aliental

Didn't realise how long it had been...

2012-01-28T01:36:00.001Z

Anyone still here? :D

Just to let you know...

2008-02-12T11:18:00.000Z

I'm not dead!

Yay!

Bwahaha!

:D

Blast from the past!

2007-04-02T13:02:00.000Z

Heeheehee! Sorting through some old drafted emails today, I discovered this from last year!

It was supposed to have been posted sometime mid June, but somehow slipped through the net!

Aaaaaaaaaaaah! Takes me back to Japan! LOL!

Anyway, on with the post...

Ta Da!!!

Back to plain old blogging on Aliental now that I've more or less finished my Japan blog http://aliental-in-japan.blogspot.com and my photos over at http://www.flickr.com/photos/aliental - Still got a bit of tidying up to do on both of them (Going to add some pictures on Aliental in Japan if I can do it without screwing up the layout and still have titles and descriptions to add for most of the photos on Flickr)

Feel free to have a look and point out any glaringly obvious mistakes I've made. There's bound to be a few...hehehe! :D

By the way, has anyone else had any problems with their blogs recently? It seems to take a few days after posting before they show up on the site when it used to be instantaneous and the text telling you how many comments for a post there are no longer reflects the correct number.

Anyway back to what this post was originally going to be about before I started ranting...

While I was in Japan I was intrigued to know who the people were that appeared on the ¥1000, ¥5000 and ¥10,000 notes (Series E for those who really know their Yen)

I asked Phil:

Me: "Hey Phil, who are the people on the ¥1000, ¥5000 and ¥10,000 notes?"

Phil: "(O_o)???"

I even asked Akimi at Brian Brew:

Me: "Hey Akimi, who are the people on the ¥1000, ¥5000 and ¥10,000 notes? Is the one with the strange hair Brian?"

Akimi: "(O_o)???"

Yes I know that Akimi look s exactly like Phil, but you try and do any better using only the characters that you find on a standard keyboard. If you're that bothered print the page up and draw longer hair and a hat on the second face.

After extensive research (Ok. I came across it by accident in a guide to Sapporo that I'd picked up in the tourist information hut in Odori Park which also had a very useful bit about Hokkaido only dialect!) I find out who these elusive people are and introduce them to you below:

¥1000 - Hideyo Noguchi: A prominent bacteriologist who discovered the agent of syphilis disease in 1911.

¥5000 - Higuchi Ichiyō: Is the pen name of author Higuchi Natsu (also known as Higuchi Natsuko)

¥10,000 - Fukuzawa Yukichi: An author, writer, teacher, translator, entrepreneur and political theorist.

...So there you have it. It wasn't Brian of Brian Brew fame after all.

Anyone interested in Yen in general can find out some amazing facts (like the existence of a ¥2,000 note (Released as Commemorative series D) and that the ¥500 coin is made up of 72% copper 20% zinc and 8% nickel) on the Wikipedia page below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yen

P.S. If anyone has a ¥2,000 note that they wouldn't mind parting with (in exchange for cash of course!) I'd love one for my collection!

:D

Aliental!

2007-03-01T13:43:00.000Z

The header for Aliental.com!

:D

Happy New Year! :D

2007-01-08T17:43:00.000Z

Tadaima!

Yes, I'm back! WoooHoo!

Hopefully this year I'll get around to updating this on a more regular basis. Don't hold your breath though...

Anyhoo, what have I been up to? You may ask (you might not care, who knows?)

Well...

1. Bought some space on a server and with the help of Phil, I am currently in the process of constructing a website which will be used primarily for my artwork (which was all going to go on here many moons ago! Hahaha!)

Only a holding page at the moment, but you can go and bookmark it now! Heeheehee!

http://www.aliental.com

2. Not sure if I mentioned it here before (frankly I can't be bothered to go and look) but I also have a page on MySpace. If you're a member of that then feel free to drop by and add me!

http://www.myspace.com/aliental

3. Er...That's about all worth mentioning actually....If you can think of anything else I could put then let me know.

Plans for 2007

1. Probably be returning to Japan at some point. At a rough guess I'd say around May time again. Would love to go back to Sapporo and maybe Osaka. Or maybe Kyoto. Or Tokyo again...Aaarrrggghhh! I can't decide. Maybe I should just move there.

2. Try and finally get around to doing some of the things that I'd like to do. Not just artwork, but clothing, music, sculpture, soft toys and other 'stuff'

3. Spend some quality time learning Japanese!!! (I'm such a slacker!)

4. Revamp the look and feel of this and my Aliental in Japan blog (http://aliental-in-japan.blogspot.com) Mainly to try and get some kind of uniform look and feel to everything that I do online, but also (in the case of the Aliental in Japan blog) to correct some terrible spelling and some blindingly obvious mistakes that I discovered while checking through a version that I printed up! (>_<)

5. Learn to knit (ok, you can stop laughing...)

I'm sure there was something else on the list but I can't remember. I also can't find the list.

Bugger.

:D

Not Dead!

2006-11-09T23:25:00.000Z

Hey!

Just a quick post to let everyone know that I'm not dead! (phew!)

Just been a bit busy lately, but hopefully I'll be back posting stuff soon!

Hope everyone is well!

:D

Congratulations!

2006-09-06T12:37:00.000Z

Congratulations to Princess Kiko and Prince Akishino on the birth of their new baby son!

:D

Haiku!

2006-08-29T11:42:00.000Z

Today (like every other day I'm here at work) I was tempted to stick plastic forks from the canteen into my kneecaps just to relieve the boredom, but as I'm too lazy to walk to the canteen I've decided to compose a Haiku instead...

Bought a kimono
From artist Yoko Ono
It's too big. Oh No!

Is it time to go home yet?

(O_o)

Denwa bango wa nan-ban desu ka...

