A Century!

I've cracked the ton! 101 pages into my novel and 62,191 words. I've almost completed chapter nine and the first two chapters have been posted to the site. There's a link to the right of the screen - joce's novel. If you read it, please leave a comment. Comments are open to anyone, you don't have to be a blogger, and I'd really love to hear what people think (be honest!) I'm not afraid of criticism, particularly if its constructive. I still consider the novel to be in draft form, so I expect to make revisions. If you have a suggestion you can comment or e-mail it to me. All reasonable ones will be considered, though I won't promise to write you into the story (have already received requests for this!) Maybe next time though.... Yes, I'm already thinking about new stories. I have an ideas worksheet called "a novel idea" - not terribly original, I know. Still, better than 'ideas for books', or something banal like that.

Mmmn, thinking of banal, where are all your haikus? I've only had one submission - check it out in comments (thanks Mike M). I've had good chats to a few friends lately too - but what about the rest of you? I can still count on one hand the e-mails I've received from my Aussie mates over the last two months - come on! Your lives can't be that boring, surely? Plus I'm on messenger and yahoo chat's now too - joce_pix (also my skype ID, but its not working yet). Technology isn't my strong point, I'm afraid, and my tech assistant is a long, long way away. (But thanks for all your help bro, I'm now enjoying Hustle, Spooks and Posh Nosh - "Next week we'll be showing you how to agitate and artichoke!")

Anyway, must go back to bed and try and get a bit of shut-eye before class. One of the apartments downstairs is being remodeled and they keep on waking me up at an ungodly hour. I'll have to ask my Japanese friends how to complain in Japanese!!

Jya'ne! <><

A Novel Idea

For anyone interested I have started posting my novel.



Apparently November is novel writing month, so I got a head start. I'm well past 50,000 words now, but I'll post it gradually.



Please let me know what you think. All reasonable suggestions will be taken into consideration - and you might score a mention in my shout outs...!!

The link should appear above, but just in case, here it is again:

http://jocesnovel.blogspot.com

A Haiku like you

So it's very early in the morning and I'm not sleepy - what better time to get poetic the Japanese way?? Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry consisting of 17 sylables over three lines 5-7-5... Please post your contributions too - its easy once you know how. And I've changed my settings so that anyone can post comments now - SO NO EXCUSES!

Here's one for all my slacker friends....

Why don't my friends write?
Have they forgotten Jocelyn?
Outta sight, outta...

And a seasonal one....

Leaves are turning brown,
And falling on the cold ground.
Grey skies, cold wind, rain.

And one about someone I know very well...

Wandering around lost
Is how she likes to be found
The right way's always wrong.

And one for my homesickness...

I think of my home
Among green trees and good friends
I miss the laughter

See, it's so easy! Give it a try, I'm looking forward to seeing your creations... <><

I was just wandering

It is amazing what you can find on the streets of Japan!

Check out this naughty little cartoon sign I found on the clapboard surrounding building works in Umeda on Thursday. (It was a national holiday here so I was wandering around killing time. I had to do free stuff as it's a lean week!)

** Just a little warning that if you're easily offended, you might want to look away!

A picture paints a thousand words!

Galavanting Around...

I had most of last week off so I took the opportunity to do a bit of sightseeing around the Kansai district.

Last Friday, two of my students took me to Kyoto - we visited the very famous Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavillion) and also the bamboo forrest and a couple of shrines in Arashiyama. It was very crowded as it was a lovely day and a public holiday, but the gardens were still very peaceful. Kinkaku-ji was not as big as I had imagined, and this time I had my new camera in tow so next time I blog I will post a couple of photos!!

On Monday my four Friday class ladies (these are all oba-chan) took me to Osaka-jo and lunch at an Indian Cafe. There was a chysanthemum festival in the castle ground and there were some mightily impressive specimens - unfortunately my photos didn`t work, so you`ll just have to take my word for it. There were bonsai ones and giant ones (like 50cm diameter one bloom!)

Next, I hope to visit Nara. There is another public holiday on the 23rd of November. I just need to find myself a guide... I don`t have any extra students yet unfortunately, but progress continues on my novel. Its now over 70 pages and 46,000 words. It is getting exciting as I approach the climax, hopefully its not total crap, perhaps we shall see. Let me know if you are interested in reading it and if I get enough interest I will post a link.

Well, its getting late and I stayed up waaaay too late last night so that`s about it for me today....

ｼﾞｬﾏﾀﾈﾇ

A true Osaka experience

On Sunday I had dinner with Japanese friends that I met in Melbourne and we had Osaka's famous dish - takoyaki. Takoyaki are octopus balls and are very tasty. You cook them at the table on a special takoyaki hotplate that has dimples all over it. You pour the takoyaki batter on to the hotplate then add fillings like pickled ginger, cheese and most impotant, octopus. You have to flip the cooking balls with your chopsticks and once they are done you eat them with mayonaise and teriyaki sauce and bonnito and nori flakes - very tasty (or Oishii, as the Japanese would say!)

On Friday I am going to visit Kyoto, famous for its traditional lifestyle, kimonos and the golden pavillion. I am hoping to buy myself a camera so I can show you all. Apparently the momiji (that is autumn leaves) are just reaching their height of beauty.... we shall see.

Otherwise, I am keeping myself busy writing my first novel and fighting off a throat infection.

So much for today....