1 year and couple of months on...

I'm going to write something again and the reason why I stopped posting blogs was that I got caught in between work (that I don't enjoy and it's been very stressful), earthquake and tidal wave problem in north east Japan, personal stuff at home i.e. family so that's what really went behind. I am going to resume this blog and would like to type something occasionally if not regularly.

In memory of Gary Moore

I just want to pay my tribute to a great guitarist GARY MOORE... He passed away last sunday in Spain while he was asleep. I love his music and he was a nice bloke. His gig Wild Frontier 1987 tour was my first ever gig and I will never forget it. He was a fantastic guitarist who can express emotion and feelings to guitar and I've never heard anyone sounding like his trademark clean and high tone guitar. Last year we've lost DIO battling with cancer but with Gary he just left us suddenly.

I hope he'll be gigging up there with DIO, Cozy Powell, Randy Rhodes and his best mate the mighty Phil Lynott.

I also want to say good bye to Phil Kennemore who played bass with Y&T... I didn't know he was gone!

I want to say belated Happy New Year!! Chinese one that is... 3rd of February, the year of the Rabbit!!

It's sad but their legacy will stay forever!!

Light and Space

Okay so it's nearly end of January... I've moved to a new home in Hackney from Stoke Newington since my 32nd birthday in 2nd of January 2011...

We all like the new home and like the area. We've been without a telephone and internet but now back on line since 26th of Jan.

I am now working and earning some money as well but to be honest I want to change it ASAP because I am not happy with current work and move onto better things.

Anyways today I will resume review and going to review a band called Threshold from Surrey, UK. They are progressive metal band and just simply brilliant. In my opinion they are the best progressive metal band and better than Dream Theater. I don't know too much about Their earlier career from 1989 because I can't judge not owning any albums with Damian Wilson etc. I only have the compilation album called "The Ravages Of Time"and on this compilation very few songs from old albums.

So I'll write about Mac (Vocalist) era. So progressive rock is long, complexed and atmospheric rock music. And metal is just fast and furious heavy rock music. So if you combine these two you'll get Progressive Metal music. Let's say Emerson Lake & Palmer + Metallica = Threshold. If you know what I mean. This band's main leader is Karl Groom who plays guitars and also produce other bands albums not just his own Threshold. Mac is longest and most successful vocalist in this band and he has simple and plain vocal style but can stretch it well. Bit like Peter Gabriel from Genesis. Typical progressive rock singer. But it's clear. Guitars are very technical, heavy, tempo change, aggressiveness and lot of complex melody. Bass is bass you don't hear it much in metal!! lol Keyboards creates atmosphere and add colours to their music. Drums are played by this short black guy who is just brilliant. Well timed and does lot of double bass drumming.

Production is top notch. Crystal clear modern sound. No one do better jobs than Karl Groom. I would strongly recommend "Hypothetical" album and "Subsurface". "Clone" and "Critical Mass" are alright but it hasn't got much killer tunes. After "Dead Reckoning" Mac left and old vocalist Damian Wilson returned and they've been pretty quiet but I think they are still active. They should stay active because if they don't it'll be waste of talents. These guys makes me feel worth following metal and progressive music.

If you are going to listen to Progressive Metal then you better listen to Threshold first then maybe Queensrÿche, Dream Theater or Fates Warning or whoever.

Just before January ends...

Back online since this wednesday 26th! Before it's too late, belated happy new year 2011! And watch this space...

We wish you a Merry Christmas!!

We wish you a Merry Christmas!! Yes another end of the year... It's been extremely tough and hard and difficult year for me. 2010 has been plenty of transitions... I faced too much disappointing down time so I am hoping next year will be plenty of UPS!!

Frozen Britain

All over the UK is covered with thick snow last weekend and most people weren't coping well and some of the transport system has stopped including the airport! Mad.

I'm still frustrated with many things in life and hoping things will be fine near future. It's been pretty awful year...

War Machine

I met my great friend and employer from Tokyo Mr. Habu last week and also I met the TANK and KILLERS (Paul Di'Anno) legendary guitarist Cliff Evans. I'm honoured and made me happy!!

