Party

My day has been more interesting than normal. I got up and went out to meet Kanashima and a guy called Neil, who did the course about three or four years ago, but is back to apply for a scholarship from Kyoto University. Brendan and Felicity also came, as well as Professor Ikema from college. Neil brought a friend as well. Ikema’s not a bad man, he is just so awkward to talk with, so we all prefer it when he does not show up to everything! Kanashima hates him as well: they have a long-standing feud, and he effectively fired her last year. All good feelings.

Anyway, I had spaghetti bolognaise, with some soup, which was quite tasty. Most of the others had the same. We chatted for a little bit, Neil showed us some photos of the 50-day pilgrimage that he went on around Shikoku: he visited 88 temples. He even had a book with calligraphy done from each one. He says there is a pilgrimage you can do in England from Canterbury to Winchester in about a week. He also played a couple of jazzy pieces on the piano; he used to play at the place we went every Sunday evening!

Brendan had to go to the travel agents, or something, and after a while, Flick and I snuck off with Kanashima, making some excuse about working. Ikema paid for our food, so he is not so bad. I think he is loaded, anyway. We went in Kanashima’s car to a odd, out-of-the-way, Canadian-style place called “Alaska” where we had cake. I had a scummy, coconut one with banana in the middle. Afterwards, Kanashima gave us a lift back to Cambridge House.

I spent a few hours doing nothing. By that, I mean, nothing useful. I translated the next couple of levels of my game, which took about two hours! I also chatted with my mum, dad, and sister Charlotte through Google Talk. Typing only, as their computer seems to be playing up again. I am not sure what they do to it! That was nice, though!

It was Kimiyo’s birthday party in the evening, so we decided that we should get her a birthday present. I went with Flick to YouMe Town, where we bought an assortment of chocolaty products – I hope she likes chocolate. She also has a packet of Jelly Beans, so we can eat the chocolate in that case and she can still be happy! I also went to try to find a book that I want to get. It is in Japanese and we are going to be translating it in Seb’s class, but they did not have it. I will have to go into Tenjin at some point, or I could first try the bookshop near the university. It is quite big.

Mina gave Drummond, Flick, and I a lift into Futsukaichi, where we are going back to Bali Bali. We went there before, after Ikehara’s concert – we sang there as well. In the end there was Drum, Flick, James, Brendan, Nami, Shin, Kimiyo, Sawako, Mina and I there. It was fun: we ate much, drank a bit and chatted a lot. Kimiyo liked her presents, saying it was the best day of her life. Mina also brought her a cake, which she insisted to Kimiyo that she made, but she obviously bought it! I came home with Bredan, Nami, and Flick in Kimiyo's car. The other's stayed out, going up a fog covered hill to look out across the city driven by a screaming Mina, and then by a slightly drunken Shin. Sounds dangerous!