Grant my final wish

Kazuha, the girl in pink, gave me three origami balls yesterday. I have no idea what to do with them, but it was quite a sweet gift. She`s one of my Early Birds - it`s a class for kids who have some English and need to learn the first Lower Elementary text quickly to get up-to-speed for the next academic year. I really like these classes - all the kids seem genuinely nice (Takumasu, my favourite karake expert is one of these) - and I`ve already taught all of the language a thousand times so can cobble a fun lesson together with my eyes closed. Something of a blessing at Kitamoto school as they work me like a bitch. Damn franchises and their targets.

Last night was Grant`s leaving do, so despite swearing myself away for the umpteenth time, I found myself heading down the perilous steps to the George once more. I took Atsuko with me, hoping she`s take Ito off my hands (I think they would both actually hate each other, but like them both so imagine they`d make a good couple - for me, at least), but he was on a business trip. Apparently, he`d been very cagey about our badminton `date` with George and needed three shots before he`d own up to having seen me.

I took less money out than I wanted to so I would have to leave on time, but once again excitement and gin got the better of me. I met Nathan, a fellow Omiya teacher, who`s from Chelmsford and has also been to Dukes and was set up with a Japanese guy who barely speaks any English (discussing hobbies was a challenge - particularly as his are `surfing and dribing`). I had to get Raj to send the ADoS over to rescue me, which he did fabulously by announcing that the coming Setsumeikei is not for another four months - completely beyond the comprehension of poor Daisuke. Last time I saw him he was wearing a rabbit-skin jacket, so I almost wish we`d been crueller about it, but I think the girl that set me up with him is a bit vicious and might have my eyes out in an izakaya toilet.

Stupidly, I borrowed cash from the Bank of O`Leary and stayed well past my bedtime, strumbling over the bridge into West Omiya at about 4am. I had to go to Cafe Lamp this morning and drunkenly set my alarm an hour earlier than I needed to, so I have literally had three hours sleep. Cafe Lamp might have to be knocked on the head soon. This morning two old men joined my group and both of them were hellish in different ways. One spoke English in an unintelligibly bad accent (ironically, on the subject of how difficult it is to understand Scottish and northern accents), in mind-numbingly long bursts that were impossible to cut short (he should have passed out from lack of oxygen, he gave himself no time to breathe). The other was just a typical old Japanese man, assuming everyone owed him the world. I asked the table to introduce themselves and one of the poorer speakers was making a bit of a meal of it, so the old man butted in and insisted that everyone should have a turn (him having had his already), so the younger man stopped and we asked if he had anything to say, but he said no, just that everyone should have a go. Then there was an awkward silence as no one dared to speak. Old prick.

Afterwards I went for an Indian with some of the nicer students (a bizarre lunch, but also very good!) and then went pigeon-shopping with Aki. We tried on stupid hats in Loft and stalked my hairdresser, who selfishly put himself upstairs so we couldn`t stare at him. I think she needs a bit of a trim though, so maybe we`ll go back.