July 2002

Monday 1st July 2002

Spent last Monday afternoon wandering around Gunsan market and town centre, then went back to the Jackson Five bar in the evening. I was treated like a celebrity, everybody wanted me to talk to me, drink with me, and be in photos with me! I was probably more popular than I would ordinarily be, because I was wearing my "Be The Reds" T-shirt, supporting the Korean football team.

Tuesday morning I took a bus up to Seoul. I met up with Ronnie and Parwez at their hotel, and we were all taken to lunch by some Korean business associates. We had a Korean barbecue, a bit more interesting than the same meal available in Japan - and free!

Then it was off to the Korea Germany world cup semi-final in the Seoul Stadium. Unfortunately, the Germans won the game, sending the Koreans out of the competition. The evening partying wasn't a patch on that I'd seen down in Gwangju, but the travelling Irish made of it what they could!

The following day, having bought our fake designer watches, and seen off Ronnie and Parwez, I checked into the Seoul Motel in the popular drinking and shopping area of Itaewon. I then did a bit of sightseeing, visiting a royal palace and an open market. At the palace, an historic costume drama was being filmed, giving me the chance to see many people in their traditional dress.

On Thursday I flew back to Tokyo, having had a great time in Korea. Korea is not as clean and tidy as Japan, but its people are very open and friendly, not as reserved as the Japanese.

After a good old regular Friday night in the pub with Marlon, I had a quiet Saturday at home with Yuki.

On Sunday, I received a call from Phil, he'd been awarded the job of linesman for the World Cup Final, and was trying in vain to get me into the game. I called Ronnie to tell him we wouldn't be able to watch the game at my flat, as there was an outside chance of my going to it. That's when I got extremely hacked off, one of the guys for whom I'd got an Argentina ticket (like gold-dust), had sold him a final ticket, one of a few he'd got hold of. I wasn't in the slightest bothered that Ronnie hadn't looked the gift horse in the mouth, no, I was fuming that the guy I'd helped out, hadn't even called me to return the favour!

Still seething, I went down to Yokohama, in search of a ticket of my own. I was in luck, by pure fluke, an Irishman, the first person I asked, had a spare ticket to sell!!! After a little negotiation, I shelled out a small fortune, and had got myself a ticket! The game was very good, but the atmosphere was a bit lacking, there was a very low percentage of Brazilians and Germans, although to the eye the crowd was eighty percent yellow-shirted South Americans. It didn't matter, this was the World Cup Final! It's just being there that makes you feel good. I saw Phil running the line, how proud he must have been, I certainly was. I, of course supported the Brazilians, the alternative, Germany, was not an option! "We" won two nil! It was a great occasion, the ceremony culminating in a huge shower of millions of hand made origami cranes falling from the stadium roof. I'd seen the World Cup Final - magic!

Tuesday 9th July 2002

On board BA813 from Copenhagen to London. I've been on business in the UK and Denmark, and I'm now starting my journey back to Tokyo. In the UK I was preparing for my return to England, in both work and personal respects. I went to the estate agents to sign the agreement for the marketing of my flat, we will be moving to St Albans and buying a house when we arrive in England next month.

During my stay I visited our friends, Keith and Justine, who also moved house last Friday. To complete the set, (linesman) Phil and Debbie also moved house last week! On Saturday they came round to Keith's, giving us a chance to see his World Cup medal.

Monday 14th July 2002

Went to the parents-in-law’s apartment on Saturday, as we don’t have too much more time to spend in Japan, we’re trying to see as much of them as we can. On the way Yuki and I were discussing our move when we hit on the fact that our current plan may not be the best. We were thinking of moving to the UK together on 1st August, but a better option, considering we are selling my flat and want to buy a house, and the fact that I also have to work from Monday to Friday, we decided it would be better if I go alone to sort a few things out, then Yuki can join me a few weeks later.

During our overnight stay with Yuki’s parents, there was another small earthquake, about half a minute in length. I think Yuki’s parents were happy that they’ll be seeing more than expected of her before we leave.

Today Yuki has been to the British Embassy in Tokyo to attend a short interview, the final stage in the process of her obtaining a spouse visa for the UK. Other things required to be granted the visa were proof of accommodation, a job, some money in the bank, and evidence that you are really married, not just playing out a marriage of convenience. The first visa permits residency in the UK for one year, the next step is to apply for permanent residency. Finally, an individual has the choice as to whether to apply for citizenship.

