry and then wake Cora Lee up, with a cup of tea, to be ready, without rushing for our 9:57am departure for Hiroshima. We had a ten or fifteen minute tram ride to get to the station and I still needed to find an ATM which accepted my RBC debit card and was hoping there would be one near the terminal. Fell asleep, troubling images from the hypocenter flickering at the corners of my mind.
To be continued...
| A chance to make a real difference |
Hi Patrick,
My Rotary Club is doing
its fifth annual fundraiser for the Strathcona Community Centre
Basketball Program. This Program provides a positive opportunity for
kids who live in the downtown east side, Canada's poorest postal
code. Almost all of the 450 young people enrolled in the program are
from working poor or single parent families with parents who work 14
to 16 hours a day just to provide the very basics.
Strathcona Community
Centre Basketball Program:
- Provides a positive life experience for kids who are constantly at risk of violence and drug addiction;
- Is one of the very few affordable (completely free), positive, safe activities for children on the downtown east side;
- Gives 450 kids, from preschool to grade 12, their only opportunity to participate in sports.
Please
take a moment to look at this video made by one of the young people
whose life was changed by the program:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwv_rgwy0ak
.
Jennifer is now at Thompson Rivers University where she is the
star
of the women's basketball program.
She
is also the
first member of her family ever to have a post secondary education.
The program desperately
needs funds for:
- Safe transportation to and from away basketball games. (Most of the families do not own a car and many have to work during the times when their children are playing.)
- Uniforms. Many of the youth are playing in ill-fitting or hand me down uniforms. Some are wearing shoes so old that they are unsafe. For many of these kids a pair of basketball shoes costs the same as their family's grocery budget for two weeks. The program needs decent uniforms and shoes to allow the players to participate safely and with pride and dignity.
- Ongoing training camps, coaching certification. Registering the teams in the RBL league costs $80 per player and tournaments fees can run as high as $1,250.
In the last four years,
with your help we have raised over $85,000 for these great kids and
we are organizing our fifth fund raising Hoop-a-thon with the
Basketball Program. Here is how it works.
Fifty young people from
the program will assemble in the Strathcona Community Centre Gym on
Saturday June 16th at 10:00AM. They will be organized into ten teams
and each team member will try to score as many free throws as she or
he can in sixty seconds. We expect that the kids will work hard to
score a total of 600 baskets.
This is the 40th
anniversary of the Strathcona Community Centre and of the Basketball
program, so our goal is to raise $40,000.
I would like to ask you
to support this worthy fundraiser, by clicking 'Reply', filling
out the pledge information below and then clicking 'Send'.
|
I pledge the amount of
|
|
Per basket scored
|
|
I do not want to pledge more than
|
|
In total
|
Funds will be
collected AFTER the event (you will be able to pay by cheque or
credit card) and tax receipts will be supplied for all donations.
A pledge of five cents
per basket will buy a kid a uniform shirt or shorts.
A pledge of ten cents
per basket will buy one kid tournament fees for a season
A pledge of twenty
cents per basket will buy a kid basketball shoes.
Tax receipts will be
supplied for all donations.
Thank you so much for
your continued support of this program.
Robert.
SDBT: Monday, May 21st
They are ill discoverers that think
there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea. -Francis Bacon,
essayist, philosopher, and statesman (1561-1626)
What's Ed doing in LA? What are the boys up to?? Is Pierre finishing his degree in LA?
More Greetings from the JR Bullet Train and Nagasaki!
Hi Big Al!
Great to hear from you. Glad you have enjoyed some of our exploits! It
really is an incredible country and can honestly say we are sorry we hadn't
made the effort to visit before this. Anyway, couldn't 't be happier that we
are finally scratching the surface.
This morning, just before 10:00am, (9:57am to be precise! I think that is
why I like this country so much. When the schedule says 9:57am the train
leaves precisely then. The conductors on the platform are constantly
checking their watches and when the second hand passes the appointed time,
they wave their flags and blow their whistles and we are launched into
SuperExpress Heaven. They'd understand 77.33K!), we boarded the Sakura 553
Shinkasen, SuperExpress, bound for Hakata where we changed to a Limitd
Express, (more of a milk-run, whistle stopper), to Nagasaki for next two
nights. Spent last night at a fabulous hotel/spa not all that far way from
Toshi's/Tomiko's apartment. They and her aunts wanted to treat us as thanks
for all our hospitality in Canada. Had a wonderful onsen before dinner. I
was all by myself as there are separate baths for women and men. Around
7:00pm a lavish meal, Kaiseki, traditional Japanese food, about seven
courses, was served in our room. I drank a Japanese citrus beverage, Yuzu,
fruit wine made from small Japanese citrus fruit, akin to a lemon/lime,
etc., only 8% but extremely tasty and most refreshing after the Onsen, while
The Sisterhood sipped a Chardonnay from Kobe, 2010 Benediction Blanc, 12.5%,
very tasty indeed. (I must say that the local wine has been very good. Not
necessarily product that you might search out as not much varietal
character. However, certainly very quaffable and complimentary to much of
the Japanese food we've eaten when drinking the ones Toshi has very kindly
offered.) Absolutely stunning presentation and tastes, of course. By the
time we finished eating and chatting it was close to 10:00pm and we finished
with very tasty watermelon and cantaloupe. Course before that was miso soup,
a selection of pickled vegetables and rice to cleanse the palette but I
couldn't touch anything as the portions had just kept coming and coming!
(Didn't even manage to crack the bottle of sake we'd brought along so hope
to enjoy it in Nagasaki!)
