Read all about it

I've made it on to my hompage. And, no, I didn't just go into internet options and change my home page setting to http://www.windcheater.co.uk/ . Nope, Hiroshima features in the travel section of today's Guardian and for once the focus is on the city's livelier aspects.

The Guardian's Alex Hoban who is living here in Shikoku contacted me to ask a few things about the night life here and we ended up meeting at the Aba Shanti I gig at Mugen a couple of weeks back. Also featured are 3K friends Sleepyeye , Wide Island's Goto Izumi and some kids down by the river. The raid stuff is all a bit old hat for us living here but I suppose it makes some interesting reading for people who don't know about Japan or the city.

It's pretty positive though, as Alex himself was, and it's always nice to see other sides of Hiroshima portrayed to the world.

I do feel a bit bad as the great photo that is used on the front page was taken by my mate Paul at GH but has been credited to me. You only have to take a quick look at my snaps from last weekend's Halloween party to know I wouldn't have managed to get such a great shot. Then again, my beautiful visage has been cruelly snipped from the edge.

Anyway, read the whole article from here.

Hiroshima, Japan

I thought I should blog about my nice weekend but wasn't really in the mood. That was until I happened across probably my least favourite EVER blog, and what I read there was so arse clenchingly awful, so toe curlingly embarassing, that I felt I had to. Well, that's a bit strong, this post ain't gonna end the credit crunch , but after reading such abysmal head-up-arse, 6 form

student, musings upon Japan, I felt a normal view of 'stuff' here deserved to be belched out into cyber space. Or the blog-o-sphere, Whatever. Yes, I'm normal. I'm not a freak with a bloated opinion of my er, opinions. I also like to stick to talking about stuff I know. You know, not like, making things up? Or scaring girls.

So, lets start with the weather, cos it's fucking gorgeous right now. That bit's for my readers back in the UK ;) Anyway, it was a long weekend here in Japan, not that it makes a lot of difference to me

as I always have Mondays off but, that long weekend spring was evident in people's steps. Saturday started in the lovely Organza and then took me to Mugen for Aba Shanti-I. I escaped with my hearing intact. Fuck it was loud, and obviously bass heavy. There was some guy from Osaka with the longest dreads I have ever seen who I enjoyed the most. Maybe not one for the purists, but fuck purists. Bloody luddites.

Back to Organza on Sunday to meet and then move on to Aina Haina for a gig, which, turned out to be pretty good. Couple of

pretty impressive bands with the ever rotating Hiroshima indie circuit musicians in evidence. How do they find the time to write material and practice I always think. One band was particularly impressive (used that word again, not good style) and featured Noodle out of Gorillaz.

After the gig we were invited along to a nice little party at Edge featuring a very elegant looking Minyaco who's energy always

astounds me. Bit of nabe and bedtime....

Today was yet another perfect day and even I thought I should atleast get out for a bit so headed off to Chuo Kouen to look at, well, lots of T-Shirts hang out on washing lines. The photos I had seen kind of captured my imagination but it was a little bit of an anti-climax. Gorgeous weather though so who's complaining?

In the early evening I played Futsal which was fun and I managed to find my shooting boots again :) No aggression, whilst not pussyfooting about, girls playing aswell without anyone acting like twats.

Dub, eccentric cafes, live bands, parties, art and football. All with the minimum of attitude, healthy doses of creativity and talent, and not a wanky blogger in sight. (Apart from me)

It really was a very pleasant weekend.