My old friend Mickie Potter came online the other night and after brief salutations and updates on current affairs (so-to-speak) I happened to mention I was toying with the idea of a trip to Ireland this summer. Unbelievably I haven't been back there since the golden summer of 1991.
"I've never been to Ireland" says M. P. "Can I come?"
So, we are both doing some serious toying with the idea right now. Now can anyone recommend any must-see places, events etc in Ireland? I was thinking a music festival might be fun. Anyhow, recommendations appreciated. And I hope it's just like this:
Incidentally, the full series of Father Ted is viewable up here at TV LINKS.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Viva Sherry & Suika
I went along to Mews Cafe to check out a performance by Viva Sherry today and found Rikki in the kiddies' playpen.
Which was odd.
But the show was very good, especially when Viva Sherry joined forces with another (slighty-more-famous) band: Suika and you can see that performance below (up until the point when my memory card filled up...). Incidentally, the lady at the back smashing the cymbals with her hands apparently plays percussion with the Southern All Stars.
Which was odd.
But the show was very good, especially when Viva Sherry joined forces with another (slighty-more-famous) band: Suika and you can see that performance below (up until the point when my memory card filled up...). Incidentally, the lady at the back smashing the cymbals with her hands apparently plays percussion with the Southern All Stars.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Disappointed!
Today, the poet that's foremost on my mind is that crack-pot Irish esoteric romantic W.B. Yeats. A great man. Many of his most famous poems were inspired by his deep infatuation for a lady named Maud Gonne, a woman of passion, with a deep sense of justice and fully dedicated to the cause of Irish nationalism. Here is one such poem; almost unbearably tender, I dare you to read it and not feel something:
Sadly, the girl Maud remained unmoved (in later life she professed a firm disinterest in the poems she had inspired). Yeats proposed to her in 1891 and was rejected. Again he proposed in 1899 - no go. Once more in 1900 - same result. And finally, persistent fellow that he was, AGAIN in 1901. The answer: No thank you.
In 1903 while at a party with some other literary types, Yeats was informed that the great love of his life, his muse and inspiration for the last 14 years had married the Irish nationalist John MacBride.
Think about him there if you will. Standing there, in that instant, shocked to the quick, with his little sherry glass in hand. He was 38 years old and heading into middle-age and the one great love of his life was over.
He later went on to write much better and mature poetry of course. His life and his achievements, didn't end there. But it has always struck me as unbearably sad that this great romantic poet, couldn't pull it off. The one woman he wanted to be with, simply wasn't interested in his poems, no matter how great they were. I've always thought it an awful pity. The Japanese have just the word for it: せつない (setsunai or "heartrending").
In the end of course he ended up married to a girl half his age named George. Isn't it funny how things work out.?
Of course this is all my own round-about-and-deeply-veiled-way of expressing my own current feeling. Those of you who know me best and know where my heart has been leading me lately, will know what I'm talking about. I too have been disappointed today. Am I sad? You bet. Can I see beyond it? Yes, but it's a little murky right now. Am I now going to get on with the rest of my life? Yes. Yes. Yes.
Incidentally, there is a theory that Maud Gonne, was not completely without feeling for poor old William Butler.... that she led him on a bit. There is even some evidence they had a brief affair. A brief glimpse of happiness. Which brings me to today's video. Yeat's wrote a wonderful poem, based on Irish myth but infused with his own sad passion entitled: The Song of Wandering Angus. In it, he describes the protagonist's fleeting encounter of a dream-like love that he then determines to pursue almost against all reason until... well see and listen for yourself. Remember, these poems are meant to be listened to... Enjoy, and God bless you all.
He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven
HAD I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
HAD I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
Sadly, the girl Maud remained unmoved (in later life she professed a firm disinterest in the poems she had inspired). Yeats proposed to her in 1891 and was rejected. Again he proposed in 1899 - no go. Once more in 1900 - same result. And finally, persistent fellow that he was, AGAIN in 1901. The answer: No thank you.
In 1903 while at a party with some other literary types, Yeats was informed that the great love of his life, his muse and inspiration for the last 14 years had married the Irish nationalist John MacBride.
Think about him there if you will. Standing there, in that instant, shocked to the quick, with his little sherry glass in hand. He was 38 years old and heading into middle-age and the one great love of his life was over.