We all slept in the same room, low dining room table put aside, on very
comfy tatami mats. While I was waiting for the bathroom, I climbed back into
the massage chair and enjoyed the pummelling and the vibrating until I was a
noodle. That and the onsen ensured sleep was a sound one. We all slept in
our kimonos and I didn't need anything else as temperature was just right
for me. Cora Lee and Toshi were buried under there duvets but Tomiko didn't
use hers either. Woke up at 5:00am to see the sunrise. Toshi informed us
that there would be a total eclipse of the sun at around 7:30am so we wanted
to go for another onsen before watching the solar fireworks. During dinner
Toshi asked the woman who was serving our food if protective glasses were
available at the hotel and when she returned a few minutes later she brought
us a device that looked a bit like a space age set of sun glasses wthout the
arms. She said it was a gift to us on our anniversary, as were about three
of the dishes served over the course of the meal. Toshi must have mentioned
our 36th when she made the booking. The food was from the hotel but the
solar protector was from her. She said she lived but three minutes away and
could use the ones her daughter had purchased. By and large, this is typical
of the open generosity and genuine thoughtfulnes/graciousness we have
experienced since arriving.
At any rate, I went up to the onsen just after 6:00am and enjoyed another
wonderful soak, both indoors and in smaller outdoor pool, before returning
to the room. Beat Toshi and Coriandre back. Tomiko had stayed and was
reading the newspaper when I walked in. We changed out of our kimonos and
started watching the beginning of the eclipse at around 7:10am. I was loads
of fun as the sun was gradually obscured. I asked Toshi to turn on TV and we
watched coverage from around Japan. Cloud cover was heavier in Tokyo, where
eclipse was to be more complete, but from comparing our own observations to
what was shown on the live-coverage, our show was better!
At 7:30am the eclipse was almost total, just a halo of red light around the
black moon, so we went downstairs for breakfast. Another wonderful meal and
I'm always the winner with Cora Lee as I get to eat most of her pickles.
This time one of my "donations" was a custard-like tofu, cooked in what
amounts to a huge cup-cake that is set inside a ceramic bowl, atop a
mini,gel fuelled hot pot. Fortunately for me, Coriandre has never liked
custard. Fantastically yummy, especially with green onions and grated ginger
on top!
Back up to room to finish packing. We are traveling quite lightly, (The way
we should have been from the very start!), for this next leg of the trip as
we'll return to Toshi's place on Saturday. She'll meet us at our hotel on
Friday morning. We'll spend Thursday night in Kyoto, after visiting
Hiroshima, (one night), after Nagasaki, the furthest south we'll travel.
Friday night we will spend at the guest house, (cottage/cabin), of one of
the directors of the company she works for, and explore more of Kyoto and
environs. The wife of the director will be there and she is familar with
this area so she has offered to be our guide. That being said, Toshi is a
more than wonderful tour guide herself so we have really been able to
understand more about what we are seeing and doing and eating and
drinking!!!
Once we were packed, we went downstairs again to have coffee and tea, part
of the package, stopping to admire the stunning Koi in a beautiful outdoor
pond, next to the bank of elevators. I've never seen such gigantic,
stunningly beautiful , obviously healthy fish as these. There were three or
four, perhaps a few more, that were over a metre long, the thickness of my
thigh through the middle; two of these were a golden yellow, many of the
smaller ones, and even these weren't that small, were splotched red and
white and black, simply glorious, almost like Dalmatian goldfish! I could
hardly tear myself away from the window every time I passed.
Into the comfortable lounge area for some delicously strong coffee, (black
tea for Coriandre), and a chocolate biscuit from Kobe, appareny renowned for
its sweets as well as its beef. More chatting and translation for Tomiko and
then back to room to collect our bags. Around 9:30am Toshi and her Mom
walked with us to the station, about a ten minute stroll, and saw us as far
as the ticket gates. They didn't have to check out until 11:00am and Toshi
didn't have to be at work until 1:30pm. She had some time owing her for some
weekend work a while back. Her Mom was planning to go home to do laundry,
our bed linen! We thanked them for such a wonderful weekend and embraced,
saying we'd see Toshi on Friday, her mom the day after. On Sunday, at noon,
an uncle is hosting a yakatori party for us at his restaurant so we'll see
the aunts who have visited Vancouver over the years.
Longest part of today's journey was from Shin-Osaka to Hakata, about
two-and-a-half hours. Then two hours from there to Nagasaki, arriving just
before 4:00pm. Give us time to stroll around downtown after checking in to
our hotel, The Victoria Inn, fairly central, according to the Japanese
expert, Have Insight Guide, Will Travel Coriandre!
Hadn't had time, until today's train journey, to diarize the simply
incredible party Toshi organized in our honour, at her favourite Italian
ristorante, Taverna Quinta, in Osaka, on Saturday. She has a friend Luna,
whose sister, Akemi, (Koreans born in Japan), is the wife, (hostess/head
waiter), of the chef, Kenji, together with pastry chef Maiko and
Oonishi-san, waiter, (hall staff). The four of them run this terrific place,
simple, attractive decor and intimate space, just poifect for a gathering
the size of such a group as ours, 26 people, including Toshi and the Guests
of Honour, Cora Lee and Patrizzio!
The food was unbelievable, incredible and I am not exaggerating, as is my
wont.
The meal was quite traditional and started with antipasto, salami,
prosciutto and a form of quiche. Then Insalata Caprese: fresh basil, fruit
tomatoes, (sweeter than normal), and fresh buffalo mozzarella, with Maiko's
freshly baked focaccio; thin crust Pizza Margherita, tomatoe, bocconcini,
basil; Spaghetti with an incredible, spicy vegetable/shrimp tomatoe sauce;
Risotto with Gorgonzola, fabulo and then a succulent roast leg of lamb with
potatoes, served sliced, molto divino!!!
Dessert, on a gorgeous platter, with our names written in chocolate sauce,
sprinkled with icing powder, was Maiko's special gelato, mango, vanilla,
chocolate, together with panna cotta and strawberry sauce and a large creme
brûlée. Poor people had to make do with just vanilla gelato and a slice of
cake, (If they don't have bread, let them eat cake!), of some kind. Not that
anybody minded as all the courses were more than generous. We shared almost
half of our platter as it was simply too, too much for the two of us and
too, too, too delicious not to share and Heaven forbid, waste!