2006-08-09T11:50:00.000Z

...Is easier to remember then to say when you're drunk.

Went to a "J Rock" night at The Devonshire Arms (a pub in Camden) with a friend on Monday evening.

Not being that familiar with J Rock (what I know about J Rock can be written in large handwriting on the back of a very small postage stamp) I didn't know what to expect. I'd read a bit about it in various magazines and I'd heard of Hyde before, but had never actually heard any of the music, and I must say that I liked most of the stuff that was played that night.

The Devonshire Arms being an "alternative" pub, was full of the usual black clad Goths that Camden has become famous for as well as a small group of hardcore J Rock fans, immaculately dressed and all looking about 14 years old! (it's a school holiday after all!)

There was a screen showing J Rock videos (Which are quite impressive I must say. There's a lot of thought going into these mini epics) and I admit to drinking a lot more vodka than I should have done :D

I chatted to a very cute Japanese woman who was seated behind where we were standing and was dying to ask for her phone number.

Unfortunately the several units of alcoholic beverage that I'd already consumed put paid to any Japanese that I may have said actually making any sense.

It was only after she'd gone that I realised that I could have asked her in English...

Bugger.

Debate!

2006-07-31T11:03:00.000Z

I've got a question for you:

As it's been over 60 years since the end of the Second World War, do you think that it's time for the US to remove all of it's military bases from Japan?

I'd like to hear others opinions on the subject, especially from any of my Japanese readers (if I still have any!)

(And before you ask Phil, I'm not trying to stir up trouble! Hahaha!)

:D

Things to do!

2006-07-28T10:07:00.000Z

In no particular order, but there's one item on the list that I would like to be able to do as soon as possible...

1. Quit my job

2. Buy a rabbit

3. Go back to Japan

4. Stay there

5. Tell someone that I really miss talking to them

6. Turn the big pile of sketches that I have into finished pieces of artwork

7. Do everything else that I've been meaning to do for the past couple of months since I returned from Japan

8. Have a cup of tea (ongoing)

9. Think of some more things to add to the list

"Resistance is futile"

2006-07-12T11:35:00.000Z

Sh*t.

Just found out that they've blocked access to MSN Messenger at work.

It's yet another by-product of the outsourcing that my company has embarked upon. I know that it's primarily used for chatting to friends, but I do know of people that use it as well for work purposes (it's a lot quicker than our email system for a start...)

It's quite amusing how a company that's mainly internet based and who claim to "break down boundaries" and "value it's people" is becoming increasingly insular in it's quest to save money.

I might as well remove my spinal column, insert a USB port and plug myself into the Borg collective...

This week just gets better and better.

Not.

:(

I'm still contactable by email (address in my profile) which I look at on a very regular basis throughout the day (well, until they block that as well. B*stards) so feel free to chat to me...please. I need saving.

Time to look for a new job?

A big 230 point, bold, underlined san serif yes is the answer to that one...

(>_<)

2006-07-10T21:44:00.000Z

......sh*t.

:(

2023!

2006-07-07T13:15:00.000Z

Decided to try out a painting on canvas...here's the sketch for it.

Expected date of me actually finishing it......Oooh about 2023.

:D

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! :O (Part 2)

2006-06-23T09:31:00.000Z

Pants to Brazil too.

:(

Good luck to Japan!

2006-06-17T22:04:00.000Z

For tomorrow!

:D

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! :O (Part 1)

2006-06-12T15:16:00.000Z

Pants to Australia.

:(

Hmmm...

2006-06-10T21:20:00.000Z

Today the sun is shining.

It's a beautiful day here in the UK.

So why am I still pining for Sapporo?

(*_*)

Go Samurai Blue!!!

2006-06-08T12:18:00.000Z

Ganbatte to Samurai Blue for the World Cup!

Oh yeah, and good luck to England too I suppose...

:D

Aliental in Japan!

2006-06-07T11:30:00.000Z

http://aliental-in-japan.blogspot.com/

Take your time, there's nothing there yet!

:D

Tadaima :(

2006-06-03T22:12:00.000Z

Back in the UK. Bugger.

:(

Details of my adventure coming soon...

Hotel!

2006-04-10T14:52:00.000Z

This is the hotel that I'm going to be staying at when I'm in Sapporo!

It's the Hotel 330 Grande Sapporo.

Nice!

:D

Whoops! I did it again!

2006-03-20T13:48:00.000Z

Good News:

I finally managed to find some time to sit and do some artwork this weekend.

Bad News:

I have this habit of sketching ideas out on really scrappy bits of paper that could turn into finished pieces if it wasn't for the fact that they were drawn on really scrappy bits of paper. This is one of them. It needs a lot of work still doing to it, but it's the first piece of art in a long while that I am happy with at this stage. I can guarantee you though that if I had started to do this on a nice piece of primed board it would be in the bin by now!

:D

Scientific Experiment!

2006-03-14T13:19:00.000Z

Follow the link below and pick five or six words that you think best describe me! (that's if you know me!)

http://kevan.org/johari?name=Aliental

:D

Funeral!

2006-03-06T16:46:00.000Z

Right. Let me see if I have everything ready for my trip to Japan…Here goes...

Passport…Check!

Ummm…er...oh bugger. That's about it so far :(

I really need to get myself organised if I'm going to get to Japan in May, but now that I have my passport sorted, I can start to make more solid plans. Sapporo and Tokyo are definite. I'd also like to do Hiroshima and maybe somewhere else (any suggestions!?) - I'll just have to see how things pan out.

As you can probably guess, I'm so dis-organised I'll probably be late for my own funeral* but this year I'm determined to get this trip finalised and do what I originally planned to do about three years ago.

