Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in gothbrook's LiveJournal:

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Monday, October 6th, 2008
10:01 pm	Ha Ha, so according to a report in the Mirror I live in the second least working class place in the UK- Tunbridge Wells. Number one is Westminster, oooh SW1. To be honest I'm not surprised TW is number 2. For example, next weekend I'm going to a friends manor house for a curry night. No really, it is a manor house! Last time I was there we spent the night moving between their three sitting rooms! Why do you need three, you only have one bum! Just to clarify, I don't usually read the tabloids but I am having to go through them this week for a colleague who is in Japan. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, September 29th, 2006
7:04 pm	I probably won't be saying this in a few months time but....I love my dissertation subject! I handed in my dissertation plan today. I'm so cool, I managed to get the words hippy, raver, psychedelic, goth, punk and PERV (as in the fashion movement) into my plan! Go me! Other things. My parents are coming up this weekend, they are bringing up my Koto, yay! Richard and I have been frantically cleaning the flat this afternoon in preparation. I'm actually a bit nervous, they have never seen the flat before and I'm a bit worried they won't like it, even though they would never say it I'm still a bit worried what they will think of he place. I ordered a butt load of food from the Japan Centre in London, I now have to find a free evening to cook it all using my Japanese cookery books that came this week along with 2 more boxes from Japan, yay! Sarah is really happy at the moment, in one of the boxes from Japan was my Smap concert DVD, mmmm, Smap! (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006
5:38 pm	How to get a Koto to the UK I've been purposely been avoiding updating because I'm going to have to write about leaving, and quite frankly I don't want to leave, much less write about it. Well I have just over a week until I go, I'm sort of wanting to go home- back to the land of a good cup of tea and a back to doughnuts with jam fillings not curry or red bean paste, but at the same time I really don't want to say goodbye to Japan again. I'm done with Tsuda but not yet done with Japan- we still have some unfinished business, I guess I will have to wait until next year! Well the past few weeks has been taken up with the problem of getting a Koto back home. I decided that I really wanted to continue playing in the UK, and luckily there is a teacher in Edinburgh who is apparently quite excited about teaching me. I actually cried a little when I got the message from my Dad that there was a Koto teacher in Edinburgh! Anyways, for some strange reason I don't like small instruments, why play something you can fit into your handbag when you can play something that is bigger than you! So, the Koto is 190cm long (thats bigger than me!)once in its box about 40/50cm wide, and about 30/40cm tall and weighs about 8kg. It cannot be posted you can't post anything longer than 150cm. It's too long for DHL and FedEX. Shipping it by cargo costs £450!! So the solution, I'm having to send practically all my clothes and other at-a-push-I-can-live-without things back to the UK. The Koto will be insured and go in the hold with my suitcase and I'll have to try and keep my luggage with in the weight limit so I don't have to pay £35 per kg for excess baggage. I really hope it gets there in one piece! Not much else happening at the moment. I'm trying to pack up everything, go places I want to have one last look at and try not to die in the heat- my room is on average 29degrees! Is it cold enough to wear jumpers yet in the UK, I miss big woolly jumpers! Jenny- I heard there is a Johnnys store in Harajuku, I'm planning on going to try and find it- do you want any Shingo pictures if there are any? I've decided not to go see Tsuyoshi's movie apparently its really scary and I think I might cry! Also Kimura lives near my friend, I think she might even know which house he lives in?? She said that he used to be a nice guy but now is baka like Beckham! ha ha ha! (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, July 25th, 2006
9:13 pm	I'm ill and I'm really hating it! Turns out I have an ear infection. I'd forgotten how much they hurt! I went to the doctor on Monday, which was a bit weird since I had to go to a specialist ear clinic- I'm now registered at 3 different clinics, one for sore throats, one for sprains and now this ear clinic. I was given ear drops and then 2 types of medicine were sprayed up my nose- mmm nice! I also got antibiotics and "pain killers," yes they are Japanese pain killers so they do little to kill any pain! I have also been banned from taking my ibuprofen (maybe it was the suspicious foreign bottle). I had to go back for more ear drops and nose sprays this morning and again tomorrow. Unfortunately this all comes in the middle of exams so I have had to miss 2, but lucky me gets to take them in