The Secret Garden - Mary writes to Jane

Dear Jane,

Your letter brought back memories of a time in my childhood which changed my life. When I arrived at Misselthwaite Mannor from India, I was so rude and spoilt girl. At first, I didn’t listen to the housemaid, Matha, but then I began to like her because of her friendly attitude.

One day, I heard from Martha about the secret garden which locked up ten years ago after Mrs. Craven died. When I was watching the robin in the garden and found the door under the leaves when the wind blew the ivy on the wall.

One night I heard the crying noise. I followed the noise and met with Colin. After I came to Misselthwaite Mannor, I could have my garden and also have some friends who are Dickon and Colin. Not only Matha’s friendly attitude changed me, but also these friends made me strong through the gardening physically and mentally.

 Mary

Rob Roy

A fan mail to Diana.

 (Ask her a few questions as well as telling her why you admire her.)

Dear Diana,

I’m your big fan. I love you because you are a good horse rider. I love to see horse running on a green field. I’ve never seen you are riding on a horse, but I can imagine you manage your horse like you dance and run a big beautiful field in Scotland.

If possible, could you tell me the name of your lovely horse? It must be a good looking horse. There is another reason why I’m your fan. I think you are mentally strong woman.

You believed and supported your father. You are proud of him that he did what he believed. Your family’s situation became difficult because of him, but you didn’t blame on him. Were you afraid while you had kept the secret of your father? I wish I could be a listener of your lonely heart. Please do not think you are alone. Things will be better.

I always pray for you that your situation will be better.

Sincerely,

Yumi

Kazumi's local (Matsumoto) restaurant reviews

Aburaya

You won't find Chinese food as good as this in town. It's always busy, so the service isn't as quick as some people would like. However, every dish is tasty. I recommend going there late lunch time, as it won't be too busy. You won't be able to have some options (coffee, dessert) but it's as cheap as anywhere else in town.

Reviewed by Kazumi

Find it on Trip Advisor

Maruyasu

Nowhere serves as much salad, rice & miso soup as Maruyasu. You can take advantage of the 'all you can eat' option. This tiny restaurant is always full. You can't book, so I recommend going as early as you can before the restaurant opens. It isn't as expensive as you'd expect.

Reviewed by Kazumi

Find it in Google maps: 7-43 Takamiyaminami, Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture 390-0843

Miyuki's local (Matsumoto) restaurant reviews

Reizan

I've never had Chinese food as tasty as this. Everything on the menu is cooked to perfection. This long-established restaurant is popular with families. If you prefer quicker service, try it on a weekday or week-night, when it isn't as busy as the weekend. It's a little expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Reviewed by Miyuki

More info at Tabelog

Misato

I don't eat at soba restaurants as often as at French and Italian ones. This soba restaurant has a beautiful Japanese garden, so you can enjoy your meal and a romantic view. The house is historic and peaceful, and has a nostalgic atmosphere. The staff are friendly and do everything to make your meal as pleasant as possible.

Reviewed by Miyuki

More info at Tabelog

Would you like to stay in Japanese garden house in Matsumoto?

It's walking distance from Nakamachi Street. It's spacious, with four Japanese-style rooms, a living room, a large garden, two bathrooms and a balcony. The garden has a pond, a river, a lot of "toro" - which are Japanese stone lanterns. For example, the "Yukimi Toro" was built near the pond, because Yukimi is in the fisherman's style - to get fish.

The neighbourhood is friendly and fun. We always join the festival of Fukashi Jinja (shrine). It's perfectly situated for galleries, museums, and the performing arts.

The house is ideal for a family. It's a no-smoking house and sorry, no pets,

("yuki' is snow - "Yukimi Toro" is snow view lantern)

Posted for Kaoru

NB Not actually for rent :)

My favourite survival story

My favorite survival story...Fictional or true, film or book what story of survival do you like it?

I guess many people will raise this masterpiece called, “two years’ vacation” by Jules Verne when they hear what your favorite survival story is.

