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Welcome to Star Road
Jun. 12th, 2010 02:36 pmI've had a frantic past couple of months, but it all seems to be settling down a little now.
I moved into my new place on May 15th, and started working the same week, so things were pretty hectic. Then I've been trying to sort out money, which has caused no end of hassles. One particular case involved transferring money to my Japanese bank from England, only for it no to show up (and we're talking about £1000). It turned out that the Japanese bank refuses to accept overseas transfers, despite apparently having a transfer system in place. So I requested that the money be returned to my bank account in England...two weeks ago. And then it turned up, mysteriously, when I called the bank yesterday to complain about its absence. Allegedly, it was credited to my account yesterday (probably about 2 minutes after the start of the call I bet), but at a loss of about £100 due to the various charges and exchange rates. Thus, I will be writing letters of complaint after I finally get this cash (withdrawing it from the ATM, incurring further charges). The money is going to pay back my friend who lent me the cash to get this apartment, and I feel bad for having to make her wait so long for it.
There must be some sort of alternative banking system available, which doesn't mess you about so much.
About a week after I moved in, I was chopping spinach for dinner, and sliced my finger open on a new knife. Normally, the sight of blood and minor injuries has no effect upon me, but this time I passed out. I'm not sure how long I was out for, but there were some funny old thoughts going through my head while I was gone. I guess it was a matter of seconds, but it was certainly long enough to bleed all over myself. Fortunately, the cut healed up super-fast.
Anyway, here are some pictures:
I moved into my new place on May 15th, and started working the same week, so things were pretty hectic. Then I've been trying to sort out money, which has caused no end of hassles. One particular case involved transferring money to my Japanese bank from England, only for it no to show up (and we're talking about £1000). It turned out that the Japanese bank refuses to accept overseas transfers, despite apparently having a transfer system in place. So I requested that the money be returned to my bank account in England...two weeks ago. And then it turned up, mysteriously, when I called the bank yesterday to complain about its absence. Allegedly, it was credited to my account yesterday (probably about 2 minutes after the start of the call I bet), but at a loss of about £100 due to the various charges and exchange rates. Thus, I will be writing letters of complaint after I finally get this cash (withdrawing it from the ATM, incurring further charges). The money is going to pay back my friend who lent me the cash to get this apartment, and I feel bad for having to make her wait so long for it.
There must be some sort of alternative banking system available, which doesn't mess you about so much.
About a week after I moved in, I was chopping spinach for dinner, and sliced my finger open on a new knife. Normally, the sight of blood and minor injuries has no effect upon me, but this time I passed out. I'm not sure how long I was out for, but there were some funny old thoughts going through my head while I was gone. I guess it was a matter of seconds, but it was certainly long enough to bleed all over myself. Fortunately, the cut healed up super-fast.
Anyway, here are some pictures:
The streetlight outside apartment reads "Star Road".
That light blur in the background is the Chuo Line train.
Look at the size of that kitchen!!! It even has two, yes TWO, gas burners.
My leopard-print sofa has been much remarked upon.
The glass in the sliding doors is "Showa glass" and rattles when the wind gets up.
The day I moved in, my friend Saori came to help. She was armed with kitchen towel, cloths, washing up liquid...
and dinner! Here we have (top left going clockwise) - manjyu from Matsumoto, home-made plum wine,
sour plum and seaweed rice balls, stewed pumpkin, oden, and spinach and mushroom in Thai sauce.
It was delicious, and kept me fed for a few days!
That light blur in the background is the Chuo Line train.
Look at the size of that kitchen!!! It even has two, yes TWO, gas burners.
My leopard-print sofa has been much remarked upon.
The glass in the sliding doors is "Showa glass" and rattles when the wind gets up.
The day I moved in, my friend Saori came to help. She was armed with kitchen towel, cloths, washing up liquid...
and dinner! Here we have (top left going clockwise) - manjyu from Matsumoto, home-made plum wine,
sour plum and seaweed rice balls, stewed pumpkin, oden, and spinach and mushroom in Thai sauce.
It was delicious, and kept me fed for a few days!
Yes, my balcony is blue and green, just like my building.
The landlady is a slightly eccentric but cute old lady, who asked me if I spoke Spanish.
She has a brilliant garden, which I will endeavour to take photos of (and steal grapes from!).
The landlady is a slightly eccentric but cute old lady, who asked me if I spoke Spanish.
She has a brilliant garden, which I will endeavour to take photos of (and steal grapes from!).
My balcony is going to become a small jungle:
gerbera, geranium, marigolds, aubergines, tomatoes, mint, habaneros, basil, oregano, mint.
I'm still on the look-out for fresh coriander!
gerbera, geranium, marigolds, aubergines, tomatoes, mint, habaneros, basil, oregano, mint.
I'm still on the look-out for fresh coriander!