Postcard from...Arundel, England

I enjoy here!!

See you soon!!

Hinata

They stand on the right!

Host City: Kobe

Where is the mythical line in Japan where people stop standing on the left on escalators? Kobe is very much right hand territory! Quite off-putting when you are used to a certain way of doing things…

The Kobe Crew

Main event today was sending Damian back to the hotel, as the tickets for England vs USA would be quite helpful getting onto the stadium! After that, we caught up with tractor fans from Suffolk in the Harbour Tavern & suddenly flipped back into Rugby World Cup mood. Loud boos from most of the customers when “Born in the USA” was played; raucous rendition of “Wonderwall” restored order! Eventually chatted with a really interesting ex-Royal Engineer & Falklands vet propping up the bar. A fair number of Wales & Scotland shirts in evidence.

Meeting Argentina

Stunning display of ineptitude by the local boys in blue, citing “danger” but causing chaos & confusion by blocking taxis from unloading at the ground. Truly dumb. Equally stupid is the lack of big screens anywhere, and the queues for the toilets and beer which would have you miss half the game. 

Spidey - a secret England fan!

We enjoyed a powerful running game from England, in the overheated stadium which was awfully humid, “Sweet Chariots” boomed around the place whenever the opposition perked up with their only song!

Bulah Vinaka

Host City: Sapporo

A super Saturday of sport in Sapporo!

Wandered around on a beautiful morning before meeting Damian & catching the first game of the day on a big screen with a crowd delighted to see Fiji give the Wallabies a few early frights!

Met loads of cool people during the day & into the evening; only police I saw were inside the Fanzone, presumably helping prevent anyone from having a good time! 

Bula Vinaka Fiji!

Fiji fans full of enthusiasm (unlike the dreary pair of Northampton Saints ‘fans’). We enjoyed another game in Odorinishi Park, and topped off a great day in an Izakaya, chatting with some English travelers/fans.

#RWC2019

Postcard from...Winchester Castle,England

The Great Hall of Winchester Castle -
King Arthur's Round Table

Dear Jim, Yukari-san and all at Luna,

How are you? My daughter and I are having a wonderful time here. Winchester was what I expected, I saw the Round Table from the 13th Century and learned a lot of history. I also saw Jane Austen's grave at the Cathedral. 

We are going to do some sightseeing in Bath today. 

Tomorrow we'll be in Cotswolds, then to Ireland, Galway. 

This is my fourth visit to England. Every time I come back, I feel nostalgic. This year the weather is very bad, even in June. Raining all the time.

All the best

Shizue

Postcard from Lincoln, England

Hello everyone at Luna!

Hope you have been looking after Damian and Laura?
I have had a very busy ie too short a week in UK.
I really wanted to show my nephew the Magna Carta in Lincoln Castle, but we had to settle for battlefield news from 1217!
This cathedral is stunning, built in 1185 no less! Reunited old school friends & my home city Sheffield and the Peak District.
Had an enormous fish and chips plus a couple of cheeky pints. Surprised?!

Jim

Prediction of Second Semi-final game of World Cup 2018

Second semi-final game starts tonight at Japan time.

Croatia and England will meet for the first time at FIFA World Cup. I'm sure that the game tonight will be exciting.

The first half of the game will be probably 0-0, and they both have to be patient to get a goal. The game will change in the second half.

England has been staying away from Semi-final for awhile, and they are eager to be winners of World Cup 2018, so goddess of victory will smile at England.

In the second half, Harry Kane will win one goal and England will win the game at the end.

You will see tonight!!

World Cup Prediction for Semi-Finals

In the first semi-final, Belgium vs France, I suppose Belgium will have a perfect performance. They won't need to take a risk for getting more goals. I think the result probably will be 2-0. Lukaku will score 2 goals and be replaced in 2nd half.

Also, England will get to the final. Modric might play well, but will continue 0-0 at the end of 90 minutes. In extra time, VAR could be used for a disallowed goal but in the end there won't be any goals. In the penalties shoot out I think Harry Kane should definitely score his penalty, England will beat Croatia as 3-2.

Posted for Yuki

2018 World Cup progress report for Group H; week 2

So far in group H, there have been four games.

The most exciting game was Colombia v Japan. The final score was 1 – 2.