About half of the guests spoke at least some English, (Laura, per esempio,
is from London and teaches ESL), so we could converse with many of Toshi's
friends. As you might expect, I stood on a chair and gave a number of
speeches which Toshi translated, as I spoke. Felt like I was a visiting
politician somewhere or at the UN General Assembly. We wanted to thank Toshi
for her incredible hospitality and for the terrific opportunity to meet so
many of her friends. i must admit that I became a bit "weepy" when I
mentioned how she had become part of our family over the course of the three
years that she lived with us at Hotel Kits. For a bit of comic relief I
mentioned that "English Only" was the refrain of the day when she was in
Vancouver and that the reason we had taken so long to visit Japan was that I
was afraid to hear the dreaded words "Japanese Only"! This was well received
and then I added, for good measure, that in order to accomplish this
language learning, we would be spending two weeks with everyone present, on
our next visit! Great good fun and then I explained that I wanted to lead
them in a round of For He's a Jolly Good Fellow, substituting For They are
Jolly Good Fellows, in order to thank them for coming to the celebration.
Had to lead them through one or two rounds until they got the hang of it but
didn't take long and everyone was shooting both arms into the air with every
"Which"!!! Think the restaurant staff were a tad astonished but seemed to
enjoy the merriment, nonetheless. I insisted they help themselves to the
single malt and they all were quite capable of knocking it back. Left the
couple of remaining fingers as a small token of our appreciation for
stupendous meal and remarkable service. When espresso was served at the end
of the dinner, one of the guests said she didn't drink coffee and
Oonishi-san was back immediately with tea, without even being asked. Just
one small example of the care everyone took in serving throughout the night!
As you can tell, food was extraordinarily delicious and so was the wine,
Italian, as you might suspect. We were even allowed to bring our own hootch
as alcohol was included in the cost per plate. I brought two reds, a Durif
from Rutherglen and a Cabbage from Coonawarra, from Patrick Winery, as well
as a Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Duty Free in Sydney. People started to arrive
after 6:00pm and Toshi had said earlier that it would probably be over by
9:30pm as people would have to catch trains, etc. However, by 11:30pm party
still showed no signs of letting up! Owners were very accommodating but they
did have to close shop. (Staff had already done most of the clearing up by
this time!) Finally, Toshi called everyone outside for a group shots and
succeeded in sending all the very happy guests home after numerous snaps
from everyone's cameras.
Bit of a noisy crowd as we all walked towards the nearest train station,
small groups heading off together, those who lived in similar parts of the
city, the streets otherwise fairly quiet. The three of us made for JR
Kitashinchi Station where we caught the direct line to Takarazuka to finish
journey with a short cab ride home. We all feel asleep without much trouble
after having to wake poor Tomiko as Toshi had forgotten her key!
Signing off now as we have a busy, busy day tomorrow. All sorts of museums
and historical sited. Fondestos and Cheers, Cora Lee "Move Over Rick Steves"
and Patrizzio "We Don't Need No Stinkin' Travel Agents" San!
To be continued...
Hip hip Hooray! Had a good chuckle envisioning you on your chair fist
pumping and picturing Corriandre probably covering her face and shaking her
head as well as I'm sure somewhat confused looks of guests. I'm sure you
won't be forgotten anytime soon in that part of the world. Bravo!! Have a
wonderful time and give our best to Toshi.Greetings from Nagasaki!
Hi Goils!
Thanks for updates on Mom and George. I hope Gaelan and Steph are handling this difficult time. Did June and Myrtle arrive?Toshi sends her fond greetings to both of you. It really is an incredible country and can honestly say we are sorry we hadn't made the effort to visit before this. Anyway, couldn't 't be happier that we are finally scratching the surface.
Hi Claire and Greg!
Glad to hear that Greg actually can change his mind! Cycling in Spain sounds wonderful. What a great trip. Congrats on camper completion project. Please send a case of chutney to the Island Inn, pre-payment to hold your reservations when you decide to visit! Cora Lee, kimono clad, sends her fond regards to you both.
Hi Chris and Jim!
You are too busy to fill the role of grandparenting! I trust all goes well on that front. For my part, I despair of being bale to keep up with Robo Ray when we return at the end of May. No exercise, except walking and opening bottles!
Hi again, Big Al!
How well you know Coriandre! Was there a live cam at Taverna Quinta, focused on Her Majesty, The Honoured Guest? Will certainly send greetings to Toshi, on your behalf, when we see her this coming Friday.
Yesterday, Ayn reminded us that it was, in fact, the Victoria Day Long Weekend, (One simply loses track of time after a while. One day seems just like another on the travel roller coaster!) By chance, we enjoyed Victoria Day at the Victoria Hotel, a booking made some time ago. We dined at a lovely Chinese restaurant, (Cora lee claimed she needed a break from Sushi this and Sushi that, mainly the pickled vegetables, I suspect!), about two minutes away, near the entrance to the fairly large Chinatown here. Gorgeous entrance gates and attractive, colourful metal dragons overhead along the narrow streets of the precinct. Apparently, according to Coramandel Steeves, the Chinese had a very early influence in Japan, here, following the Portuguese and Dutch when foreigners were allowed in. At the moment, my local guide is snoring gently, resting up for the busy tour of the city's highlights to come! We plan to buy a one-day tram pass to get around the city, a comfortably sized place with very friendly inhabitants, based on the people who have gone well out of their way to help us when we've asked for directions. Time to make another hit of java, (Starbucks Instanto sticks purchased in Tokyo as emergency rations!), and sip if from our multi-purpose tea/sake cups!
Hi Treacherous Tree Person!
Great work with the series! You should do something similar with bonsai for the Japanese market. We could be your agents here and set up a gallery/sake tavern!
Hi Champagne!