I plan to make semi-regular updates here on my progress, mainly just to keep me focused and to let people know that I'm not sitting on my arse and letting time fly by (it'll also give people an opportunity to swear at me and tell me to get on with it)

If anyone has any useful info that they would like to impart, that would be great! :D

Right then…Internet search: Trance clubs in Tokyo...

*If in the far distant future (I hope) I am actually late for my own funeral, I'm sure that it'll be someone elses fault. Honest.

Freaky weather!

2006-03-01T15:08:00.000Z

Currently, here in the U.K it's both sunny and snowing at the same time!!!

Wooooooh!!!

:D

Flag!

2006-02-16T10:28:00.000Z

Anyone know where I can buy a flag like this in Sapporo???

I'm hoping to pick one up when I visit!

Romance!

2006-02-01T14:46:00.000Z

There's still another couple of weeks to go before it's Valentines Day, but it's been impossible to go anywhere for the last month (more specifically, since all the shops stopped displaying their Christmas stock) without being bombarded with pink hearts, cute fluffy animals, cards, chocolates, love song compilation CD's and DVD's starring Hugh Grant.

Don't get me wrong I'm all for romance, but I've always thought that one of the fun parts of it was the element of surprise (little love notes left around the house, unexpected gifts, a foot massage after a hard day at work, you know the sort of thing I mean)

Being told on a certain day to be 'romantic' (whether you want to be or not) kind of defeats the whole idea...

Hmmm...maybe it's just me getting bitter because I'm single...

:D

Happy Chinese New Year!

2006-01-29T19:55:00.000Z

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Happy Chinese New Year!

:D

Happy Birthday to me!

2006-01-27T19:50:00.000Z

Exactly one year ago today, I posted my first blog entry!

I'll see you all down the pub for a celebratory drink!

:D

This months stuff!

2006-01-25T13:20:00.000Z

What I've been listening to:

Pirate Signal - Rinkadink

Lots of obscure German trance from 1996 on 12" Vinyl

The sound of my central heating not working

What I've been looking at:

http://www.blablahospital.co.uk

http://www.polygons.jp/

4000 photographs at an exhibition

My central heating not working

What I've been thinking:

It's very cold in here isn't it?

More tea? Oh go on then...

2006-01-18T13:15:00.000Z

I've just been informed by someone important at work (he must be important, he had a clip board) that I spend far too long in front of the computer without taking a break (surely some mistake!)

I now have official approval to do less work and drink more tea!

Yay!

:D

Smug!

2006-01-09T12:54:00.000Z

Not that I'm being very very smug about it (honest, I'm not......Oh, ok then just a bit! heehee!) but this year I have managed to accumulate seven and a half weeks holiday!

That's right! SEVEN AND A HALF WEEKS! :D :D :D

Two weeks of it will be used for my trip to Japan, which due to me being so disorganised looks like it'll probably be sometime around March/April instead of February, but as it said how cold the weather was in Japan on T.V. this morning, maybe waiting for warmer weather is a good idea...

I also think that I'm going to have to get my passport photos done again as the previous picture that I had done makes me look like a convict (not a good look to go for when trying to gain entry into a country!)

I managed to find time over the weekend to familiarise myself with my new DVD camera (sort of) so I have a sneeking suspicion that I'll have the urge to get all "touristy" when I go to Sapporo and film lots of odd things like lamp posts and sections of pavement. Just because I can...

Right, what's next on my list of things to do...Oh yes, buy a nice strong suitcase...

:D

P.S. - If you're in the Camden area (Stables Market to be exact) check out a shop called BlaBla Hospital (stall 34C) and prepare to be amazed!

Link to website in the sidebar.

Swearing!

2006-01-05T15:22:00.000Z

Oh, I forgot to tell you that I made a New Years resolution to stop swearing.

It's not as f*cking difficult as I thought it would be...

:D

Countdown Japan!

2006-01-03T14:45:00.000Z

Busy working away preparing for my trip to Japan early this year.

Passport photos all ready and new DVD camera purchased!

Phil, start looking for some good pubs! :D

Oh yeah, anyone know of any good hotels?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not sure when they start, but I know some of my Japanese readers are doing exams sometime this month (I think!)

Just want to wish them all Ganbatte!

:D

Is it just me, or is everything shit?

2005-12-23T19:56:00.000Z

Just to end a generally bad week on an even lower note than I thought possible, today on the way home from work I was bitten by a dog!

Sheesh!

:(

Bored!

2005-12-22T12:40:00.000Z

Having said a couple of posts ago that I probably won't be making any regular updates to my blog, here I am posting again.

I still have one and a half days left to go at work before Christmas, but find myself sitting here with nothing to do.

So, as I've already consumed about eight cups of tea in a two hour period (and let them work their way through to their natural conclusion - sorry, too much information there) I thought I'd take the opportunity during this quiet period to reflect on the past year with all it's happiness, all it's sadness, all it's trials and tribulations and all of the other completely stupid things that I have done recently without really thinking about the consequences beforehand.

I admit I've made quite a few errors in judgement these past twelve months and most of them could quite have easily been avoided, but hey, I'm only human and we all make mistakes. I just happen to make an awful lot of really stupid ones.

I'd also like to take the time to thank all of my friends (old and new) who for some strange reason, still continue to read this rubbish and give me impetus to commit 'stuff' to…well I was going to say 'paper' but it's not, and I'm kind of stuck for a decent word to use in it's place, but I'm sure you know what I'm trying to say. Maybe.

Anyway, anybody that I've upset over the past year I'd like to say a very big 'sorry' (300pt bold type should do the trick) to and I hope that you realise by now that I'm a complete unthinking arse sometimes, so don't take it too personally.

Anybody that I haven't upset this past year, I'll probably do it inadvertently over the next 12 months. Wait your turn.

