I hope you have been well. It's almost the end of the school year and for many it means preparing for a new school. It can be an anxious time but also an exciting one and I hope that excitement continues with a joy for learning. For those taking the big step in furthering their education, I wish you the best of luck in both your education and forming new relationships. To everyone leaving us this year, I hope you succeed in your future endeavours. I look forward to seeing bright faces in the new school year. Have fun and stay safe!
Kind regards
John
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I hope you are keeping well. Last week was the 25th Anniversary of Yu-Gi-Oh, so the digital games "Masters Duel" and "Duel Links" have been running special events.
I decided to log-in for the bonuses and complete some missions to gain in-game currency, unlock free cards and see what is new. I managed to get the 25th Anniversary Blue-Eyes White Dragon ensemble for 3000 gems in "Masters Duel"; I'm glad I saved over the years. The game remains mostly unchanged.
"Duel Links" had some major changes with limited cards and the game format. It has been divided into speed and rush duels. This is supposed to be a new and fun way to play but I find it annoying; they just have to keep the anime going, just like Pokemon. I managed to get some freebies but missed the character unlock for rush duels since I started late. They have, however, started another character unlock for rush duels.
If you are a fan of glossy or prismatic cards, I mean, if you are a fan of Yu-Gi-Oh then you should take the chance to play a little in your free-time. Both games should be available on smart phone and tablet in-addition to the PC version. Have fun!
Kind regards
John
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I hope you're keeping well. It's supposed to be cold this week, so be sure to wrap up. During the weekend I had caught up to recent manga chapters and one completed last week, so I decided to search for ones I hadn't read in a while.
The first...CANCELLED! "Awww."
The second... CANCELLED! "No way!"
The third...CANCELLED! "You've got to be kidding me!"
The forth...CANCELLED! "Why God do you torture me so?"
The fifth...HIATUS! "Well, it isn't cancelled but it doesn't help much."
And so, I gave up and took a nap. The sad thing is that they were just getting started and had a rather good premise. They were like gems compared to many of the current releases that got multiple volumes. I'm just hoping those on hiatus progress soon. Have you ever had a manga you enjoy suddenly cancel?
Kind regards
John
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It has been quite a year and I hope everyone gets some rest and comes back rejuvenated in the new year. If you want a funny Christmas song and are a fan of Marvel, I recommend this link to YouTube: https://youtu.be/-E1ULv6LcOk
Have a jolly Christmas and a happy new year!
Kind regards
John
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I hope you are keeping well. On Saturday, the teaching crew got together for a few hours of pool; not swimming but billiards. Unfortunately Shane couldn't attend because he was getting his foot amputated at the clinic (not really but I hope he gets better soon).
I hadn't played pool for 13 years, so I thought I might be a little rusty. However, I still had the knack for it and dominated the table. Well, I say that despite sinking both the black and white ball thereby giving away a single win. It was really fun! I was also introduced to 9s which was a nice change of pace but I still prefer the standard game. I hope we can do it again in the future and many thanks to Mayumi for the treat.
On Sunday, I was a little unsure what to do but decided to revisit an anime I liked. It's called "Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari" and has an incredible opening theme tune. If you're familiar with "Tenchi Muyo", you might like this spin-off. I think I liked it more when I first saw it but it is still enjoyable. I also prepared for a possible playthrough of "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" since I have been missing the feeling of exploring the vast north; "Conan Exiles" has been good but I feel a change is needed.
Kind regards
John
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I hope you are keeping well. On Saturday we had a sports event with a number of competitive activities. It was really fun and everybody seems to have had a wonderful time. One student was really surprising; he must have been the god of sports in his past life. I have no idea how one can move that fast without dropping the egg in the egg and spoon race. Perhaps he mastered the 飛雷神の術 (Flying Thunder God Technique). There will be more events to come in future, so I hope you'll enjoy taking part in those too. Have a great week and stay safe!
Kind regards
John
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I hope you are keeping well. I have been reading a Chinese manhua (comic) called Tales of Demons and Gods for a while now and I have known there to be an animation. However I have never got around to experiencing it. Over the weekend I started watching it and it goes by the name "Yao Shen Ji". Although each episode is short and the 3rd season is censored to an extent, it is still rather good. If you're into the fantasy martial art genre, it is one I would recommend. Have a great week and I look forward to seeing your Halloween costumes!
Kind regards
John
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I hope you're well. On Saturday 23rd September, the Autumn Equinox, we went pear picking. On the way there, I could see Higanbana (Red Spider Lilies) along the roadside. They are a beautiful flower said to line the path to the underworld for souls of the dead to follow and bloom for 1000 years. They appear a lot in "Immortal Cultivation" comic books.
When we arrived, it was quite warm and we sat in a hut where we could eat pears. I had never eaten a Japanese pear before and I found them to be more similar to apples than European pears. The knife used to cut them is well designed; it cuts well and is much safer than a traditional European fruit knife. The pears were firm, juicy, sweet and a little sour in the middle. I really enjoyed eating them.
