What is in your cup?

[orlok]

I guess I'm taking my view of the lack of space from the time I spent in Tokyo, where the most popular car at the time was the mini, if I remember correctly, because of its small footprint (I was working on a contract for Rover Japan).

I learned to drive on the long dusty roads of Zimbabwe - I remember at the age of 14 being told by a friend's father to take the wheel of his truck, and driving about 200 miles. Only about the second time I'd ever sat behnd the wheel .

[ProfCrash]

Loving the IPad. It is an expensive toy but it is well built. I have not tried posting from it yet.

OJ with sticky buns made by the hubby. Right now hot water with lemon.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Hmm... around here kids are driving for years before they go get their license due to a lot of farm land. I know one family where their 8-year drives the van for example.

Seems like the opposite extreme from Japan's motorcycle school LOL

I was driving around my Dad's best friend's ranch at about 10. it was an old beat up truck that had 3 on the column and NO power steering! I had to stand up to turn the wheel!

[Stitchawl]

It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day
I was out choppin' cotton and my brother was balin' hay
And at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat
And Mama hollered out the back door "y'all remember to wipe your feet"
And then she said "I got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge"
"Today Billy Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

And Papa said to Mama as he passed around the blackeyed peas
"Well, Billy Joe never had a lick of sense, pass the biscuits, please"
"There's five more acres in the lower forty I've got to plow"
And Mama said it was shame about Billy Joe, anyhow
Seems like nothin' ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge
And now Billy Joe MacAllister's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvoco...eature=related )


Good morning, everyone! Time for a big mug of East India Company's "Royal Breakfast" tea, fresh French bread spread with a yummy tepenade and some Brie, then it's out to play!

Originally Posted by orlok

I guess I'm taking my view of the lack of space from the time I spent in Tokyo, where the most popular car at the time was the mini, if I remember correctly, because of its small footprint (I was working on a contract for Rover Japan).

No bout adout it, they do pack themselves in tight. It's one of the reasons I don't like to scuba dive with a group of Japanese divers. The group stays so tight that often you will have your mask kicked off by the fins of another diver. If you watch a Japanese tour group, each one is touching at least one or two others at all times. I hate to have to stand on lines here because you are pressed up against people fore and aft. (Not so bad if they happen to be young and pretty, but this is an aging society...) Rooms in houses are measured by 'mats,' the size of a tatami mat. One tatami mat is thought to be the space needed by one person to sleep. The size differs from region to region but is roughly 3ft x 5ft. A four and a half mat apartment, the size a single guy or young couple might start out in, is about 9ft x 9ft. and not think that it's unusually small. I've used backpacking tents that were larger...

When driving one is constantly required to pull to the side to let oncoming vehicles pass because the road may be too narrow for two side by side. But it's not due to 'lack of land,' it's the culture. The narrow roads stem from being originally walking paths that have been paved over. With houses built right up to the paths, there is no way to widen the roads now that cars are using them unless you tear down all the houses. Unlike the US, the local government is not allowed to force people out to make way for a new or improved road.

Funny that you noticed all the mini's. Cooper is doing big business here, but the latest trend is towards the SUV. The roads are filled with them, and they have to be careful of the turns they make as they simply can't fit down some streets. Humvees are increasing here too! I'll stick with my bike!

Wife is ready to ride... Off we go!

Stitchawl

[pdurrant]

Coke Zero #1

[orlok]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

A four and a half mat apartment, the size a single guy or young couple might start out in, is about 9ft x 9ft. and not think that it's unusually small. I've used backpacking tents that were larger...

I've come over all claustrophobic just watching that .

I'm off for a run round the garden to regain my equilibrium, once I've finished my Rooibos.

[VydorScope]

I could not do it. Living in the dorms in college for 1 semester was to much.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by orlok

I've come over all claustrophobic just watching that .

I'm off for a run round the garden to regain my equilibrium, once I've finished my Rooibos.

Originally Posted by VydorScope

I could not do it. Living in the dorms in college for 1 semester was to much.

It's all a mater of cultural norms... My first apartment here was a two-room place, one 6-mat and one 8-mat room. Compared with that, my condo now is a palace, with two bedrooms, living room, kitchen and dinning room.

We always hear how 'tiny' Japan is. They refer to themselves as coming from a very small place... yet it's almost twice a large as the U.K., and with roughly twice the population. It's just that due to those cultural norms, most of that population is crammed together into a few mega-cities.

But one thing is for certain. They do do Sake right! And I'm having a glass of it right now!


