h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello Lugworm
I hope you won't be fed up with my conversation.
Looking forward to hearing from you again
Taamyu

Hiya Lugworm,
I miss you
Speak to you soon
Taamyu

G'day Taamyu,
I did see you post about NEXT and you got a lot of good replies but it is still a hard one to answer and I think it changes somewhat, depending where you live. Here we say - last Monday. (Monday of last week). This Monday (monday of this week). Next Monday (Monday of next week. If on a Wednesday, say, we might say, Monday past, refering to the Monday of this week which we have passed. I'm sure that just confuses you more. English is, I know, a hard language to learn but you seem to be doing very well with the written word stick at it your English is probably better than mine!

Thank you for you reply, Lugworm

I just worried that our 'story' will disappear
I really enjoy talking with you on this thread as I know something about your country
So, please keep this thread if you don't mind.

Many thanks for your kind thughts as usual.

Taamyu

G,day Taamyu,
yes I will continue our story, I haven't forgotten you and look forward to hearing more about Japan. I have been unable to spend as much time on line as I would like but that will change soon. Best wishes as always and I will get back to you shortly

G'day Taamyu,
I have finally managed to get back to our thread about our cities.

Newcastle is on the Hunter River and the largest creek running into the Hunter River is Ironbark Creek, this creek borders on the suburb of Shortland, where I live and is a major feature of the wetlands at Shortland. The Wetland Centre at Shortland is recognised Worldwide by the Ramsar Convention.

When I moved to Shortland in the 1970’s there was no Wetland Centre just an unused football field and club building. The whole site had been used as an unofficial dumpsite and was covered in old car bodies and other miscellaneous junk. The clubhouse had been vandalised and was verging upon dereliction. The hard work of many volunteers saw the building and surrounds cleaned and grants of money from local industries enabled some improvements to be carried out: a theatrette, classrooms and a library.

A canal was excavated from the building to the creek so that people were able to explore the wetlands by canoe; many birdwatchers use the canoes when the go to watch birds in the wetlands. Some large ponds were excavated close to the building so that people could enjoy the wildlife from the comfort of the cafe. The Wetland Centre is used by schools as an education aid in teaching the kids about the environment. People like myself who are interested in birds or other aspects of the environment just enjoy walking around the 45 hectares site.

This is part of Hexham swamp beside which I live

Hello Lugworm
Shortland must be huge place and very beautiful place to go Is football very popular in Australia, too?

Well, I'll tell you about Japanese New Year's Day and one of big festivals in Japan, especially in Osaka today. If I told you before, I'm sorry for doubled story.

In our (old) calender we have still on the 'New Year Week(s)(or Period)' called 'Matsu no uchi(in New Year Pine Decoration)' By 15th of Japanuary we called it Matsu no Uchi. Now people start working earlier than this(5th this year) But you can see the New Year Pine decoration(car(small ornament), on front door...) by 15th January if you come to Jpaan. Oh, it is a Monkey Year with a Chinese calender this year.

Then, we have a 'festival(feast)' called 'Ebessan(difficult for you to prouounce)'from 9th to 11th Jan. in Japan. 9th is the 'pre-festival day', 10th is main tomorrow, and 11th is the 'post-feast'. 'Ebessan' is a nickname of 'Ebisu', the God of Wealth. This festival is for him, and is to make us lots of wealth. It's very famous festival as a 'merchants' festival'(hope you can understand me). Many merchants go to shrine and pray for prosperity of their business. Ebis God is a Happy God It's very important festival for Osaka people, as I told you Osaka has been famous for merchant in Japan for years and years. Osaka people LOVE this festival, though it's become less popluar as it was used to be
('pre-festival day(9th of Jan)' is my birthday lol. A bit happy day today)

Hope you'll enjoy some of Japanese culture (I hope you'll understand my English.)

It was snowy last Saturday in Osaka (it's 02.29 of the 19th in Japan) and it's raining now. I hope it'll be fine when I wake up this morning

Oh, yes, the 'Next, This, Last' thing is really confused thing indeed. But when you reply me I understand more and more which may improve my English

By the way, will you tell me your time zone as I did not know that you have time differenc even in Australia.

Have a Lovely Day, lugworm

Taamyu

Oooops, we have a lovely phrase on Ebessan festival
*cough*
SHOBAI(business) HANJOH-SHITE(prosper)<>, SASA(bamboo-grass) MOT(T)E KOI(bring us/me)<>

Hello Lugworm
I hope you won't be fed up with my thread. I'm very much looking forward to hearing from you soon again though I haven't come here so often since last week.
You are like my father now lol. Take Care. See you soon
Taamyu

G'day Taamyu,
I haven't been on line for three days but I'm back now!