I read it when I was eight years old. I’m not sure if schools still do that, but most elementary schools used to sell recommended books before thwy had a long vacation like summer or winter. The direct translation of the survival book’s title in Japanese is “The record for drift by 15 boys”. I certainly knew that this should be adventure story.I bought and read it during summer vacation. 

The story is that some students  in New Zealand boarded on schooner. They lost a way because of storm, and landed on Unknown Island. They were confused, but tried to find a way to live in the island by searching it. By gathering their knowledge, they organized the rule to live in the island like a law that adults do. This story also gives us some boy’s friendship. Some boys aren’t in good relation, but they overcome by helping each other. 

I think this story has full of excitement, and gives all children dream.

Return to Earth - with a letter in 2129

Dear great-great-grandaughter

Ellen gave Harl a letter to deliver in 2129. Write Ellen's letter.

Dear Harl,

I don’t want to say that you were right, but now I may have to say that you were. I truly believed that telepath can save our world. I believed that people help each other and have more sympathy. Lately, many young people die. Police determined that it’s suicide. It is not revealed in the society but I doubt that it’s because of telepath. I sometimes hear some strange voice in my head. The voice seems like a girl’s voice. She says, “You killed people. Because of your project, lots of young people died. I know everything. I know you changed world, and world went wrong because of you.” Do you think I’m crazy? No, it’s really somebody’s voice, not what I think in my head. I’m worried about the world in the future. Can human survive although young people are dying? Can my great-great-granddaughter meet you? Do you remember that you invited me to go to the space with you? I should go with you to see if human can be alive. I will ask my granddaughter to pass this letter to her child, and pass it to you when you come back to earth. I believe you can guide this world to right direction.

Sincerely,

Ellen

My gap year

Imagine you could take a year off work, and do just anything you wanted to do. 

Make a monthly plan.

1^st Month: Do nothing

Enjoy normal life. Go walk and sleep in the park and have a good food in Nagano or any other area in Japan.

2^nd Month: Go to Europe for sightseeing

Firstly go to England. I want to go to see the Old castles like Edinburgh castle, and also go to see the Stonehenge. After going to watch the soccer game in Manchester, I plan to go to see Big Ben and get the Big eye to see the night scenery in London.

3^rd Month: Move to France stay 3 month

Maybe the Paris is convenience to go to travel everywhere in the Europe. I want to stay Paris for 3 month to study French and go to travel lots of Europe countries such as Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherland, Finland/Norway and east-Europe countries.

Actually, I wanted to go to Egypt and Turkey before, but these areas are deteriorating condition of public safety. I gave up going there at this time but really wanting to go there in the future after the public safety is kept.

6^th Month: Move to Canada and US and stay 3 months

My mother and sister love the Anne of green gables. I also like the story and think I want to see the beautiful scenery someday.

Stay in Boston or New York for a while to study English and enjoy the life in the US.

If I bored to see the famous spot in Boston/NY, I will move to LA and go to Western US areas for sightseeing.

As I never been to San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, I want to go there by train or plane (as I don’t like to drive a car).

9^th Month: Move to Australia & New Zealand

Stay in Australia (maybe Sydney?) for study English and enjoy the life in Australia and NZ.

I want to go to Ayers Rock and great barrier leaf to see dolphins, and also want to see the koala bear of course!

10^th Month: Move to Asian countries (Indonesia, Philippine, Malaysia, Thai and Vietnam etc)

As one of my best friend in Thai, I want to stay there for 2 months. And go to a lot of Asian countries from there.

12^th Month: Return to Japan and do nothing

Enjoy normal life, and prepare for the life of every day working…

After reading - Stories from the Five Towns

How do you usually begin the new year?

On the New Year’s eve, my family usually watch the famous TV show called “Kouhaku Uta Gassen”. It is a music program which has a long history. It is broadcasted until 23:45. Since we go to bed late, we begin the New Year slowly.