In other games, results are:

Colombia v Japan

Result: 1-2

Scorers: Fernando Quintero / Kagawa Shinji and Yuuya Osako

Poland v Senegal

Result: 1-2

Scorers: Grzegorz Krychowiak / Thiago Rangel Cionel and M’ Baye Niang

Japan v Senegal

Result: 2-2

Scorers: Takashi Inui and Keisuke Honda / Sadio Mane and Moussa Wague

Poland v Columbia

Result: 0-3

Scorers: Yerry Mina, Radamel Falcao, and Juan Quadrado

These teams have not played each other yet: Japan v Poland / Colombia v Senegal

I think Japan will definitely beat Poland tonight and Colombia should beat Senegal.

This will mean that Japan win the group and play the runners-up of group G in the round 16, and the runners up will play the winner of group G.

I think the round of 16 games will be Japan v Belgium & Colombia v England.

My prediction for the quarter finalist is that Belgium & England will progress.

 

We are having a big match in few hours!

Let’s leave the office asap! Go grab a coke and snacks for tonight!!

Predictions for the second round of group games - Group G

Belgium vs Tunisia
I think Belgium will win 1-0 and Hazard will score 1 goal, then De Bruyne will play very well.

England vs Panama
I think England will win, score will be 2-1 and Harry Kane will score 2 goals, and Dele Alli will play well, but according to web news he had an injury. I think it's fake news.

England will win and Belgium comes second.

Posted for Masaaki

FIFA World Cup Group G expectation!

Group G has England, Belgium, Panama, and Tunisia and two of these countries go to the next round. 
Let me remind you of the FIFA ranking of these four countries: England #12, Belgium #3, Panama #55, and Tunisia #21 (June 7, 2018).

I abandon Panama and Tunisia because they will probably lose or possibly draw the match with England and Belgium. It is the first world cup for Panama and it has been more than a decade since Tunisia was qualifier in 2006. England and Belgium are way too good for them.

I learn about England players and compare them with Belgium players with my fair point of view.

What I know is that they both belong to UEFA group and have star players. However, I found that Belgium has a major anxiety and England has a significant strength.

On one hand, Belgium may possibly lose the match with Panama and Tunisia since Belgium rely on their star players individually. On the other hand, as England tried different formations and tactics against interior countries during qualifying matches they should not lose against Panama and Tunisia.

With all my respect to the president of Luna International, England will certainly finish Group G tournament in the 1st position.

I expect to see who would be the next Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane or Raheem Sterling. It will certainly the best if Kane would become the best scorer and Sterling would make the most assists.

If I were wrong, I will definitely finish my reading assignments by the end of the last match between Panama and Tunisia in Group G, which is on June 28. 

Off topic but Vauxhall has been the sponsor for four nations in the UK. German car maker, BMW , is one of the sponsors for Belgium national team. How could England possibly lose against Belgium? 

After-reading - A trip to England

I visited to England in October from 10th to 17th 2014, with my friend Junko. It was JTB (travel agent) group tour. Fright was Virgin Atlantic from Narita to Heathrow. We stayed 2 days in Manchester, next 2 days were in Coventry, last 2 days were in London. The first day We went to Haworth in Yorkshire. Bronte sisters are famous. We visited their home and walked the town. felt nostalgia. Old drugstore I bought mint soups. It was nice. and moved to The Lake District. There were very beautiful area. We could take a ship in Windermere Lake. We went for walked lakeside, and went to Peter Rabbit 's shop. I bought a picture book for my doughter. Of couse the weather changed to rain.

Next day We moved Liverpool. visited Liverpool Cathedral. and went to The Cavern Club. When The Beatles were not famous they played here everynight, the stage still now and visited Chester Cathedral. We bought souvenir at the Rows. The Rows were very old a two-story building. Street was very nice!

Next day We moved Cotswolds visited three small villages. William Morris said 'Here is most beautiful village in England' to Bilberry. Still now beautiful. And moved to Stratford-upon-Avon. We could visit the Shakespeare's house.The day was raining, so we took a rest in the tea shop during freetime. After dinner we went to Tesco near the hotel, it was big supermaket. Enjoyed shopping! Next day we visited the Roman Bath, World Heritage and saw Stonehenge too! There were mysterious and miraculous stones. Before I watched some photo, people touched stones, but now we could not touch with ropes.

Last was London! we visited British Museum. There were many artistic goods from all over the world. Very exciting! And watched Bigben, Westminster Abbey. We had a plan to afternoon tea in the Orangery Kensington palace, but restrant had another reservation. It was very sorry to us, too bad! We changed another hotel's tea. Palace's museum shop was very interesting. We bought Prince George's memorial plates for sale! This afternoon we went to Liberty shop, Junko love making handcraft, a desire to go! We enjoyed shopping in Regent Street. We wanted to go Harrods but no time to went and we wanted to stay more one day in London! Almost night we went to hotel's Bar  drank local draft beer. Very very good England beer! Hotel's breakfast were very nice and we could eat Roastbeef, Fish and chips, cottage pie, afternoon tea. We enjoyed English foods. I think trip is enrich our life. England travel was good experience for me!