Thanks for kind thoughts about Annie. According to Chloe, she has her ups and downs but is still hanging on!
Hi Mad-Cap and Bad Boy!
Trust High Game Tourney will go well!
Hi Slammin' Steve!
No Merlot so far, but a few whites are really enjoyable! See you in early June. Cheers, Coriandre "Rick Steves", broadcasting, semi-live, on location in Japan, and Patrizzio, her trusty, underpaid Sherpa!
Hi June!
Trust you are well and were able to "break-in" to The Island Inn! Thanks, in advance, for bringing the single malt. Much appreciated. Looking forward to Kyoto as well. Enjoy your holiday in Canada.
Hi Ski!
Congratulations, in advance, on your coming anniversary! Long-suffering Ron and Corinne! We are just not understood, Ski!!!! Will decipher card when next we hook up. Pleased to learn that all your bright offspring are doing so well. Dublin is a fabulous city so you'll have a great time visiting Sam when you are not skiing, Ski, in Switzerland or being a roadie!
Hi Flash!
I knew there was some reason not to live on Vancouver's East Side! Glad all goes well, in spite of handcuffs! How was your long weekend?
Hi Lady Patrizia and Sir James!
Trust you are both well!
Hi Fe!
Wasn't actualy locked-out. Just a silly game a Facebook friend was playing.
We are still in Japan and won't be back in Vancouver until the end of the month. However, will certainly give Sylvia a belated birthday hug when next we meet.
What's Ed doing in LA? What are the boys up to?? Is Pierre finishing his degree in LA?
Please send news?? Nana/Mom
More Greetings from the JR Bullet Train and Nagasaki!
Hi Big Al!
Great to hear from you. Glad you have enjoyed some of our exploits! It
really is an incredible country and can honestly say we are sorry we hadn't
made the effort to visit before this. Anyway, couldn't 't be happier that we
are finally scratching the surface.
This morning, just before 10:00am, (9:57am to be precise! I think that is
why I like this country so much. When the schedule says 9:57am the train
leaves precisely then. The conductors on the platform are constantly
checking their watches and when the second hand passes the appointed time,
they wave their flags and blow their whistles and we are launched into
SuperExpress Heaven. They'd understand 77.33K!), we boarded the Sakura 553
Shinkasen, SuperExpress, bound for Hakata where we changed to a Limitd
Express, (more of a milk-run, whistle stopper), to Nagasaki for next two
nights. Spent last night at a fabulous hotel/spa not all that far way from
Toshi's/Tomiko's apartment. They and her aunts wanted to treat us as thanks
for all our hospitality in Canada. Had a wonderful onsen before dinner. I
was all by myself as there are separate baths for women and men. Around
7:00pm a lavish meal, Kaiseki, traditional Japanese food, about seven
courses, was served in our room. I drank a Japanese citrus beverage, Yuzu,
fruit wine made from small Japanese citrus fruit, akin to a lemon/lime,
etc., only 8% but extremely tasty and most refreshing after the Onsen, while
The Sisterhood sipped a Chardonnay from Kobe, 2010 Benediction Blanc, 12.5%,
very tasty indeed. (I must say that the local wine has been very good. Not
necessarily product that you might search out as not much varietal
character. However, certainly very quaffable and complimentary to much of
the Japanese food we've eaten when drinking the ones Toshi has very kindly
offered.) Absolutely stunning presentation and tastes, of course. By the
time we finished eating and chatting it was close to 10:00pm and we finished
with very tasty watermelon and cantaloupe. Course before that was miso soup,
a selection of pickled vegetables and rice to cleanse the palette but I
couldn't touch anything as the portions had just kept coming and coming!
(Didn't even manage to crack the bottle of sake we'd brought along so hope
to enjoy it in Nagasaki!)
We all slept in the same room, low dining room table put aside, on very
comfy tatami mats. While I was waiting for the bathroom, I climbed back into
the massage chair and enjoyed the pummelling and the vibrating until I was a
noodle. That and the onsen ensured sleep was a sound one. We all slept in
our kimonos and I didn't need anything else as temperature was just right
for me. Cora Lee and Toshi were buried under there duvets but Tomiko didn't
use hers either. Woke up at 5:00am to see the sunrise. Toshi informed us
that there would be a total eclipse of the sun at around 7:30am so we wanted
to go for another onsen before watching the solar fireworks. During dinner
Toshi asked the woman who was serving our food if protective glasses were
available at the hotel and when she returned a few minutes later she brought
us a device that looked a bit like a space age set of sun glasses wthout the
arms. She said it was a gift to us on our anniversary, as were about three
of the dishes served over the course of the meal. Toshi must have mentioned
our 36th when she made the booking. The food was from the hotel but the
solar protector was from her. She said she lived but three minutes away and
could use the ones her daughter had purchased. By and large, this is typical
of the open generosity and genuine thoughtfulnes/graciousness we have
experienced since arriving.
At any rate, I went up to the onsen just after 6:00am and enjoyed another
wonderful soak, both indoors and in smaller outdoor pool, before returning
to the room. Beat Toshi and Coriandre back. Tomiko had stayed and was
reading the newspaper when I walked in. We changed out of our kimonos and
started watching the beginning of the eclipse at around 7:10am. I was loads
of fun as the sun was gradually obscured. I asked Toshi to turn on TV and we
watched coverage from around Japan. Cloud cover was heavier in Tokyo, where
eclipse was to be more complete, but from comparing our own observations to
what was shown on the live-coverage, our show was better!
At 7:30am the eclipse was almost total, just a halo of red light around the
black moon, so we went downstairs for breakfast. Another wonderful meal and
I'm always the winner with Cora Lee as I get to eat most of her pickles.
This time one of my "donations" was a custard-like tofu, cooked in what
amounts to a huge cup-cake that is set inside a ceramic bowl, atop a
mini,gel fuelled hot pot. Fortunately for me, Coriandre has never liked
custard. Fantastically yummy, especially with green onions and grated ginger
on top!
