Random in Manchester

Well not a lot happening at the moment!! Got a job down in London so maybe some videos coming up from there. Went to Preston to see Amy and we went to Manchester. Some random videos here...

Japan

AHHHH!! The monkeys are stealing my shoes!
Now on to more important matters. I have time... and hands, so I made a video. Used the video clips that I haven't used before to make a little musical number. Its crap, I know it, you know it, even the shoe stealing monkeys know it! It finishes quite abruptly because I only like the beginning of the second song that I used.
Enjoy, or don't, its up to you.

We were bored... so we went to MK!

Hmmm... Milton Keynes.. the closest thing to entertainment around here. Ashley and I were bored, so we went to MK. This is just some random clips of what happened... Ha!

Tequila + Andy = Drunk

I shouldn't be allowed to drink at the best of times, but especially not when I've lost my job in a random country... This was the result. Found this later on, not even remembering videoing it. As for me, not a lot going on, still job hunting. Should make some new videos soon.

The Apartment

Well I've been back for two weeks, but I've still got loads of videos that I forget about.
Here is one that a few people asked for, its the apartment I was staying in. It seems quite a while ago... until Nova went bankrupt everything seemed a lot easier... sigh!
(Please ignore the hair)

Tokyo Motor Show vs Fedde Le Grand

My first attempt at a music video.... Hmm? Its not that bad is it?
I'm going to add some of the videos of the individual cars soon.

Hi-Tech Toilets

Quickie Blog - The Dog in the City

Hello!
Just a quick blog. Last day in Japan, its been very busy. Had some brilliant experiences in Tokyo, and some not so brilliant ones. But that's what you get with everything. This blog is just two quick photos. Above is Shibuya, a VERY busy part of Tokyo, but completely amazing. Lots of lights, lots of people, lots of shops!! Its was crazy!
Nice thing about this place is the photo below. This dog is called Hachikō. Anyone who has watched lots of Futurama will be recognising this story. This dog followed his master to the station everyday when he went to work and waited for him until he came home. Unfortunately one day his master died (a professor at Tokyo University) at work. The dog continued to go to the train station everyday for the next 10 years waiting for his master. This statue was created in his memory, as many people fed and watered him on a daily basis. I think this is a lovely story and just makes me like dogs even more! Better explanation is at wikipedia.
I will start putting some of my videos up in the next few days. Please stay tuned!!

Quickie Blog - Tokyo Motor Show

Don't have a lot of time, So I'll upload the photos and videos when I'm back in England. Went to the Tokyo motorshow today and it was AMAZING! So many cool concept cars and such good shows... excellent! Just put one of the photos up, it was such a funky car and very high-tech. It was like being in the future!!

Nikko - The Emperors House

This is where the emperor stayed during WW2. It was nice....

Mt Azuma Summit

I'm really quite bored at the moment. I'm stuck in limbo so can't spend any money but hopefully I will do something interesting soon.
This is from last week (I think). I got to the top of the mountain. Its not a very interesting blog... Meh...

Funny Poster 3 and Nikko Photos

Bit of a filler blog this one. I am having problems with my next video blog. I've got LOADS fo new videos but my skills and commentry is... well.. poor at best. So this is to keep the avid blogsters (people that watchs blogs??) happy! Above is another section of that poster, and below are the photos from Nikko. Enjoy!
Nikko Photos on Picasa

Japanese Pigeons are smarter than British pigeons

Unfortunately this photo is slightly blurred, but this is a pigeon... on a train. I went shopping to Ota the other day and this pigeon got on the train with us. It was standing their quite happily. Then when we got to the next stop, the doors open and it walked out. You can't make this stuff up, I was almost wetting myself.
In other news, I think my students think I'm mad. I had to teach them about "tall stories" (this was a high level class) so I told them the following story. They didn't find it very funny though... (this wasn't in the text book, I just remembered it).