Hmmm…anything else…Oh yeah, if you're in the Sapporo area of Japan in early 2006 (sort of February time) and you see a strange looking English guy wandering around looking completely lost, stop and say hello. It's probably me.

I do believe it's time for more tea…

:D

3 hours later...

Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored.
Borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrred.

(-_-)zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzetc.

(to emphasize how bored I was this afternoon, I spent a good portion of it attempting to make the previous three lines of text finish at the same point on the page, which was not as easy as I thought it would be)

Bugger!

2005-12-21T21:08:00.000Z

Can I start today again, as it has been a complete f*ck up on several levels?

No?

Bugger.

:(

陽気なクリスマスおよび幸福な新しい年! :D

2005-12-20T16:25:00.000Z

Hello!

After a period of extreme business at work and a few days of illness, I'm back!

Yatta! Go me! etc!

Did you miss me!???

No? Oh, ok then :(

Anyway, just a quick post to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a fantastic New Year!!! (Hmmm for some reason the japanese seasonal greeting that was going to go here doesn't appear to display correctly. Bugger)

Don't expect any regular posting over the next couple of weeks as hopefully I shall be having far too much fun to waste time surfing the net, but drop by if you're in the area and say hi you never know I might be online!

What I'll be listening to over Christmas:

American Idiot - Green Day

Cool (Richard X mix) - Gwen Stefani

Whatever else takes my fancy at the time (taking into careful consideration the amount of alcohol consumed in the hour directly before!)

What I'll be looking at over Christmas:

An awful lot of absolute sh*t on TV (just the same as the sh*t that's on TV the rest of the year, but with a Christmas theme)

My expanding waistline

What I'll be eating over Christmas:

Everything (x10)

What I'll be thinking at Christmas:

Ooh, I've always wanted one of them!

What I'll be doing over Christmas:

Planning my trip to Japan! :D

See ya in 2006!

Plagiarism!

2005-12-05T10:31:00.000Z

I heard the new single by Coldplay this morning and actually liked the tune (gasp! shock! :o)

Maybe it's because they stole the riff from the Kraftwerk song 'Computer Love'

;)

P.S. Thanks for the cute panda greeting Yuki! :D

This months favourites!

2005-11-28T16:19:00.000Z

What I've been listening to:

#1 - Fischerspooner

The other album by Fischerspooner that I can never remember the title of but it's got a funny multi-coloured swirly pattern on the front - Fischerspooner

Witching Hour - Ladytron

Perfect Hits 1975-1981 - Generation X

What I've been looking at:

My plans for the future

What I've been thinking:

Now wouldn't you like to know!?

:D

Can I start this week again?

2005-11-23T11:23:00.000Z

I've just added another application to the list of things that don't work.

MSN Messenger just won't let me log in because "the service is temporarily unavailable"

A*se.

:(

"And time goes by, so slowly"

2005-11-22T16:06:00.000Z

Hmmm.

This hasn't been the greatest of weeks so far. Work has been a pain in the bum in general, and to top it all off every computer application that I have used today has had a mind of it's own and has decided not to work properly.

The ones that have decided to work have decided to do it at a speed that equals a dead tortoise with no legs that has been encased in a concrete block. Over very rough ground. During a snow storm.

Is it the weekend yet???

:(

Brrr!!!

2005-11-14T11:51:00.000Z

I was going to mention on todays post how winter has hit with a vengence here in the UK. When I left the house this morning, the temperature was somewhere between very cold and absolutely f*cking freezing* but now at 1:00pm the sun is out and it's actually quite warm, so no need for the four layers of clothing that I have on.

I wish Mother Nature would make her mind up!

*Please excuse the bad language in this post, but it's all Yukis fault. She's such a bad influence on me! ;)

http://yukinpo666.blogspot.com/2005/10/view-was-fuckin-beautiful.html

(-_-) Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

2005-11-07T12:16:00.000Z

I'm still having trouble finding something worthwhile to write about, as I haven't done anything very interesting lately.

I did have a bonfire on Saturday, but It was a very unexciting affair:

Bonfire Night!

I burned wood. I ate a sausage.

See? Not really the makings of a memorable post is it?

What else…Oh yeah, I went shopping on Saturday too and went to a shop that sold some nice metallic paper, but found out that it had closed down.

Sorry, just not happening...

:(

Earth Shattering Announcement!!! :O

2005-11-01T10:09:00.000Z

Good News: Madonna is going to give up her acting career (when did it start???)

Bad News: Madonna wants to go into film directing instead just like her husband Guy Ritchie.

I can hardly wait...

Actually I can...take your time, no rush.

:D

Stop it, you'll go blind...

2005-10-24T15:06:00.000Z

At work today I was sent a "workstation assesment questionaire" to complete as part of a new drive on health and safety issues.

Before I was allowed to answer any of the questions, I had to read an online "training" manual which gave advice on correct posture, ways to avoid eyestrain, etc.

One part of the document relating to this helpfully stated: "please remember to blink regularly"

I'm glad that they told me this as my eyes were beginning to get very dry and hurt a lot…

O_O

Not so Gah!

2005-10-20T10:07:00.000Z

...by making it very very tiny!

:D

Gah!

2005-10-19T11:10:00.000Z

I've just noticed that the link included in my last post has shifted everything in the sidebar down to the bottom of the page...

Now how do I sort that one out???

:o

Go Japan!!!

2005-10-18T15:41:00.000Z

Take a look at this!

http://www.androidscience.com/Videos/DiscoveryChannel24March2005AndroidScience.asx

This is just one of the many reasons why I love Japan!

My favourite thing...

2005-10-14T12:05:00.000Z

...is a present from Japan!

:D

E Square - The best English language school in Japan!

2005-10-10T15:48:00.000Z

Hello!