Back up to room to finish packing. We are traveling quite lightly, (The way
we should have been from the very start!), for this next leg of the trip as
we'll return to Toshi's place on Saturday. She'll meet us at our hotel on
Friday morning. We'll spend Thursday night in Kyoto, after visiting
Hiroshima, (one night), after Nagasaki, the furthest south we'll travel.
Friday night we will spend at the guest house, (cottage/cabin), of one of
the directors of the company she works for, and explore more of Kyoto and
environs. The wife of the director will be there and she is familar with
this area so she has offered to be our guide. That being said, Toshi is a
more than wonderful tour guide herself so we have really been able to
understand more about what we are seeing and doing and eating and
drinking!!!
Once we were packed, we went downstairs again to have coffee and tea, part
of the package, stopping to admire the stunning Koi in a beautiful outdoor
pond, next to the bank of elevators. I've never seen such gigantic,
stunningly beautiful , obviously healthy fish as these. There were three or
four, perhaps a few more, that were over a metre long, the thickness of my
thigh through the middle; two of these were a golden yellow, many of the
smaller ones, and even these weren't that small, were splotched red and
white and black, simply glorious, almost like Dalmatian goldfish! I could
hardly tear myself away from the window every time I passed.
Into the comfortable lounge area for some delicously strong coffee, (black
tea for Coriandre), and a chocolate biscuit from Kobe, appareny renowned for
its sweets as well as its beef. More chatting and translation for Tomiko and
then back to room to collect our bags. Around 9:30am Toshi and her Mom
walked with us to the station, about a ten minute stroll, and saw us as far
as the ticket gates. They didn't have to check out until 11:00am and Toshi
didn't have to be at work until 1:30pm. She had some time owing her for some
weekend work a while back. Her Mom was planning to go home to do laundry,
our bed linen! We thanked them for such a wonderful weekend and embraced,
saying we'd see Toshi on Friday, her mom the day after. On Sunday, at noon,
an uncle is hosting a yakatori party for us at his restaurant so we'll see
the aunts who have visited Vancouver over the years.
Longest part of today's journey was from Shin-Osaka to Hakata, about
two-and-a-half hours. Then two hours from there to Nagasaki, arriving just
before 4:00pm. Give us time to stroll around downtown after checking in to
our hotel, The Victoria Inn, fairly central, according to the Japanese
expert, Have Insight Guide, Will Travel Coriandre!
Hadn't had time, until today's train journey, to diarize the simply
incredible party Toshi organized in our honour, at her favourite Italian
ristorante, Taverna Quinta, in Osaka, on Saturday. She has a friend Luna,
whose sister, Akemi, (Koreans born in Japan), is the wife, (hostess/head
waiter), of the chef, Kenji, together with pastry chef Maiko and
Oonishi-san, waiter, (hall staff). The four of them run this terrific place,
simple, attractive decor and intimate space, just poifect for a gathering
the size of such a group as ours, 26 people, including Toshi and the Guests
of Honour, Cora Lee and Patrizzio!
The food was unbelievable, incredible and I am not exaggerating, as is my
wont.
The meal was quite traditional and started with antipasto, salami,
prosciutto and a form of quiche. Then Insalata Caprese: fresh basil, fruit
tomatoes, (sweeter than normal), and fresh buffalo mozzarella, with Maiko's
freshly baked focaccio; thin crust Pizza Margherita, tomatoe, bocconcini,
basil; Spaghetti with an incredible, spicy vegetable/shrimp tomatoe sauce;
Risotto with Gorgonzola, fabulo and then a succulent roast leg of lamb with
potatoes, served sliced, molto divino!!!
Dessert, on a gorgeous platter, with our names written in chocolate sauce,
sprinkled with icing powder, was Maiko's special gelato, mango, vanilla,
chocolate, together with panna cotta and strawberry sauce and a large creme
brûlée. Poor people had to make do with just vanilla gelato and a slice of
cake, (If they don't have bread, let them eat cake!), of some kind. Not that
anybody minded as all the courses were more than generous. We shared almost
half of our platter as it was simply too, too much for the two of us and
too, too, too delicious not to share and Heaven forbid, waste!
About half of the guests spoke at least some English, (Laura, per esempio,
is from London and teaches ESL), so we could converse with many of Toshi's
friends. As you might expect, I stood on a chair and gave a number of
speeches which Toshi translated, as I spoke. Felt like I was a visiting
politician somewhere or at the UN General Assembly. We wanted to thank Toshi
for her incredible hospitality and for the terrific opportunity to meet so
many of her friends. i must admit that I became a bit "weepy" when I
mentioned how she had become part of our family over the course of the three
years that she lived with us at Hotel Kits. For a bit of comic relief I
mentioned that "English Only" was the refrain of the day when she was in
Vancouver and that the reason we had taken so long to visit Japan was that I
was afraid to hear the dreaded words "Japanese Only"! This was well received
and then I added, for good measure, that in order to accomplish this
language learning, we would be spending two weeks with everyone present, on
our next visit! Great good fun and then I explained that I wanted to lead
them in a round of For He's a Jolly Good Fellow, substituting For They are
Jolly Good Fellows, in order to thank them for coming to the celebration.
Had to lead them through one or two rounds until they got the hang of it but
didn't take long and everyone was shooting both arms into the air with every
"Which"!!! Think the restaurant staff were a tad astonished but seemed to
enjoy the merriment, nonetheless. I insisted they help themselves to the
single malt and they all were quite capable of knocking it back. Left the
couple of remaining fingers as a small token of our appreciation for
stupendous meal and remarkable service. When espresso was served at the end
of the dinner, one of the guests said she didn't drink coffee and
Oonishi-san was back immediately with tea, without even being asked. Just
one small example of the care everyone took in serving throughout the night!