He later went on to write much better and mature poetry of course. His life and his achievements, didn't end there. But it has always struck me as unbearably sad that this great romantic poet, couldn't pull it off. The one woman he wanted to be with, simply wasn't interested in his poems, no matter how great they were. I've always thought it an awful pity. The Japanese have just the word for it: せつない (setsunai or "heartrending").
In the end of course he ended up married to a girl half his age named George. Isn't it funny how things work out.?
Of course this is all my own round-about-and-deeply-veiled-way of expressing my own current feeling. Those of you who know me best and know where my heart has been leading me lately, will know what I'm talking about. I too have been disappointed today. Am I sad? You bet. Can I see beyond it? Yes, but it's a little murky right now. Am I now going to get on with the rest of my life? Yes. Yes. Yes.
Incidentally, there is a theory that Maud Gonne, was not completely without feeling for poor old William Butler.... that she led him on a bit. There is even some evidence they had a brief affair. A brief glimpse of happiness. Which brings me to today's video. Yeat's wrote a wonderful poem, based on Irish myth but infused with his own sad passion entitled: The Song of Wandering Angus. In it, he describes the protagonist's fleeting encounter of a dream-like love that he then determines to pursue almost against all reason until... well see and listen for yourself. Remember, these poems are meant to be listened to... Enjoy, and God bless you all.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
"They are intended to be listened to..."
Here's a short video poem by Billy Collins that took my fancy lately. I love how the colours and sounds of the animation complement the fantastic journey described:
Walking across the Atlantic
Billy Collins is that rare thing: a popular poet. Popular because his work captures the imagination and because it is accessible (though he prefers the word "hospitable" apparently. Now there are those among us (I work with one of them and am related to others) who pour scorn upon the very idea of poetry. Poetry! What's the point of that? What good does that do? Good question. Here's the poet's better answer (from the Poetry 180 website):
Poetry can and should be an important part of our daily lives. Poems can inspire and make us think about what it means to be a member of the human race. By just spending a few minutes reading a poem each day, new worlds can be revealed.
Poetry 180 is a simple yet wonderful idea. 180 poems to be read on the 180 days of the school year. Just think how enriched your life might be if you read a single poem a day. The only problem is that many of us, strapped for time, or patience or imagination, don't really know where to start. What kind of poets will strike my fancy? Will I even understand them? Just thinking of all those big tomes of serious serious poetry - gives me a headache! Well not to worry, Billy Collins has taken care of all that for you. The poems on the Poetry 180 were chosen for that very same quality of hospitality that has made Mr. Collins a bestseller. And he has even provided some USEFUL TIPS for the reader who may be overawed by the very idea of the POEM.
Now remember, I'm a big fan of the free stuff. You don't need to buy Billy Collins's books! There's tonnes of it online!
Free Downloadable Audio Files Here!
More Videos Here!
A-Whole-Pile-of-Poems-You-Can-Read-At-Your-Leisure-Here!
And here's one more of those animated videos I just can't resist embedding:
Walking across the Atlantic
Billy Collins is that rare thing: a popular poet. Popular because his work captures the imagination and because it is accessible (though he prefers the word "hospitable" apparently. Now there are those among us (I work with one of them and am related to others) who pour scorn upon the very idea of poetry. Poetry! What's the point of that? What good does that do? Good question. Here's the poet's better answer (from the Poetry 180 website):
Poetry can and should be an important part of our daily lives. Poems can inspire and make us think about what it means to be a member of the human race. By just spending a few minutes reading a poem each day, new worlds can be revealed.
Poetry 180 is a simple yet wonderful idea. 180 poems to be read on the 180 days of the school year. Just think how enriched your life might be if you read a single poem a day. The only problem is that many of us, strapped for time, or patience or imagination, don't really know where to start. What kind of poets will strike my fancy? Will I even understand them? Just thinking of all those big tomes of serious serious poetry - gives me a headache! Well not to worry, Billy Collins has taken care of all that for you. The poems on the Poetry 180 were chosen for that very same quality of hospitality that has made Mr. Collins a bestseller. And he has even provided some USEFUL TIPS for the reader who may be overawed by the very idea of the POEM.
