Busy

Posted on 2006/03/23 07:24:43 (March 2006).

[Wednesday 22nd March]
Our first full day back in England, and there was lots of things to do. We left Simon's flat around 9 in the morning, and got a taxi over to the car hire place. This did make me wonder how people normally got to this place - it was nowhere near any station, or even any bus routes. Clearly the whole point of going to a car hire place is that you don't have a car! Err, anyway...

After picking up the hire car we drove down to Chie's old college - formerly Gyosei, now called "Witan". It is in the process of closing, which is a little sad really. Still, two of Chie's friends are still working there doing admin type jobs, so we had a brief chat with them, and arranged to meet up for lunch. We spent the remainder of the morning in the centre of Reading visiting banks. It must have looked highly suspicious, as we changed large volumes of cash between different currencies, and shuffled it about between different bank accounts. To transfer any money internationally by some electronic means you generally get stung for some kind of fee, so it makes much more sense to just draw out a load of cash, and take it yourself, if you're going back to the UK anyway. Japanese interest rates really stink at present, and as we've managed to save a little from the wages we've earned thus far in Japan, that money is much more sensibly invested back here in the UK.

Anyway, after all our money tasks were complete, we headed back to meet Chie's friends for lunch. We went for a curry at a place I used to go to years and years ago when I lived in Reading (Sardar Palace). It was pretty good actually.

After lunch, Chie and I drove up to the Midlands, as we were going to be staying the next couple of nights with my Mum. We made pretty good time - about two and a half hours - so we were at my Mum's house by 4:30. This was just as well, as I had to take part in a conference call at 5. It seems my company is the sort that never lets you be absolutely 100% on holiday, but I didn't really mind that much.

Had dinner with Mum, and to my delight she had even made me a birthday cake (with candles!). A combination of the jetlag and excesses of chocolate meant that both me and Chie were falling asleep not long after eating, and so by 9 we decided to call it a day and go to bed.

Hey John

Were you driving? That sounds like real progress!

Sorry I missed you Tuesday night. I prefered to be ill instead :(

See you a week Friday

David

Posted by David at 2006/03/23 13:21:36.

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