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Last night I watched a TV sports programme for an international three legged race competition but instead of just two people running there were thirty school children tied together. Incredibly they managed to run fifty metres in about 9.5 seconds. I sat there open mouthed throughout the whole programme as they all ran in perfect synchronisation and consistently reached these times. It was however also the most depressing thing I have ever watched as some of them didn`t quite make the times or there would be a (admittedly hilarious) trip or fall and the camera would cut to that team backstage with thirty 10 year olds literally crying their eyes out and I sat there thinking “This is the saddest thing I have ever seen. Those poor children. I want to kill myself.” I think a Chinese athletics team who could do handstands for thirty minutes won it in the end.

Yesterday we went to karaoke for more alcoholic tea drinks and to sing songs from my extensive multilingual repertoire such as, ” Sie liebt dich” by the Beatles, “Matsuken Samba” by Ken Matsudaira and other “classics.” As the alcoholic tea is free (sho chu mixed with oolong cha) and the hourly rate is so low a good time was had by all (ie. me.)

I haven`t had a bath for three days (incidentally not my intention or fault) and so we went to a famous onsen in Wakayama which is about an hours drive away from Osaka for the day. I bathed, I ate and tried to sleep in a room full of people with chronic snoring problems but that is how it is. Reiko`s family bought me a learn English words for kindergarteners ring book which can be easily reversed for English people with little Japanese knowledge such as myself. Ah ee lub u. Yes.