Japow!!

So a 30+ hour journey, 3 planes, 1 bus, a lot of hanging around airports, and I eventually made it to Niseko! The highlight was finding the amazing Japanese toilets with their many buttons. They even have a fake flush!!

The building we're staying in appears to be an old hotel, and the rooms are pretty big. The only showers are in an Onsen room so you can't be embarrassed about being naked in front of others. I guess I'll get used to it over the few months we're here! My room smelled pretty bad at first, but I realised this was due to numerous Japanese stink bugs crawling around! It has been much better since we got rid of them.

The first morning we awoke to snow falling. A nice welcome to Japan! We took a bus to the ski hill and had our induction and lunch at the staff canteen. The food was really good and very filling - it will be good sustinence during the working day! We took a trip to Kutchan - a nearby town - and got stocked up on food and essentials for the week (namely alcohol!). That evening we had pizza and an early night. Although we did discover this amazing vending machine in our building!

The following day we went to the ski hill again, this time for a Japanese prayer ceremony. It was great to experience some Japanese customs and we had a delicious free lunch at the Hilton hotel afterwards. The prayer ceremony was really interesting, although I'm pretty sure I wasn't nodding or clapping at the correct times!! We played in the snow and went for a short trip to Grand Hirafu where I looked at some second hand powder skis... Maybe! It snowed all day so the base is definitely coming along nicely now. :) In the evening we had an introduction to the ski instructor party lifestyle. Things got a little messy!

Funnily enough, yesterday I had a hangover day, but was made to feel better in the evening by a beautiful sunset on Mt Yotei. We got our ski schedule which looked pretty terrifying. My first two days of lessons are groups of kids. Eek!! After seeing that I needed some comfort, so I went back and bought the second hand powder skis for 30000 Yen! Picture to follow!

Sayoonara for now!

Japan is getting close...

My new ski poles arrived, my 85L Deuter backpack arrived and I bought 165,000 Yen. I guess that can only mean one thing - my Japan trip is drawing near!!

As the excitement builds, I feel some nerves mixed in too. I guess that's only natural when going to the other side of the world on your own. I'm also a little overwhelmed by how much I have to sort out before I leave. I guess I should get doing rather than writing then!

Best Christmas Day EVER in November!!

Christmas Day always saw me and mum awaken at 6am, desperate to exchange and open presents, from when I was 3 until I was 25. My sis would grumpily pull the covers back over her head when I went in to her room to waken her, all exciteable!! These last few years, however, I have grown to require a lie in... Waking late morning, we were cooked a treat of egg in a hole, sausage and back. Egg in a hole, a geordie delicacy of a hole cut out of a slice of bread, and then fried with an egg, with the yolk in the middle. Simple but awesome!!

Next for bucks fizz and present opening! I was truly spoilt as usual, with sweets, chocolate, socks, underwear, slippers, kindle, ski poles - so many delights! Everyone was on a high, and, in particular, Coll was very pleased with his big bone...

Perhaps the biggest treat of all was the amazing Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. I only managed 18 brussel sprouts this year though, 8 less than last year... I blame the delicious mini starters!

Copious amounts of wine meant there were a few nappers in the camp post lunch. An hour later, and a large pot of coffee consumed, however, we were playing Monopoly for the rest of the evening!! Family alliances saw a male/female rivalry, and I'm sad to say it was not the girls who prevailed...

Most of the Monopoly time was spent stuffing in wedges of cheese - like we hadn't already eaten enough for the day. I am literally still full 18 hours later...

Fake Christmas Eve

Yesterday began with Christmas shopping - my usual activity for Christmas Eve. But it was only November 8th, I hear you say! This was the last weekend available for a family get together pre Japan, so we had to make do!

There was no possibility of a real tree, so we found the old fibre optic version in the loft. It still look good with all the presents underneath and Christmas candles all around. Dad even put lights on the tree in the garden and the summerhouse we used to think was santa's grotto... The neighbours must think we're mad.

I made beef stew and we spent the evening doing the usual - pulling crackers, telling awful jokes and even some painful singing. At times, I began to rue technological advances, when looking around to everyone playing on their various mobile devices, but looking down at the iPhone in my hand I realised I would find it very hard to do without these days...

A really lovely evening, and now for Christmas Day - I can already smell the turkey and pigs in blankets! Mmmmm!

Poker Day

A frustrating day of cards. A little profit, but it could have been so much more after finishing 10th in an 845 player $26 tournament on FTP for a measly $193.

My final hand for analysis - not sure if I made a mistake here...

Full Tilt Poker Game #33475174787: Triceratops (260850734), Table 1 - NL Hold'em - 6000/12000 Ante 1500 - 21:09:16 ET - 2013/11/06
Seat 2: dug0huz0 (589,825)
Seat 3: mr PINEY (508,327)
Seat 6: HERO (180,272)
Seat 7: crazygamer13 (152,016)
Seat 9: JakeZeSnake (211,175)
dug0huz0 antes 1,500
mr PINEY antes 1,500
HERO antes 1,500
crazygamer13 antes 1,500
JakeZeSnake antes 1,500
mr PINEY posts the small blind of 6,000
HERO posts the big blind of 12,000
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to HERO [Qh Ts]
crazygamer13 folds
JakeZeSnake folds
dug0huz0 raises to 24,000
mr PINEY calls 18,000
HERO has 15 seconds left to act
HERO raises to 178,772, and is all in

Any thoughts welcome!

