Hi everyone, I'm back!
Well, its been almost a week since my last update so thought I'd better put pen to paper..or at least fingers to keys!
So, been pretty busy getting ready for kids to start school these last few days but still managed to fit a little traditional soba making into my plans.

After another sleepover in Nagano (thanks again Kyla!) with dinner, SATC and lurvely £2-a-bottle Japanese white wine we were up at 6.30am to meet up with the Japanese students at 8am who were taking us up to a place called Togakushi...an area up tut'mountains! We were told to bring warm clothes as it can be a bit colder up North...a rumour we were soley relying on to make our day. We were praying for a nice cold breeze as it already read 30 degrees at 8am on the city temperature tower! But when we got there it was the same old sticky heat...was it too late to ask for my money back!?



We were put into groups to make some soba noodles - a traditional dish made in blah blah blah...anyway, when we were done we got to eat them! After our lovely lunch, we were treated to some soba ice cream (eh em...) and started off on our 'hike' to "an area of interest", not quite sure where but it was a very beautiful temple and we did the whole group photo thing. We were all quite excited at the next activity which we were told was a "live band in a bar", but to our dissappointment it was a classical version of x factor with votes and everything - in a conference room. On the way home, Kyla and I stopped in for a Mos Burger (kinda like a cross between McD's and Starbucks?) and then I hit another 100 yen store before heading for bed. Sunday brought some more shopping (gym stuff I'll have you know!!) and then I went out for dinner with the CIR in Iiyama (Jo) and her supervisor. He took us to a fairly Western bar in Iiyama for beer and snacks (some Japanese-related, some not i.e. "crazy fries" which to my delight turned out to be wedges!).

I was at my visit school today (Tues) - I have to go to another school once a week as part of my contract. This school is mainly for agricultural students - not quite so focused on English studies so should be a little more light-hearted. I was shown around the land and introduced to the animals (!)...there were even a couple of ponies and one had a foal! And no, before you ask, they were NOT bred for eating...
Missed my stop off the bus on my way home 'cos this random old lady (she must have been pushing 100) was talking to me the whole way. I kept saying "wakarimasen, wakarimasen" (I don't understand, I don't understand) much to the amusement of the other passengers but she just kept rambling on...and was practically sitting on my knee to stop me from getting off the bus!

Anyway, next weekend should bring some good chat - am hoping to join the Gaelic Athletic Association for a weekend of watersport(s) and BBQ!

Cheers
Madzx