As you can tell, food was extraordinarily delicious and so was the wine,
Italian, as you might suspect. We were even allowed to bring our own hootch
as alcohol was included in the cost per plate. I brought two reds, a Durif
from Rutherglen and a Cabbage from Coonawarra, from Patrick Winery, as well
as a Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Duty Free in Sydney. People started to arrive
after 6:00pm and Toshi had said earlier that it would probably be over by
9:30pm as people would have to catch trains, etc. However, by 11:30pm party
still showed no signs of letting up! Owners were very accommodating but they
did have to close shop. (Staff had already done most of the clearing up by
this time!) Finally, Toshi called everyone outside for a group shots and
succeeded in sending all the very happy guests home after numerous snaps
from everyone's cameras.
Bit of a noisy crowd as we all walked towards the nearest train station,
small groups heading off together, those who lived in similar parts of the
city, the streets otherwise fairly quiet. The three of us made for JR
Kitashinchi Station where we caught the direct line to Takarazuka to finish
journey with a short cab ride home. We all feel asleep without much trouble
after having to wake poor Tomiko as Toshi had forgotten her key!
Signing off now as we have a busy, busy day tomorrow. All sorts of museums
and historical sited. Fondestos and Cheers, Cora Lee "Move Over Rick Steves"
and Patrizzio "We Don't Need No Stinkin' Travel Agents" San!
To be continued...
Hip hip Hooray! Had a good chuckle envisioning you on your chair fist
pumping and picturing Corriandre probably covering her face and shaking her
head as well as I'm sure somewhat confused looks of guests. I'm sure you
won't be forgotten anytime soon in that part of the world. Bravo!! Have a
wonderful time and give our best to Toshi.Greetings from Nagasaki!
Hi Goils!
Thanks for updates on Mom and George. I hope Gaelan and Steph are handling this difficult time. Did June and Myrtle arrive?Toshi sends her fond greetings to both of you. It really is an incredible country and can honestly say we are sorry we hadn't made the effort to visit before this. Anyway, couldn't 't be happier that we are finally scratching the surface.
Hi Claire and Greg!
Glad to hear that Greg actually can change his mind! Cycling in Spain sounds wonderful. What a great trip. Congrats on camper completion project. Please send a case of chutney to the Island Inn, pre-payment to hold your reservations when you decide to visit! Cora Lee, kimono clad, sends her fond regards to you both.
Hi Chris and Jim!
You are too busy to fill the role of grandparenting! I trust all goes well on that front. For my part, I despair of being bale to keep up with Robo Ray when we return at the end of May. No exercise, except walking and opening bottles!
Hi again, Big Al!
How well you know Coriandre! Was there a live cam at Taverna Quinta, focused on Her Majesty, The Honoured Guest? Will certainly send greetings to Toshi, on your behalf, when we see her this coming Friday.
Yesterday, Ayn reminded us that it was, in fact, the Victoria Day Long Weekend, (One simply loses track of time after a while. One day seems just like another on the travel roller coaster!) By chance, we enjoyed Victoria Day at the Victoria Hotel, a booking made some time ago. We dined at a lovely Chinese restaurant, (Cora lee claimed she needed a break from Sushi this and Sushi that, mainly the pickled vegetables, I suspect!), about two minutes away, near the entrance to the fairly large Chinatown here. Gorgeous entrance gates and attractive, colourful metal dragons overhead along the narrow streets of the precinct. Apparently, according to Coramandel Steeves, the Chinese had a very early influence in Japan, here, following the Portuguese and Dutch when foreigners were allowed in. At the moment, my local guide is snoring gently, resting up for the busy tour of the city's highlights to come! We plan to buy a one-day tram pass to get around the city, a comfortably sized place with very friendly inhabitants, based on the people who have gone well out of their way to help us when we've asked for directions. Time to make another hit of java, (Starbucks Instanto sticks purchased in Tokyo as emergency rations!), and sip if from our multi-purpose tea/sake cups!
Hi Treacherous Tree Person!
Great work with the series! You should do something similar with bonsai for the Japanese market. We could be your agents here and set up a gallery/sake tavern!
Hi Champagne!
Thanks for kind thoughts about Annie. According to Chloe, she has her ups and downs but is still hanging on!
Hi Mad-Cap and Bad Boy!
Trust High Game Tourney will go well!
Hi Slammin' Steve!
No Merlot so far, but a few whites are really enjoyable! See you in early June. Cheers, Coriandre "Rick Steves", broadcasting, semi-live, on location in Japan, and Patrizzio, her trusty, underpaid Sherpa!
Hi June!
Trust you are well and were able to "break-in" to The Island Inn! Thanks, in advance, for bringing the single malt. Much appreciated. Looking forward to Kyoto as well. Enjoy your holiday in Canada.
Hi Ski!
Congratulations, in advance, on your coming anniversary! Long-suffering Ron and Corinne! We are just not understood, Ski!!!! Will decipher card when next we hook up. Pleased to learn that all your bright offspring are doing so well. Dublin is a fabulous city so you'll have a great time visiting Sam when you are not skiing, Ski, in Switzerland or being a roadie!
Hi Flash!
I knew there was some reason not to live on Vancouver's East Side! Glad all goes well, in spite of handcuffs! How was your long weekend?
Hi Lady Patrizia and Sir James!
Trust you are both well!
Hi Fe!
Wasn't actualy locked-out. Just a silly game a Facebook friend was playing.
We are still in Japan and won't be back in Vancouver until the end of the month. However, will certainly give Sylvia a belated birthday hug when next we meet.
SDBT: Sunday, May 20th
What a strange illusion it is to suppose that beauty is goodness. -Leo Tolstoy, novelist and philosopher (1828-1910)
Ed and your grandsons
Hi Goils!
