The third and final installment of Blues news...
With Preston scoring, Blues have wasted a golden chance to clinch the Championship title. McSheffry had three great chances, but its Sunderland who take the crown. On the day they deserved it- scoring 4 goals against their opponents while we failed to nick a 1-0 win which would have won us the league.
We finished second. Still....we're up.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Friday, May 04, 2007
The Blues Are Up!
Derby's defeat to Crystal Palace, and the Blues 2-0 victory means that next season the Blues will be playing in the Premiership!! The news reached me in Tokyo at 5am, at which point I was very drunk but had to call home to share the news!
Congratulations Blues, and bring on the Villa derbies!!!
おめでとうございます！！
Congratulations Blues, and bring on the Villa derbies!!!
おめでとうございます！！
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Top Of The League!!!
As if my weekend hadn't had enough pains and lack of sleep, I've just listened to easily the most stressful football match I've ever listened to, EVER.
1-0 to Blues lead to manic screaming which may or may not have upset/worried the neighbours. 1-1 sent me to the pits of despair, and upset me so much I marched off to do my ironing. While I was gone Wolves scored to make it 2-1. But five minutes later Nic Bendtner scored to make it 2-2, and send me into hysteric celebrations which probably further upset the neighbours.
And on the 88th minute Blues scored to make it 3-2!! I went absolutely crazy. But in stoppage time Wolves were awarded a penalty. But Doyley saved it!!!!!
3-2!!!! Top of the League!!!!!
1-0 to Blues lead to manic screaming which may or may not have upset/worried the neighbours. 1-1 sent me to the pits of despair, and upset me so much I marched off to do my ironing. While I was gone Wolves scored to make it 2-1. But five minutes later Nic Bendtner scored to make it 2-2, and send me into hysteric celebrations which probably further upset the neighbours.
And on the 88th minute Blues scored to make it 3-2!! I went absolutely crazy. But in stoppage time Wolves were awarded a penalty. But Doyley saved it!!!!!
3-2!!!! Top of the League!!!!!
Friday, April 20, 2007
Congratulations Christopher and Sarah!
This is long overdue, but first and foremost Congratulations to Christopher and Sarah! on the birth of their son, Ezra James, absolutely wonderful news.
The first half of this weekend was a bit of a blur. On Friday I went out drinking with Kawahara sensei and Kagawa sensei. Kawahara was blinged up to the max with his Louis Vuitton wallet, Gucci watch, and a silver ring on a chain around his neck. He completed the look with a pair of Edgar Davids-esque sunglasses. We went to an izakaya in Kojima and had the requisite 2-hour nomihodie, as well as some really good food. It seems Kawahara is something of a regular at the place, and he was on fine form. Towards the end of the evening I was trying to teach him and most of the bar staff the difference between saying "belly", "berry" and "very", without much success. It was great to see Kagawa sensei again, I felt like bursting into song when I saw him but I restrained myself.
Saturday was painful. I spent the afternoon shopping at Aeon with Meghan, and managed to buy some clothes as well as eating the wonderful bukkake udon for dinner. This may be its first mention on the blog, but it is a firm favourite food and topic of conversation for me recently. In the evening I met Georgina, Miwa, Miwa's friend "Mehhh-chan", or "Lovely", and Lovely's boyfriend for drinks.
Sunday me and Miwa joined Chisato, Meghan, Georgina and 2 of Christopher's work colleagues in a visit to the hospital to see Christopher, Sarah and little Ezra. He's very cute! And I managed to hold him without dropping him. In fact even more impressive I managed to look fairly comfortable holding him in a photograph (despite the beads of sweat that suggest the contrary).
The first half of this weekend was a bit of a blur. On Friday I went out drinking with Kawahara sensei and Kagawa sensei. Kawahara was blinged up to the max with his Louis Vuitton wallet, Gucci watch, and a silver ring on a chain around his neck. He completed the look with a pair of Edgar Davids-esque sunglasses. We went to an izakaya in Kojima and had the requisite 2-hour nomihodie, as well as some really good food. It seems Kawahara is something of a regular at the place, and he was on fine form. Towards the end of the evening I was trying to teach him and most of the bar staff the difference between saying "belly", "berry" and "very", without much success. It was great to see Kagawa sensei again, I felt like bursting into song when I saw him but I restrained myself.
Saturday was painful. I spent the afternoon shopping at Aeon with Meghan, and managed to buy some clothes as well as eating the wonderful bukkake udon for dinner. This may be its first mention on the blog, but it is a firm favourite food and topic of conversation for me recently. In the evening I met Georgina, Miwa, Miwa's friend "Mehhh-chan", or "Lovely", and Lovely's boyfriend for drinks.
Sunday me and Miwa joined Chisato, Meghan, Georgina and 2 of Christopher's work colleagues in a visit to the hospital to see Christopher, Sarah and little Ezra. He's very cute! And I managed to hold him without dropping him. In fact even more impressive I managed to look fairly comfortable holding him in a photograph (despite the beads of sweat that suggest the contrary).