Now remember, I'm a big fan of the free stuff. You don't need to buy Billy Collins's books! There's tonnes of it online!
Free Downloadable Audio Files Here!
More Videos Here!
A-Whole-Pile-of-Poems-You-Can-Read-At-Your-Leisure-Here!
And here's one more of those animated videos I just can't resist embedding:
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Rong Radio
Another short salley down the back alleys of nostalgia... Back in the mid-90's I remember watching Benjamin Zephaniah performing at a school in Cambridge and then watching the big grin on his face as he watched the kids performing one of his poems back to him. After his show was over he played basketball with some of the kids for over an hour and I thought: "What a nice guy". And "Shit. I wish I could play basketball". Anyway, check out his website if you want to see how poetry can be a force for good in the world. Today's offering is his poem "Rong Radio".
You can see more videos up here: BZ Videos
You can see more videos up here: BZ Videos
Monday, May 21, 2007
Google Analytics
Am I the only one who doesn't like the New Google Analytics? Whereas before I could enjoy seeing just how many visitors my blog was getting each day, on the day, and with the GeoMap Overlay I could also see exactly where in the world my visitors were from.... all that has vanished! To be replaced by indecipherable data and statistics and graphs! Yuck! Why do people always want to change things that work just fine already?
Here's a short hospitable animated poem about Death (by Billy Collins).
The dead are always looking down on us, they say, while we are putting on our shoes or making a sandwich, they are looking down through the glass-bottom boats, of heaven as they row themselves slowly through eternity. They watch the tops of our heads moving below on earth, And when we lie down in a field or on a couch, Drugged perhaps by the hum of a warm afternoon, They think we are looking back at them, which makes them lift their oars and fall silent and wait, like parents, for us to close our eyes.
Here's a short hospitable animated poem about Death (by Billy Collins).
The dead are always looking down on us, they say, while we are putting on our shoes or making a sandwich, they are looking down through the glass-bottom boats, of heaven as they row themselves slowly through eternity. They watch the tops of our heads moving below on earth, And when we lie down in a field or on a couch, Drugged perhaps by the hum of a warm afternoon, They think we are looking back at them, which makes them lift their oars and fall silent and wait, like parents, for us to close our eyes.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
Say Yes
Once, long long ago, locked away in a university library, as autumn leaves swirled past the windows, and rugby players drank and hooted in the college bar, I struggled day and night to make sense of a book that totally defeated me. The book was called Ulysses. On finishing my first reading I was so relieved and overjoyed I did a lap of honour round the building and came panting to a halt at the college gates. "Did you hear?" said my neighbor, coming in, "The Berlin Wall's come down." There, that dates it: Michaelmas term 1989. James Joyce was a terrible challenge, I read him and re-read him out of sheer obstinacy... And I can't say that I came to any deep understanding of what it's all about but - I did in the end enjoy it. I think the main thing for me was when it comes to books or life or love - we must say YES.
And this all came flooding back to me when I found by chance, this old video of the magnificent Kate Bush having a lark with Molly Bloom's soliloquy from the end of the book. I'll put the lyrics underneath. Enjoy:
The Sensual World
And this all came flooding back to me when I found by chance, this old video of the magnificent Kate Bush having a lark with Molly Bloom's soliloquy from the end of the book. I'll put the lyrics underneath. Enjoy:
The Sensual World
Mmh, yes,
Then I'd taken the kiss of seedcake back from his mouth
Going deep South, go down, mmh, yes,
Took six big wheels and rolled our bodies
Off of Howth Head and into the flesh, mmh, yes,
He said I was a flower of the mountain, yes,
But now I've powers o'er a woman's body - yes.
Stepping out of the page into the sensual world.
Stepping out.............
To where the water and the earth caress
And the down of a peach says mmh, yes.
Do I look for those millionaires
Like a Machiavellian girl would?
When I could wear a sunset, mmh, yes,
And how we'd wished to live in the sensual world.
You don't need words - just one kiss, then another.
Stepping out of the page into the sensual world.
Stepping out, off the page into the sensual world,
And then our arrows of desire rewrite the speech, mmh, yes,
And then he whispered would I, mmh, yes,
Be safe, mmh, yes, from mountain flowers?
