February 13, 2012

Monday - Sunny and warmish in Niigata, a little colder at home

I had a great weekend, but it could have gone very wrong!

Saturday was a pretty good day, I went to work, my student came and we had a great class. At home, F chased me off to bed around 1 am so when 6 am came along I wasn’t as tired as I normally would have been!

I caught the train, which was running a little late, in Tsuruoka station and had an uneventful ride until we stopped in a little town called Sasaki in Niigata-Ken.  We didn’t get moving again.  The conductor came by and announcements were made using the word “basu” a lot, so I surmised that we would be finishing our trip to Niigata station by bus.  I was right.  However, it took more than two and a half hours for the bus to arrive to pick us up  When it arrived, we duly trooped off the train and got on the bus.   

Unfortunately, I had been planning to go to an Oxford Teacher’s Workshop, which started around 10.  I had taken the 7 am train as it would arrive before 9 am.  However, because of the stoppage, we didn’t arrive in Niigata until 12.  I got off the bus, bought my lunch quickly and hurried to the Workshop presentations.  I arrived at the very end of the second presentation, just in time for lunch!  I ate and chatted, apologised to a couple of presenters for missing their sessions, and met up with my friend. I did manage to see one presentation, so that was good, but I’m rather miffed at JR. 

I checked into the hotel with my friend’s help, and after a bit, we had dinner together.  While there were some problems with some of the food, overall, dinner was nice, and it was lovely to have some “girl-time” and chat about things in our lives.  

In the hotel room last night, I watched a Jason Statham movie that sadly wasn’t as great as he is, although he did a bit of swimming.  I went to bed rather early for me, at 2am.

Today, I was awake at 8, up before 8:30 and down for breakfast before 9 am.  I had a bit of fish and a couple of onigiri before coming back upstairs and taking a shower.  I managed to check out on time and asked the hotel to store my backpack for me.  Then, I went shopping. 

I had seen a Don Key-ho-te yesterday from the bus, and since I have NEVER been to one before, decided to try to find it.  Of course, I went the wrong way at first, but did finally find it.  I spent a bit of time wandering the store. It’s the type of store that sells everything, some of it was good, some of it was junk.  I didn’t buy very much, something for a project, and something for the trip home.

After I finished I went back through the station and ended up at Billboard Place.  I started buying postcards, and honestly, I never stopped!  I think I bought all the postcards in Niigata city.

I stopped for lunch at Comme Ça Cafe, and read the text message on my phone.  F has the flu and has to stay home from work for the next 5 days. I was not a happy camper.  Not only am I going to have him underfoot for the next 5 days, but he’s sick.  I have a big trip planned at the end of the month and if I’m sick then I can’t go.  I’m sure he didn’t get sick on purpose, but it is annoying.

After a little more shopping I decided to head back to the station area.  I had a tea in Tully’s and then picked up my backpack.  

I caught my train easily and had a very pleasant and happily uneventful trip home again.  F picked me up at the station and we ended by having a quiet evening at home.  

Tomorrow I’m off to work. I’ll have a bit of snow shovelling to do, but ironically, not much of it will be in my parking space!  Most of it will be along the passageway leading to my apartment.  

That’s it for me.  I’m quite tired as it has been a long but good day.  I’ve got to go.  Night!