Off On Yer Hollibobs

We didn't seem to have a 'talk/gloat about the holidays you're going on/have been on' thread already - correct me if I'm wrong!

Anyway I'm off to the Lake District, where it is going to rain solidly the entire time I'm there. Meaning the Switch and 3DS I'm bringing with seem even more vital. The one planned activity is alpaca-cuddling walking.

Wish me luck, and hope I don't get pneumonia?

Good luck! Don't get pneumonia!

I'll try not to make a snarky remark about how nobody even had a kind-if-insincere word to say when I came down with a flu strain so viscous I was literally bedridden for over a week, left me so physically weak I almost fainted twice, almost fell down an entire two flights of stairs when my legs literally gave out under me, had me coughing so frequently breathing was difficult, had coughs so agonising it genuinely felt like the lungs were ripping to shreds, ignored the seasons vaccines a good eighty percent of the time, and just generally reduced a trip I'd been planning and budgeting for for the better part of a year into a glorified shopping spree with a hangover so vile it has left me genuinely uninterested in ever going on another holiday again in my life.  Because f*** that payoff.  

But hey at least I saw a giant lobster statue and bought a bunch of books I could have bought online for a third of the price!  


Whoops, there I go getting snarky.

I see that now in the 'Things That Bleep You Off' thread. Sorry to have missed that old chap, glad you're better (presuming that you've recovered?). I must admit I skimmed the post first time around, and didn't really know how much sympathy to give because - well, because a lot of stuff bleeps you off (I think you'd agree!), and I found it hard to judge how bad it really was.

Was the lobster statue at least worth seeing?


Today's Lake District update: we climbed a mountain. The way you climb a mountain is:

1. Find a biggish hill;
   
2. Walk up it;
   
3. Complain disproportionately about doing so.

Instant mountain!

I'm gonna stay out of this thread until next year, then you're all gonna be sick of me posting in it.

I won't - I miss Japan like crazy.

Does moving to another country count?

Eh, let's say it does. I want to hear Japan stories!

Technically, officially, for the purposes of acquiring my visa, I am visiting Japan for no more than a year in a holiday capacity, during which time I may do a small amount of paid work to sustain myself. If I then develop a better grasp of the language, make friends and contacts, find a job and end up staying there in a more permanent position, well, that would be a nice but more importantly unexpected bonus.

The furthest I've been over the last couple of years is Newcastle...

We walked alpacas.

They were fluffy.

That is all there really is to say on the matter.

Drunkalilly wrote:

Technically, officially, for the purposes of acquiring my visa, I am visiting Japan for no more than a year in a holiday capacity, during which time I may do a small amount of paid work to sustain myself. If I then develop a better grasp of the language, make friends and contacts, find a job and end up staying there in a more permanent position, well, that would be a nice but more importantly unexpected bonus.

So will be travelling around the country or sticking to one place? I ask as I said that I would like to come out but if I book for Tokyo and your in Kyoto, well that isn't good.

The plan as it is: My first three-to-six months will be spent staying in hostels and travelling as much of the country as possible. Subsequently, I'll be finding a room or flat somewhere and getting a part-time job to stay in one place until I can get a good enough job to extend my visa.

Ah Japan, the one place I'd like to go and likely never will because of my whole "never visit a country you don't have at least a basic grasp of the language" rule.

*insert joke about giant robots here*

Balladeer wrote:

Was the lobster statue at least worth seeing?

Spoilered for size:

Smaller answer: yes.

Well worth an illness!

Jo and I just had a weekend away in London for Hyper Japan and general shopping. Took some photos, bought some things, left our big coats at home and nearly froze... all good stuff.

Gutted I couldn't meet up with the two of youse. Unfortunately I was preparing to spend a night in a scout hut, writing. Hope you had a good time, and that you've clean your lungs out since!

I saw a lot of ads for Hyper Japan, both in London and online. Hope you both had loads of fun.

Let us know when you've arrived safely, good sir.

Aww, Zero replied before I could suggest we wave Drunka off with .gifs only.

I might come see you or I might not.

Aye, have a safe trip Lukey boi & I'd say enjoy it but I'm sure you will.

I'm sat in my capsule hotel at Narita airport, around 70 km from Tokyo proper. It has been a tiring 36 hours of travelling and hanging about at the airport because I thought I was arriving later than I did.

The enormity of what a mad thing I've done has begun to hit me. What was I thinking?

I was going to say isn't it still Thursday there and not Friday like you thought you'd arrive.

The moments of confusion will make it all the smoother when things finally slot into place!  I hope.