And at first with the charm around him, mmh, yes,
He loosened it so if it slipped between my breasts
He'd rescue it, mmh, yes,
And his spark took life in my hand, mmh, yes,
I said, mmh, yes,
But not yet, mmh, yes,
Mmh, yes....
Poetry in my Pocket
Waiting for my friend last night, and having nothing better to do, I rooted through my bag and pulled out this little pocket sized book of words and pictures 嘘をつけばよかった by local artist Ashida Mellow and the poet Esu Toyohara.
I picked this up in Neutron Cafe last weekend on the same friend's recommendation. Now I find reading long articles in Japanese somewhat overwhelming, but these little thought-provoking poems are ideal for quiet study when you have a few moments to kill. Here's one that I particularly liked, because I think we've all experienced this kind of pointless relationship:
I picked this up in Neutron Cafe last weekend on the same friend's recommendation. Now I find reading long articles in Japanese somewhat overwhelming, but these little thought-provoking poems are ideal for quiet study when you have a few moments to kill. Here's one that I particularly liked, because I think we've all experienced this kind of pointless relationship:
勝ったり負けたりする会話
私達はきっと
友達じゃないんだろ
Winning and losing conversations
We are not really friends at all are we?
私達はきっと
友達じゃないんだろ
Winning and losing conversations
We are not really friends at all are we?
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Thought for Today
I picked up a little book of postcards in Neutron Cafe last Sunday. They are by local artist Mellow Ashida and wordsmith Esu Toyohara and this one in particular took my fancy:
馬鹿とピュアは - 違う
Stupidity and innocence - are not the same thing
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
鈴虫寺 Part 2
At the top of the stone tops leading up to Suzumushidera, is a statue of 幸福地蔵サン (Koufuku - or "lucky"- Jizo). He is a bodhisattva, or Buddhist saviour, and he looks like this:
Now, normally images of Buddha are barefooted, but if you look real close you might be able to see that our friend Lucky Jizo is wearing sandals. Apparently, this makes this statue unique in Japan. The reason why he wears sandals is because in order to answer everybody's prayers he travels on foot to where-ever you happen to be. (Yes! Really!)
What happens when you visit this temple is you have to listen to a short(ish) talk about the temple, the bell crickets (all seven thousand of them chiming away in their glass cases) and about how to make your prayer to Jizo. First of all you have to buy one of these お守り - a kind of talisman or charm (they cost about 300 yen) with a little image of Jizo inside:
Then stand in front of the statue, holding the charm in an attitude of prayer and mentally tell Jizo-san your name, address (yes! really! he needs to know where you live...) and whatever it is you wish for. It is recommended that you don't wish for something unrealistic like "world peace" or "marrying Richard Gere"... Then you keep the charm with you until your wish is granted and you can return it. Sounds a bit silly, doesn't it? But this particular Jizo has a reputation for actually granting people's wishes... so long as they are not too self-centred.
I'm not going to tell you what I wished for of course. That's between me and Uncle Jizo.
Suzumushi Temple is located in Arashiyama and you can take buses directly there from Shijo/Karasuma just outside the Coccon building. It's a nice trip out on a sunny day. And the gardens and the view over Kyoto are quite pleasant. Here's one of those everpresent tanukis in said garden:
Now, normally images of Buddha are barefooted, but if you look real close you might be able to see that our friend Lucky Jizo is wearing sandals. Apparently, this makes this statue unique in Japan. The reason why he wears sandals is because in order to answer everybody's prayers he travels on foot to where-ever you happen to be. (Yes! Really!)What happens when you visit this temple is you have to listen to a short(ish) talk about the temple, the bell crickets (all seven thousand of them chiming away in their glass cases) and about how to make your prayer to Jizo. First of all you have to buy one of these お守り - a kind of talisman or charm (they cost about 300 yen) with a little image of Jizo inside:
Then stand in front of the statue, holding the charm in an attitude of prayer and mentally tell Jizo-san your name, address (yes! really! he needs to know where you live...) and whatever it is you wish for. It is recommended that you don't wish for something unrealistic like "world peace" or "marrying Richard Gere"... Then you keep the charm with you until your wish is granted and you can return it. Sounds a bit silly, doesn't it? But this particular Jizo has a reputation for actually granting people's wishes... so long as they are not too self-centred.
