My RSS Feed

Mum & Toddler Class

Roy Dunn — 2010-07-13T22:24:04+09:00

Mum & Toddler Class

Well, we are very happy to announce, that our mum & toddler classes are continuing to blossom. Word of mouth is spreading around the city, and things are really taking off. The kids are settling into the classroom environment well, and are becoming more confident with every lesson. The new games we bought, have also proved to be a big hit with students. Saying that, the basic BINGO game is always such a big hit and extremely popular with everyone.

Yeah.. for BINGO!

Easter Picnic

Roy Dunn — 2010-03-24T19:41:03+09:00

イースター　ピクニック

４月4日日曜日に浜寺公園にてイースターピクニックを
開催します。お忙しいと思いますが保護者の皆様とご一緒に参加下さいます様よろしくお願い致します。お昼御飯を食べますのでお弁当や飲み物、敷物を忘れずにお持ち下さい！当日は中央の噴水の前で１０時５０分に待ち合わせの予定です。時間厳守でお願い致します。イベント中は、くれぐれもお子様から目を離さないようご注意願います。なお雨の場合は中止をさせていただきますのでご了承下さい。

日時：　４月 4日（日）

時間：午前１１時～午後12:30 時

場所：浜寺公園

参加費：　お一人様　￥５００
　　　　　　　　　　　　

Easter Egg Hunt 宝探しをするようにお部屋の中や庭に隠されたイースターエッグを探す。  Making Easter Egg イースターエッグ作り。タマゴはゆで卵、中身を取り出した生卵、またクラフトだったりします。  Egg Toss 二人づつペアになります。どのペアが一番遠くまでタマゴを投げて割らずにキャッチできるかを競う。  Egg and Spoon Race スプーンの上にタマゴを乗せて、タマゴを落とさないで走るレース。  Egg Roll 丘の上からタマゴを割らずに誰が遠くまで転がせるかを競う。   

Looking forward to seeing you all there.
ダンロイ.

Dublin Bay

Roy Dunn — 2010-01-11T19:39:49+09:00

Dublin Bay

On the 13th of December we held our school year end party in the Namba area of Osaka. We met on the forecourt of Nankai namba station and then slowly walked down the covered market to an English themed pub called HUB. There are quite a few HUB bars in the city, and the decor is pretty consistent throughout the chain, with authentic posters and furniture. They serve a variety of pub food, the most famous being Fish & Chips, served with proper Sarson's malt vinegar. After a few drinks we decided to try the new Irish bar across the street. Dublin Bay is a great little bar in the heart of the city, serving some quality draft ales, including my favorite London Pride. Talking with the owner Shinji, I soon discovered that the bar is due to expand onto the riverside over the summer, knocking down the rear wall to take advantage of the renovation works on the Dotonburi river.
This bar is sure to become a favorite on the Osaka entertainment scene and quite rightly too!

Cheers,

Roy.

Xmas Turkey

Roy Dunn — 2010-01-11T19:26:34+09:00

Xmas Turkey

I don't know about you, but we had a truly cracking christmas with family and friends. On the 25th we had a big old party at our house centered around roast turkey with all the trimmings, including potatoes, bread sauce, homemade pate and 3 types of stuffing. In the morning I dusted of the food processor and went to work knocking out some classic christmas dishes. Didn't sit down again until around 5 o'clock and that was just to sample the mulled wine. Big thanks to some of the bloggers on Jamie Oliver's site for their culinary tips.

Roy.

Parachute

Roy Dunn — 2009-10-09T14:29:02+09:00

I bought a play parachute (balloon) from Maude’s sports in the UK last month. It was a bargain at £35, and simply put, such a good buy. I remember using one with a 5-12 year old play-group, during my time as a youth worker at Powis Community Centre in Aberdeen. Luckily, it arrived just in time for our annual school BBQ in Hamadera Park. It had been quite a few years since I had last used a parachute, so I wasn’t quite sure how to incorporate English into the games at first. Other than using the parachute colours themselves, I was quite stuck. Then, a sudden rush of inspiration led me to Daiso ¥100 store, where I bought some plastic balls, fluffy toy fruit & vegetables and was now ready to Rock n’ Roll. On the 27th of Sept we all met in the park at 10:50am, as planned. I had the BBQ gear all set up ready for lunch, with the hamburgers, hot dogs and yaki-soba in the cool box ready to go. I quickly gathered the kids and sat them down on the blue ground sheets and played a few warm-up games, using simple questions like “what’s your name?” and “ do you like .....?”. I use a few toy cell-phones that have beeps & bells do do this. Works really well with the sound effects!
Later, I pulled out the parachute and the kids went wild, running around chasing the coloured plastic balls. Luckily, no one got injured or upset, and the day carried on smoothly for all in attendance. Big thanks to all the parents for lending a hand with the parachute games. Takes quite a lot of effort to control the contraption, getting everyone to lift & drop the parachute in unison, on command. The Halloween party is coming up and it’s sure to come in handy during the party.

check out our events page for details on Halloween!

New Car

Roy Dunn — 2009-09-08T11:36:42+09:00

Subaru or Honda?

I'm really interested in buying a new car, as my current one is old and past it's sell by date. There are many cool cars in Japan, but I just can't decide on which brand or model to purchase. Initially, I was pushing towards the Subaru Forester or legacy models, with their good looks and reliable engineering.

However, I have always loved the Honda Stepwagon, and the fact that they can carry 7 people is a big selling point. Another Honda model which has come up in conversation, and has recently caught my eye, is the Stream. It's quite compact, yet big enough to carry those extra passengers & camping gear when required. I love the outdoors, so having a spacious car to travel comfortably is a must!

any suggestions?

