The Christmas Eve

So I'm here on the eve of Christmas, watching some chronic Japanese TV that's barely more than a commercial for shit to buy, wondering whether to wait until I wake up tomorrow for the ceremony of opening presents (it's 11.48 in the pm as of this word).

Obviously I'll open them tomorrow, don't fret.  But as I sit here unsure of what to do with myself in an entirely non-christian country, I've come to the realisation that we could all use some excellent music in our lives, no matter the time of day or time of year.

As such, here's my christmas pick for best christmas music.  Christmas.

If you listen to the lyrics you'll understand perfectly why this is an excellent christmas song.  Also, for whatever reason, this is the song that has really got to me recently.  Obviously if you don't know what the song is about insofar as it is part of a soundtrack for a video game, you won't have the overall aesthetic in your mind - but I think this is a song that entirely transcends the work it draws inspiration from.

That might just be me to be honest.  It'd be interesting to know what you think.

Everyone has their own quirky tastes, this is mine!

After I've brought you all down with a haunting ode to the bleakness of life - here's a santa delivering pizza.  I think I uploaded a very similar picture a few years ago, because these guys are everywhere and always out and about during christmas - but you can never have enough santa with a crash hat on a trike.

So this is my traditional christmas eve meal.  The traditional christmas foods of home-made gyoza (ungodly in its deliciousness, in case you were wondering).

The other half of this epic was the lasagne, pictured below.  Contrary to popular opinion it was actually this variation of pasta eaten by jesus before he was hung, or drawn, or born or whatever it is christmas was invented to pretend happened.

A much less well known fact was that he enjoyed gyoza as a side dish, and a mug of white wine.  Note, his mug might have been a black disney mug that changed colour when it got hot.  That might just be mine though.

Anyway.

I have special plans for tomorrows meal so if things go well I'll upload a picture of that.  I'll see if my holiday blues have cleared up enough that I can stop listening to the above song, and possibly come up with another recommendation.

Happy Christmas!

Writing and Whatnot

So I wrote something for an online publication recently.  It was about gyms in Japan and how to navigate them, should you find yourself over here.

Check it out here.

It's a way less formal thing than I normally write which is fine by me, it feels more like a blog than an advertisment or article for a newspaper - just like this!

The only problem is the picture they used for the header.  I have literally no idea where they found it, what it's supposed to show, or what it has to do with the article itself.  I don't know what the thought process on that one is really.

Feel free to check it out, leave a comment and so on.  I'm sure my next writing job with them will rely on pageviews and comments and whatnot, so it would really help if you clicked on the link, even if you don't read it!

That's all for now.  Bye!

To Make the Beer

So the girlfriend recently went to a beer manufactory with the intentions of creating a brew so delicious, so compelling, as to turn me into a beer drinker.

I won't beat about the bush - this beer is a travesty.  I have no idea how they go about explaining the process of beer creation at this place, but needless to say they need to work on their methods.

I have never been one for enjoying the finer foods so I've not had the need to improve my food related vocabulary but here goes:  It smells like crap.  The first attosecond seems pleasant, with the distinctive beer smell the first through the olfactory gate.  After that, however, things turn grim.  To be honest I don't have a point of comparison so will refrain from elaborating further, but needless to say, things are grim from the off.

The taste follows an incredibly similar trajectory, with the first drop seeming palatable, only to descend into chaos mere moments later.

Despite this, and despite the expense, it's something I'd recommend to anyone.  The intrigue inherent in not knowing what is going to turn up on your doorstep, coupled with the crushing disappointment, is a valuable life lesson in patience and setting expectations.  There are few things in life, and were it not beer, I'd recommend it to anyone from the ages of two to two hundred.

As there is alcohol involved I am required by law to only recommend making your own beer starting from the age of five.  So, for everyone from five to two hundred years of age should try this out.

(To be fair to the girlfriend, they were limited in the ingredients they were allowed and the volumes they could create.  You would think they would steer their customers towards something that actually tasted decent, though.)