Tell Ed I know how he feels! We just boarded the Sakura 553 Shinkasen, Bullet Train, bound for Hakata where we change for another Bulleto to Nagasaki for next two nights. Spent last night at a fabulous hotel/spa not all that far way from Toshi's/Tomiko's apartment. They and her aunts wanted to treat us as thanks for all our hospitality in Canada. Had a wonderful onsen before dinner. I was all by myself as there are separate baths for women and men. Around 7:00pm a lavish 7 course meal was served in our room. I drank a Japanese citrus beverage, (8%), while Nana pounded a Chardonnay from Kobe. Absolutely stunning presentation and tastes, of course. By the time we finished eating and chatting it was close to 10:00pm and we finished with very tasty watermelon and canteloupe. Course before that was miso soup and rice to cleanse the palette but I couldn't touch either as the portions had just kept coming and coming! (Didn't even manage to crack the bottle of sake we'd brought along so hope to enjoy it tonight in Nagasaki!)
We all slept in the same room, low dining room table put aside, on very comfy tatami mats. While I was waiting for the bathroom, I climbed back into the massage chair and enjoyed the pummelling and the vibrating until I was a noodle. That and the onsen ensured sleep was a sound one. We all slept in our kimonos and I didn't need anything else as temperature was just right for me. Cora Lee and Toshi were buried ubder there duvets but Tomiko didn't use hers either. Woke up at 5:00am to see the sunrise. Toshi informed us that there would be a total eclipse of the sun at around 7:30am so we wanted to go for another onsen before watching the solar fireworks. During dinner Toshi asked the woman who was serving our food if protective glasses were available at the hotel and when she returned a few minutes later she brought us aa device that looked a bit like a space age set of sun glasses wthout the arms. She said it was a gift to us on our anniversary, as were about three of the dishes served over the course of the meal. Toshi must have mentioned our 36th when she made the booking. The food was from the hotel but the solar protector was from her. She said she lived but three minutes away and could use the ones her daughter had purchased. By and large, this is typical of the generosity we have experienced since arriving.
At any rate, I went up to the onsen just after 6:00am and enjoyed another wonderful soak, both indoors and in smaller outdoor pool, befoer returning to the room. Beat Toshi and Coriandre back to room. Tomiko had stayed and was reading the newspaper when walked in. We changed out of our kimonos and started watching the beginning of the eclipse at around 7:10am. I was loads of fun as the sun was gradually obscured. I asked Toshi to turn on TV and we watched coverage from around Japan. Cloud cover was heavier in Tokyo, where eclipse was to be more complete, but from comparing our own observations to what was shown on the live-coverage, our show was better!
At 7:30am, the eclipse was almost total, just a halo of red light around the black moon, so we went downstairs for breakfast. Another wonderful meal and I'm always the winner with Cora Lee as I get to eat most of her pickles. This time we had a custard-like tofu, cooked in what amounts to a huge cup-cake that is set inside a ceramic bowl, atop a mini,gel fuelled hot pot. Yummy, especially with green onions and gratd ginger on top!
Back up to room to pack up. We are travelling quite lightly, (The way we should have been from the very start!), for this next leg of the trip as we'll return to Toshi's place on Saturday. She'll meet us at our hotel on Friday morning. We'll spend Thursday night in Kyoto, after visiting Hiroshima, (one night), after Nagasaki, the furthest south we'll travel. Friday night we will spend at the guest house, (cottage/cabin), of one of the directors of the company she works for, and explore more of Kyoto and environs. The wife of the director will be there and she is familar with this area so she has offered to be our guide. That being said, Toshi is a more than wonderful tour guide herself so we have really been able to understand more about what we are seeing and doing and eating and drinking!!!
Once we were packed, we went downstairs again to have coffee and tea, part of the package, stopping to admire the stunning Koi in a beautiful outdoor pond, next to the bank of elevators. I've never seen such gigantic, stunningly beautiful , obviously healthy fish as these. There were three or four, perhaps a few more, that were over a metre long, the thickness of my thigh through the middle; two of these were a golden yellow, many of the smaller ones, and even these weren't that small, were splotched red and white and black, simply glorious, almost like Dalmatian goldfish! I could hardly tear myself away from the window everytime I passed.
Into the comfortable lounge area for some delicously strong coffee, (black tea for Coriandre), and a chocolate biscuit from Kobe, appareny renowned for its sweets as well as its beef. More chatting and translation for Tomiko and then back to room tt collect our bags. Around 9:30am Toshi and her Mom walked with us to the station, about a ten minute stroll, and saw us as far as the ticket gates. They didn't have to check out until 11:00am and Toshi didn't have to be at work until 1:30pm. She had some time owing her for some weekend work a while back. Her Mom was planning to go home to do laundry, our bed linen! We thankedd them for such a wonderful weekend and embraced, saying we'd see Toshi on Friday, her mom the day after. On Sundday, at noon, an unclel is hosting a yakatori party for us at his restaurant so we'll see the aunts who have visited Vancouver over the years.
Longest part of today's journey is from Shin-Osaka to Hakata, about two-and-a-half hours. Then two hours from there to Nagasaki, arrivning just before 4:00pm. Should give us time to stroll around downtown after chcecking in to our hotel, The Victoria Inn, fairly central, according to the Japanese expert, Have Insight Guide, Will Travel Coriandre! Signing off, munching rice crackers wrapped in seaweed as we hurtle along. Love, Fondestos and Cheers, Nana "Move Over Rick Steves" and Poppa "We Don't Need No Stinkin' Travel Agents" San!
Hi Marilyn and Big Al!
Trust you are both well. How go your busy lives?
Hi Patrice,
I really enjoyed your well written excerpts and particularly your recounting
of the anniversary festivities. Japan sounds like an amazing place and I
would very much like to visit, fortunately we can benefit from your
experiences which I can't wait to hear more about upon your return. I guess
you must be heading home soon? I can't remember the date of your return but
I wish you a safe journey and will look forward to catching up soon.
Take care, Al
Hi Goils!