日置川

Roy Dunn — 2009-08-21T14:50:36+09:00

日置川

I don't know about you, but I had a wicked Obon, and quite possibly the best so far in Japan. Some friends & I had initially decided to head to Okinoshima this summer, but due to unforeseen circumstances, had to drop that idea and think more locally. Luckily for us, our mate Kevin suggested camping on the Hiki river in Wakayama. So, on the 11th of August we all headed south into the unknown. As usual the highway was chokka around the Kainan area, just after Wakayama city, so we got off there and drove the remainder of the journey on the coast road. It's a windy, bumpy road, but the sea view and small coastal towns help to ease the drive. A good bit later, we eventually arrived at our destination, all be it, with a little help from the owner of the campsite.

The Campsite is about 10km upriver on the north bank, nestled between the mountains and small farming communities. It's an amazing location, with all the mod cons, for a more domesticated form of camping, and includes toilets, BBQ, showers and a washing machine, for those that require such luxuries in the wild. However, the only facilities that I used the entire 5 days were the washing up area and toilet.

So, with the long drive behind us, we settled quickly into the new surroundings, pitching our tents and collecting wood from the shore for our camp fire & BBQ. We were pretty amazed by our location within the camp. It was most definitely the best, offering great access to the river, and just far enough away from the entrance to offer a degree of seclusion.
The weather had cleared up nicely, the sun was shining and the river beckoned. We all changed into our swim-wear and headed down the river bank for a paddle. Unfortunately, it had been raining heavily prior to our arrival, and the river was quite high, so we just splashed around the bank. Usually, the river is a beautiful clear blue, but with all that water running off the mountains, it had become a swirling brown soup, and was way too fast to swim in. After all the traveling & excitement is was time for some food, so it was on with our chef's hats and time for some outdoor culinary magic. We were well prepared, as we had stocked up on supplies earlier from the Okuwa supermarket, at the mouth of the Hiki river, on route 42. The main menu that day was Chicken stew, a one pot wonder, which is just great for cooking outdoors. Everyone chipped into the cooked duties, with some peeling and the others chopping or washing up.
After a good feed, all the adults relaxed under the gazebo with a few ales, while the kids ran around the site catching dragonflies and investigating their new surroundings. There were a lot of families on the site, so the kids were spoilt for new friends to play with.

more to come!

Awaji Island

Roy Dunn — 2009-07-02T14:27:42+09:00

Awaji Adventure

Took a long overdue break last weekend, and drove down to Ajwajishima, to visit my Aussie mate Darren. I was expecting the drive to take around 2 hours, but we made it to Sumoto in a little over an hour. The Island has a great vibe.. very laid back and quite rural. My friend lives in a spanking new house, tucked away in the mountains above Sumoto town, overlooking Osaka bay. Initially, we had planned to camp on a quiet little beach, but with the weather forecast looking so bleak, we decided to opt for the more conventional. Yes, we gave into the weather and slept in his spare room. The first evening was really pleasant, and we just sat around on the deck chatting, eating and of course supping a few ales. On sunday we woke early and
ate some homemade yogurt with fruit, followed by Emi's freshly baked bread... Mmmmh! The folks on the Island are pretty self sufficient and grow their own seasonal fruit & vegetables. There's even a dairy farm in the south, where you can buy fresh farm milk and even try your hand at a spot of milking.

Sunday was a real scorcher, and really quite contrary to what was forecast. So, with that, it was game on!.. and off to the bay-side for a spot of fishing. We stopped by a small shop to pick up some new tackle & frozen prawns for bait. You've got to be careful with the bait, as it smells awful & is a nightmare to wash off your hands and clothes. Luckily, Darren is an old hand at fishing, and recently bought an inexpensive, self-filling bait bucket. Genius little contraption!.... must find out where to get one for our next fishing trip.
With all the gear packed, we then drove down the coast a little and found a small jetty to set up base, and got right into it... wasn't long before we started to catch a whole heap of Chariko. They are a small, black sea bream like fish, which are good for deep frying. Later, Darren was deep casting and managed to catch a good sized Sillago. The waters around Awaji are surprisingly clean and hold a vast array of critters, but you really need a boat to get into the deeper water, and at the larger sized fish. I think there may be a plan in the making! Later that night we had a BBQ on the deck, and ate some grilled beef, curried chicken and of course our deep fried catch of the day, washed down with a few more ales....burp!

Mikisato Camping Trip

Roy Dunn — 2009-05-06T14:21:32+09:00

On saturday, I drove to Mikisato town in Mie prefecture with some friends to escape the city, and to soak up the tranquility of the beach. We set off at 6:00am and took the highway to Yoshino and then drove along country roads through some breath taking mountains to our final destination. It took about 4 and a half hours to reach Mikisato, but it was well worth the drive. Mikisato is a typical country town, but is set in a stunningly beautiful, picturesque bay, surrounded by these amazing textured mountains. The beach is clean and well kept, along with toilet & shower facilities. We set up camp and quickly built a campfire, gathering stones from the beach to use as it's base. The small river at the centre of the bay was strewn with driftwood, so there was plenty of fuel for the entire vacation. Later that evening the lads all helped make some great campfire cuisine. We are all interested in cooking and put those skills to good use throughout the entire trip making Ratatouille, Kebabs, Chicken Stew and of course the traditional English breakfast. We managed this with some pretty basic cooking utensils, and all realized that we needed some better camping equipment for our next adventure.

men at work

kids at play

the view

kebabs

Spanish Tapas Bar

Roy Dunn — 2009-03-27T09:57:16+09:00

Tapas Bar

Our next adult event will be held on the 18th of April, at a small Tapas Bar in Shinsaibashi. It's a great venue with heaps of character. The food & drinks are authentic and well priced. There are 15 members confirmed so far. If you would like to join us, then contact our school for further information.