I'm not going to tell you what I wished for of course. That's between me and Uncle Jizo.
Suzumushi Temple is located in Arashiyama and you can take buses directly there from Shijo/Karasuma just outside the Coccon building. It's a nice trip out on a sunny day. And the gardens and the view over Kyoto are quite pleasant. Here's one of those everpresent tanukis in said garden:
Monday, May 14, 2007
鈴虫寺
Let me correct a couple of mistakes from the last posting. I wasn't going to a festival at Suzudera. I was going to Suzumushidera (鈴虫寺Bell Cricket Temple) and there was no festival. I read the message wrong because I was over excited about something... Anyway, nice place. Here as promised is a quick explanation of the zen of bell crickets.
Suzumushi temple is dedictaed to bell crickets, which you can see and hear here: BELL CRICKETS!. They make this lovely chiming noise in the autumn. About 60 years ago the Buddhist abbot of the time was sitting in zazen meditation one fine autumn evening when he had a sudden realisation while listening to the song of the bell crickets. Bell crickets don't live very long; about 110 days and they spend about 40 to 50 of those days in constant song. The abbot felt that living such a short life but dedicating so much of it so selflessly and untiringly to song was a deep lesson in zen teaching. He was so moved by the single-minded innocent bell-cricket that he wanted to spread it's message far and wide. He spent the next 30 years of his life researching and breeding bell-crickets and found ways to artificially breed them throughout the year so that they can now be heard at Suzumushi Temple in any season. Which is why when I went there on Friday, I could hear 7,000 of the little fellas all chiming merrily away. OK, tomorrow I tell you about Jizo's sandals. Bet you can't wait.
Suzumushi temple is dedictaed to bell crickets, which you can see and hear here: BELL CRICKETS!. They make this lovely chiming noise in the autumn. About 60 years ago the Buddhist abbot of the time was sitting in zazen meditation one fine autumn evening when he had a sudden realisation while listening to the song of the bell crickets. Bell crickets don't live very long; about 110 days and they spend about 40 to 50 of those days in constant song. The abbot felt that living such a short life but dedicating so much of it so selflessly and untiringly to song was a deep lesson in zen teaching. He was so moved by the single-minded innocent bell-cricket that he wanted to spread it's message far and wide. He spent the next 30 years of his life researching and breeding bell-crickets and found ways to artificially breed them throughout the year so that they can now be heard at Suzumushi Temple in any season. Which is why when I went there on Friday, I could hear 7,000 of the little fellas all chiming merrily away. OK, tomorrow I tell you about Jizo's sandals. Bet you can't wait.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Tony Bleeeeaaaaiiiiiirrrrrrrrrgggggghhhh uurgh - ooh carrots!
I've just watched Tony Blair announcing his departure from government, so excuse me a minute while I wipe the vomit off of my keyboard.
"The greatest nation on Earth"?
Christ Almighty! Are we still allowed to say stuff like that? I hope the next guy's more in touch with reality.
I'm going to a festival at Suzu Temple tomorrow. A temple dedicated to the humble bell cricket. I'm quite excited about it. I shan't tell you why. But if your name is Rik Abel or Mike Joe then I might. (笑) I shall however take lots of pictures for you and post them up here along with a short piece on the zen of bell crickets (yes! really!) later.
Now I check my Google Analytics fairly often, which is why I can see that (faithful friend) Mike Joe (in Seattle) reads me almost as much as I check the analytics, and (Mr. Promises) Rik Abel (in the greatest nation on Earth) almost never does... And lately, I've noticed somebody in Arklow, County Wicklow (A little piece of heaven fell out of the sky and they called it:) IRELAND turning up fairly frequently. So I was just wondering if it was anyone I know or am related to. Hello Arklow person! Are you family? Sorry, if you're a complete stranger and I'm freaking you out! Just curious see!
Here's an old Jeff Buckley song for no other reason than I like it and I can.
In no shape or form should this be read as my salute to Prime Minister Smarm
Jeff Buckley-Last Goodbye (On MTV's Most Wanted)
Add to My Profile | More Videos
Ooh! And I almost forgot! Happy Birthday to my youngest sister Sheila! Have a good day!
"The greatest nation on Earth"?