Thursday 18th July 2002

Went to the Little Euro earlier in the week (more than once!) and bumped into Steve, a guy on holiday from Manchester, England, nothing strange there, we don't get many tourists, but they do exist. He is over here for the entire month of July, that's OK too, some people like to take long vacations, they can get to know a place really well. His main objective is to see as many of the World Cup games as possible... That's where it all breaks down! This poor (half-witted? - You decide) chap had booked up his holiday well in advance, he'd even got tickets to watch the football, what he hadn't done, is confirm exactly when the tournament was taking place! By the time he'd realised, in January, it was too late for him to alter or cancel his flights and hotels without losing all his money, so like a true trooper, he came anyway - got to admire him for that. Believe me, he gave us a hugely entertaining evening!

Friday 26th July 2002

Last Friday evening was my last Friday evening spent at the Hub in Shibuya with Marlon. Not that significant, you might think, but how wrong you'd be. Marlon has been my bestest drinking buddy in Japan, and to be honest, it's more difficult cutting my regular Friday in Shibuya, than doing the same in St Albans, England. The reason being, I always knew I'd be back to St Albans. It was a very good night. I don't remember the end, but that's one reson it was so good - it was just like every other week!

On Saturday we went to Mori No Beer Garden in Shinanomachi. It was a leaving party for Yuki and I. Lots of my our friends from work came along making it quite a party. It was an eat as much as you want thing, but in reality, it was eat as much as they could bring - they weren't very good at keeping up! The beer was not on any special deal, but we drank as much as we could anyway! We received a couple of nice gifts from friends, one was a "Hub set", a very valuable cocktail making kit, only available to those who have amassed considerable "Hub points". The other was a hand made leaded stained glass bird suitable for hanging in a window, that was made by my friend and colleague Kari's father in Finland, he has promised us a bigger, similar gift if we go to Tampere to collect it. See you there, Kari! After the beer garden, a bunch of us (Brits, Fins and Japanese) went to karaoke - excellent! I love karaoke, it's so different to karaoke back home, really good fun. From there it was off to a nightclub - hadn't been to one of those for a while. Can't remember too much about that except purple lights and a balcony!

Had my last Japanese lesson yesterday with Yamaguchi sensei, she has been much more than a teacher to me, she's a lovely warm hearted friend. She gave me a certificate of my achievement (I've reached the grand level of "Intermediate"! Maybe it flattered me but it's nice to have something to show for what I reckon is about two hundred and twenty hours of study. To my surprise, my Japanese has improved quite a bit over the last six months, and I certainly have Yamaguchi sensei to thank for that.

Last night I did what I said I wouldn't, I went to a couple of bars, the second being Dirty Nelly's, where Ronnie was having his leaving party. Actually, I'd always intended to go, but not to stay so long! Woke up this morning with a hangover a couple of hours before my removal people arrived. Luckily they are excellent, and we haven't had to do too much. They're still in the apartment now, I've come next door to Mad Mulligan's to use the PC. No sooner had I sat down than Nigerian Greg had offered me "drink all you can for free" as a leaving present! On any other day that would be manna from heaven, but this evening I'm having another leaving session in the Black Lion (for whom I've just recycled the old Mad Mulligan's web site). Not only that, I'm also on one hundred percent free beer status there too!

It's really starting to hit home now that I'm leaving Japan (even writing that made me well up a little - I'm such a weed!). Have you ever noticed how people are so great when they're never going to see you again - it must be some deep rooted part of human nature - no matter how insignificant something is, you still don't like the idea of losing it forever! Seriously, I'm going to miss this place terribly, we have loads of new challenges ahead, and I'm sure we've got stacks of great times in the near future, but I wonder if I will ever have a better time in my life than these last three years. I really hope so, but that's more than any one person can really expect... Isn't it?

Sunday 28th July 2002

Friday evening I went to the Black Lion and met up with quite a few friends, I continued my free beer status, took lots of photo's with the people I'm leaving behind, and generally got fairly wasted! At the end of the night I somehow had the sense to find my way to the Shinagawa Prince hotel, and didn't mistakenly go to Kamiyacho on autopilot.

Yesterday, after paying the final bills for gas, water, and electricity, and handing back our apartment keys, we went to Yuki's parents' apartment where we also met up with her sister's family. We managed to down a bottle of vintage Dom Perignon and most of a bottle of 21 year old scotch, before I said my goodbyes and we took a taxi back to the hotel.

And that's where we are now, just making the most of this short time before we part for a month and meet up again in England.