Roy.

イースター　ピクニック

Roy Dunn — 2009-03-25T22:12:59+09:00

Easter Picnic
イースター　ピクニック

日時：　４月１２日（日）

時間：午前１１時〜午後１時

場所：浜寺公園

参加費：　お一人様　￥５００

４月１２日日曜日に浜寺公園にてイースターピクニックを開催します。お忙しいと思いますが保護者の皆様とご一緒に参加下さいます様よろしくお願い致します。お昼御飯を食べますのでお弁当や飲み物、敷物を忘れずにお持ち下さい！当日は中央の噴水の前で１０時５０分に待ち合わせの予定です。時間厳守でお願い致します。イベント中は、くれぐれもお子様から目を離さないようご注意願います。なお雨の場合は中止をさせていただきますのでご了承下さい。

Easter Egg Hunt
宝探しをするようにお部屋の中や庭に隠されたイースターエッグ（最近はチョコレートのタマゴが主流だそうです）を探す。

Making Easter Egg
イースターエッグ作り。タマゴはゆで卵、中身を取り出した生卵、またクラフトだったりします。

Egg Toss
二人づつペアになります。どのペアが一番遠くまでタマゴを投げて割らずにキャッチできるかを競う。

Egg and Spoon Race
スプーンの上にタマゴを乗せて、タマゴを落とさないで走るレース。

Egg Roll
丘の上からタマゴを割らずに誰が遠くまで転がせるかを競う。

Looking forward to seeing you all there to help make this a great Easter.

Roy Dunn

Tiery Le

Roy Dunn — 2009-02-26T13:58:22+09:00

My friend Tiery Le… is a French artist, who has been living in Japan since 1999… After studying Art in kindergarten and at the National Art School of Cergy, Paris, he has been exploring the meanderings of human existence through painting, cartoons, photography, video, various trips, procrastination and daily chores…
Some of the resulting images have been published in magazines, newspapers and books in France, Africa, Japan, Canada and the U.S., or exhibited in a variety of art spaces and galleries in Paris, Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. A regular contributor with images and general design to Kyoto Journal, he is working recently with the magazine Dankai Punch and is preparing an exhibition of paintings at Soho Gallery in Osaka.
As inspired by cartoons, logos, cinema and other pop imagery as by Western art or worldwide heritage , Tiery’s works play with the ambiguity of our consciousness and lean towards a visual simplicity that at times flirts with abstraction in his paintings. Reference to universals of human experience is essential to his expression, while irony, playfulness, and distance are always present as a safeguard from despair… From Zen-like meditative calm to rhythmic, colorful exhilaration, Tiery’s images always seem to be dancing on the blurry edge of our cognitive frog pond... Conveying blunt political comments as well as quiet, mysterious atmospheres, his world hits your eyes before anything else, through an imbrication of clear-cut, dense blacks and whites or frank, intense colors, always creating a resonance with your senses much the way music does... Considering the viewer's sensibility as an active part of this process, he always feels inspired by any feedback, so please feel free to contact Tiery le!

フランス人ティエリ・ル．．．は、1999年より日本でアーティストとして活動している。パリ国立セルジ芸術大学で学んだ後、ペインティング、漫画、写真、ヴィデオ、そして日々雑多を通して、蛇行する人生の在り方を探る。
それらの成果は今までにフランス、アフリカ、日本、カナダ、そしてアメリカの雑誌や新聞に掲載され、パリ、東京、大阪、京都で個展も開かれた。京都ジャーナル における挿絵やデザイン全般に貢献、最近では団塊パンチなどの雑誌、その他大阪のSOHOギャラリーでの個展の準備に取り掛かっている。
漫画、ロゴ、シネマなどの多種多様な現代的様式から、西洋及び世界各国の伝統的芸術などからインスピレーションを受けた彼の作品は、シンプルでありながら、時折抽象的な部分にアプローチしつつ、私達の意識の曖昧な部分を翻弄する。 アートを通して全人類について言及する事こそが彼の表現上の最重要課題であり、彼の作品に込められたアイロニーや遊戯、距離感などが、人類が向かう絶望への防御壁となるだろう。ティエリ・ル．．．の生み出すイメージは、常に私達の日常と非日常との狭間で踊るかのようである。ストレートな政治批評がある一方、限りなく静かで神秘的な雰囲気を持つ明瞭で濃厚な黒と白、若しくは力強い色彩は、音楽のように共鳴し、何よりもまず私達の目を打つだろう。
彼はまた、鑑賞者である我々が、彼の作品に触れた時に抱く敏感な感覚が彼の作品へ至る重要な要素だと捉えている。彼はそこから多くのインスピレーションを与えられているので、是非臆せずcontact Tiery Leして頂きたい。

English style cafe in Kyoto

Roy Dunn — 2009-02-23T22:19:49+09:00

309 The Canteen

On Sunday, I jumped in my retro car and drove to my friend Tiery's house in 京都市Kyoto city. The highway was empty, and I got there in under an hour. It was far to early to appear at his door, so I decided to visit 壬生寺 Mibu-dera, near 大宮駅Omiya station.
This wasn't my first visit and will certainly not be the last. I just love the old streets & houses around downtown Kyoto. I took a few snaps and had a wee gander around the traditional sweet shop, then zipped down the Horikawa Boulevard to Sanjo Street.

