Filling In The Blanks

Well March is almost over got to say it's shot past, I've been busy and there has been a lot of coming and going at site. We've had over ten people in the office at one time sometimes and it's been crowded to say the least, but as of right now we are back down to about five.

A lot has gone on since i last did a blog but to be honest i can't remember most of it, my fault for not keeping up to date but there you go just shows i am not one of the best blogger's around in fact i probably come somewhere at the bottom of the list but who cares.

Like i say since i last posted a blog there been plenty of people over here which means plenty work, plenty of meals and nights out not necessarily in that order so will just try and fill in some of the blanks.

Apart from me and Fred No1 we have had five more Americans, two more Germans a Croatian and a couple of Japanese guys living in our office. Oh i almost forgot two more English lads were over as well for a couple of weeks which was a real treat for me, it was like being in the United Nations for a couple of weeks in the office. Not that i have any idea what the UN is like but it's probably chaos just like it was in our office for a few weeks.

The photo on the left is of us in a bar called FreeFlight the two Germans Mike and Andy the two Brits Ben and Andy, Scott from the States and Vlado from Croatia.

The English lads were from a company in the north of England had met them both before good lads so it was a good laugh when they were there, for once i did not have to explain what i was saying, Americans don't seem to understand phrases and sayings like "Bob's your uncle" and "you don't get owt for nowt"

Ben and Andy sent a spirit level over by post, unknown to me they sent some steel toe capped work boots as well. Few day before they got here i got phone call for customs about the packages turns out the spirit level was duty free but they would have to pay $100 import duty on the work boots, what the F... Couldn't believe it anyway managed to negotiate it to up to about $60 yep my negotiating skill suck a bit as you can see. The work boots cost more in import duty than they cost in the UK apparently it's because they were leather, remember that if you come to Japan you can't sent personal items through the post if you don't have a visa.

Both Ben and Andy have gone back to the UK now so have the Germans, Croatian and four of the Americans, one of the Germans Michael will be back soon though which is another story in it's self. Won't go into too much detail but basically the site Acoustic installation contractor has gone bust to put it in a nut shell. When another acoustic installation contractor is appointed by the Japanese Mike will be back from Germany to supervise the installation, that should start again some time early April.

The other big thing that is happening is that Fred No 1 is leaving Japan at the end of this month, he is flying back to the states on the 31st march for good, he has another project to start the beginning of May. To be honest i think we have been together too long as we are both basically ding the same job and tend to overlap a bit, if we had been married I'm sure we would be getting a divorce by now, we are both a bit frustrated with each other so it's probably a good thing for the both of us.

We went out for what was billed as his final meal the other night it was a good night out and i am sure we will be doing it again before he leaves for good. Megumi one of Fred friend organised the meal in the Hotel where she works the Richmond Hotel, food was great, all sorts of stuff including Sushi and Sashimi and something called Natto.

Well I'd never tried Natto before heard about it but not tried it, Natto's apparently fermented soya beans and smells like hell, bit of an acquired taste so I'm told and not many westerners like it. In for a penny in for a Yen so to speak hell i've eaten Kimch in Korea and everyone told me that was pants but i quite liked it. The Natto turned out not to be as bad as i was told, everyone was watching me when i ate it, i was expecting it to taste and smell worse than and rugby players jock strap after a hard match it didn't. not my favorite food by any stroke of the imagination but not repulsive either.

Photos above are of Fred last meal, sound a bit ominous, i added the one of the top of my head as for some reaso Mike who is Megumis husband who is a bit of a photogropher was taking photos of it. he was just trying out the setting on my camera and chose my head as a subject took a lot of stick over the glare it was giving off, if you can't laugh at yourself who can you laugh at.

Job wise things are pretty hectic we are moving away from construction now as it almost finished and starting on the commissioning which is scheduled for a few months then the final aero commissioning will take place, not particularly interesting but there you go.

Apparently after this project there may be work for me on a project over in the UK for a while, had been thinking i may pack it all in after this project or at least only work about 6 months of the year depending on the money of course. Sounds like this thing in England does come off it will be OK as there will be some times when nothing is going on an i can go off and do my own thing what ever that may be so will see what happens. Looks like i will be over here till the middle of the year though but from what i can gather if the UK project does come off it may not start till August so it may work out.

Took a load of photos the other day dont know what the hell happend to them because when i went to down load em they wernt there, must have pressed the wrong button that sucks a bit as i was in places or dsoing thing i probabbly won't get chance to again.

That's about it for now I'm sure there are plenty of things i'v forgot but as i cant remmber it dosent mater much does it.

The photos below are just out side my apartemt one isd of a drinks vending machine which are all over here the other is of a road work sign, so polite the Japanese.