Otto's blog

I`m not really interested in Formula One racing, but at the moment an Australian, Mark Webber, is leading the standings. Also, he came second at Suzuka circuit last Sunday. Well done!

Australia hasn`t had a successful F1 driver for a while - nowadays the winners are usually Europeans or Brazilians (just like World Cup football!)

To celebrate, I made this collage.

Are you interested in F1? Do you have a favourite car or driver?
Do you have a collection of small model F1 cars that you keep in a special display case that your wife says you should get rid of because you are too old for such a silly hobby?

Kids too!

It`s time for Bohme Teragoya`s big, fun, exciting, funny HALLOWEEN PARTY! We have this party every year, & everyone always has a great time. Don`t miss it! Or you will regret it!

Paul Kelly is an Australian singer/songwriter I`ve liked for a long time. He`s starting to get old now - like me & Jack Bauer - but he`s still making nice music. This is a song called "King of Fools" from 2004.

Chorus:

I`m the king
I`m the king of fools
The King Kong king of fools

(full lyrics are here.)

Another song of his you might like: "Before Too Long" (+ lyrics) from 1986. This song & music video makes me homesick for Australia.

On the weekend I went camping in Sekigahara. I`ve been there a few times; it`s a picturesque area, and only 40 minutes from Ichinomiya by train.

I took my fold-up (oritatami) bicycle with me so I could ride around & enjoy the scenery. Even though it`s autumn now, there are lots of wild flowers in bloom, as you can see in my picture (don`t worry - I didn`t touch the big red ones).

At my camping spot I made a small pet-bottle trap (like the one I showed on my blog before) & in the morning when I checked it, there were 3 small crabs inside. Breakfast is served! Only joking - I didn`t eat them. I also saw a juvenile (young) ratsnake, which isn`t dangerous.

And no, I didn`t see any ghosts (Sekigahara was the site of a big battle 400 years ago).

As usual, you can click on the above picture to enlarge it.

Our car is getting pretty old, so it`s time to buy a new one. Pictured above are our options:

- New Honda Freed 8-seater, or
- Used 1972 Landrover 4WD 12-seater with a tent on top.

That`s right; the Landrover has 4WD, 4 seats MORE than the Freed, AND a tent on the roof.

Yes.

A tent on the roof.

Can you guess which is my choice, and which is my wife`s...?

Congratulations to Saturday Ichinomiya Teragoya student, Michiko - you`ve won a fabulous Teragoya fan!

I chose you as the winner because your comment was:
- interesting
- funny
- positive
- well-worded
- the only one

Well done! I hope you enjoy using it.

No, this is not a post about doing overtime (zangyo). "For a Few Dollars More" is the title of another Clint Eastwood western, which I watched last night. I thought it was a good excuse to put another picture of Clint Eastwood in his heyday (=most popular & successful period) on my blog.

Here`s a clip from it.

His partner in this movie really reminds me of my teacher when I was 11, Mr.Blakely. But Mr Blakely used to wear shorts & long socks to school. I don`t think that would suit this actor`s character in this movie.

Thanks Makie for your delicious pumpkin pudding.

It reminded me of an unusual dessert I sometimes used to buy when I caught the long-distance, overnight train in Thailand. Ah... that brings back memories (=natsukashi).

This is "New Slang" (2007) by American band The Shins.

Sample Lyrics (=song`s words):
Turn me back into the pet that i was when we met.

Other Shins songs you might like: "Turn on Me" and "Pink Bullets"