Tiery's house is very old, but stacked with character, and has an amazing light-well in the kitchen, bringing much need light to centre of the house. Kyoto houses are typically narrow and long, so the windows at the front and back are quite far from the main living quarter, and offer little daylight. Thus, the light-well.

Later in the day, while walking back from the park, we noticed the amazing 309 The Canteen on the 商店街covered market near my friend's home. A functioning British cafe in the heart of downtown Kyoto. Who'd have thought it? The 309 has been well designed, and from it's Black & White decor to it's tiled floor, it oozes Britishness. Beyond the aesthetics of the place, the canteen serves authentic British food, many of which are hand made by the owner/chef Eiki Mano 真野英気. We chatted to Eiki a little in English, and found that, he had spent a considerable amount of time in the UK. Amongst the 309's extensive menu are classics like Bread & Butter Pudding, Lankashire Hot Pot and homemade Pork Pie. One of which, I bought and took home to Osaka. It didn't have a long life, and was washed down with a cuppa, as soon as I got in the door. Mmh!
If your in Kyoto for the day and fancy something different, then I strongly recommend, that you make the effort to pop-by the 309, for a taste of good old Blighty!

Roy.

Murphy's Irish Pub

Roy Dunn — 2009-02-23T14:31:12+09:00

Murphy's

On Saturday, I took a group of students out on a British culture night. We met in the ticket hall of Namba station at 7pm, then made our way to HUB. In keeping with the English theme, we ordered Fish & Chips, Ale, Gin & Tonic and an array of other dishes. Despite our varied abilities, everyone made an effort to chat across the table in English. And, although there were a few mistakes here & there, new friendships were made. After a few photographs, we walked briskly to Murphy's, our next port of call.

Murphy's Irish Pub in Higashi-Shinsaibashi, is a gem of a watering hole! With it's authentic food, drinks & international bar staff, we were guaranteed to have a great time.
As soon as we arrived, the barman helped arrange the tables, and swiftly took our orders.
While chatting, we were entertained by the local musical duo ALSON. They played some classics & many of our requests. Everyone was singing and clapping along. This was the first time for many of our students to experience Irish hospitality, and Murphy's certainly left a great impression with everyone.

A big thanks to all at Murphy's!

英会話に興味のある方やイベントに一度参加したい方は、高石校までご連絡下さい！
Tel: ０７２ー２６１ー７２０１

Carrot Cake

Roy Dunn — 2009-01-12T16:57:58+09:00

Carrot Cake

I'm getting right into this baking, as it's pretty relaxing and offers a challenge too. I bought some cheap carrots yesterday, and thought that, I'd better find a way of enjoying them. So, today I decided to make a couple of carrot cakes. My old dear used to make carrot cake, so the challenge was set.
Well, it was pretty easy and the outcome is great. They are both moist and light, with a subtle spicy aroma, thanks to the cinnamon.

Cheers,

Roy.

Cafe QBRICK

Roy Dunn — 2008-12-29T16:01:31+09:00

End of Year Party 2008

Big thanks to Darren for getting everyone together & to Mr Yamamoto for letting the gang gather at his bar QBRICK this Sunday, for our Xmas/Year end party. We all had a cracking time, and ate some really fine food. Top marks were awarded to Tomoko for her super-dooper ham & broccoli quiche. It was fab!
I had planned on baking some homemade bread, chocolate cake and a joint of roast lamb, but had stupidly forgotten that this years event was kicking off at 1:00pm, instead of the usual early evening. So, with that, I ended up in Takashimaya's food hall searching for my pot luck entries. It all came up roses in the end, with a great selection of pot-luck dishes including the main roast chicken, ham, pork, quiche and various salads.

Looking forward to seeing you all in the New Year for another knees-up!!

Best Wishes,

Roy Dunn.

Xmas 2008

Roy Dunn — 2008-12-26T14:59:31+09:00

Merry Christmas

Well, a very Merry Xmas to everyone at ELC and beyond the English school umbrella.
We had a great dinner this year, with roast Pheasant, Duck & Pork. I spent a good 6 hours in the kitchen, slaving over the range to bring it all together. I had to cut out a few items from the menu, as it had taken on a life of it's own, due to the unexpected arrival of our poultry friends.
The pheasant was complete with the head still intact. It looked very impressive with it's colourful wattles. Both birds were quite easy to prepare, as they had been well cleaned by the huntsman.
I wanted to enjoy the full flavour of each, so I only stuffed them with onion, then covered the breast areas with bacon to protect them. This seemed to work well, as the meat was moist and tender upon serving. Everyone enjoyed the Pheasant most, as it's quite a rarity in Japan.
The Yorkshire Puddings were also great, as my new recipe includes a dash of Coopers Pale Ale.It really helps bring the batter to life and gives it a fluffy texture. The final serving was my homemade chocolate mocha cake. A heavy, stodgy monster of a dessert, which is quite simple to make.
Two of my young students came over to wish me a merry xmas, so they stayed for a bit and helped make the cakes. They hung around all afternoon waiting for them to cool, so I gave them a whole cake to take home to their family. Big thanks to Haruki & Mitsusa for their handmade Xmas card and helping with the dessert.

Best Wishes,

Roy Dunn.