Tell Ed I know how he feels! We just boarded the Sakura 553 Shinkasen, Bullet Train, bound for Hakata where we change for another Bulleto to Nagasaki for next two nights. Spent last night at a fabulous hotel/spa not all that far way from Toshi's/Tomiko's apartment. They and her aunts wanted to treat us as thanks for all our hospitality in Canada. Had a wonderful onsen before dinner. I was all by myself as there are separate baths for women and men. Around 7:00pm a lavish 7 course meal was served in our room. I drank a Japanese citrus beverage, (8%), while Nana pounded a Chardonnay from Kobe. Absolutely stunning presentation and tastes, of course. By the time we finished eating and chatting it was close to 10:00pm and we finished with very tasty watermelon and canteloupe. Course before that was miso soup and rice to cleanse the palette but I couldn't touch either as the portions had just kept coming and coming! (Didn't even manage to crack the bottle of sake we'd brought along so hope to enjoy it tonight in Nagasaki!)
We all slept in the same room, low dining room table put aside, on very comfy tatami mats. While I was waiting for the bathroom, I climbed back into the massage chair and enjoyed the pummelling and the vibrating until I was a noodle. That and the onsen ensured sleep was a sound one. We all slept in our kimonos and I didn't need anything else as temperature was just right for me. Cora Lee and Toshi were buried ubder there duvets but Tomiko didn't use hers either. Woke up at 5:00am to see the sunrise. Toshi informed us that there would be a total eclipse of the sun at around 7:30am so we wanted to go for another onsen before watching the solar fireworks. During dinner Toshi asked the woman who was serving our food if protective glasses were available at the hotel and when she returned a few minutes later she brought us aa device that looked a bit like a space age set of sun glasses wthout the arms. She said it was a gift to us on our anniversary, as were about three of the dishes served over the course of the meal. Toshi must have mentioned our 36th when she made the booking. The food was from the hotel but the solar protector was from her. She said she lived but three minutes away and could use the ones her daughter had purchased. By and large, this is typical of the generosity we have experienced since arriving.
At any rate, I went up to the onsen just after 6:00am and enjoyed another wonderful soak, both indoors and in smaller outdoor pool, befoer returning to the room. Beat Toshi and Coriandre back to room. Tomiko had stayed and was reading the newspaper when walked in. We changed out of our kimonos and started watching the beginning of the eclipse at around 7:10am. I was loads of fun as the sun was gradually obscured. I asked Toshi to turn on TV and we watched coverage from around Japan. Cloud cover was heavier in Tokyo, where eclipse was to be more complete, but from comparing our own observations to what was shown on the live-coverage, our show was better!
At 7:30am, the eclipse was almost total, just a halo of red light around the black moon, so we went downstairs for breakfast. Another wonderful meal and I'm always the winner with Cora Lee as I get to eat most of her pickles. This time we had a custard-like tofu, cooked in what amounts to a huge cup-cake that is set inside a ceramic bowl, atop a mini,gel fuelled hot pot. Yummy, especially with green onions and gratd ginger on top!
Back up to room to pack up. We are travelling quite lightly, (The way we should have been from the very start!), for this next leg of the trip as we'll return to Toshi's place on Saturday. She'll meet us at our hotel on Friday morning. We'll spend Thursday night in Kyoto, after visiting Hiroshima, (one night), after Nagasaki, the furthest south we'll travel. Friday night we will spend at the guest house, (cottage/cabin), of one of the directors of the company she works for, and explore more of Kyoto and environs. The wife of the director will be there and she is familar with this area so she has offered to be our guide. That being said, Toshi is a more than wonderful tour guide herself so we have really been able to understand more about what we are seeing and doing and eating and drinking!!!
Once we were packed, we went downstairs again to have coffee and tea, part of the package, stopping to admire the stunning Koi in a beautiful outdoor pond, next to the bank of elevators. I've never seen such gigantic, stunningly beautiful , obviously healthy fish as these. There were three or four, perhaps a few more, that were over a metre long, the thickness of my thigh through the middle; two of these were a golden yellow, many of the smaller ones, and even these weren't that small, were splotched red and white and black, simply glorious, almost like Dalmatian goldfish! I could hardly tear myself away from the window everytime I passed.
Into the comfortable lounge area for some delicously strong coffee, (black tea for Coriandre), and a chocolate biscuit from Kobe, appareny renowned for its sweets as well as its beef. More chatting and translation for Tomiko and then back to room tt collect our bags. Around 9:30am Toshi and her Mom walked with us to the station, about a ten minute stroll, and saw us as far as the ticket gates. They didn't have to check out until 11:00am and Toshi didn't have to be at work until 1:30pm. She had some time owing her for some weekend work a while back. Her Mom was planning to go home to do laundry, our bed linen! We thankedd them for such a wonderful weekend and embraced, saying we'd see Toshi on Friday, her mom the day after. On Sundday, at noon, an unclel is hosting a yakatori party for us at his restaurant so we'll see the aunts who have visited Vancouver over the years.
Longest part of today's journey is from Shin-Osaka to Hakata, about two-and-a-half hours. Then two hours from there to Nagasaki, arrivning just before 4:00pm. Should give us time to stroll around downtown after chcecking in to our hotel, The Victoria Inn, fairly central, according to the Japanese expert, Have Insight Guide, Will Travel Coriandre! Signing off, munching rice crackers wrapped in seaweed as we hurtle along. Love, Fondestos and Cheers, Nana "Move Over Rick Steves" and Poppa "We Don't Need No Stinkin' Travel Agents" San!
Hi Marilyn and Big Al!
Trust you are both well. How go your busy lives?
Hi Patrice,
I really enjoyed your well written excerpts and particularly your recounting
of the anniversary festivities. Japan sounds like an amazing place and I
would very much like to visit, fortunately we can benefit from your
experiences which I can't wait to hear more about upon your return. I guess
you must be heading home soon? I can't remember the date of your return but
I wish you a safe journey and will look forward to catching up soon.
Take care, Al
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