Running should be rewarded with pizza!

A slow day of poker (I must put in more hours), and another gym session yesterday, but this time I stuck solely to the treadmill. I managed 10km, but over a very slow time of 54 minutes - 8 minutes off my best.

Still, I burned some calories, and earned myself a much deserved Pizza Express for dinner. (Either that or I just went and undid all my hard work!!) I love the mini desserts they serve there - if only they did Cafe Gourmand. To anyone that has never tried Cafe Gourmand, it consists of a coffee and trio of desserts. The only proper way to finish a meal!

This did the trick though, and I practically rolled home.

Ski fitness

So the time has come where I need to start seriously thinking about how unfit I am for the upcoming season. I started yesterday's workout with my dumbbell circuit A. I alternate 2 circuits, where I carry out 6 exercises, with 6 reps of each, 6 times, with a 2 minute break in between sets. I was given the link to a female athlete training website where I found these, admittedly, junior circuits and have been using them for the past year and a half. I must admit, it is easier to find the motivation to do circuit A than circuit B! I completed the circuit with 5kg dumbbells, however I don't think I'm quite ready to move up in weight, as I was struggling towards the end.

Following this, I did an extremely slow 5.5k on the treadmill, taking 30 minutes to complete. I don't think 3 weeks is going to be enough time to get to the point I need to be for skiing... I'm going to have to work very hard.

Leaving London

So I finally had to say goodbye to London last night, and make my way back up north.

The day was very relaxing, starting with a lovely breakfast, some TV time, and then to The Jolly Butchers in Stoke Newington for a delicious Sunday roast. Definitely recommended!! We returned back to the house, and Mr G prepared an awesome apple and plum crumble for dessert, which I wolfed down before heading for the train.

Big thanks to the hosts for a lovely weekend. Need to not leave the next visit so long this time!

Bier and Fireworks

Yesterday I awoke to find Mr G capping bottles of his home brewed beer. He takes it quite seriously these days and, having tried some, I must say it's pretty good. I was then treated to a wonderful full English breakfast before chilling on the sofa, nursing my delicate head!!

A little after 4pm, we made our way to Alexandra Palace, for a German Bier festival. I was impressed by the building, this being my first trip there.

The event was fun, but the organisation was atrocious, with queues at least 15 people deep for the bar. We waited 45 minutes to get our first drink. It seemed they were unable to dispense the Pils fast enough to meet demand - surely a vital requirement of any bar. It was clearly not organised with German precision... Once we finally arrived at the front of the queue, we were so thirsty we had to order 4 pints each to last us until the fireworks started. There was a live band getting everyone involved with singing, dancing and general merriment. The music was entertaining, although we did question the German accent of the lead singer which sounded laughably fake! There were also food stalls, however, they seemed as badly organised as the bar, with huge queues and inefficiencies.

The fireworks began at 8pm, and they were impressive. Unfortunately the strong winds meant that some of the display did not come off in the way it was meant to. For example, a firework was supposed to come through the middle of the previous one, but the wind had blown the exploded pieces off course. It was still an amazing spectacle, and very enjoyable to watch.

The fun evening was complete with more beers, and by the time my head hit the pillow, I was feeling more than a little tipsy. No more alcohol today, that's for sure!

A little late...

Yesterday's post was delayed by some drunken antics, so I'm having to write it this morning. Unfortunately my memory is a little hazy, so here goes!

It was a busy day that started with an early lunch in Crouch End followed by a trip to Camden Market. It was my first experience of Camden Town, and it was very enjoyable walking around the stalls, looking at the brightly coloured clothing, bric-a-brac and various other merchandise. I could have spent hours there!

Feeling weary legged, we stopped for coffee at a cute little cafe, and then walked along the canal to Kings Cross. The walk was nice, but it was unpleasant to see the canal filled with litter, and a nearby swan swimming next to it. I don't know why it is that large water courses are an attraction for so much rubbish.

The walk earned us a beer, and we stopped at a cool looking pub called the Euston Tap. It has a twin opposite named the Cider Tap, and both bars are in identical, old buildings just in front of Euston Station. On entering the bar, the initial thought was how small the space was, however we did not notice the stairs... There were many different ales, and after purchasing two pints, we made our way up an extremely narrow, iron spiral staircase. The upstairs area was pleasant, and we chatted for a while, soon succumbing to another half pint, one of which was over 9% abv. We were soon feeling as though we'd had too much, and now running late had to make swift work of the journey home!

A quick change of outfit and back on the underground to meet three of the people I spent the winter with. A brief dinner stop at Lulivo in Leicester Square with Miss H and then the boys arrived for beers in the Brewmaster pub, just next to the underground. A good location for an easy rendezvous. Talking about old times; Rossland, Red Mountain, The Sunshine Cafe, and what everyone was up to now, the evening passed too quickly. The tube station closed and the night bus called. I soon noticed how much the beers had affected me and was very pleased to finally climb into bed - only after eating left over curry from the night before! Classy!

We're heading to a beer festival today at the Ally Pally today. I may have to fight my way through the first pint...