Just a quick post to let you know that the links on the right hand side now open in a new window.

(thanks Phil for showing me how it's done!)

By the way, if you are looking for the best English language school not just in Japan, but the entire known (and unknown) Universe then head over to:

http://www.esquare-japan.com

Or you'll probably regret it for the rest of your life...

:o

Smells Like Old Age Desperation.

2005-10-04T12:51:00.000Z

In the run up to Christmas (which in the UK seems to start earlier and earlier each year) you begin to see a lot of TV advertisments for all manner of strange compilation CDs.

One of the most bizarre adverts shown recently is for a CD entitled 'Rock Swings' by Paul Anka (most famous for writing the words to Frank Sinatra's My Way)

This is a collection of 80's/90's pop/rock hits done in a swing style.

A few of the tracks are quite obvious choices for this kind of treatment (Lionel Richies' Hello and Spandau Ballets' True) but most bizarre is the cover of Nirvanas' Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Now where did I put those ear plugs?

O_o

Move along please, nothing to see here...

2005-10-03T14:34:00.000Z

I think it must be that time of year...

I'm having the same trouble as Phil. I just can't think of anything of interest to write about at the moment.

If anything Earth shatteringly exciting does happen (win the lottery, stop an alien invasion single-handedly using only kitchen utensils, finish some artwork etc) then I'll let you know...

Until then, I think it's time for more tea...

:D

Phew!

2005-09-28T09:47:00.000Z

I have finally had official confirmation that I still have a job, which means that I can still afford to go to Japan next year!!!

Yatta!

Yuki, you'd better start stocking up on some extra tea bags now...

;D

Happy Birthday!

2005-09-26T09:05:00.000Z

Today is the 50th anniversary of the fish finger!

It was on this momentous day in 1955 that the very first fish fingers went on sale…

Exciting huh!??

:D

See Ya!

2005-09-21T11:26:00.000Z

Due to a change in circumstances (my company becoming even bigger money grabbing capitalist b*stards than they were previously) my department will be undergoing some 'reorganisation' over the next few months, which will result in a lot of work being 'outsourced' overseas…

Looks like I could be in for a change of career…

Anyone on the look out for a software tester with 6 and a half years experience ?

:D

Ohayo Gozaimasu!

2005-09-12T14:22:00.000Z

What I've been listening to:

Supernature - Goldfrapp

First Generation: Second Edition - Sigue Sigue Sputnik

Waiting For The Sirens' Call - New Order

Madam Butterfly - Maria Callas

Talk Japanese CD - BBC

What I've been looking at:

Yukis' online photo album

The easiest way to get to Sapporo

Anyone for a sausage?

2005-09-08T12:32:00.000Z

I was sent this interesting picture yesterday and I thought that it fitted quite well into the whole 'aliental' concept.

(thanks to Troy for the picture!)

Apparently this is an illustration from a book entitled "Ume No Chiri" (Dust of Apricot) published in 1844. It describes how the crew of a foreign ship witnessed this strange object (now believed to be an alien spacecraft) at Haratonohama in Hitachi no Kuni, Japan in 1803. According to the explanation in the drawing, the outer shell was made of iron and glass, and the strange letters shown on the right hand side of the picture were seen inside the ship.

Either that or it's a very ornate barbecue...

Itchy Knee!

2005-09-05T13:58:00.000Z

Tadaima!

As usual my holiday is over and I failed to get even a fraction of the list of 'stuff' that I wanted to do completed.

Bah :(

I should of guessed though how the rest of my holiday was going to turn out from the events of the Friday before…

To try and cut a long story short…

I was on my way into work, and as the sun is quite low in the sky at this time of year, I was having a bit of trouble with the glare while standing at the bus stop.

The bus arrives, I get on and sit down. It's then I notice the funny distorted vision thing happening in my left eye. It didn't worry me at first because I just assumed that it would take a few minutes for my eyes to adjust, but a few minutes later and with it getting noticeably worse, I get off the bus and head for home…that's when I start to panic ( Aaarrrggghhh!!! My eye!!! etc)

By the time I get home my vision has returned to normal. About an hour later though it happens again, but this time not so severe.

Wanting to get it checked out straight away, I manage by some minor miracle to get an appointment with my G.P. for the same morning (Gasp! Shock! etc)

I'm called in and I'm given the quickest check up I've ever had (a light shone in both eyes to check that the pupils react as they should - that was it!) followed by the doctor telling me "Hmmm, can't really tell what it was that caused it, might just be a one off incident. If it happens again make an appointment with the optician. Just best to keep your eye on it for the moment"

Keep my eye on it!!!??? Thanks doc, great advice…O_o

I head back home, just finish making a cup of tea and suddenly get the most painful headache that I've experienced in a long time…OUCH!

Think I've just become the newest member of the migraine club. Lucky me.

Anyway, because of that I was slightly wary of doing anything that might set off another one (that's my excuse for not doing as much artwork as I should of done, although to be honest I wasn't really in the right frame of mind to do any painting anyway)

I did manage though to make a bit of progress with learning Japanese. I'm beginning to remember some of the important phrases that I will probably use when I visit Sapporo.

"yoymashta"
(a general warning to people that within the next 10 minutes I'm liable to: walk into walls, trip up on completely flat floor surfaces and talk nonsense until someone tells me to shut up)

"yopparatta"
(A specific warning to people that I'm definitely going to: walk into walls, trip up on completely flat floor surfaces and talk nonsense until someone tells me to shut up)

"kibun ga waruides" (most likely to be heard later on in the evening and soon followed by)

"toire wa dokodesuka" (I'll leave it at that)

Also, with a bit of help the week before (thanks Nao!) I can now remember how to count up to ten with relative ease (and up to fifty with a bit of effort!)