August- that will serve me right for staying in Japan all holidays! I'm missing being ill at home, I think its because when I'm ill in Edinburgh I get pampered so much. Richard usually brings me flowers, which cheer me up immensely and there is normally a steady supply of mint aeros as well! At the moment I am eating corn soup, yogurt and bread and marmite, oh and lots of vegetable juice- its quite boring but the good news is that I think I'm eating less that 1000 calories a day so Im loosing weight, though I would rather eat proper food. I'm craving baked potatoes and beans on toast so badly! How sad I wrote all this about being ill- I'm feeling very sorry for myself! I hope everyone else is ok at home, just over a month and I'll be back- yay!! (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, July 21st, 2006
11:31 pm	Just finished watching Howls Moving Castle on tv, I love that movie so much! I had forgotten how beautiful the music is, also how sexy Howls voice is, if only I found Kimtaku sexy in real life, but I dont (dont get me started on the other members of smap, but if goro looks at me one more time with those eyes I shall melt- right Jenny!). Next week they are showing Totoro yay! Not updated for ages, I'm lazy I know, but I dont think I ever do anything interesting! Just over one month until I leave, I'm sad already! Grr, I think I just missed the sumo on tv! I'm such a gaijin! (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, June 16th, 2006
12:05 pm	Oh my god Tsuyoshi (from Smap) is soooo beautiful! I can hardly watch his show! I'm so sad, I like J-pop boys! Oh by the way in case anyone is interested. I'm coming back to the UK on 31st August, will be in Edinburgh around 5th September. This year has gone far too quick. I miss boys! (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, March 28th, 2006
10:26 pm	Went to Disney Sea yesterday with Mako. I think I've come to the conclusion that I prefer Disney Sea to Disneyland. Disney Sea is so much prettier; there is a lot more space, which makes for a much more relaxing trip. Also the themed lands and rides are not as fake and sugary (except Mermaid Lagoon)as Disneyland which I can imagine if its bright could hurt the eyes. My favourite place has to be Arabian Coast, it looks just like how I imagine Morocco would look like. It also has 2 tiered carousel, with Genies that you can ride on, I rode a turquoise Genie! At Arabian Coast we saw Princess Jasmine and Aladdin, and of course Genie (I think he is my favourite character now). I bought a Japanese guide to Disney Sea and Genie cocktail stirrers! Ok so Prince Charming from Disneyland and Aladdin are the same actors. There was a moment when I caught his eye, I hope he didnt remember that I was the one laughing at him in his really tragic Prince Charming tights and wig! Even funnier though, they make the Aladdin actor put on lots of orange makeup, this guy was practically luminous! Also, they have to stay in character all the time and they are so cheesy, 'hey kids, come over here! Lets sign some autographs and take photos!' in the most cheesy American accents. (to my American friends- your accents are lovely, and not annoying in any way at all- I promise) I have been running around like a mad chicken today getting everything ready for Richard coming. He is on a plane as I speak! I'm so excited, it will be nice not to be in uni for a while and to show someone around Tokyo, and of course nice to see him! I have the wine and the chocolates are arriving tomorrow. As I was writing this we had an earthquake. Funny, I was just thinking about half an hour ago that there hadnt been one for ages. I still get a slightly uneasy feeling in my stomach when one comes. Right I'm off to bed. I have to be up at 5:30 am so I can be at Narita Airport for 9am. God I hate early mornings! (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, March 23rd, 2006
10:37 pm	Sarah is very busy. Today I went with Jenny to Ikebukuro to do lots of shopping! I went only went in to order a bottle of wine from Seibu department store, but came out with a few more things than planned, of course! Anyway this wine. I'd frist tried it 2 years ago in Gifu and it was totally delicious and the only reason I remembered it was because it had the most fantastic label so when I saw it at christmas in Seibu I took a photo of the bottle and went in and ordered it today, it will be delivered to my dorm tomorrow, I love that in Japan they will send practically anything you buy from a department store to your home for free! I also bought some delicious Godiva chocolate, dark chocolate with raspberry truffle filling- sooo yummy! Jenny also bought chocolates in a cute little box. Also bought a cd- best hits of GoGo7188, and Heat magazine- I need gossip! Jenny bought some lush sunglasses from Coach with a little crystal butterfly on the side, they are so cute! Tomorrow I'm getting my hair cut, should be interesting. The last time I got it cut the stylist had obviously never worked with hair like mine, I think he got a bit of a surprise when he