Back In The Groove II
Lessons are now fully underway, and I've gone from being the gaijin in the corner who doesn't do much to the foreign celebrity I used to be! The new students are a mixed bunch, but (and in particular the night students) once you break the ice with them they are really keen to talk.
It also helps that I can speak a lot more Japanese now. Whilst many people are warned against using Japanese in class, it seems to work wonders at Shonan and Seishi, where the students are of a very low level. Even the odd word or Japanese phrase makes them much more willing to talk to you in English, and it also means they feel they can chat outside of lessons to you as you'll often understand.
It was also great to see all the students from last year, especially my favourites from Takemoto sensei's class! Next week I have more lessons, as well as a "business trip" to Kurashiki and a health check which involves all kinds of invasive procedures apparently (nothing too bad I've been assured). Then its a week of holiday, hurrah!!
It also helps that I can speak a lot more Japanese now. Whilst many people are warned against using Japanese in class, it seems to work wonders at Shonan and Seishi, where the students are of a very low level. Even the odd word or Japanese phrase makes them much more willing to talk to you in English, and it also means they feel they can chat outside of lessons to you as you'll often understand.
It was also great to see all the students from last year, especially my favourites from Takemoto sensei's class! Next week I have more lessons, as well as a "business trip" to Kurashiki and a health check which involves all kinds of invasive procedures apparently (nothing too bad I've been assured). Then its a week of holiday, hurrah!!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Back In The Groove
Yesterday and today saw me return to teaching at Seishi High School. Chisato's departure had left a big hole in the teaching line-up (yes we're back to football metaphors), however the new English teacher is doing a pretty good job of filling it. Aoyama sensei, a "very handsome man" as described by Sugihara sensei, is one of Okayama's teaching elite, and indeed is so "young salaryman" in his looks that he could easily appear on TV advertising Softbank or Georgia coffee (along with Bobby De Niro). He also happens to be an "English English" teacher who supports Ipswich (the team, not the town itself). Yesterday I taught 2 lessons with him, and today I was back to teaching with Sugihara sensei.
It was great to see my favourite students again, as well as the return of Michiye to school after having to drop out mid-way through last year (I asked her if she was still working at the same coffee shop, and she told me it had closed down because of her. Hmmm). Michiye, in case you don't remember, was the original founder of the Seishi Steve Fan Club, and was born on the exact same day as my sister. The student ranks have also been boosted by a motley crew of first years, complete with their "too cool for school" attitudes and scruffy clothes. It didn't take long for them to crack under the pressure of translating "I like udon, but I don't like cockroaches" though. Mwah ha ha.
Tomorrow lessons begin in ernest, and in every other sense, at Shonan. I have a class of 3 students, then a class of 5 students. Which should be a doddle compared to friday, when I have a class of 56 students, followed by one of 28.
It was great to see my favourite students again, as well as the return of Michiye to school after having to drop out mid-way through last year (I asked her if she was still working at the same coffee shop, and she told me it had closed down because of her. Hmmm). Michiye, in case you don't remember, was the original founder of the Seishi Steve Fan Club, and was born on the exact same day as my sister. The student ranks have also been boosted by a motley crew of first years, complete with their "too cool for school" attitudes and scruffy clothes. It didn't take long for them to crack under the pressure of translating "I like udon, but I don't like cockroaches" though. Mwah ha ha.
Tomorrow lessons begin in ernest, and in every other sense, at Shonan. I have a class of 3 students, then a class of 5 students. Which should be a doddle compared to friday, when I have a class of 56 students, followed by one of 28.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
End Of The Season Run In
Last night the Blues managed to beat Leicester, despite a typically nervy ending holding onto a one goal lead. Which leaves the table looking like this
Sunderland 82
Blues 80
Derby 78
Three games to go, and in case you didn't know the top two get automatically promoted!
The final three games are...
Wolves (a), Sun 22nd 8pm kick off (Japan time)
Sheffield Wednesday (h), Saturday 28th, 11pm kick off
Preston (a), Sunday 6th, 9pm kick off
If the Blues go up it means I'll be able to watch us battle against Chelsea and Man U, and thrash Villa on SkyPerfect TV. If we don't, it means more nights huddled around the radio listening to us grind out results against such teams as Preston and Grimsby...Come On Lads!
Sunderland 82
Blues 80
Derby 78
Three games to go, and in case you didn't know the top two get automatically promoted!
The final three games are...
Wolves (a), Sun 22nd 8pm kick off (Japan time)
Sheffield Wednesday (h), Saturday 28th, 11pm kick off
Preston (a), Sunday 6th, 9pm kick off
If the Blues go up it means I'll be able to watch us battle against Chelsea and Man U, and thrash Villa on SkyPerfect TV. If we don't, it means more nights huddled around the radio listening to us grind out results against such teams as Preston and Grimsby...Come On Lads!
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