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I tried in vain to make the trip for the Autumn Harvest last
year .. but we were so very busy that it was impossible to be
able to get away .. but I was, at that time, sure that I would
be able to get back there in the Spring of 2001 ... wrong again
.. we were still just as busy and after all whilst it may be
very nice to be able to drop everything and go where ever we
like .. my outlook on business is slightly different where I
regard the customers as the most important part of my business
and if I am needed here then I have to be here ...and no one
will ever know how long it does take me to make such simple
arrangements when it comes to making plans to be away from my
place of business ...
Anyway .. the decision was made and the Air Flight
arrangements were made and in the wake of those terrifying
events of the 11th September in New York.. believe me even those
were not easy steps to take .. I am not the best of air
travellers at the best of times .. anyway ... they were made and
the travel agents I use and which were recommended to me by my
good friend Peter Wadddington a couple of years previous, P
& R Travel of Manchester .. who quickly found me a couple of
places on an aircraft bound for Japan for myself and one of my
long-standing customers who lives in Birmingham and who's dear
lady wife had not only booked the trip for him but also treated
him to it .. who says are women are the same ? ... anyway .. the
flight turned out to be on 'Aeroflot'.... now wait a minute I
said ...'Isn't that one of those Russian Airlines' ... yes !
came the reply from Steve at P & R Travel ... Well hearing
this my heart jumped straight into my mouth 'Russian Aeroflot'
.. saints preserve us I have enough trouble with British
Airlines let alone going on the Russian ones .. weren't
they in financial difficulties .. would they have enough cash
available to service the ruddy aircraft ? all the stories you
have ever heard about the Ruskies all came to mind .. but the
decision was made - we were off to Japan and we were flying
Aeroflot .. so that was that ....
Well everything was planned to get on the way down to
Heathrow by 10.00 am for checking in for the 12.00 noon flight
on the 11th October 2001 .. the only problem that I had was that
all of a sudden all the work in the world seem to pile up and I
could not see how I could take care of it all before I left for
Japan .. my son-in-law Mike kindly offered to run us down to
Heathrow and stop off at Watford Gap Service Area to collect
Gary .. my customer from Birmingham ... and we were to
leave Flamborough (commonly known as Sin City of the North) at
05.30 am and so the whole day previous to this happening I was
trying to sort out all the orders and make arrangements for our
customers valued orders to be collected and got to them ... and
as I sat at my desk the time seemed to fly by and before I knew
it my son-in-law Mike was asking if I was ready to go .. I
looked at the clock and it was coming up to 0515 am - I had
worked through the night ... so I finalised the computer and
shot upstairs as quitely as I could so that I did not wake her
indoors and threw a few clothes into a suitcase and was ready to
move as scheduled by 0530am ...
Nodding off, as could be expected on the long journey down,
we were soon pulling into the Watford Gap Service Area to
collect Gary ... he was there waiting and keen to get off on his
very first trip to Japan .. his good lady was there to see him
off .. farewells were said and we were quickly on the way again
for the final leg to Heathrow ...
Heathrow was just as busy as ever despite all the scares that
we had heard over the past 4 weeks but one thing that did really
surprise us was what appeared to be the lack of security
considering the previous events that seemed to have overtaken
the world .... we never saw a single guard carrying any weapons
which we had been led to believe we would by the Television News
programs .. but that is just by the way !!
Gary and I checked in and after a short time our cases were
on the way to the loading bay .. the time was 1035am and we had
one and a half hours to wait before we were due to take off ..
so decided to take a look about the Duty Free shops etc to see
if there was anything that we needed - 15 minutes later there
was a call for Mr Trevor Pearson and Mr Gary Joynes to report to
Gate whatever it was as the plane was about to take off .. so we
set off at the Gallop wondering where our time schedule as
printed went wrong .. We were whistled through the boarding
procedure and were soon on board the aircraft with a rather
stern looking Russian Air Stewardess who was almost old enough
to be my Mother glaring down at us as we fastened out seat belts
ready for take-off ... a nice welcome and start to the
long trip ahead we thought ... by 1115am we were in the
air heading for Moscow ... never been there and wondered what
Moscow was going to be like ... four hours and 3 vodka's later
(well as they say when in Rome !) we touched down at Moscow
airport ... quite a large airport .. but believe me not a thing
to do and as we did not have a Visa we were not allowed out of
the airport .. we just sat there bored to tears until it was
time to board the next aircraft for the final leg to Japan ...
This time the stewardess's were a little younger so that made
me feel a little better and seemed to wonders for my ego .. or
was it just wishful thinking ? .. again 4 vodka's later and a 4
hour sleep it was time to prepare for the landing at Narita
airport in Japan .. and it was a nice sight, and one that I
don't think that I will ever tire of seeing, as we flew over the
sea of Japan towards Narita ... it really is a beautiful sight
and I hope that every reading this one day gets to see it for
themselves ....
Quite a change awaited us as we stepped out of the aircraft,
when compared with Moscow where it was quite chilly .. Japan was
warm, very warm, even for the middle of October with
temperatures into the 20's ... and of course even though we were
not really dressed for the temperatures that greeted us, were
non the less very welcome ..