realised that my hair didnt dry straight naturally and went all fluffy instead! Saturday I'm going to some anime convention in Odaiba which also should be very interesting because I know nothing about anime (is Japan wasted on me?) but I'm sure it will be good fun. After much geekyness we are going to look around Odaiba and its many shops! Monday I'm going to Disney Sea with Mako. There is a new ride I'm looking forward to going on- Raging Spirits. I think we are going to take a tour of the park, its all in Japanese but Mako assures me I will understand all of it- we will see! At least at Disney Sea I wont have to see the cheesy Disney princes in the parade wearing really bad wigs and tights, prince charming obviously knew that Aimee and I were laughing at him when we went to Disneyland last time, but he kept on smiling and dancing with the kids- a true professional, ha ha ha! Oh yeah, did you know Vivienne Westwood is doing a cosmetics line? What are the odds its just a Japan only thing because the Japanese worship Vivienne Westwood! I'm not too annoyed, mainly because I'm a fan of her work. This is the most shallow post of my life. I bought Nippon Vogue this week, I blame the magazine. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, March 21st, 2006
10:39 pm	I had a lovely day today. I practised the Koto for 2 hours, all by myself in the club room. I have to learn 16 pages in time for the concert on April 30th, so I'm practising for 2 hours everyday. Unfortunately I now have a blister on my fourth finger, I hope it will be ok for tomorrow. I have found my favourite bit in the music, I cant describe it but its so beautiful and I finally mastered it today! I want to keep playing it over and over. I also went shopping today- just for food. I decided to buy some strawberries, they looked so tasty. Anyway, I didn't want to squash them so I put them at the top of the bag, but when I was cycling back to the uni one rogue strawberry decided to make a jump for freedom! Thats one less for greedy me! Well I hope the strawberry is happy where ever it is now. This is a bit boring, sorry. (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, March 14th, 2006
12:18 am	Good grief I really think dismantling shelves outside my door at twenty past midnight is not on! I want to go to sleep, not listen to the banging of metal! I have to be up early to do my hair and buy a DS Lite! Important stuff! grrr! (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, March 13th, 2006
6:40 pm	um, ok this is a bit weird. I just got ER from the DVD rental place- I wanted to watch the episode with Ewan McGregor in it. Anyway when I opened the box just now I noticed that there is no picture on the DVD just in teeny writing- side A on one side and side B on the reverse. Do 2 sided DVDs exist? I had no idea! But how do you play it? Is it side A up to play side A or what? I'm confused! I wanna watch blood and gore! I'm suffering without being able to watch Casualty! (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, March 12th, 2006
5:55 pm	arrrghhhhh! I just booked a hotel in Japanese! It was the scariest conversation of my life! I managed the first line, very polite Japanese, but then it all went downhill after that- we were never taught how to book accommodation, just how to say useful everyday phrases like 'the monkey stole my hat!' I think the only reason the person on the other end of the phone didnt think it was a wind up was because my name sounds foreign. Oh and by the way I couldnt even give him my surname because I dont know how to say that! At least they accepted my booking unlike the first place I called who wouldnt let a man and a woman sleep in the same room! erm ok, whatever. Now I have to go book 2 more hotels! wish me luck! ps. for the purposes of booking rooms in Japan Richard and I are now married! (ha! I knew I'd get him one day) (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 1st, 2006
12:15 am	I hate the Lonely Planet, what is the point of a guide book without the subway and mainline train stations of the major cities of Japan in it!!! I would like to be able to plan what train I will be catching in advance so I know exactly where I'm going, rather than turn up at Kyoto station with luggage and wondering around until I happen to come across a train map. Also the Lonely Planet directions are always wrong! I really hope their latest guide to Japan is a little more accurate than the excuse for one that I have now. grrrrr Rant out of the way, I'm a bit stressed and I have to get up at 6:30 tomorrow morning to catch the shinkansen at 9, at least I can look forward to an eki ben!! Well I'm off to Osaka until the 5th to go and see how sake is made and look at the National Disaster Museum, (or something like that) that is if I get there! (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, February 23rd, 2006