Awajishima

Roy Dunn — 2008-12-22T15:54:11+09:00

Awaji

Yesterday morning, I and the Ferry-meister travelled over to Awaji on the infamous Tako-Ferry, to visit a friend. Despite my many years in Kansai, this was my first adventure to the Island. Our friend and spiritual advisor Callaghan-Sensei picked us up at the port and took us on a magical mystery tour of his new home. After a short stop at the Bear's new abode, we packed up all the fishing gear and headed to the port, for a spot of angling.
In my youth, I spent many a day fishing at the mouth of the river Don in Aberdeen, with my brothers. But, almost all my knowledge of knots and tackle from those days had been erased over time. Luckily, the Bear is a dab hand with knots and quickly pointed me in the right direction. Over a few hours we caught and landed an aquarium sized array of sea beasts, including Whiting 鱚 and sea Bream鯛. I gutted and prepared the fish this afternoon, and will deep fry them tonight for dinner.

Cheers,

Roy Dunn.

Mother & Toddler

Roy Dunn — 2008-12-17T23:31:29+09:00

Mother & Toddler Class
ママ＆子供のクラス

I'm pleased to announce, that we are now offering new Mother & Toddler Classes on Monday mornings at 10:00am. The classes are 40min duration, and incorporate many imaginative games and exercises, designed to stimulate your child's learning experience.
All classes are phonics based, with listening games, flash-cards, exercises and songs, to ensure that your child acquires the necessary pronunciation & listening skills, required to communicate with people in English.

If your interested in observing a class, or wish to talk about your child's education, then please call or email to book an appointment.

Many thanks,

Roy Dunn.

Christmas Party

Roy Dunn — 2008-11-25T22:16:56+09:00

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Firstly, I'd like to wish all our students and their families a very Merry Xmas & Happy New Year.
Our 2008 Christmas Party was a complete success and the perfect end to a truly amazing year for me.
A very big thanks! goes out to Warren, Jay, Keiko & Kazuko for all their help on Sunday.
It was a real giggle and the kids had such a laugh at Santa and his merry moments.
There was a great turn out of students, despite the late announcement, illness, fatigue.......etc.
I look forward to seeing you all at our Easter picnic in Hamadera Park on the 12th of April, 2009.

If your interested in attending an event or would like more information on our English Courses, then drop by the school or give us a call.

Best Wishes,

Roy Dunn.

Halloween Party

Roy Dunn — 2008-10-10T10:18:44+09:00

This is a very special year for me, as traditionally we've held our Halloween parties in regular class time.
But, this year will see our first joint Halloween event.
The party is on the 1st of November at あすとホール松之浜駅の前 and will begin at 10:40am and end at 12:20pm.
We are asking that all students make an effort to attend in costume, to help make the event more authentic.
There will be a prize for the best costume, with music, Bingo, face painting, drawing and more .............
So, bring a friend to help make this a very Happy Halloween.

Thanks,

Roy.

English Pub Event

Roy Dunn — 2008-08-21T15:19:21+09:00

Our next event will be held sometime in september at HUB, a very popular English pub, in Namba. The actual date has not been decided yet, and will depend on the number of students available to attend. If you are interested in studying English and would like to take part in this event, then give us a call or send an email to confirm your attendance.

Many thanks,

Roy Dunn.

Summer Festival 夏祭り

Roy Dunn — 2008-08-14T17:12:33+09:00

Well, in true japanese style, I'm off to the local summer Bon festival tonight. Unfortunately, I don't have a Yukata 浴衣 to wear and with that, I'm not sure if I would wear one either. Foreign men in Japanese attire just don't cut it!!
The locals, however, look very good in their colourful traditional costumes. Lots of bright colours and floral patterns. There will be a bit of a knees up for the elders with music and dance. When in Rome!

Cheers,

Roy.

River rafting

Roy Dunn — 2008-08-14T16:13:51+09:00

On Tuesday, I went to some local tyre fitters and asked for a a couple of lorry size inner tubes. The first place said " no way" , but the small shop down the road from my house had a good rummage around and pulled out 3 good sized beauties. One needed patching & the other 2 were in pretty good shape, but with that they only charges me for the repair. So, in the end it cost a bargain bashing ¥500 for the whole lot. This was the beginning of a real adventure, so many thanks to Eriko.
Well, with that, we set off early Wednesday morning for the Yoshino river, with our toys in hand. Arrived there around 10:00am and totally lucked out on parking. A laybye just up the ridge from the river was empty, so we unpacked and while doing so, the old man that owned the land came over for a chat. He said that is was cool for us to stop there for the day.
After getting the camp set up, we inflated the tubes with a 12 volt mini pump and hit the river for a test run. There were quite a few old guys fishing for Ayu, most of which seemed a little pissed that we were splashing around upstream from them. With that, we took a 10min walk up the river to check out the rapids. Finally, we found a way down to the river from the road and jumped in. This was unchartered territory, so almost every bend of the river was fresh to a point. The tubes held out and only occaisionally got wedged between some rocks. Back at camp, we got the BBQ going and sat down for a feed, when the badest, blackest rain clouds let go a storm.
We were a bit slow to move and got caught in the downpour, leaving everything and everyone drenched from head to toe. The BBQ was over or so we thought.
As we sheltered from the rain at the rear of a somen factory, the old woman kindly let us use her toilet and then the storage area, to let us dry off and escape the weather.
Well, once word spread, that a couple of foreigners were in town, the party really started. The owner turned up with his son and grandson, and with a few beers in hand. He was a jolly bloke and in good shape for his 64 years. He pulled out his own oil barrel BBQ set and set it up in the forecourt for us to use. After getting the BBQ going he put on his glad rags and jumped into his small truck, saying that "I'm off to town, so make yourselves at home". Diamond geezer or what? This guy and his family were extremely generous and put my faith back in humanity. Despite, the illegal occupation of Georgia, by russian troops.

