Merry Christmas!!

Ok apologies first, I am sorry that I am a lazy bugger, and that I haven`t updated in a ridiculously long time, but I will change, just as Scrooge did after seeing the three ghosts (only I didn`t have 3 ghosts just some annoyed people at home :P) My new years resolution is to update more often, so please check back regularly!

Well its Christmas time, and as much as there are decorations and convenience store staff in Santa costumes it doesn`t feel like Christmas to me, we had to go into work today for the 　忘年会（bonenkai) or "end of the year party". Actually it was pretty fun, we had lots of food (sadly no alcohol as we are technically to young to drink here ;) ) and we even sang a song "Yellow submarine"(I am awful at karaoke, I am tone deaf) but then it came for us to give our speeches, in Japanese.

After what seemed like a stuttery first few lines I managed to actually give an acceptable speech, all the staff seemed to enjoy it and got claps and laughs (went for an easy laugh by using a popular comedians phrase, which I will detail in a future post). My work was over, it was then Ben`s turn, he gave a great speech longer and better than mine and everyone seemed to love it so it was great (as Ben often tells everyone he is rubbish at Japanese but in reality he is not, just a little shy thats all , you hear that Ben you are good at Japanese!)

All in all a very different but enjoyable Christmas, as I sit here now, knee-deep in packing for our trip to Hokkaido tomorrow I cant help missing my traditional family Christmas, but I am having a great time out here and have next Christmas to look forward to.

As I said we are off to Hokkaido tomorrow at the ungodly hour of 4:30am! so I better get me some sleep, I wont be back until the 3rd of January. Don`t worry I will have lots of pictures to blog about and I promise to keep you guys better informed in the new year.

Have a great Christmas and a happy new year,
Much love

Mike xxx