A: Answer phone say name of hotel
B: Ask if they have any rooms for tomorrow
A: Single or double?
B: Single
A: Yes we have a single
B: How much are they?
A: 5000 yen a night
B: Book a room for two nights
A: Ask name & phone number
B: Give details, ask if they have a pool
A: Say yes, it’s in the basement
B: Ask if they have a convenience store
A: No, but there’s one opposite the hotel
B: Say thanks & goodbye
A: Goodbye

In Japanese…

A: Moshi moshi, Royal Hoteru desu.
B: Ashita heya wa arimasu ka?
A: Shinguru desu ka? Daburu desu ka?
B: Shinguru o onegai shimasu.
A: Hai, shinguru desu ne.
B: Ippaku ikura desu ka?
A: Go sen en desu.
B: Shinguru nihaku o onegai shimasu
A: Hai. O namae wa? Denwa bango wa nan ban desu ka?
B: Watashi wa Ben Hall desu. Watashi no denwa bango wa ichi-rokku-rokku-san-nana-kyu desu. Kono hoteru ni puru wa arimasu ka?
A: Hai, puru wa chika desu.
B: Kono hoteru ni konbini wa arimasu ka?
A: Konbini ja arimasen. Konbini wa hoteru no ushiro desu.
B: Ah so desu. Arigato gozaimasu. Sayonara.
A: Sayonara.

B: Ask if they have a convenience store
A: No, but there’s one opposite the hotel
B: Say thanks & goodbye
A: Goodbye

I need to go on this site & learn hiragana…
http://www.chipchat.com/NihonGo/protect/HiraganaDrill.html

00:54
“Zzzzzzzzzzz”

00:55
Earthquake hits
“Zzzzzzzzzzz”

00:56
“Zzzzzzzzzzz”

06:30
Wake up, hear mention of Earthquake on the Today programme.

07:00
Watch GMtv going overboard with Earthquake coverage. Turn off sound & read games teletext.

08:32
Arrive at work

08:33
“Zzzzzzzzzzz”

21:05
Nice to see Gil’s rocking the Cantona collar. Did you know Gil proposed to Sara in the episode we missed?

21:07
(“Flip” – ed) no. That’s why she left, kinda answers his question for him. Great! An episode dedicated to Hodges and his mind games. ‘Would you let me finish!’

21:11
She said yes so I doubt it was that. I think Eads is enjoying the way he can mess around. ‘Whodunnit and how?’

21:17
They should make this into a pub it-box game complete with Eads giving hints. I’d play it!

21:22
Poor guy. Must all these murders be about Henry being sweaty? Hodges seems to be upset when someone joins in with him & Wendy.

21:26
His mind did wander towards Katherine though. Can’t blame him for liking Wendy. I like Wendy too. I’m guessing the cast enjoyed filming this. Rather lighthearted.

21:37
Hodges has killed Wendy off now she wants to become a field agent. Why does the gun guy always get collared for the crime?

21:40
Do you think he drops things or tie his shoe laces on purpose so he can sneak a look up her skirt? I’m loving brass giving massages. Hodges! Busted! Ha ha.

21:45
I think Mindy McBoobs likes Hodges too. I thought Gil would end up playing the game. It would be easy for him though.

21:49
Ha ha love it. Mindy McBoobs! Ha ha. Gil can win board games without even trying. Ha ha that autopsy face! ‘No sign of sexual trauma!’ ha ha.

21:56
Gil’s finding the game fun. I reckon Hodges will give the game to Sara as an engagement gift. Another framing for Bobby!

22:01
What a lovely gift. Though Gil will ruin it as he’s already played it. Think I’m going to get a t-shirt made up saying I love Wendy on the front.

It’s my day off so I’m digging through my boxes of junk that my Mum & Dad have brought over. In amongst my pictures of Aussie soap stars (ah Isla Fisher, Tempany Deckart and that blonde girl who went out with Lance) – which I will now be getting rid of – there was some good stuff. This map of how Paramount Comedy Shows linked together was something I did because I was bored. However I’m rather taken with it now, especially as I wrote it pre-imdb.

One day the fact that Pete Schumacher from The Garry Shandling Show was once on a episode of Flying Blind will save the world. Hey it makes more sense than stopping a cheerleader being killed.