Christ Almighty! Are we still allowed to say stuff like that? I hope the next guy's more in touch with reality.
I'm going to a festival at Suzu Temple tomorrow. A temple dedicated to the humble bell cricket. I'm quite excited about it. I shan't tell you why. But if your name is Rik Abel or Mike Joe then I might. (笑) I shall however take lots of pictures for you and post them up here along with a short piece on the zen of bell crickets (yes! really!) later.
Now I check my Google Analytics fairly often, which is why I can see that (faithful friend) Mike Joe (in Seattle) reads me almost as much as I check the analytics, and (Mr. Promises) Rik Abel (in the greatest nation on Earth) almost never does... And lately, I've noticed somebody in Arklow, County Wicklow (A little piece of heaven fell out of the sky and they called it:) IRELAND turning up fairly frequently. So I was just wondering if it was anyone I know or am related to. Hello Arklow person! Are you family? Sorry, if you're a complete stranger and I'm freaking you out! Just curious see!
Here's an old Jeff Buckley song for no other reason than I like it and I can.
In no shape or form should this be read as my salute to Prime Minister Smarm
Jeff Buckley-Last Goodbye (On MTV's Most Wanted)
Add to My Profile | More Videos
Ooh! And I almost forgot! Happy Birthday to my youngest sister Sheila! Have a good day!
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Sublime
One day I won’t be a vegetarian. I’ll be a multi-millionaire globe-trotting vegetarian and when I am, I’m going to Sublime.
The days of healthy but tasteless veggie food in a skanky hippy surround are OVER! Away with your beads and braids! Enough with the world music! We carrot-munchers deserve our cascading waterfalls and veggie caviar! We are vegemiliionaires! We want cake and fine wine! And we want it now!
Until such time as you are a multi-millionaire, you can watch the whole movie FOR FREE over here: Withnail and I
The days of healthy but tasteless veggie food in a skanky hippy surround are OVER! Away with your beads and braids! Enough with the world music! We carrot-munchers deserve our cascading waterfalls and veggie caviar! We are vegemiliionaires! We want cake and fine wine! And we want it now!
Until such time as you are a multi-millionaire, you can watch the whole movie FOR FREE over here: Withnail and I
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Pure Blog
Good day today. A lesson I thought would go well in one class today STANK so I made some changes (snipped a bit here, added a bit there, threw in some intuitive ad-libs on top...). And so then, the lesson I thought was going to be really horrible (because they were horrible the last time I taught them) and that I had been quietly dreading all week (I'm going to have to be Mr. Angry, aren't I? I'm going to have to be Mr. Shouty, aren't I?) actually went really well. And I found myself praising the class at the end. Everything I wanted to get done in class was done.
So I may get the hang of this teaching thing one day. It's only taken me ten years. And I didn't need to have worried so much about that class after all (kind of brings to mind yesterday's meditation really doesn't it?)
And then Taga-san (aka kindest man in Kyoto) lent me a bicycle from KCTP until such time as I get round to replacing the stolen one (someone else may be giving me one - a bicycle, yes). And I told him about the one stolen from my apartment building and he said:
"Was it a fixed lock? Because they are really easy to break. You just smack it and it comes off."
And I said "What? So why is it when the police have stopped me previously, they always said the chain lock I had was unsafe and I should get a fixed lock?"
"Well, they stopped you because they think that if you have a chain lock, you must have smacked off the original fixed lock and stolen the bicycle."
"Yeah, they used to stop me a lot."
"The police are idiots, aren't they?"
"Yeah, they really are."
So that's it. A pure blog today. No videos or pictures just words. And my final words are to my eldest sister, who probably won't ever get around to reading them but anyway:
"Happy Birthday, Bernadette- and I'm really sorry about forgetting to send a card!"
I'll call her at some impossible hour instead. Goodnight.
So I may get the hang of this teaching thing one day. It's only taken me ten years. And I didn't need to have worried so much about that class after all (kind of brings to mind yesterday's meditation really doesn't it?)
And then Taga-san (aka kindest man in Kyoto) lent me a bicycle from KCTP until such time as I get round to replacing the stolen one (someone else may be giving me one - a bicycle, yes). And I told him about the one stolen from my apartment building and he said:
"Was it a fixed lock? Because they are really easy to break. You just smack it and it comes off."
