Whoosh! I printed out my PHP code for reggie.net - about 7mm thick of Tesco’s cheapest paper. I’m amazed it comes to so much.
Oooh! Alexa has now moved me up to 138,555. A few days ago, I was worried I would drop out of the top 100,000.
I submitted a list of five possible links where people might like to go after reggie.net.
1. www.outdoorjapan.com - lots of information about travelling in Japan, places to visit
2. www.virtualtourist.com - where people can post information about places to visit in the world
3. www.danheller.com - a truly professional photographer who has been to Scotland
4. www.photopoints.com - a great photography community and lots of super photos
5. www.trailcanada.com - a travel guide to Canada by James Shearer, with forums and great layout
I have been watching my ratings on Alexa as compared to www.trailcanada.com. I think my photos have the edge, but I need to improve my layout and navigation. Also, I’m not sure that I wish to become the authoritative guide to a country.
I’ll need to become something, though, and sitting on my layout laurels is not an option. I’m struggling to find the motivation to disciplined programming and thorough rethinking of my raison de web être.
At some stage, I would like to put a sofa in the large bedroom. I’ve been looking at several in the Argos catalogue for around £150.
I asked Shan if there was anything she needed for when her parents come. She would like the sofa so that she can sleep on it. I wasn’t intending getting a large sofa - the total length will probably be only 135 cm, and the width is restricted by the space in the room to about 85 cm max. I’m not sure I should get a large one, as I may find that some unscrupulous future lodger decides to fill up the room with unpaid guests. It has happened before.
Also, a sofa is a luxury, which I haven’t promised. Since I am currently sleeping on a blow-up bed, the sofa will have to wait until I have a suitable mattress. Maybe, I will have to wait until I have decided on the installation of central heating in the bedrooms.
There has been a tin of fried tofu in my cupboard for quite some time, so, for the Japanese sushi party tonight, I have cooked some inarizushi from “The Japanese Kitchen” by Masaki Ko. It’s a great recipe book, with dishes that are simple to make and ingredients that are easily obtained. I have another excellent book, but the recipes are more complex - inarizushi requires dried shiitake, which I don’t have in stock. (Practical Japanese Cooking, by Shizuo Tsuji and Koichiro Hata).
I ought to set up an Amazon link so that I get royalties every time someone buys the book after visiting this website.
Anyhow, if I write tales in my diaries about lodgers that don’t follow instructions, it’s only fair that I comment on situations where I fail to meet the grade.
You are supposed to make the fried tofu and sauce first. I started with the rice. Only later did I see the line that told me the rice should be warm before putting into the tofu pockets. Nevertheless, the results look fine, and I’m sure they will taste OK.
Of course, half the reason for doing this is to attract attention. Japanese people are very good at praising. “Eeeeh!? Sugoooi! Erai na-!” I can already imagine it (you have to do a long rising intonation on the Eeeeh!?” So, before I set off, I’ll have to psych myself into passing it off as a mere triviality. To seek attention in Japan is a crime. You get attention by working up the ladder.
The sushi party at the Yokoyama’s was great. It was absolutely packed! We had temakizushi - hand-made sushi with salmon and tuna.
The inarizushi was well received, but I only made sixteen - I should have made double - or perhaps I could have cut each one in two. I didn’t think at the time.
So, let’s see if I can remember some of the people I talked to. The cards did most of the talking. I don’t have any cards for Nagoya, though.
There were a number of the folks from the Barn - Asana, TomokO, Nori, Daisuke, and others. Daisuke, I discover, used to live in Kobe.
There were lots of new people, too. Minori comes from Aichi, and her father likes taking photos. She will return to Japan in a few weeks, so gave me her address and email.
I was chatting to some ladies about the hitching and they asked if I had ever encountered a dangerous situation. I told them about the broken mirror when the truck driver fell asleep in a tunnel on the way to Niigata. They, too, had had an accident in the Lake District, when a car crashed into them.
A Swiss lady who interested in being a missionary talked about her travels in the Ukraine. She is also learning a bit of Japanese. When she practiced saying her name, the Japanese ladies clapped and said, “Wonderful”. It’s nice to be with people who are so encouraging.
Yuriko and a friend chatted about yakuza (Japanese mafia), bosozoku (bikers) and cars with large speakers.
I write these things to help me remember. I’m not very good at remembering (I’ve already misplaced several names). I often cover the same ground in future conversations. Perhaps I can improve my mind and my interest in people.
When I was cycling home, I discovered that Akiko lives very near my house. I think I should visit Central Language School soon, perhaps to drop in some more of the books that I’m no longer using.