Making Music

Roy Dunn — 2008-08-11T14:13:06+09:00

Finally started writing new songs again. Got together with a friend and bashed out a couple of songs, writing partial lyrics to both. We're playing on acoustics at the moment, as we both believe that, if you sound good on acoustic then electrics gonna really rock. I've been using a Martin D21 for the most part, but my playing is pretty heavy and I don't want to destroy the frets. So, I restrung my 70's Takamine Elite Humming Bird, which has had & can handle a good thrashing. Very well crafted guitar. It's stamped 75******, with the first 2 digits indicating the year of manufacture.
I'm also using a YAMAHA FG350, which is probably dated around 1982. It's got a really bright sound and is also in good shape considering it's age. On the electric front, I'm keeping my eyes open for an early 90's Fender Jaguar or Jazzmaster at the moment. There's a few on ebay & Yahoo, but they get too pricey.
Have to keep on the junk-shop trail.

Cheers,

Roy.

Yoshino River Nara

Roy Dunn — 2008-08-11T13:16:46+09:00

Went to a great spot on the Yoshino River with a friend recently. It's only an hour and a half from Takaishi on the expressway and is in the most tranquil surroundings. The river itself is crystal clear and has some good diving spots. One guy from a group having a BBQ nearby even drank the water as a dare, because it's so clean.
The river is home to sweetfish (あゆ）a small trout like fish, which feed on river moss. They are highly territorial and will ward off other fish in the area. Fishermen use a reel-less pole with live bait to catch them. I was amazed to learn that a permit for the year only costs ¥10,000, because wild sweetfish are quite expensive in an Izakaya.
I must return there before the end of summer!

Cheers,

Roy.

What lurks beneath

Roy Dunn — 2008-07-25T10:24:25+09:00

I'm hoping to try surfing for the first time next week near Wakayama. There are plenty of popular spots like Isonoura & Gobo, but I'm still a little apprehensive to get out of my depth. It's not that I'm a poor swimmer or anything. It's just that JAWS changed my view of the sea forever.

Cicada

Roy Dunn — 2008-07-25T09:53:49+09:00

The rainy season is finally over and the heat really is on. The weather has been in the mid thirties for the last week & the bugs are out in full force. The cicada are up and at it with the sun, kicking up one hell of a noise. You've probably heard them buzzing as background noise in any jungle movie scene. There are a few varieties of cicada, but here's one for your thoughts.

Billiards & Darts Event

Roy Dunn — 2008-06-23T16:11:22+09:00

We will be holding our first school event, on either the 7th or 14th of July at Futaba Bowl in Matsunohama, depending on student availability. Our plan is to meet at 7:00pm, where students can purchase a 3 hour game pack ticket, upon entry. All adult Students & their friends are welcome to attend the event. Students are under no obligation to attend or to participate for the full 3 hours. Let's just get together to have some fun, speak English and relax. If your interested in studying English and would like to attend this event prior to taking a trial lesson, then call or email me to book a place.

Thanks,

Roy.

IKEA

Roy Dunn — 2008-06-19T13:30:02+09:00

Popped over to IKEA on Kobe port island this morning. I'm looking for a sofa for the Takaishi school. They have a really good range of items, many of which are at very competitive prices. As luck would have it, the items that I wanted were out of stock. The new Nanko store will be open on the 1st of August, and the staff informed me that it will have the full range, in stock. There are so many cool things, from fabrics, rugs, tables & chairs, storage .....ect. So, be careful not to over spend.

Last week, a few people dropped by the school for trial lessons. I had kinda forgotten about them, as I'm pretty busy already. Well, yesterday they all called back to say that they were really happy with our study programs, thoroughly enjoyed their trial lessons and that they want to begin studying immediately. This is excellent news, as my schedule is really starting to take shape. I now have a wide range of classes available for incoming students of any level to choose from. The adult classes have far exceeded my expectations.

I'm now in the process of organizing our first school event. I will put these ideas to the students, and let the democratic vote decide which location & date is best for all.
If your interested in a free trial lesson or want to take part in any of our events, just call the school for an informal chat.

Best wishes,

Roy Dunn.

Next in Namba Parks

Roy Dunn — 2008-06-17T19:48:49+09:00

I popped into Osaka on Sunday, from the newly opened, Matsunohama station. Quite a good view from the new elevated platform. You can see right up to Kurotorri Park, with Katsuragi & other mountains spanning the skyline. In Namba Parks, I had brunch at the New York Bagel shop. Very well priced & great tasting fillings. The smoked salmon and cream cheese number, brought back memories of Brick Lane and the East End of London. Later I had a gander around Next on the second floor. As it's imported, the prices are quite high, but you can see the quality of the material & difference in the colours, to Japanese clothing. If your into British culture, you should drop by Next to check out their stuff.

The heat is on in Osaka. It was 30 deg today and sure to be 35 the next few months, so I had a new air conditioner installed this morning. That's sure to keep the constant influx of students happy and content. We have had 24 students sign-up since the 14th of April. That's pretty good going and a sign that our approach to teaching, and the range of services we offer, are what people want. Almost every student that has come to our school for a trial lesson has joined! If your interested in studying English for the first time or just want to brush-up your conversation skills, then call us or drop by the school, for an informal chat about our services & your aims.

Best wishes,

Roy Dunn.

