Spot the difference

Despite being in Japan for nearly 18 months now, I recently spent a top-notch long weekend doing some great things for the first time. It was a whirlwind of hairdressers, massages, amazing food, bad films, crazy train rides and Love Hotels. We did squeeze in an old Japanese favourite though - a quick hour of karaoke. A massacred rendition of 'Like a Prayer' led me to catch up with Madge, the incredible never-aging woman. If you go here you can immerse yourself in some of her finest moments and note how little she and some of the dancing has changed over the years.
After watching 'Hung Up' - I have now found a new move to aspire to as breakdancing is proving just a little too difficult for my aging frame. I shall now endeavour to never take an elevator again, instead I shall be doing flips and spins between stair flights a la the dancer in the video. If you're lucky you might even catch me doing it in a pink leotard.














Something approaching what I might look like.

In other news, I have now fallen into the trap of renting '24'. Having watched through til 8pm of series 2 in just one week, I'm still itching to get to the grand finale. Just another two and a half series to go - will I ever see the light of day?? Jack - help me.....

Nama

Well, it's been a cool week or so - kicking off with my belated birthday dinner including great presents/friends/food/drinks.

Christmas Eve was spent in the traditional way, drinking copius amounts and singing the night away in karaoke - my personal highlights (read "lowlights") being a solo "Bohemian Rhapsody" and duets of "Down Under" with Vman then "Ring of Fire" with Danimal.

(Thanks to V for the stolen picture)

The first half of Christmas Day was perfect with some fine presents alongside. The second half was spent in a strange mood and the shadow of early-morning work falling fast.

A spot of teaching followed to throw things out of line but then back onto the holidaying on Wednesday!

A combination of good coffee and Sin City passed the day.......











before spending the night with this little lovely......




So, tonight is New Years Eve and it's shaping up to be a good time. But I'm predicting that post-alcohol, I will be looking something like this......









Oh Burt.

Aging

As hinted at in my previous post, it is my birthday in just one hour and I will be the grand old age of 29.....

For those of you who have forgotten what i look like after all this time in Japan - this is a pretty accurate portrayal of me on my birthday:












At this time of year my thoughts turn to family and in order to redress the balance of mildy embarrassing childhood photos - here is one of my sister playing an angel in the school play:











(she's the smiling blond in the middle)