Tegan and Sara – Leeds Metropolitan University 23/02/2008

It’s weird going to see a band you’ve never really listened to. The songs don’t really have the same impact they would if you had spent the whole days leading up to the gig listening to their music (as usually happens with me).

And so it came to pass with Tegan & Sara. I booked the gig despite not knowing much about them & only through listening to their myspace did I decide that they sounded ok. But none of the songs stuck into my head that much so I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy it that much.

Things got off to a good start when I saw that at the merchandise stand they were selling Northern State stuff. I remember buying ‘Dying In Stereo’ and found it to be full of hip-hop goodness. They didn’t disappoint either, being exactly what I want in a support act – lots of chatting between songs, not caring about the crowd talking over them, and having fun. Could have mentioned that their new album was produced by Ad-Rock a few less times.

Then Tegan & Sara came out (clever wording I know, cheers). And I kind of felt what it would be like to be at a Take That concert. You see, the crowd for Tegan & Sara was mostly made up of teenage lesbians who gave off an air of indifference, but when their idols came on they screamed like the Beatles at Shea Stadium.

They played songs mostly off their new album (The Con), although I wouldn’t have known unless they said. And they sounded pretty good. They had good banter between songs, Tegan appeared to be the more ramblier of the two whilst Sara had the sharp one-liners.

The songs themselves were acousticky-rocky stuff that is rather popular with the younger set (non-emo non-chav division). Certainly nothing to offend the ears and definitely catchy. I shall be checking out more of their music.

Unfortunately we had to leave during the encore to catch our train (the usual excuse of me being tired), so we didn’t see the whole thing. I did get to buy the new Northern State album & got it signed by Spero. Didn’t ask her why she changed her name from Guinea Love though.

Five out of seven.

(Note: Poorly taken pics to be added tomorrow as my flickr uploaded is on the fritz)

The curb episode with Mac is now my favourite #
Writing a dull presentation on a dull subject (my job) #
We’ve not kissed, but have made up #
Just been told off because I don’t want a job. I tried to tell him on Thursday but he didn’t listen #
Freezing fog. The worst kind of fog. Except for exploding fog #
Hurrah! Teriyaki steak soba was the special at wagamama. #
28 tomorrow. Scary #

Appetizer
Have you ever played a practical joke on anyone? If so, what did you do and who was your victim?
I neither have the skill nor patience to go through with a practical joke. Either I admit to it before it happens, or it backfires on me.

Soup
What do your salt and pepper shakers look like?
Sophisticated brushed aluminium. You push down the top & it grinds them.

Salad
Where is the next place you plan to visit (on vacation or business)?
Leeds to go and see Tegan and Sara.

Main Course
What kind of lotion or cream do you use to keep your hands from getting too dry?
E45 cream as I have psoriasis.

Dessert
Make up a dessert, tell us its ingredients, and give it a name.
Coma by chocolate. For diabetics.

Luckily for you non-Japanese speakers I won’t be writing a conversation today* instead I’m trying to remember hiragana. Hiragana is the intermediate level of written Japanese, with katakana the beginners (used for more English style words) and Kanji the most difficult at all.

I’m having problems as I didn’t really learn katakana that well so I’m moving onto hiragana too early in my Japanese career. They’re both the same in that they’re phonetic ways of writing, compared to kanji’s one symbol per word, but I find it really hard to remember which one each symbol relates to.

Currently I can only remember the symbols for ‘i’ and ‘ko’. Which means I can identify carp on a menu, but that’s about it.

* Actually it’s probably lucky for the Japanese speakers too as my grammar isn’t very good

It tastes better than it looks. But I still think it looks great.

A shopping conversation:

Me: T shatsu wa nan kai desu ka?
Assistant: Ni kai desu.
Me: Arrigato.
Assistant: Iie.

On the second floor.

Me: T shatsu wa doko ni arimasu ka?
Assistant: Hai, kochira no ho desu.
Me: Arrigato. Sugoi desu ne. Kore ikura desu ka?
Assistant: San man go sen yen desu.
Me: Chotto takai desu ne. Aoi T shatsu wa ikura desu ka?
Assistant: Ichi man yen desu.
Me: Chotto ookii desu. Mo sukoshi chiisai T shatsu desu ka?
Assitant: Hai.
Me: Kore o kudasai? Ii desu ne. Sugoi desu. Kono akai T shatsu kudasai.