Trial Lesson

Roy Dunn — 2008-05-21T11:45:15+09:00

Trial lesson trilogy. Three young learners & their mums came to our Takaishi classroom this morning. We worked through some colours & fruits, practiced their pronunciation, and then finally, we played a guessing game to round things up. Young learners are always a challenge, as they find it hard to concentrate for more than a few minutes. Therefore, I like to cram a variety of related activities into a 45 minute class. These usually consist of card games, colouring activities, music, actions, arts & crafts. Kids love to make and build things, so the arts & crafts activities always go down well. Who needs Tony Hart?

Cheers,

Roy Dunn.

Ushtakiyama

Roy Dunn — 2008-05-19T18:34:55+09:00

Yesterday, I went to Ushtakiyama, to escape the city and all it's sins. Messed about in the river, ate lunch on the river bank and searched for wildlife. Didn't take long to encounter much though. A massive Sawyer (longhorn) beetle came by, to pay his respects. It was pretty cool in mountains, as the city has been in the twenties for the last week or so. can't wait for the baking heat. Beaches & BBQ's galore. Work, well it's at the foremost of my mind, but I have 17 students at the mo and rising, so no worries on that front. Thanks for the shove mate!

Red-back Spider

Roy Dunn — 2008-04-24T14:08:47+09:00

I found a spider in the house a few months ago. It was small, but had obvious red markings, which clearly meant stay the hell away! It's end was quick and swift.
Well, yesterday I found it's much larger sister or mother on the underside of a plinth in the garden. Bites & looks exactly like a Black widow, but for the red stripe being on the upper part of the body. I checked with the local authority and they said that there are increasing numbers of these little crawlies jumping ship at the dockside. Won't be wandering around the garden so freely this summer I can tell you!!

IKEA

Roy Dunn — 2008-04-20T18:08:11+09:00

Well, today I took the chance and headed for the new IKEA on Kobe Port Island. Doh, was is heaving or what! There was a line the length of Honshu waiting to get in at 10:50, with an estimated two hour wait to get in. I should have known better, as IKEA at Wembley, north London was always packed at the weekends.

With that, I turned straight around and went home to get the garden into shape for planting. Spotted some great Italian tomatoes in the local DIY centre the other day. They turned out great a few years ago, so I'll try them again.

Up and at it tomorrow, as I've a trial lesson at 10:30 and as per usual, I like to get there early and get everything in shape, lesson planned and a little time to flaff around the office. Nothing like a good flaff now and then. The Shack knows all about this, eh buddy!

Cheers,

Roy Dunn.

Terra

Roy Dunn — 2008-04-18T09:17:34+09:00

Finally got the base blocks for my Nobori. Laid a row of them from the rail crossing to the entrance of our school. The bright red flags are very eye-catching flapping around in the wind. Another new student joined yesterday. The young learner classes are turning out to be very popular. Hope this trend continues.

Last night ended in style with dinner at TERRA, a great Italian restaurant in North Osaka. They use hand picked organic vegetables, which I must say, do seem to have more flavour than your average veg. The tomatoes, actually tasted fruity and sweet and the assortment of greens crisp and fresh. Don't get me wrong, I'm no snob about food, but you do get what you pay for.

Check out Pado!

Cheers,

Roy Dunn.

Settling in

Roy Dunn — 2008-04-16T21:00:55+09:00

Yeah, things are going great. New students are joining every week. All the kids are settling in to class & my teaching style. On top of this, I'm seeing clear progress with many of the young learners. Our Ad will be in Pado on Friday the 18th, so keep an eye out for it. If your living in Takaishi and would like to study English, then drop by the school or drop me a line via email.
Cheers,

Roy Dunn.

Fully Blossomed

Roy Dunn — 2008-04-07T11:38:44+09:00

Well, it's been a while. Had a wonderful 2 week break with my parents. Took in the cherry blossoms at Daisen Park & Kurotorriyama Park. The weather was perfect. Looking forward to the summer. Beaches, BBQ's & Sun.

Clinic or Classroom

Roy Dunn — 2008-03-29T11:16:59+09:00

Went mad yesterday, and painted the whole place white. Looks a little like a clinic at the moment. hope I'm not predicting my own flight over that cuckoo's nest? Once I get the tables and chairs in, a few posters on the walls, it'll look the biz for sure. I bought international flag bunting from a catalogue at Torrishi Junior High School. very bright and colouful, and also very useful for playing games. Having a day off from Takaishi, just to get rid of this cough and re-join the human race.
I'll be at the school Monday & Tuesday for trial lessons, so drop by if your interested.

Roy.

Colourful kansai

Roy Dunn — 2008-03-29T11:06:29+09:00

There's a lovely blue sky over Osaka today. The temperature is is rising and I've already seen a few cherry trees starting to bloom. The folkes should arrive to a very warm & colourful Kansai on Monday. We're headin' out for Yaki Nikku later in the week with the Bear. Should be a hell of a do.

Who's the Chan?

Roy Dunn — 2008-03-27T21:28:58+09:00

Yesterday, saw the completion of the ceiling and the first coat of paint for the edges. I was totally whacked afterward and unable to communicate with my computer. Hence, the absence of any rants on the 26th. Today, I fitted the ceiling light and built a countertop, as desk space and storage. Looks really cool. The worktop was left over from my system kitchen exploits. The Bear knows!

Later, Roy.