And I said "What? So why is it when the police have stopped me previously, they always said the chain lock I had was unsafe and I should get a fixed lock?"
"Well, they stopped you because they think that if you have a chain lock, you must have smacked off the original fixed lock and stolen the bicycle."
"Yeah, they used to stop me a lot."
"The police are idiots, aren't they?"
"Yeah, they really are."
So that's it. A pure blog today. No videos or pictures just words. And my final words are to my eldest sister, who probably won't ever get around to reading them but anyway:
"Happy Birthday, Bernadette- and I'm really sorry about forgetting to send a card!"
I'll call her at some impossible hour instead. Goodnight.
Monday, May 07, 2007
On Suffering and Bicycle Theft
I posted a few days back about how my bicycle was stolen from under the stairwell of my apartment building and how I thought that I may have left a key in the lock. Well, I found the other key, so I didn't. Whoever took it would have had to break the lock, which was quite a tough one or alternatively, that same person (possibly the same person who was puncturing my wheels and putting porn in the basket a couple of years back) simply carted it off somewhere one dark and stormy night in order to spite me. So, that's nice then. Here's the latest meditation from Hozouji:
And here it is again, in kanji, hiragana and romaji:
自分より外に＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿じぶんよりほかに__________Jibun yori hoka ni
自分を＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿じぶんを_________________Jibun wo
苦しめる＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿くるしめる_______________kurushimeru
ものはない＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ものはない_______________mono ha nai
And the meaning? Erm...
That, as always, is a loose translation. If anyone has any better suggestions then feel free to comment. I think the guy with the bicycle vendetta is putting this meditation's message to the test for me a bit right now though.
And here it is again, in kanji, hiragana and romaji:
自分より外に＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿じぶんよりほかに__________Jibun yori hoka ni
自分を＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿じぶんを_________________Jibun wo
苦しめる＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿くるしめる_______________kurushimeru
ものはない＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ものはない_______________mono ha nai
And the meaning? Erm...
There is nothing outside of oneself
That causes suffering
As much as oneself.
That causes suffering
As much as oneself.
That, as always, is a loose translation. If anyone has any better suggestions then feel free to comment. I think the guy with the bicycle vendetta is putting this meditation's message to the test for me a bit right now though.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
What is the What
Kageyama-san suggested taking the Katou sisters out for lunch yesterday, so we did. Here are the self-styled "Soul 兄弟".
And the Katou sisters. Other than my own, I don't think I've met a nicer bunch of sisters. Look how nice they look.
After which we had a pleasant stroll round Shokokuji (here's an elephant):
And of course no day is complete without Karaoke. We even persuaded Kageyama to sing one of his (in)famous Queen renditions.
Now in between teaching English, deciphering classical Japanese poetry, carousing and hanging out with the Katou sisters (who have now sadly gone back to Tokyo) I've been reading this:
What is the What is a novel by David Eggers, written in the style of an autobiography and based on the true account of Valentino Achak Deng of his life as a refugee in the Sudanese civil war. Here's a brief synopsis:
Back in the 1980s, thousands of child refugees were displaced from their homes and wandered hither-and-thither in search of security, all the while in danger of attack by big scary animals and even scarier people... They went first to Ethiopia and then when war broke out there too, to Kenya where many of them were settled in a refugee camp for at least a decade. Finally, about 4000 of these "Lost Boys" were resettled in the USA where they dreamed they would find work, get an education and save enough money to help their families and friends back in Africa. But even then, the challenges they faced were immense....
This is a wonderful book. If you read it you will be amazed by the spiritual strength of the Sudanese refugees, who suffer terribly from hunger, disease, war and atrocity upon atrocity only to keep struggling, to keep walking, to keep offering each other the hand of kindness. Valentino Achak Deng himself comes across as such a likeable guy that by the end of the book I felt kind of lonely... So sad to say goodbye. Yes, a wonderful, if heartbreaking book. Heartbreaking beyond belief in fact. Read it yourself and see. I definitely recommend it. Oh and money raised from sales will go to help Sudanese refugees in both Africa and America. Only available in hard-back now though. But dead good. Go on, buy it.
