Chapter 28 Friday 18th Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th July
BRIAN’S BIRTHDAY TODAY!!! We took the day off today and Brian requested lunch with Jack and Chieko again!!! 2 days in a row. But we had not seen them for a while so it was really great to catch up with them. In the Crown Plaza there is a whole floor dedicated to cafes and it is a little ‘mock’ street with paving and roof tops and it is really neat. (see photos). After lunch Brian and I went exploring Kobe and caught the bus to Sannomiya and found some new streets and shops, of course!!!
We bought Brian a summer Yukata. They have shorts to match and you see the guys walking around in these ‘traditional’ clothes. We also bought him a ‘Man Bag’. Very funky with dragons on it. He can clip it to his belt or wear it with the strap across his body (not over his shoulder like a girl!!!) He is getting used to it and likes it a lot as he usually has his pockets full now days with his note pads for ‘Japanese practice’ his ‘several’ fancy pens, pitch pipe, his phone, wallet and extra bits!!! So he is looking very neat and dapper, no more bulging pockets!! Lots of guys carry bags here. Even girly looking bags!! (Note: To you Aussie blokes – a ‘man bag’ looks much better than ‘fat pockets’!)
Brian’s main request for his birthday was to go to the movies but the only one on at the time we were there was ‘Speed Racer’ (based on a comic strip) with Japanese subtitles. It was a really ‘in your face’ fast flashy movie with a very good cast but I was disappointed. (Note: Don’t bother send the kids!)
The weekend saw us running some extra rehearsals with New World Rhythm people and a chance for new people to get a feel for the choir. We were invited to meet Gerald who runs a theatre in Kobe and who we had missed a few times in the past. He was having a cocktail party with some of his actor friends and we thought it would be a good opportunity to meet new people.
We arrived and was shown into the kitchen which has been transformed into a permanent bar. “Gays don’t have kitchens darling!” Gerald explained. I have never seen anything like it. Every conceivable alcoholic beverage was on the bench and the fridge was full………….no really FULL of grog everything from Champagne to xxxx beer. Which Gerald explained is how Aussie’s spell beer cos we don’t know how to spell. I Cacked myself with laughter. Gerald is Canadian and has lived in Japan for ages and teaches English. We also met a lovely Asian guy. I introduced myself in Japanese (I can do that pretty well now) and he said “Giday my names Hector!” I fell over. He was an Aussie!!! Born in Malaysia but moved to Sydney as a kid. He has lived in Japan for 3 years…………..yep you guessed it………….teaching English!!! Anyone can do it and you don’t need a uni degree.
We met some really great people and they asked us to sing. Well after a few ‘shardys’ I was a bit tipsy and Brian had had a drink too but we threw caution to the wind and launched into ‘Knosi’ the South African peoples national anthem. In 4 part harmony even though there was only the 2 of us………..we are very clever!!!! We sounded pretty good and got a rousing applause with calls of “More More!!!” So ‘Hush’ came next and then a Japanese version of the ‘Water song’ which I botched cos I have not quite learned all the Japanese words yet. But I was forgiven and everyone wanted our business card and got very excited about the singing nights. So we hope to have a few more people at our next music night. Gerald was so excited he, then and there, put us on his ‘facebook’ so that his friends become our friends if you know what I mean in ‘facebook’ terms. It is all very new to me!!! I am writing on ‘walls’ and sending people ‘squishys’ etc!! Apparently I am owned!!
Not sure what to do about that have not quite figured it out!!!
Well you can go to my ‘facebook’ (Noeline Banove) and check it out! Brian has one too (Brian Martin).
Well off to do more ‘workshop’ writing got to prepare for my courses!!
“MARTINSSSSSSSSS INNNNNNNNNN JAPANNNNNNNNNNN!”
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