10:12 pm	It has been all in all quite a good week Last Friday Aimee and I went to a club called London Times. The venue was tiny, but the best thing about the night was that they only played British rock and indie music, it was so much fun, like being 16 again! The dj's were really into the music and so were the other Japanese people there, one of the dj's was like a Japanese Austin Powers- he had the suit and everything, he was so cute! I cant wait for the next one, and I've finally figured out who the hell the Arctic Monkeys are after hearing loads about them on the radio. Got my scholarship money on tuesday- woo hoo. I have seen loads of things I want to buy but I dont really want to spend the money, because once I do....I think it will all start with the brand spanking new Nintendo DS Lite, its so pretty and I want to play games in Japanese, its fun! Also went to get dvds with Aimee, we were planning an offensive tv night but they didnt have Team America- grr! We were cycling home and there were 2 girls playing in the street- how lovely I thought, children still play outdoors! Oh no, as soon as they saw us they yelled "look foreigners, look at their hair its different colours!" I felt like going back and talking to them and explaining in my best Japanese that although my hair is a different colour I am still a person just like them, but I didnt want to scare them, what with my 2 foreigner heads and 6 arms!! I'm really getting fed up of being stared at and not being sat next to on really crowded trains even when there is space on either side of me because I'm foreign! Had another nice day today, went to Shinjuku to get the bag for Leanne, felt really good when they wrapped it up in pretty tissue paper and ribbons AND they said my Japanese was really good, I love it when that happens, though usually you can bet that the next question they ask you you wont understand and look totally stupid! Had a lovely lunch in the department store and read Now magazine, it only cost £5, Japan, full of bargains! Came home and had wieners (is that how you spell it?) and apples for dinner, and watched a TV Champion, it was about training mini pet pigs to do tricks in 2 weeks, it was fairly amusing, now off to listen to Jeremy Vine, I love him so much!! Sorry for a bit of a boring update. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, February 13th, 2006
9:23 pm	It started out as a good idea Whilst shopping I decided to buy some condensed milk, I thought it would be really nice to have it with fruit- I was right, except now I cant stop eating it! Even worse, its in a tube so I've now taken to squeezing it straight into my mouth, I'm such a fat pig, but its so delicious! Oh, other exiting news, my uni decided to give my a scholarship! So I can now buy even MORE condensed milk and Hello Kitty goods! Going to Disneyland on Wednesday, I'm so exited! I've been watching Aimee play the new Japanese Kingdom Hearts, singing along to the Little Mermaid in Japanese has really put me in the Disney mood. Under the sea すばらしい! (Comment on this)
Tuesday, February 7th, 2006
6:51 pm	As a tribute to Brokeback Mountain, this season I will be mostly wearing a Vivienne Westwood handkerchief round my neck a la Cowboy style. I'm such a genius, even more so cos the handkerchief was only £2.50 in the sale! I think buying Japanese Vogue (for dissertation purposes) was a great idea!!! Oh also it snowed last night, the tree outside my window as so pretty! (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, January 26th, 2006
10:52 pm	The Japanese have reached a new level of strangeness, well ok, one random. Anyway, so I was crossing the road in Shibuya at the big Hachiko crossing and some man walking next to me was shaving his face with an electric razor!!! What!! It was rush hour as well, what if he got knocked!! Also, I couldnt believe it but someone on the train coughed and put his book over his mouth- I was surprised, usually people dont care and just cough in your face!!! hello, germs!! urgh! Had a burns night/end of exams/winter-eenmas (or however you spell it) party last night. Cant buy a haggis here so we had to settle for cheese, wine, homemade shortbread and Jack Daniels- the closest thing to real whiskey we had. We also watched Chewing the Fat, it was great! Aimee put her hand through a paper window trying to pose for a photo- oops! I'm now on holiday until April 13th!!! yay! (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, December 25th, 2005
2:19 am	To all my friends in Japan or other exotic locations, Merry Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful day whatever you are doing. xxx (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, December 15th, 2005
10:31 am	WOOO HOOO! Gibli Museum at 12:00!! I'm so exited! (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, December 13th, 2005
10:58 pm	Ok so the only way to survive the boring dorm meetings is to go pissed with Aimee! All I got form tonights meeting is that I have to eat my food by December 26th- thanks for telling me the day after I go shopping! Also my 'big sister' was a no show. Izakaya was great except the cheese wrapped in pancakes and deep fried, it congeals in your mouth- yuk! Raw fish= good! I'm still drunk! oops! (Comment on this)