Posted for Yoko

After-reading - Misako imagines planning a trip to England

First I'd like to go to Lake District, and visit  Grasmere, William Wordsworth's  home and Beatrix Potter's musium.

Then go to Liverpool, see  Cathedral and visit some places of "Beetles".

I'd like to go to Stradford-upon-Avon, pretty town, visit William Shakespeare's house and watch the stage play at Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Last I stay in London one or two days and visit some famous places.

If possible I'd like to stay at manor house, but I'm afraid it is inconvinient or uncomfortable.

Posted for Misako

After-reading - 10 day trip to England

I am planning on going to England this summer. I have not been to England. Therefore after all I will go to the biggest city London first.

I want to go to Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s London home in London. And I want to see the palace inside after making a reservation beforehand. I will take a photograph with the soldiers outside.

I will go to the various places in London, beautiful Westminster Abbey, famous building the Tower of London, solemn St Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, etc. I want to see many artworks which were collected from all over the world in the British Museum. So I will have enough time in the British Museum.

My plan is ten days. I do not have enough time. Next to London, I am planning on going only another one place to Corn Wall. I want to go to St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall.

I will walk there when the sea goes out. And I will visit the old castle and church in there. Next, I want to go to the Minack Theatre in Cornwall. I will watch plays in the theatre－it is outside. 

I have a lot of things what I want to do during the trip. I want to go English pub, and I want to drink in stylish clothes. I will buy nice tea in tea shops in towns all across England for a souvenir. And I want to go to Harrods in London. So I will buy stylish dress and bag, for me.

Ten days trip is short. I will choose the places that I can’t go this time for next England trip plan.

Posted for Reiko

After reading - a trip to England

I visited England about 20 years old with my husband. First we went to London, next day we went to lake district.

When we stayed B and B in the lake district we walked around the lake, town, and country side. There were very beautiful gardens and flowers.

Then we went to York. We went York cathedral. There is a helitage under the cathedral!

I can't forget the pizza!! We ate the pizza in York old street. It was wonderful! It was the best pizza in my life!

We walked around the Roman wall of York. So we came back to London and watched London town shopping Bond Street, and New Bond street is very exciting! Because there are many brand shops! (But I don;t have enough money)

My daughter is going to go to England 2 years later. I want to she enjoy and study many things of England.

Posted for Misuzu

School trip to England - Yuya's report

I went to England for about 2 weeks in April.It was my school trip. The flight took about 12 hours and I didn't sleep so I was exhausted.

White Cliffs of Dover

First, I went to Cambridge. The main event at there was to learn from the students of Cambridge University. The program is called Blue Bridge Education and I had a great time because the students were very funny and clever. They told us the importance of body languages, eye contacts and big voice. It is quite hard for me, but I'm trying to do them when I take communications, even in Japanese. We also did a shopping with the Cambridge students and I bought many teas.

Next, we went to Dover, where we were really lucky because there weren't any clouds in the sky. Dover is at the south end of the UK, and it is near France. We saw a gravel beach, blue sky and the white cliffs all at once, so it was awesome & beautiful.

After that, we went for a sightseeing trip in Canterbury. I bought many things there, like T-shirts, chocolates, and some drinks, because they were so cheap!

Canterbury Cathedral

The final place we went to was the capital city, London. I stayed there for about a week, and I felt the difference of the scenery between it an Tokyo. In Tokyo, there are many kinds of tall buildings, but in London, of course, there are also tall buildings but not only that. There were also many kinds of old-fashioned buildings. Because of that, we could easily feel at home there.

The food in the UK was very delicious. Before this trip, I heard that British food is not tasty. So I was a bit nervous. However, we didn't have any problems. The best food was fish and chips, which I ate at a restaurant called "Garfunkel's Restaurant". The fried fish, with some fresh lemon, was absolutely fabulous.

Traditional Fish 'n' Chips 

Finally, I will talk about where I stayed. First in Cambridge, I had a home stay for the first time in my life. The host family were very kind, but the food was a bit oily. In London, I also had a home stay. The host mother's food was delicious but she was very strict. For example, when we went for a drive, she shouted at any driver who didn't give way to her. Nevertheless, while I was staying there I was touched by her kindness, so in the end I was very sad to say goodbye. So where did we stay on the rest of the days? Of course, we stayed at a hotel. We were very free during the hotel stay, so it was a lot of fun and I really wanted to stay there.