Last time I told you about the Wetland Centre and Reserve, which is in our city, this time I will tell you about Blackbutt Reserve which is a forest or bush reserve also within the boundaries of our city.

Over 180 hectares of tree covered ridges and gullies go to make up Blackbutt Reserve. There are many species of Australian trees and vines as well as a remnant area of rainforest. As well as the wooded areas there are large ponds where lots of different ducks and waterfowl make their homes.

A large colony of fruit bats make their home in the reserve, roosting there during the day and leaving to forage for food as night falls. These creatures do enormous damage to fruit in orchards and can easily find any ripening fruit for miles around. They are not greatly liked by anyone who grows fruit.

Many species of native birds can be found in the reserve and both local and visiting birdwatchers often visit here. Wallabies and kangaroos roam at will in very large dog proof enclosures. As well as the wild birds, which are plentiful, there is also a caged display of rarer birds and marsupials, which are very popular with overseas visitors. There is also a large display of koalas, also very popular with visitors.

The whole of the reserve is accessible to the public with good walking tracks and easy access for the disabled. These tracks are often used by local walkers and joggers for their daily exercise.

Shelters and barbeque facilities are available, and many of the local people, as well as visitors to the city enjoy family outings here.

More another time!

Hello Lugworm
How are you? I haven't seen you online for long time.

Also, I'm very sorry for not writing you earlier as I've been in law for months
I'll try to continue my story next time, but before that I would like you to forgive me for my laziness

One more thing, all digi-box users(UK) has been banned iff h2g2 that's why you can't see lots of your friends here. All you can meet at the moment are pc users or internet users only here

I found that you were online, so I posted this as soon as possible to tell you this shcoking news.
I do hope things will be sorted out and everybody can come back here soon.

Taamyu

G'day Taamyu'
my computer crashed nearly two weeks ago and I am just back, so I will speak to you in the next couple of days. I must try to get around to all my friends and tell them why I have been absent.
Good luck!

Helly Lugworm

Gotcha

Hope we'll keep in touch

I wonder if you can mail me.
If you want to, please mail to
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
Then if I get yours, I'll mail back from my computer(not web mail address)

It's become rather warmer than last week.
I hope the beautiful spring will come soon, though I'll be suffuring from horrible HEY FEVER

Take Care

G'day Taamyu,
I'm finally getting back to speed after my crash. The weather here has been mixed. Saturday it was over 40C. and today its raining and just over 20C which is much more comfortable. It has been very hot for February usually by now it is beginning to cool down, I don't really mind the heat but it gets a bit overbearing at times and a rainy day is welcome! s & s. (Saying - It's raining cats and dogs!)
I suppose it's still cold in Japan I know they have been getting cold weather in the UK. Of the two, cold and hot, I prefer hot! Spring must be in the air if you have hay fever, I hope it warms up for you soon.

Hello Lugworm
Glad to know that you can come back here
It's still cold in Osaka , though it's getting warmer and warmer. I think spring is approaching but it means that horrible hay fever is following

******
A friend of mine who lives in Kobe invited me of going a saxophone concert with her this Sunday So I'll go to Kobe, your memoralbe place, this Sunday.
It's been long time since I went there last, so I'll try to take pictures.
I think I'll tell you what current Kobe is like next week

Sorry for short notice as I'm very
I'll see you soon.

Take Care, Bob(at last I know your name )

Taeko(my first name)

Hello Lugworm
Hope you can read this message lol.
It has been long time since we chatted last.
How are you?
I'm okay. I've become bit busier than last year as I go to teach children English 3 times a month from March
It seems very slow, but to me it's very important rehabilitation and to keep going there is very improtant for my complete recovery.
Next class will start from 13th of April and I'll have 2 more classes (one for 2 kids, the other for a "mothere(adult)"). So I may have 3 classes on Tuesdays every month (though we'll have 3 classes in each in a month all together)

As I told you, finally I went to KOBE!! Don't worry, Kobe has recovered !! And people looks vivid and Kobe was very full of energy!
Although lots of important buildings destroyed, they keep the atmosphere which we used to have

I found that cherry blossoms was blooming yesterday when I went for a walk. I did not see the day before(full blooming cherry blossoms)
Yes, Spring has finally come to Osaka I thing from now to the middle of April, it's the peak of enjoying cherry blossoms in Osaka.
These are not of this year, but I hope you'll enjoy cherry blossoms if you can
http://www.kobe-photo.com/img/sakura03.jpg
http://www.yamagatakanko.com/nenga/jpg/dl/kubo.jpg
http://shonankan.web.infoseek.co.jp/sakura_04b.jpg

Well, I'm very much looking forward to hearing from you again

Taamyu