Longer Route

This one is about just over 5km distance and tonight I managed to run within 27:43 I think it's okay. Not that bad. Tomorrow is very important and hope I can bring the positive news back home!!

Walthamstow Marshes

I walked to Walthamstow Marshes today. I had some problem at home so I decided to come here. I walked and walked for few hours. Today there's snow and all over UK was frosted. Walthamstow Marshes are historic place and there's wild life, beautiful nature and a river. There's some bridges so you can across to the other side. Then I bought a bag of potato snack by Watermint Quay. It's a Jewish grocer and most of their product were written in Hebrew. Don't know what it says but it taste fine and it was cool to see some Hebrew text. Then I walked toward Seven Sisters/Tottenham Hale and I returned home. I haven't done much run recently but I got the time 20:52 I hope to go faster next time.

New jogging route in London

I have been doing occasional run from my mum and sister's flat from Stamford Hill to Manor House station and the distance is nearly 4km. I run this distance within space of around 21 minutes-ish. Last week I managed to run in time of 21:22. I would like to run this distance in 20 minutes or something like that.

It's simple course but it's not bad.

England v France

I hardly watched the game... I was too busy looking for work and attending some interviews etc. I'm getting pressurised due to not getting any work and I need it quickly. I need to get out of my mum and sister's small flat and I got to get some money to the house. I'm going to give another 4 or 5 days or else I have to pick this sales work. Anyways from what I know England lost to France 1-2 at home, The New Wembley and played awful. The usual physical, long ball towards big man like Andy Carroll etc. We just don't have good players and we have best club manager like Capello but no progress and it looks really depressing but the good news is much delayed Burton project will start from next year and should all be complete by 2012. St. Georges Park the first England's National Football Centre. And then we can develop and train the new coaches and players. It's sort of famous French Clairefontaine of English version.

Anyways I've been back for 2 weeks and half and I need to sort everything quickly... I think my wife and son likes London, England a lot. My wife don't like the weather here but apart from that all good really. My son smiles a lot since he moved to London so that's good.

Back in UK!!

I took my family to London, England. It's been nightmare but now it's all over but I still have to do many things. Took me about 9 months to sort out marriage, spouse visa, birth and my son's passport. It costed me dearly. I went through very tough time.

It's been 10 days since the arrival but seems like my wife and son is very happy to be with my mum and they like the city of London.

I much prefer being here because Tokyo was extremely crowded, busy, so narrow and everything was so small and no grass field to plays football. Not so much nice environment. Concrete jungle...

Tokyo has great theme parks, safe to be at night and lot's of shops open late at night, very convenient but not for me really.

I learnt to appreciate nice people from Japan and they are precious people. I will miss them. I also enjoyed my job. I lived in Tokyo for 5 years and that's quite longish time.

I met my beautiful wife and had lovely son and gained so much.

Thank you!!

My journey start from here again!!

Happy Halloween!!

Trick or Treat!! It's time of Pagan tradition... the celtic Scots and Irish invention... Samhain as known as Halloween!! Japanese people are very obsessed with Jack 'O lantern despite not being Celtic people!! I see pumpkins everywhere!!

JAM

That's what my mum call him! Jammy git!!

3.5km Jogging 2

Best time so far is 15:19:16...

Also yesterday I climbed Takao Mauntain in Tokyo. Shame about not seeing much temples due to it was for a school trip. I was looking after 9 years old kids!!

My SON!! 2

I've been rather busy visiting my wife and our baby Justin. Both of them are doing fine and I'm pleased. I run again today but shorter distance 3.5 km. My time was 15:48:67. Not too bad I think.

My SON!!

He's born today at around 1:05 this afternoon! Weight is 3.6 kg. I feel great becoming a father!!

Bless you!!

5.1km course 4

My time is getting better each time. Yesterday I managed to run this distance within 26:43:25 very pleased indeed! And the big news is that I'll be a father maybe tomorrow...

5.1km course 3

Last night my time improved by more... 27:10:66!!

I'd like to run this distance within space of 26 minutes!!

Well done me!!

5.1km course 2

I checked my time again cos I run same distance. It did improve little. Time was 27:51:44 not bad. I think if I was fitter I could do better...

Satisfied!