The Nature Reserve

Meh, went to a Nature Reserve. It was indifferent... I look rough in this blog (apologises for that). But you'll be glad to know that I had a hair cut today (that took over an hour for some reason) which was an event in itself "Short... I want it SHORT!".
Oh and excuse the cheesy music during the sped up bit (thats a bit jerky). I couldn't find any decent music.
Enjoy (the video is 5 minutes long)

Funny Poster 2

So this blog is a bit earlier than I planned, but this part of the poster is just so funny, I couldn't hold it back any more! Enjoy. (I still can't get over how funny this poster is...)
I will try and do another blog over the next couple of days (hopefully more interesting than the last few) but there have been problems at work so I haven't felt up to it. Fingers crossed!

Sorry, blame the zoo

Funny Poster 1

One thing I've noticed is LOTS of people smoke in Japan, and they smoke everywhere! A bit of a shock compared to the UK now where yo can't smoke anywhere (hooray!). They smoke in restaurants, bars, alsorts of places, except the train station...
And this is where I found this poster. Its a big poster about train station etiquette and this is one corner of it. Its a bit blurry because I looked like an eejit taking a photo of a poster. They get worse. Fire... dun dun duuuuun!! (Put a better quality copy up now, so should be better)

The Joys of Skype 1

Never doubt the sheer randomness that occurs betwen brothers. I didn't want to put this up, but undoubtable it would have appeared anyway seeing as Mark made it.
Was talking to Mark on Skype while cooking dinner.Little did I know you could take photos with Skype. This is the end result (I'm so so sorry)

Out on my Dyke, I mean Bike

Yup, took the new wheels out for a spin. Not really a lot going on. It's not that interesting, but I hope some of it is interesting.
Oh the beginning is random. It's when I went shopping last week and got soaked. Got my umbrella though.
Enjoy

The Train

Not as interesting as my last blog, I didn't get lost (sorry to disappoint :P).
Its a bit messy this blog, so I apologise. And I try to do some arty farty stuff in the middle, but to be honest, its just crap!
There were a few things I didn't get on camera, such as almost getting knee-capped by a ticket machine, and the language barrier when buying the bike. I got back safely as well. I'll try and blog again soon, but I'm working the next five days (might try and get another one out tonight). Hope everyones Ok over there!

First Blog from Japan: 3 Days in

Konichiwa from Japan,
I hope everyone is ok. This is my first video blog from Japan. Its about 6 minutes long, sorry about the length. Some clips are a bit quieter than other but hope you enjoy!!

Andy :)

Second slightly more successful blog...

So I've had another stab that this video blogging malarchi, and its slighty better, but still not very good.
Had my leaving bash this weekend which was really good fun, mates from Uni, home and my Bro came down. Had a night out, barbeques, taboganning, bowling, all good fun. Well have a look at the video and let me know what you think. Some photos are below this as well so have a look!!

First video blog gone wrong...

I recently invested in a new video camera... and I'm not doing to well with video blogging as this video demonstrates. Yes I need a shave, yes the sun is in the background, and yes I can't speak. Still its better than Chris Crocker...
I will put some stuff up from a great weekend I had with my mates tomorrow, stay tuned!! Only 8 days till I leave!

Everything has a beginning...

Well ManicMongi.net has disappeared, vanished in obscurity. Hadn't really been going anywhere for a while anyway.

But as I am planning to head to Japan for a year I thought a new blog would be useful to communicate! For those who don't know I'm heading to Japan for a year to teach English. I'm excited, but I'll be more excited when I've finished work here (two weeks left, whoop!). I'm leaving on the 25th September and I have a fair bit to do before I leave. I'll put info about what I'm up to before I leave as well (although there probably won't be a lot!). I'm also hoping to get a little video camera before I leave so I can set up a video blog! MWAH HA HA HA! Can't get away from me that easily!

Well that's enough for the first blog. One last thing, there is a video from the company I'm working for on the type of place I'll be living in. Have a look here.