Now from another corner of the African continent, Udo Bartsch has sent me some pictures of the kids he's trying to build an orphanage for. I wrote about this before but so far only one person has voiced any interest, and that was Val Chew, (Malaysia's own answer to Mother Theresa - only better looking... and alive). So maybe these pictures of cute chislings will stir some sympathy in your cold cold stony hearts. As I said before, you can email me if you want to contribute some money, and I can send you the bank account details, or you can email Udo directly here: udobart@yahoo.co.uk
And remember, these children have no other place to go, some have been abused, even raped and they don't always have enough to eat either. No children should suffer so much and I'm going to keep hammering on about it till you cough up some loot!
And the Katou sisters. Other than my own, I don't think I've met a nicer bunch of sisters. Look how nice they look.
After which we had a pleasant stroll round Shokokuji (here's an elephant):
And of course no day is complete without Karaoke. We even persuaded Kageyama to sing one of his (in)famous Queen renditions.
Now in between teaching English, deciphering classical Japanese poetry, carousing and hanging out with the Katou sisters (who have now sadly gone back to Tokyo) I've been reading this:
What is the What is a novel by David Eggers, written in the style of an autobiography and based on the true account of Valentino Achak Deng of his life as a refugee in the Sudanese civil war. Here's a brief synopsis:
Back in the 1980s, thousands of child refugees were displaced from their homes and wandered hither-and-thither in search of security, all the while in danger of attack by big scary animals and even scarier people... They went first to Ethiopia and then when war broke out there too, to Kenya where many of them were settled in a refugee camp for at least a decade. Finally, about 4000 of these "Lost Boys" were resettled in the USA where they dreamed they would find work, get an education and save enough money to help their families and friends back in Africa. But even then, the challenges they faced were immense....
This is a wonderful book. If you read it you will be amazed by the spiritual strength of the Sudanese refugees, who suffer terribly from hunger, disease, war and atrocity upon atrocity only to keep struggling, to keep walking, to keep offering each other the hand of kindness. Valentino Achak Deng himself comes across as such a likeable guy that by the end of the book I felt kind of lonely... So sad to say goodbye. Yes, a wonderful, if heartbreaking book. Heartbreaking beyond belief in fact. Read it yourself and see. I definitely recommend it. Oh and money raised from sales will go to help Sudanese refugees in both Africa and America. Only available in hard-back now though. But dead good. Go on, buy it.
Now from another corner of the African continent, Udo Bartsch has sent me some pictures of the kids he's trying to build an orphanage for. I wrote about this before but so far only one person has voiced any interest, and that was Val Chew, (Malaysia's own answer to Mother Theresa - only better looking... and alive). So maybe these pictures of cute chislings will stir some sympathy in your cold cold stony hearts. As I said before, you can email me if you want to contribute some money, and I can send you the bank account details, or you can email Udo directly here: udobart@yahoo.co.uk
And remember, these children have no other place to go, some have been abused, even raped and they don't always have enough to eat either. No children should suffer so much and I'm going to keep hammering on about it till you cough up some loot!
Friday, May 04, 2007
舞妓
Exactly how pleased with myself do I look in that picture? Last night, Yoko, Yu-chan and A-chan all dressed up as Maiko and took a stroll around Higashiyama. Quite a lot of tourists thought they were the real thing and asked to have their pictures taken with them. Here are some more pictures:
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And here's a short dark video. You can't see much but I like the clip-clopping sound of the geta.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Yoko & Her Sisters
Yoko's sisters are visiting from Tokyo and last night she brought them and two other friends to "Small Town Talk" and Kageyama-san and I and all the other guys there were DELIGHTED. It got pretty busy so we all had to take turns standing behind the bar with Riki. I think Riki was quite happy about that though. Here are some pics:
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And here are some boyos literally dancing for joy:
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And here are some boyos literally dancing for joy:
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Eek
My bicycle has been nicked. Again. From right outside my house. Or rather from under the stairwell of my house. That's the second bicycle I've lost in a month. Wow.
I may have accidentally left the key in the lock this time... but still.
Here's a song from Depeche Mode, "John The Revelator" as recommended by Philippe.
I may have accidentally left the key in the lock this time... but still.
Here's a song from Depeche Mode, "John The Revelator" as recommended by Philippe.
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