Stitchawl

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

It's all a mater of cultural norms... My first apartment here was a two-room place, one 6-mat and one 8-mat room. Compared with that, my condo now is a palace, with two bedrooms, living room, kitchen and dinning room.

We always hear how 'tiny' Japan is. They refer to themselves as coming from a very small place... yet it's almost twice a large as the U.K., and with roughly twice the population. It's just that due to those cultural norms, most of that population is crammed together into a few mega-cities.

But one thing is for certain. They do do Sake right! And I'm having a glass of it right now!


Stitchawl

I currently live in an 900 or so sq foot town house and dislike it very much. I leaped on the deal thinking it would be an easy flip... but then the housing market crashed big time, and now I am stuck. I want at least a 1/2 acre lot again with a reasonable yard around me... and dark skies again! Perferably with good forest land all around me.

[VydorScope]

Cup is drained! Now off to get ready to get to church... on a nice pouring down rainy day!

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

I currently live in an 900 or so sq foot town house and dislike it very much. I leaped on the deal thinking it would be an easy flip... but then the housing market crashed big time, and now I am stuck. I want at least a 1/2 acre lot again with a reasonable yard around me... and dark skies again! Perferably with good forest land all around me.

I hear that! One of the major reasons we take weekend bike rides is to see 'green.' We live in a cement jungle, only broken by trees and rice paddies between buildings. We have to travel for 30 minutes to reach 'nature.' I often wish I was back in the jungles of northern Thailand... I'm looking forward to getting back there. Just four more years to wait!

Waiting is easier with Sake...


Stitchawl

[CRussel]

When I lived in NYC, I had a tiny Studio apartment. One room, plus bath, with an alcover for a kitchen. I built an elevated bed with a dining table under it. But it was still SMALL. OTOH, it only had to house me and my cat of the time, Catastrophe, and it had the undoubted advantage of being a place I didn't have to share and could still afford. But I've had cruise ship cabins considerably larger.

It's Sunday, and after a bit of a lie-in, my DW fixed huevos rancheros (with eggs from our chickens, and chorizo that I made), and now I'm enjoying a large glass of fresh squeezed OJ and we're going to watch the absolute last curling match of the season, the Player's Championship. Glen Howard's rink against that of a very dark horse, John Epping. Epping's rink has been a complete surprise during this event -- they were seeded last, but ended up with the best record during the round robin, and defeated Kevin Martin in the semi-finals to make this morning's final. Should be a good match, and I'd love to see Glen finish off a nearly perfect season (Canadian and World championships, in convincing style) with a victory.

[pdurrant]

Last Coke Zero of the day.

With apartments that small, it's no wonder that tiny gadgets are all the rage.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

I currently live in an 900 or so sq foot town house and dislike it very much. I leaped on the deal thinking it would be an easy flip... but then the housing market crashed big time, and now I am stuck. I want at least a 1/2 acre lot again with a reasonable yard around me... and dark skies again! Perferably with good forest land all around me.

tap tap tap.... \l/ I can help!

[Stitchawl]

Well, (Yeah, yeah, yeah) I am a lonely and a lonesome traveler
Well, I am a lonely and a lonesome traveler
I've been a-travelin' on.
I traveled in the mountains and in the valleys,
I traveled in the mountains and in the valleys,
Well, I've been a-travelin' on.
I traveled cold and then I traveled hungry, Lord
I traveled cold and then I traveled hungry, Lord
I've been a-travelin' on.
Hey, one of these days I'm gonna stop all my travelin',
Hey, one of these days I'm gonna stop all my travelin',
Stop all this travelin' on.
I'm gonna keep right on a-travelin' on that road to freedom
I'm gonna keep right on a-travelin' on that road to freedom
Well, I've been a-travelin' on.

( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJU_aSOKFpQ )


Good morning, all! It's off to the Immigration office this morning to pick up my new Visa. God willing, it will be a three-year visa and I won't have to bother with all this burocracy for another few years. But first some warmed up pizza left over from dinner last night, and a mug of unbranded Keemun tea!

Originally Posted by pdurrant

With apartments that small, it's no wonder that tiny gadgets are all the rage.

I had to really search hard to find a microwave oven here that would be large enough for a 9" (normal size, right?) pie plate! Most that were offered were too small. Finally found one and it only just fits into the space in the breakfront made for it. Japanese breakfronts have a sliding pull-out shelf for the rice cooker, space next to that for the microwave, and a shelf underneath for the rice storage cabinet.

Off to La Migre!


Stitchawl