Still slightly confused by the use of 'yon' and 'nana' instead of 'shi' and 'shichi' though...

Hmmm...

Such a waste of talent...No, really...

2005-08-17T10:14:00.000Z

It's been reported today that Victoria Beckham has finally given up her singing career…

Never mind eh?

Now if only Girls Aloud would consider doing the same…

:D

shigoto ni ikimasu! (except for a week in August)

2005-08-15T13:34:00.000Z

I've booked a week off from work at the end of August, and as usual I have a huge list of things that I plan to do but won't ever get around to actually doing any of them...

The list of planned activities thus far include (in no particular order)

1. Do some artwork (and actually complete it - shock! horror!! gasp!!! etc!!!! :O)

2. Watch some of the movies that I have on DVD but haven't got around to watching (maybe doing it at the same time as item 1 on the list. Wow! multitasking!)

3. Make a proper effort to learn some Japanese (nihongo!) rather than just picking up the occasional phrase when I chat with Yuki (arigato Yuki! :D)

4. Buy a new scanner/printer/CD writer

5. Spend far too long on the internet when I should be doing something else

6. Some other stuff

I also intend to start making some tentative plans for my trip to Japan (currently scheduled for Feb 2006!) otherwise the time will come and go and I'll still be faffing around in my usual chaotic way!

:D

Star Destroyer!

2005-08-10T09:40:00.000Z

Camden seems to be the place for "star" spotting this Summer...

It all started off with seeing Tim Burton in a local pub a while ago, and was quickly followed by a spate of other minor celebrity sightings (including a former presenter from Saturday morning kids television and a member of a long forgotten girl group trying desperately not to break her ankles while walking on the cobblestones in Stables Market wearing very high heels (sorry, can't remember their names, but to be honest they weren’t that famous)

The latest "celebrity" sighted was actor Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers and…er…um…some other stuff) who was spotted cruising past the pub I was sitting outside in a very expensive looking car, only to be stopped by the police for using his mobile phone while driving!

Damn! Wish I had my camera… :D

Link to Damian Lewis profile for people who haven't got a clue who he is:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507073/

Congratulations!

2005-08-09T15:59:00.000Z

...to Haruna, the 200th visitor to Aliental!

Yatta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:D

Boing Boom Tschak!

2005-08-05T12:06:00.000Z

What I've been listening to

So far, it's been a bit of an electro month...

Tour D'Electro Compilation - Various

604 - Ladytron

Radioactivity - Kraftwerk

Computer World - Kraftwerk

The sound of static electricity

What I've been looking at

http://www.tokyoflash.com

http://www.marichan.com

A letter from Japan :D

Go me!!! :D

2005-07-29T11:44:00.000Z

I'm the 150th visitor to Aliental!

Yatta!!!

"Whenever I want you, all I have to do..."

2005-07-27T10:18:00.000Z

A second person in the space of a few days has ended up here by performing a Yahoo search for "when I want you in my arms"

The Everly Brothers must be the in thing at karaoke bars...

:D

As if by magic...

2005-07-26T09:49:00.000Z

Wow!!! - Since yesterdays post, the expected number of visitors to Aliental has shot up to nine*!!! :o

*Visitor estimation calculated by: http://www.blogpatrol.com

Congratulations to Yuri for being the 100th visitor! :D

Aliental? You want to head down towards Lovely Days, take a right and it's the first on the left...

2005-07-25T11:33:00.000Z

I was checking the user stats for this site over the weekend after I noticed a significant jump in the number of expected visitors (usual expected number of visitors is 2 per day. One of them being me)

Most of the visitors over the past few days were the usual suspects (Hi Yuki! Hi Phil! :D) and some new faces (Hi Haruna!)

The rest were a mixture of casual web surfers (who accessed Aliental through my profile) or people who had ended up here through a search.

One of the strangest referrals was the unfortunate person who had found their way here by doing a Yahoo search for "when I want you in my arms dream" and finding Aliental as the number one closest match in the results list (beating any site which was Everly Brothers related O_o)

I also appeared in a technocrati search for London - but as these results are updated continuously, I gave up looking for my entry after page 42...

So to the visitors from Singapore (Hi Hege!) Trinidad and Tobago, Italy and Brazil (Hi whoever you are!) if you came here on purpose or completely by accident, please feel free to leave a comment or just say hello! :D

o_o (part 2)

2005-07-22T13:43:00.000Z

Another attack on London...

Think I might move to Sapporo. Anyone got a spare room???

Blatant Macism that's what it is!!!

2005-07-19T15:16:00.000Z

I've noticed recently the ever increasing bias in favour of PC users...

I've been looking out for a decent Mac compatible CD writer, and quite frankly it's been a right pain in the bum.

Tottenham Court Road, the hub of computer/electronic stuff in London, would be the ideal place to find one (or so I thought - hah!!!)

Most of the shops though only stock hardware that's PC compatible, and the one shop that does, Micro Anvika (yes you Micro Anvika) are staffed by people that, quite frankly don't care about their customers….

I would buy it on the net, but to be honest I don't trust expensive pieces of electrical equipment coming through the post because:

1. Not sure it would actually arrive.
2. Or it does arrive and it's got a big dent in it.

Besides, I always like to have a good look at something close up before I buy it. It's just me.

Not only have I had trouble with hardware, but I've found that the only version of MSN Messenger available for a Mac is 4.01!!! (which is rubbish compared to 7.0 available for PCs) Especially when I want the option for audio conversation)

Anyone know of anything that supports Mac and PC and has audio conversation???

:(

:D

2005-07-13T12:06:00.000Z

It's that time again when I let you into my little world and show you what's getting me all excited!