After eating, we went to pick the pears. I was surprised by how low pear trees grew since I imagined them to be tall like apple trees. I picked small pears but the students who went were professionals who picked big pears. However, mine had a good scent which means good flavour. There were spiders' webs to avoid, so it might not be good for arachnophobes.
After getting hot, we stopped at the farmer's market where they sold grapes, preserves and ice-cream. I had a grape ice-cream cone which had a refreshing taste of summer. Sitting on the bench, eating ice-cream with butterflies flying about was relaxing. The play area was popular with the students, especially the trampoline. A certain brother and sister pair went back for a second serving of trampoline fun.
Once we finished, clouds began to gather. So, we were fortunate to have missed any bad weather. It was a lovely experience and I really appreciate being invited along. I wonder if Japanese pears are available in the United Kingdom. If they are, I'm sure they'd be great in a pie. Do you enjoy eating Japanese pears? Or do you just like picking them?
Kind regards
John
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I hope you are well. I mentioned previously that I am going through a "Conan the Barbarian" phase which impacts my choice of activities at the weekend. Besides revisiting the animation "Conan the Adventurer", I also played "Conan Exiles". I spent time exploring and built a fortress on a cliff near a river. The build took me 4 hours, oops!
I found a rock that looks all too familiar. Which Disney movie is it from?
My character, Akivasha, with her weapons, tools and survival supplies.
Do you see the large structure on the cliff? Yes, I built that.
The forests make for a nice walk, provided you don't get eaten by wolves or bears.
A close up portrait. "Am I pretty?", don't worry I'm not a yokai.
The clear waters are calming after a long fight but really cold.
I just wanted to share some of the experiences with you. Do you have any build suggestions?
Kind regards
John
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I hope you are keeping well. This weekend I took the opportunity to play more of a game I haven't played in a long time; "Conan Exiles". It's a roleplaying survival game based on the books by Robert E. Howard. Although it is rather time consuming, it is fun to explore the world, battle and build. When I first played years ago, I died in the first 5 minutes but I am still alive after 12 hours of game play over the last 3 weeks. Hopefully I can keep up this streak and not lose my items on death (Have I raised a death flag?).
If you enjoy building, exploring and engaging in combat every so often, it is a game I recommend. You can also play with friends as a group, provided you have friends. The co-operative play can enhance the experience and reduce the time spent gathering resources since they can be shared with your guild (group).
If you aren't interested in the game, the books are worth a read and there are several movies that have been made "Conan the Barbarian" (1982 + 2011 Remake) and "Conan the Destroyer" (1984). There is also a film set before Conan's time with Kull as the main character "Kull the Conqueror" (1997). It's a rather good movie with Kevin Sorbo and the lovely Tia Carrere. With summer vacation just around the corner, you may find some time to watch these films. Have a great week!
Kind regards
John
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I hope you are keeping well. As I have mentioned previously, I was a regular player of "Fortnite". It was already rather money oriented and lately there have been fewer and fewer original developments. However, as a "Founder" (a person who bought the game in its infancy and helped it grow) I would receive regular rewards provided I logged in. As of the latest update, the company has got rid of the reward which shows a clear shift from maintaining cash flow (which is great for the longevity of a business) to chasing purely profit (which is a great way to cripple a business). I have, therefore, ceased playing the game for the long-term.
On the bright side, this gives me the chance to play other games. As if fate prepared for the inevitable loss of players from Epic Games, Steam finally licensed "Magic the Gathering: Arena". I have been a fan of the game since 2014 both online and offline. Surprisingly, they have brought "The Lord of the Rings" to the myriad planes; of which I am a huge fan. The gameplay is similar to Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokémon but with its own lore background. If you enjoy strategic card games like those or just like collecting the art, you may enjoy "Magic the Gathering". Playing it made for a nice change of pace even though I accidentally played far longer than I would "Fortnite"; matches can be deceptively long.
If you feel bored and are looking for something to do, it's worth checking since it's free to download and play. You can also receive currency as you play for purchases, so you won't have to spend a single penny provided you spare the time. I hope you all have a wonderful week.
Kind Regards
John
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I hope you are keeping well. I don't have much to say about my weekend but as some of you may know, I took a day off last week due to a long-term lower back injury. Usually it is just painful and restricts my movement with loss of sensation every so often.
However, once in a blue moon, I may lose the ability to to walk without support for 6-8 hours once my back "pops". It is something I have been living with for over a decade, so please rest assured. I really appreciate your asking after me and ascertaining whether I am okay; it's really thoughtful.
From the experience I can advise, "If someone asks a favor to assist in moving a heavy item, refuse and take a financial loss to hire a professional or rent supportive equipment. It may seem a lot at the time but it is well worth safeguarding one's health."
Once again, thank you all for your kindness. Stay safe and enjoy your week!
Kind regards
John
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