Sigsy in Tokyo: July 2008

FIGHT FIGHT

Me and my brother used to fight when we were younger. Real fighting. People would actually wind us up so they could witness our fights. One involved ripping hole in a tent in France after some friends had spurred us on and caused us to have a fight. A massive one that my Dad had to come in and separate after the friends had got scared and gone and got him. Another involved a pool cue to the face and a dumbell to the head. We laugh now, but we were vicious. It only stopped when he got big and it was clear that I would die.

The last time we had a fight was in Madrid after a particularly hairy night in a dodgy club just near his apartment just before I moved to Japan. We threw each other around the room. I spent the next 2 days projectile vomitting. Then his apartment got broken into and my stuff and all his unopened birthday presents got stolen. The night of the fight I'm almost certain there was more than just tequila in the shooters. Infact, scratch the 'almost' - we unanimously agreed on that.

Anyway, I actually quite enjoy a good scrap, which is why I had a go at the Israeli self defence technique 'Krav Maga' on Saturday. It was fierce. In terms of conditioning it is amazing. In terms of stress release that is a little different to the gentle stress release of yoga or the funky stress release of hooping. It is violent stress release. I have bruises up and down my arms and let me tell you, the Swiss girl who I partnered with was strong man, and focussed and full on. We sparred and took fake stabbing attempts at each other with fake knives. I had a look in my face like a mad attacker. And I made all the noises really loud.

Now before You start getting a bit worried about all the violence, in terms of exercise this has it all. You have to be very tough mentally and physically, you will get fit very quickly as there is a strong cardio element and above all else, it is useful. You are learning how to defend yourself quickly, effectively and with strategy.

That's something I feel could potentially come in very useful.

In Madrid.

LATE NIGHT WALKING - AFTER A DAY AT THE OFFICE FOLLOWED BY A NIGHT OF WATCHING 'LOST' I LIKE TO GO FOR A LITTLE STROLL BEFORE BEDTIME

It's great. Last night I headed out for my ten minute trot around my neighbourhood and I thought, 'I'll bring my camera next time' then I turned on my heels and went back to the house and got it. Then snapped away in my locale. I love it last thing at night. The heat lets up, it's kind of quiet and I feel like I did when I was on holiday when I was younger. And I love holidays. Love em. I think it's good good to be upright even if just for a short amount of time.

My night walk stalk.

MOUNT TAKAO

Just one train ride landed us in the lovely Takao. A gentle hike, that would be fine for any level of fitness and a lovely view. It was cool, it was quiet, it was green. we took the cable car down because it was getting dark.

Then we went to this amazing restaurant a 10 minute (courtesy) bus ride away in the Takao countryside. It is a special magical place and I am planning a birthday jaunt out there.

YOU'VE GOT BIG DREAMS? YOU WANT FAME? WELL, FAME COSTS. AND RIGHT HERE IS WHERE YOU START PAYING ... IN SWEAT

70% off in HMV - who could resist.
Certainly not me.
"Hifidelity" is the best song ever creative.

Bruno's curly barnet.
Leroy in a leotard.
Doris' dungarees.

I even remember the lines and the lyrics to all the songs.

And the fashion. The fashion.

BLOGLORDS RECOMMEND

Do you see yours? Not listened yet, tomorrow morning as I ready myself for work I shall rock the new tunes.

Got any Music suggestions?

If you recommend your 5 fave songs to me at the moment, I will purchase them from Itunes.

I am looking to get some new music but SHAMON where dya start?

So much out there...

So come on dudes - share your top five with me and I will purchase them.

Guaranteed.

All styles welcome.

Bring it on!

Midweek Mute (Blatant rip off of Cherry Blossom Adverture's "Wordless Wednesday")

Les Rita Mitsouko - Marcia Baila

This reminds me - transports me back to 1985, camping in France. We bought this greatest hits from a market in Brittany and it had songs on that I will never forget. This was a huge hit and is one of the oddest videos I have ever seen.

Marcia danced, and tonight I danced in the living room of my young student. we got our freak on to the sounds of the 'back to school' chant and the summer holiday song.

RAW FOOD AND HULA HOOPING

Did you know that in Tokyo there is an explosion of entrepreneurial creativity happening in my neighbourhood?
First Sushizume goes and starts a hula hooping empire, which is way much more fun than an evil empire (although the Star Wars trilogy, by which I mean the first trilogy or the second trilogy after the first trilogy was made. Anyway the one with Han Solo in it, they would never have come about without the evil empire so it's not all bad) and I went to her hoooping class last week. It was great fun and I felt well worked out and tried loads of new tricks. Then did a little hoop display at the end. I'll be going to day 2 soon to get some more tricks.

As if that wasn't enough Frangipani gave a me the Kichijoji experience on Saturday night where every singe person who walked by stopped to say hi because she knows everyone in Kichijoji. She is on fire also and in addition to her burdgeoning photography career has things cookin good lookin.

Then the lovely Andi and Angi of Lucinalivefruitfully.com go and start a flippin healthy living community and business. Well I never. Since Kei has just read a book about additives, he is very interested in food just now. So we headed out on a rainy rainy season day to Claska Hotel to attend one of Andi and Angi's lectures-come-not-cooking sessions. It was really good, very inspiring and we learned some fabulous recipes, which we got to actually make and taste there and then. Boy what a great way to spend a rainy Sunday.