What I've been looking at:

http://www.dafont.com/en/ - Font resource
http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~mjdotcom/ - Official site of Japanese artist Junko Mizuno
http://www.terratag.com/ - Japanese inspired graphics and artwork

Battlestar Galactica TV series - Remake of the late 70's film

What I've been listening to:

Interfiber Skunk - Killer Buds - Brazilian Psy Trance

What I've not been eating

Anything unhealthy - Which includes most things that I like. Bah!

o_o

2005-07-11T14:36:00.000Z

I've become very uneasy since last Thursday, and it's not a nice feeling. I have to travel through central London on my way into work and pass the site of the bus blast. Although I was nowhere near it at the time, there have been occasions when I have been at that point at around the time that it occurred, so I think myself very lucky.

My sympathy goes out to everyone affected by this.

Sorry!

2005-06-30T10:26:00.000Z

First off, I'd like to make an apology…

After reading about Yuki's blog review over on Lovely Drink...sorry, Lovely Days, I took a look at this site and realised that it's a long way from what I originally envisaged it to be. When I started I had this plan to use it as a place to display some of my artwork, but as I'm so slow (or so lazy, take your pick) to produce any content, it's not really worked out that way and it's just ended up as a platform for me to talk complete rubbish o_o

I am working on some stuff at the moment, and when I do finally get around to finishing it (circa 2023 at this rate!) you should get a better idea of what the original concept behind Aliental was all about.

I hope you like all the changes that I've got planned in the future!

Thank you for your patience! :D

Anyway, with that said and done, I went to a sci fi convention at Earls Court last weekend, where I spent far too much money on stuff that I probably don't really need.

While I was there I saw actor Val Kilmer's right ear! (excitement rating: 2) through the queue of people that were lining up to get his autograph…

Almost as exciting as seeing film director Tim Burton and his scary goth hair (excitement rating: 2.5 for Tim Burton, 9 for the scary goth hair) in a Camden pub a few weeks back…

Success!

2005-06-27T11:39:00.000Z

Yay! My first successful foray into the world of HTML!

Some of you may notice a few of my favourite links now appearing in the sidebar...

:D

Phew !

2005-06-22T09:01:00.000Z

...it's hot today :P

No Sir, I don't like it very much...

2005-06-20T10:12:00.000Z

I thought that I'd be a bit different today ( don't want to become too predictable do I !? ) and instead of giving you a list of my favourite things, here's a list of my least favourite...

In no particular order:

Being poked in the eye
Lapsang Souchong tea
Scary people with psychotic tendencies that wander around Camden talking about 'murder'
Plain biscuits

Let me know what your current least favourite things are !

Yatta !

2005-06-15T12:51:00.000Z

Sorted out my camera problems. Didn't need the software after all O_o
Just plugged it into my Mac and iPhoto did the rest ! Yatta for Apple !!!

Aaarrrggghhh !!!

2005-06-13T10:41:00.000Z

Tried to load the software for my camera over the weekend, and it turns out that I've got defective software. So until I manage to sort it out, I can't get the pictures off my camera :(

Think I'll give that one a miss...

2005-06-09T08:42:00.000Z

According to the media in the UK "everyone is rushing out to buy a copy of the new Coldplay album"

Me ? I'd rather eat my own head...

This Month...

2005-06-08T14:00:00.000Z

What I've been listening to:

The Man Machine - Kraftwerk
The sound of Summer

What I've been looking at:

http://www.welcometoplanet3.co.uk/home.html
http://www.cubixrobotsforeveryone.com
http://www.a-seed.jp/en.html
http://pseweb.com/illust.htm

What I've been eating:

Japanese rice crackers
Biscuits

I'm Back !

2005-06-07T15:31:00.000Z

Well, despite all the careful planning, I only achieved a fraction of the things that I wanted to do while I was on holiday.

The things that I did achieve were:

1. Have a haircut
2. Do some artwork
3. Go to see Star Wars Episode III
4. Eat my own weight in biscuits

The things that I didn't achieve were:

1. Everything else

Bah ! :(

:)

2005-05-27T12:19:00.000Z

Last day at work today before I'm off for a break. Hopefully all of my plans for the coming week will fall into place with military precision, and I can get some new artwork completed !

Also going to buy a new digital camera today, so maybe you'll see some photographic content on Aliental at some point in the future as well. Hey, I might even add a photo to my profile page, so all of you people that don't know me can see exactly who it is that's writing this rubbish ! :)

I shall be contactable during this period using the following methods:
Email
MSN Instant Messenger
Telephone
Telepathy
Shouting very loudly in the direction of my house

Found out today that if you do a search for Aliental on Google, I'm up there in the number one ( blog ) spot...Yay ! Go me !!
Although thinking about this logically, the only reason that you would be searching for Aliental is if you know me and want to find this site. But if you do know me, you would probably already know the URL and would have no need to search for it, which kind of makes the whole reason for doing a Google search for Aliental a complete waste of time.
But then again, if you were someone who didn't know me, and was searching for a completely different Aliental, then finding this at number one in a Google search ( for Aliental ) would probably make you a bit annoyed as it would be the incorrect Aliental ( especially if you were this other 'Aliental' who was hoping to be 'number one' in a Google search for Aliental…nah nah nana nah…beat you !!! :P

If you click on the 'Repeat the search with the omitted results included' link at the bottom of the second page of results, you'll find that I'm still number one, but wiped out ( in number of entries ) in the results by http://nihon.blogspot.com ( 16 to my 5 - correct as of 27th May 2005 )

Bah ! :(

Despite this http://nihon.blogspot.com/ invasion into my territory, I'm happy in the fact that using the word Aliental as many times as I could in this post will help me to remain at the top in a Google search for Aliental.

I really need to get out more don't I ? o_O

Ouch !

