Dinosaur Hunting with Hannah Spearritt's Pants

The general cacophony of modern life has been wearing me down of late. The inability to escape from the hubbub of city life, coupled with the never-ending noise that comes with working in a multi-lingual environment is usually partnered with the respite of being able to go home and switch off both ears and brains after a long day at the office.

Unfortunately, when you live in the gay quarter of town, and your nights are punctuated by hourly renditions of Rocky Horror's "Sweet Transvestite", the sound of the city can eventually lead you into a state of murderous rage.

The problem is, I'm a country boy at heart. Although I love the culture and the internationality of urban living, at heart I still crave nature. The tranquility of sitting on a beach, or in the middle of a forrest, undisturbed by anything or anyone is base need for my Shintoist soul. Indeed, if there is one singular thing that I miss about life in Japan, it's the ability to find peace in even the most built-up of areas, the Islands of serenity set aside mid-city for those much needed moments of spiritual calm.

So, after another exhausting week amidst the humdrum, and enduring the outlandish behaviour that came hand in hand with Bournemouth Pride this weekend, I decided to head to the New Forrest for a peaceful cure to the deafening drone of modernity.

The New Forrest, home not only to wild horse and dinosaurs (being the main location of filming for Primeval, one of the most underrated sci-fi series of the last decade, made famous by its awesome cgi dinosaurs, and gratuitous shots of Hannah Spearritt's knickers), is a real retreat into the natural world. After jumping on the train to Brockenhurst (a wonderful little village with a plethora of charming pubs), we made our way past the ponies into the heart of the woods.

Laying atop a fallen tree for a half hour or so, I finally achieved the meditative few moments I have been craving for the last few months. Zen is hard to come by in any built-up metropolis, but for what may be the first time since leaving Japan, I finally found a half-ounce of inner peace. Breathing in the fresh, woody air, listening to nothing more than the occasional tweeting of birds, nothing in the world could have made me happier.

Except perhaps a dinosaur.

Or Hannah Spearritt's infamous pants...

A Well-Earned Weekender with Shakira

Finding the time to treat yourself can at times be a real hassle in our hectic modern lives. We sleep, we work, we eat, and thereafter exhaustion sets in. Wash, rinse, repeat. A moment to oneself is a treasured thing, and a moment to oneself when we can actually do something enjoyable is often nigh on impossible.

After the longest week imaginable (despite loving the juggling of my dual personality, it's becoming more and more difficult burning the candle at both ends!), I was treated yesterday to the greatest school trip I have ever been on. Almost twenty years after it opened, I finally got the chance to go to Legoland Windsor, a day out that allowed my inner child to escape and run free for a full six hours of ages 5-13 fun.

As anyone who knows me is inherently aware, I have something of an obsession with Lego, and would happily while away my monthly salary on set after set were it not for more mundane things like rent and electricity bills. 

And so it was with childish glee that I spent the day gallivanting about the little people (both toddlers and plastic minifigures), caring not particularly for the rides, but instead marvelling at the microscopic architecture, dreaming of the day that I will eventually be able to rule over my own Lego Kingdom.

I returned home sated and pooped out, revelling in even more good fortune as I found a discarded Metropolis framed poster on my amble home.

To top off my self-indulgent weekend, Manami and I have just gorged ourselves on Columbian treats; meaty, fruity, spicy goodness that added up to the best meal I have had in months. Not even yogurt from Shakira's belly button would have surpassed this South American smorgasbord. 

My inner child delighted, my inner geek feeling lucky, and my corpulent stomach filled with finery, this week's trials and tribulations have most certainly paid off!

The Best of Both Worlds with Hannah Montana

I love being a teacher. Having slaves my way through kitchens, hotels and the bevy of crappy jobs that come with being an over-educated, under-experienced child of the eighties, the promises that come with schooling are somewhat quashed by the crushing reality that was the credit crunch. 

So when I finally, accidentally, stumbled into a career in education, I was delighted to discover a job that fed me both mentally and passionately.

Teaching allows a born entertainer to revel in the knowledge garnered through world travel with a love of performing to an ever-eager crowd.

Of course, as the education industry attracts such a rag-tag collection of wannabe actors and unrequited musicians, there are many of us left wanting that little bit more.

As such, I'm glad to have found myself nesting in the musical hubbub of Bournemouth. As I sit this evening waiting to go on as I headline one of the local acoustic nights for the second time in as many months, I  reflect upon the amazing opportunities that have been thrust towards me. 

Having only really embraced music about four years ago when Manami pushed me into taking a post as house musician at a local gaijin bar, it's amazing to think how very far my £5 guitar has taken me. From disgruntled line cook to the dual life of teacher by day to acoustic rocker by night, I feel privalages to be able to keep the candle burning at both ends.

Sure, my caffeine consumption has risen exponentially, but spiritually, I'm fulfilled. Right now, I'm definately enjoying the best if both worlds!