We quickly as it was possible passed through immigration and
headed for the Narita Express which is the fast train to Tokyo
where we would then change and catch the Shincanton Express (the
Bullet Train) to Nagaoka City where we would be based for the
next 8 days .... I don't know about Piccadilly Circus but Toyko
airport was murder getting through and we had just 16 minutes to
do the cross over to that part of the Railway network where the
Shincanton Express departs from for Nagaoka ... but we managed
it ... and right on time more or less to the second we moved off
... As I looked around the carriage it was nothing like my
memory of the last time that I travelled the same train on the
same journey .. this carriage, although spotlessly clean, must
have been 20 years old - whereas the one from my previous trip
was, or seemed at that time, to be very modern with news
features in both Japanese and English being shown above each
door to the main corridors and conveniences ...
Three hours later we were stepping off the train at Nagaoka
City and heading for, what I hoped I'd remembered, was the
direction to the Grand Hotel .. my memory worked well and we
passed through the foyer with Gary standing open mouthed and in
his best Walsal accent, said "How much did you say that
this Hotel was per day" .. oh about £35 per day was my
response, glancing out of the corner of my eye to the tarrif
board to make sure that the prices had not shot up since I was
last there, but for some reason Gary was not having any ... more
or like £135 per day and started to laugh ... and even
after we had been shown to our respective bedrooms and met in
the lobby, or bobby as the Japanese say) .. he was still
laughing about the £35 charge per day that I had assured him it
was .... time would tell ...
We sat in the glorious sunshine waiting for Peter and the
other lads to come off the mountain as it was far too late in
the day for us to head up there after a 28 hour journey from
home to where we were and it was 1515 hrs when we arrived ... it
would have been so easy to fall asleep in that lovely arm chair
.. but we were both determined to stay awake ... and awake we
stayed until I heard that familiar voice from back home 'Waddy'
... at about 1700 hrs ... it was good to see the old pratt again
and we shook hands and hugged as we normally do when no one is
watching .. and made arrangements to meet in the 'bobby' at 1930
hrs ....
As arranged we all met down in the lobby - we had Mike Shaw
from the Evolution Aqua Company who was there to try to install
4 Answers to show the Japanese just how filtration should be
done ... Alan Coogan from Cambridge was there, a nice young
Dutch Lad called Ralph, Harvey was there who works for Peter ..
and of course the light of Peter's life, his wife Hilary was
there .. oh and of course let's not forget Dennis, Peter's
partner .. nobody can forget him really .. he is a grand chap
who seems to have a heart of gold ... So it was off to
Namori's .. this is the same small corner bar that Peter has
made famous over the years that he has been going to Japan ..
small as I said and that is no exaggeration but we all managed
to get round the table and proceeded to order the drinks and a
bite to eat ... but at the back of my mind I could not forget
that the last time I was in the same bar and had something to
eat I was none too good the following day ... but Master who
owned the bar remembered me and welcomed me back with open arms
.. so how could I be mad with his cooking ?... never let it be
said....
Between Mike Shaw and Alan Coogan it was like a night at the
London Palladium ... talk about the comedy of errors .. there
was some rude joke every 20 seconds and I honestly don't know
which one of the two of them was the worst ... Shortly it
started and it was 'Pick on Trevor Week' .. heh Trevor - stand
up - oh sorry you are stood up .. Or has anyone seen Trevor ..
oh there he is could not see him when he was sat down ...
.. and then all of a sudden it was join in the fun, let's also
pick on Gary .. can anyone here tell me what Gary is saying ..
poor Gary .. with his very broad Walsall accent they just could
not pick up on what he was saying .. So I guess our arrival had
provided them with their new targets for the next week or so ..
Of course it did wear a little bit thin but I had something to
look forward to as within the next few days, Alan's wife was due
to join him .. and I was then determined to get some of my own
back when she arrived .. yes ! I could wait .. every dog
has his day as they say ...
After the meal and few pints of Japanese beer later Alan
suddenly produced a Guitar and it was sing song time .. and I
just wondered whilst he was getting ready how the local Japanese
in the cafe were going to take to it ... but it was great ...
Alan, as well as being a well over sized Jockey (don't make me
laugh) .. was quite an accomplished Guitarist and singer and
very soon all the lads were joining in singing the sea shanties
'What shall we do with the drunken Sailor' etc .. and then the
words seemed to change to 'Is Trevor standing or is he Sitting
.. etc and then the next time 'Can anyone tell what Gary's
saying' etc ... which of course produced howls of laughter round
the bar .... Yes is was certainly pick on Trevor and Gary
time ... but of course all in good spirit and being the sort of
happy little chap I am .. went along with it all ... after all
we were all there to have a good time and that of course is what
we all jolly well did ... have a good time ...
Then about 0100 am shattered we all made our way back to the
Hotel .. and both Gary and I were looking forward to a good
nights sleep having already lost a day in the time machine
travelling across the world into a different time zone ... so
that was the end of day one ....
This trip is in just two sections at the moment - and if you
would like to read the continuation of the Trip Autumn 2001 -
please click on the link below ..
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