England - after reading

The Romans lived here for 400 years or more.
The Vikings came from Denmark and Norway.
Some of the stones at Stonehenge come from 217Km away in the Preseli mountains in Wales. Others come from 20 or 30 Km away.
In 1066, William of Normandy - the famous William the conqueror- invaded England, bringing French-speaking people to the country.

Take a ferry boat across the Mersey for good views of the waterfront.
You must try fish and chips because it is a traditional food.
Half a million young people go clubbing in England because they enjoy it.
Take long walks across Dorset's high cliffs or along its empty beaches.

Posted for Reiko

Remember, Remember, the fifth of November...

After my annual "ya boo" at Hallowe'en, here is my other annual Guy Fawkes' posting!

Check out these links to find out more about "Bonfire Night":

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/gunpowder_robinson_01.shtml
• http://www.bonfirenight.net/gunpowder.php
• http://www.rhymes.org.uk/remember_remember_the_5th_november.htm



The Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot, Laing Art Gallery (Tyne and Wear Museums) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

• http://www.guyfawkes.me.uk/

Now before you ask "Why don't you have Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night celebration them?" I would like to point out that

1. There are rules about open fires in this city with an historic (WOODEN!) castle and we are very close to it.
2. Anybody got any fireworks?
3. We tried before - it is a very cold night!
4. It is just as irrelevant as Hallowe'en :) in Japan

The London Game

Image by ijiwaru jimbo via Flickr

Kanrou lived in London for four years, and knows his way around the London Underground much better than me (I'm a northerner!). I was getting thrashed until he made the classic mistake of being nice - I pounced, travelling from Wembley to Green Park in record time and scooping a dramatic last minute victory when all he had to do was wander along the Cirlcle Line to Temple.

On our way around (mostly under) London, we read about various tourist spots and he told me what they were like! I've never been to the Transport Museum; I can't remember London Zoo; he used to go to school near the BBC; he's been to the new Wembley ("boring" - so he obviously saw an England friendly there!) etc. Me? I vaguely know how to get to Heathrow, but I have been to Hamley's - mecca for kids!

Your predictions

Image via Wikipedia

Here is some analysis of your expert predictions for the Football World Cup in South Africa - thank you for all your clicks!

• Group A: An amazing 45% thought France would win this group. They came bottom and only just managed to score a goal near the end. Typically ungracious guests, spoiling the host's party. They do win best comedy act of the world cup though, and made England look good by comparison.
• Group B: 60% of you chose Argentina, who have some brilliant players but an insane manager (see previous posts about him). Are they fragile at the back?
• group C: 0% selected USA, who fully deserved to go through, and should have won their game with Serbia except for inexplicable reffing. England? My observant 10 year old student explained "They're crap". Kid will go far!
• Group D: Depressingly, 75% called Germany to win. What a surprise, we (England) get to put them in their place in the next round. 12 years ago I was doing shots of Jameson's (Irish whiskey) through the penalty shoot out with Sean. Ghana is not a chocolate bar.
• Group E: Only 47% said Holland. Maybe the other 53% wanted The Netherlands? Will Japan meet 31% expectations tonight (and beat the Danes...like England did in Niigata in 2002)? I think so.  Good joke I heard today: "If Japan had a Prius up front instead of a Honda, would they be unstoppable?" Gambarre Nippon.
• Group F: 83% said Italy. They're rubbish! I'd love to see the Kiwi's get into the next round but Paraguay are too good.
• Group G: Only 61% thought Brazil would clean up in this group? Any change of heart? They're looking strong.
• Group H: The Swiss probably gave the Spaniards the wake up call they needed. 89% of you figured they'd make the last 16 as winners of this group. Chile should join them (one of my dark horses).

Next challenge is to predict who will fill the semi-final berths, to be played on July 2nd.

World Cup in Matsumoto LIVE - Sunday

And FREE - if you wear your team's colours. Non-compliance fine = 2 cans beer for the house.

Sunday 11pm at LUNA. Bring drinks & snacks & comfort blankets or whatever. Can a truly dreadful England campaign actually get into gear? Will Heskey ever be retired? Putch come to a shove, will we ever beat the Germans at anything beyond our own borders?

In my opinion, teams busting a nut like the Yanks, the Aussies & the Kiwis fully deserve to be on the bigger stage. About time the big yins of England, Italy, France, Spain, Germany got a kick in the shins.