December 26-January 1, 2006

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST WISHES FOR 2006 - MAYIT BE SUCCESSFUL, FUN, INTERESTING AND PROSPEROUS!!

Gonna try and keep this first email of 2006 fairly short and sweet,because I have bombarded your inboxes lately with my 2005 Year In Review Slideshow and Xmas messages.

Last Monday, woke up feeling a little out of place. Usually on Boxing DayI wake up feeling fat, sick and upset that Christmas is over for anotheryear - as I explained, however, in last week's email, the Japanese don't really celebrate Chrissy, so I had a normal day, just eating out at a restaurant with a few friends.
Boxing Day was spent doing the same, but this time meeting a Japanesefriend. We actually had Korean food!!! Very "Boxing Dayish" hey!! hahaha

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday was spent studying, getting ahead with some uni work, socialising and re-creating my Martina Hingis website. I was a HUGE fan of hers from 1997 when she won the Australian Open at the age of 16, but unfortunately she retired from competitive tennis 3 years ago because of chronic ankle injuries. However, she has decided to stage a comeback, so I am very happy, and in honour of this, I have recreated my website devoted to her.

Yesterday, being New Years Eve and all, I caught the train north of Tokyo to a place called Takasaki, where I met Kazuya. We spent the day doingKaraoke, eating at a traditional Izakaya (Japanese pub) and then visited anillumination show (Xmas lights) and a shrine. We welcomed in the New Year watching telly in our hotel room - most Japanese people do this - it is a very special time of the year to be with the ones who you care about most.And Japanese t.v is devoted to variety telly shows, so its really cool!!

Caught the train back to Tokyo this morning, as Kazuya had to work today - I visited Meiji Jingu Shrine in Harajuku, which is the most famous shrine in Japan. There were about 100, 000 people there (apprently) all converging on the shrine, to pray for the year ahead. I joined in, even though I stuck out like a sore thumb!! Although, I do consider myself "half" Japanese as the saying goes...
So, I welcomed in the New Year with happiness, and hopefully this yearwill be filled with more of it.

I actually got to view the Sydney fireworks on the telly - it was broadcast(delayed) on Japanese t.v. We should be very proud of our great city -Sydney! Loved the Love heart on the Harbour Bridge!!
Well tomorrow I am off to meet the Japanese Emperor!! Not as such...hahaEach New Year on the 2nd of January, the Royal Emperors and Empresses and Prince and Princess make a public appearance, so I am going to theImperial Palace to witness that.

Speak to you all next week......Take care
Tim
xxxx