Raising the roof

Roy Dunn — 2008-03-25T19:32:07+09:00

I'm all out of steam this evening! Spent the best part of a day at the school, and only managed to paint the shutter, put the stringers in for the ceiling and get a few sheets of ply secured. Where's hany Andy, when you need him? All said, the school looks better day by day, so tomorrows the final push. Should have the ceiling finished and the lights up.
The rest will have to wait, as I've a few trial lessons this week. Looking forward to the new term. The school adverstisment will be in Pado next month. Sent the pictures and write-up to them by mail. If your in Izumiotsu or Takaishi, keep an eye out for our Ad.

Thanks, Roy.

The Science of Signs

Roy Dunn — 2008-03-24T20:30:40+09:00

Today, I finally managed to get the main signboard assembled, painted and hung. The frame is made of 25mm poly waterpipe, which I cut and glued on site. Very easy and light. A bit like a puzzle or lego. I then, attached the tarpaulin sign to the frame and secured it to the fascia at the ridge of the roof. I chose this style of sign, as the Nankai train line runs infront of the school and you can see the sign clearly from the train. Great advertising. The tarpaulin print only cost ¥15,000, from this cool office in downtown Osaka, Asida Corporation. If you need any type of printing needs, they are the place to visit. If you use the Nankai Line local service, keep an eye out on the bayside as the train pulls out of Takaishi station bound for Wakayama. You'll see our school.

Cheers, Roy

Easter Sunday

Roy Dunn — 2008-03-23T17:11:21+09:00

Despite my lack of christian faith, easter does have some interest for me. As a child I rolled hard boiled eggs down the slopes of Seaton Park with my cousins. In all, about 11 of our close relatives would meet at my gran's house in the morning, where we'd paint eggs with food dye & natural dye from onion skins. Yesterday, I used this theme with my young learner classes. We painted eggs and made Easter cards. The kids loved the idea of painting the eggs and then rolling them in the park. There is something about an egg that kids love. Next year, I'm planning an Easter egg painting and rolling event in Hamadera Park. We can have a picnic and display all the eggs we've made. The parents can vote on which egg has the best design, and the child or family that made it, will receive a prize. After, we'll roll them down a slope, until they crack. If your interested in joining in, then drop by the school for a chat about our study programs. Happy Easter everyone! Roy.

Pelican Club 1994

Roy Dunn — 2008-03-22T23:02:07+09:00

Just sitting at home listening to us (Acetylene) playing live at the Pelican Club 1994. Actually sounds pretty good. I think we were great and still are!! you may be able to find some bootleg CD's via Facebook or me, for all you die hard fans. Yeah, for Acetylene. Aberdeen's alternative MC5, shot live at the Malt Mill.
Pasted Graphic

April onward~

Roy Dunn — 2008-03-22T19:36:52+09:00

Picked up the keys to the school yesterday, and the place looks great! The teaching area is spacious and bright, with plenty of room for students to relax. Still a few things to finish off myself, but they are just personal. Dropped off the white board, posters, flyers and Nobori (japanese advertising flags) today. I bumped into a few students, who had came by to check out the location. Which was great. My parents will arrive at the end of March and will be just in time for the opening party. If your free and want to check out Takaishi's newest English school, then keep an eye on this site! Thanks, Roy.

New School Opening Soon!

Roy Dunn — 2008-03-21T10:03:59+09:00

Our new school in Takaishi is almost near completion. I hope to be hanging the final signboard over the weekend. Spent a few days last week riding around Takaishi posting flyers and had lots of calls from potential students. I think the first lesson will be on the 9th of April, as there are still a few interior items to be bought and ofcourse, an opening party to be held. If you live in Takaish and are thinking about studying English. Then, drop by the school anytime, for a coffee and an informal chat about your studies.

Glover House

Roy Dunn — 2008-03-20T20:15:26+09:00

My parents are coming to Japan quite soon. Have any of you out there? been to Glover Garden, Nagasaki? What's your take on it?

Cherry Blossoms

Roy Dunn — 2008-03-20T20:08:29+09:00

Cherry Blossom season is upon us, and I'm wondering where to go this year. Does anyone have any suggestions for the Senshu area? Wakayama castle grounds are quire impessive, but I've been there and done that. So, please share your thoughts.

April skies

Roy Dunn — 2008-03-19T23:12:48+09:00

Hi, all you folkes in sunny Aberdeen. The weather in Osaka has been a little rainy, these last two days. The garden, could actually do with a drop of rain, so there are some consolations to this.
Now, I'm faced with the question of how & where to spend this damp public holiday? Yes, I know what your thinking. Typical! always rains on a public holiday. Nevermind, summer is just around the corner and that's sure to be hot & sweaty.

My RSS Feed

Mum & Toddler Class

Easter Picnic

Dublin Bay

Xmas Turkey

Parachute

New Car

日置川

Awaji Island

Mikisato Camping Trip

Spanish Tapas Bar

イースター ピクニック

Tiery Le

English style cafe in Kyoto

Murphy's Irish Pub

Carrot Cake

Cafe QBRICK

Xmas 2008

Awajishima

Mother & Toddler

Christmas Party

Halloween Party

English Pub Event

Summer Festival 夏祭り

River rafting

Making Music

Yoshino River Nara

What lurks beneath

Cicada

Billiards & Darts Event

IKEA

Next in Namba Parks

Trial Lesson

Ushtakiyama

Red-back Spider

IKEA

Terra

Settling in

Fully Blossomed

Clinic or Classroom

Colourful kansai

Who's the Chan?

Raising the roof

The Science of Signs

Easter Sunday

Pelican Club 1994

April onward~

New School Opening Soon!

Glover House

Cherry Blossoms

April skies

イースター　ピクニック