I cook “Ozouni” for breakfast. Ozouni is one of traditional dish for New Year. Ozouni soup is made from dried bonito and put rice cakes and various vegetables such as carrots, radish, Japanese mushroom called shiitake, etc. As the rice cake is sticky and chewy, we wish for long life by eating Ozouni.


After we finish the breakfast, we visit our parent’s house for seasonal greeting. The families get together and eat and drink a lot. We usually eat Osechi which is another traditional dish for New Year. The kids get Otoshidama from grandparents and uncle/aunt. Otoshidama is money in the small paper envelop which has the cartoon character. It is a gift from adults during the New Year.

During the New Year holiday, we go to shrine to pray for good luck throughout the year. Every shrine gets crowded with the people and there is a long queue for Omikuji. Omikuji is paper fortune which we can pull out from box. We talk about who has the best luck and buy Omamori which is a charm against bad luck.

Mending bridges - after reading "In Sarah's Dreams"

When I was a high school student, I belonged to a brass band club. I played bassoon and Akiko played clarinet. My best friend Yuka played clarinet, too. Yuka and I used to talked and practiced together. Sometimes Akiko was around us, but she had never spoken to us. And I had never seen her smiling. I thought that I didn't know what she thought. So I didn't like her.

At the time, I liked to read mystery novels written by Yukito Ayatsuzi. None of my friends had read his novels. I talked to Yuka about the novel I read and about Yukito Ayatsuzi passionately! Yuka smiled and said “It sounds very interesting!” “I have read this novel, too.” Suddenly I heard a whisper from behind me. I was surprised. Akiko was there. She had said “I love his novels, too!”. “Really! What is the best for you?” We talked with Akiko for the first time. And we couldn't stop talking about these novels. She smiled all that time. I changed my image of her after we talked. She was just shy. And she was funny!

We have been good friends ever since.

Posted for Mio

Are iPad good or bad

Many people are against iPads, but I think they are good thing. Some people say that we play too much with iPads.

Today lots of people wear glasses because they play too much with iPads. In addition, some apps cost extra money and some people spend a lot of time playing with them so they become fat and unhealthy

I don't agree. I think that iPads are a good thing, because you can communicate with people around  the world. Also, you can play with games, watch videos and use as a mini PC.

So some people think that iPads are a bad thing. But I think they are a great way to have fun and learn. 

Tales from Longpuddle - new addition! After reading...

Write about a peaceful long journey you made? 

Where were you going, and who with? Why were you travelling, and how did you feel about arriving? 

I went to travel around the world with my husband. We have a lot in common. We are open mind and love free. Since we've married, we were planning to travel around the world to see various things, share each feelings so that we can understand both of us. We started traveling from Japan and final destination is United Kingdom. We bought cheap air ticket and stayed backpacker's hotel to save money. During the traveling, we met a lot of people. We talked them and became friends. We love drinking, so we communicate with people in drinking.

I really want go India because I like doing yoga. I want stay there to practice. My husband was not much like India, but he went together me. In the beginning he wasn't so enthusiastic, however he liked India finally because he liked indian curry. We went Egypt, Spain, Africa, Italia.

At last, we arrived UK!! We excited to stay there. We liked British music, culture, fashion. We could feel British mood. We didn't want go back to Japan. When we were in airplane, we decided to live UK after few years.

Posted for Miyuki

My favourite building - Horyuji temple, Nara.

Horyuji temple near Nara (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The oldest building in Japan is Horyuji temple. It is in west Nara.

It was designed by Shotokutaisi. It was built 1300 years ago.

Kudara Kannon is one of the most beautiful statues of Buddha  in the world. Kudara Kannon was a secret statue for a long time.

Nandaimon is a Japanese style gate.  There are two statues in Nandaimon. One statue is "a" . This statue's mouth is open. The other one is "un" . This statue's mouth is shut.

Inside the Koudo building it is quite dark. There are a lot of  interesting statues of Buddha inside.

One of the best buildings in Horyuji is Gojyu-no-to pagoda. There are five rooves. It is 34 metres tall.

It costs 1000 yen to enter.  

Written by Kaoru