2005-05-23T09:53:00.000Z

Seem to be going through a phase of being very clumsy lately. Last week I had a huge bruise on my left knee ( not quite sure what happened to cause it ) and this week I added to it by kneeling on a video cassette. Had a big purple sticky out thing that was very tender, and I was a bit worried for a while as it looked like a swollen vein...Eeek ! Kneecap haemorrhage !!!

This morning though it's back to normal size but replaced by another huge bruise that's merged with the first one to form one big "supersized" bruise.

Kind of looks like an upside down New Zealand...

It's Bananas ! B - A - N - A - N - A - S !!!

2005-05-19T12:50:00.000Z

What I've been listening to:

Love Angel Music Baby - Gwen Stefani

Romeo and Juliet - Prokoviev

The soothing tone of an Apple Mac start up

What I've been looking at:

http://yukinpo666.blogspot.com
http://nihon.blogspot.com
http://miwako-english.blogspot.com/
http://nana-english.blogspot.com/
http://mechagirl.blogspot.com
http://www.tokidoki.it/
http://www.oopsy-daisy.com/
http://www.mech-a.com

What I've been eating:

Noodles
Lots of other stuff

Take Me To Your Leader !

2005-05-17T10:48:00.000Z

Finally worked out how to post images !

It's a piece I done about two years ago, and was intended as a design for a kids t-shirt.

Diseased !

2005-05-16T20:03:00.000Z

Not feeling too great today. Think I must have a cold or something :(

I'd advise people who are looking for a good investment to start buying shares in tissue manufacturers, as I can foresee a sharp rise in profits over the next week...

"When I want you, in my arms...When I want you, and all your charms..."

2005-05-13T09:14:00.000Z

AAARRRGGGHHH !!!

Dreeeeeam, dream dream dreeeeam !

2005-05-12T20:21:00.000Z

Finally managed to get my hands on a copy of the Soundtrack to the John Carpenter film 'Starman' this week. I've been looking for it for quite a while, so I'm quite happy to finally track it down.

I bought it specifically for one particular track: 'Starman leaves', but have found myself playing 'All I Have To Do Is Dream' an alarming number of times ( just ask the neighbours ) which has Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen doing a karaoke style duet of the Everly Brothers song...extremely cheesy, but somehow strangely hypnotic at the same time... o_0 ???

Holiday !

2005-05-05T12:14:00.000Z

Have just booked a week off from work for the end of this month. Hopefully this will give me enough free time to actually finish some artwork ! ( me, finish artwork ? hah ! ) - The only sustenance I shall need for this time will be the soothing sounds of my Eryk Orpheus vs Group 185 mix cd and a large box of teabags...

Hmmmmmmmmm...

2005-05-03T15:41:00.000Z

I was going to add a post today, but couldn't think of anything to write, so I didn't bother...

The Aliental Guide to Camden !

2005-04-27T15:25:00.000Z

Here's a list of places in the Camden area that are worth a visit. Very handy if you are within easy reach of Camden, completely useless if you live in Beijing…unless you live in Beijing and decide to visit Camden…

1. Cyberdog: Stables Market - Clothes for aspiring space cadets !
2. Hexagon: Stables Market - Even more clothes for aspiring space cadets !
3. Dream Temple: Stables Market - Trance / Ambient music store with a café upstairs.
4. Bento Cafe: 9 Parkway London NW1 7PG - Tasty Japanese food - Oishii !!!
5. Er…That's it !

The rest they can flatten and build a park or something…

Shameless Plug 002

2005-04-26T15:44:00.000Z

Just got the movie Casshern on DVD - Go and buy it NOW !!!

Feel free to send me any stuff connected with said film...

Shameless Plug 001

2005-04-25T13:10:00.000Z

Cyberdog is the best clothes shop in the universe ever !!! - Everyone should go and buy some stuff this instant. Don't forget to mention that it was me that told you...

( if that don't get me a discount, nothing will )

http://www.cyberdog.net

Excuses Excuses !

2005-04-21T10:30:00.000Z

Yeah, I know that I haven't been posting as much as I should, and yeah, I said I was going to post some artwork and stuff, but the truth is I just haven't got around to it.

I'm still painting away and stuff is coming along ( sort of ) - It will appear, even if it kills me ( which it probably will )

But before I post some artwork though, I do need to buy a scanner...bah !

Time for tea !

Hoorah !

2005-02-21T22:09:00.000Z

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, I've been ill ( honest guv ) - Still working away on some artwork, and it will appear at some point in the future - Until then, some music......doo do doo dooooo !!!

Seasons Greetings !

2005-02-09T13:34:00.000Z

Gong Xi Fa Cai !
or...
Kung Hei Fat Choi !
or...
Happy Chinese New Year !

This Month I've mostly been listening to...

2005-02-09T13:17:00.000Z

While all of you out there ( well, Hege and Phil ) wait for me to get off my lazy butt and post some artwork, I thought I'd let you know what I've been listening to while I work...

Raja Ram's Stash Bag Vol. 3 - Smokers Jokers And Midnight Tokers
( especially Hypersonic - Every Single Sound, GMS - Tudo Mundo and DNA - Shu Shu the Fox )

Clockwork Orange Soundtrack

The silence between tracks on Dido - No Angel

My smoke alarm whenever I cook

Hello Universe !

2005-02-03T21:20:00.000Z

After much careful thought and deliberation ( all 23 seconds of it ) I have decided that my blog will be more of an image based affair rather than me talking rubbish.

Basically, I'm too lazy to type and you'll also probably find out a lot more about me from the images that I post than any stuff that I'm likely to talk about.

I also plan to post links / stuff that I find interesting from time to time and hope that you'll find them interesting too...

Please feel free to add a comment / send me an email to reply to anything that I post or just to say hi !

I'll get around to it sometime...

2005-01-27T11:43:00.000Z

I promise :)