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Issue 43 - July 1996 The Countess Maud |
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Issue 43 - July 1996 The Countess Maud |
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Well now maybe all of those fools that tell me flying is safe are eating their words..I hate to fly ..I even take the shinkansen to Tokyo (first class of course)..and it costs more than flying too..did any of you go out and take a look at that Garuda plane? ..I did..I don`t know how any one survived it.. the Count is an ex-pilot ..he flies any thing that flies..planes, sea planes, helicopters, gliders, ultra-lights etc..and baby Count use to co -pilot YS11's over in Africa (and it had a hole in the wing). The D-in- law is a stewardess with BA .. every one in this family thinks they are birds (I'm the only sane one).. back to that plane .. well the Count just insisted that we go take a look see and so the night of the crash we took all of those back roads that I remember from my Itazuke air base days and in the middle of the rice paddy about 10 feet away it just layed there looking like a devoured fish..all head and tail and nothing in the middle..it was a hundred times worse than what we saw on T.V.. I felt sorry for that poor burnt out thing. (but not sorry enough to think of every flying in one)..it looked so forlorn just laying there with hundreds of police still out there even at 11:00 at night (how would you like to have hundreds of people crawling all over you?)..I REALLY DON'T SEE HOW EVEN ONE PERSON SURVIVED!..the count insist that the pilot saved every one ..that if he hadn't aborted the flight or waited 15 more seconds while they climbed higher that all would have gone bye! bye! and for some people on the ground too.. now the Japanese are having a great time with all of this and blaming the pilot and every one (all gaijine of course) except for JAL which was in charge of the maintenance on the plane..and a funny story (not) ..a friend of a friend was on the plane when it flew in that morning and said when it had taken off from Jakarta it seemed like it had never picked up speed and finally went up just at the end of the run way ..and this was with a different pilot and crew.. one more story that you won't see on the news but is true ..the same plane a week before had to make an un-scheduled stop on the way back to here from Bali at Singapore or Indonesia (can't remember even though the source was good) because of engine trouble and all passengers had to change to another plane (bet they won't fly again for awhile).. .another friend has a travel bureau and called and said 63 of his customers were on the plane but luckily no one died and that the back where the three people died was the smoking section..(see now you know that its definitely dangerous for your health)..he had been busy going around to visit all his customers in the hosp..only in Japan would the travel bureau that booked you feel responsible for a crash..well I'm up to Tokyo next week and you'd better be sure it's by train.. What's been happening ..not much..my good friend Mr Okamota, the renowned ballet dancer/teacher and the head of the Okamoto ballet company that has danced all over Asia invited some of us over to his house for dinner.. now this is a real privilege as he is a marvelous cook and the wine flows (especially the austtii).. Okamoto-san greeted us in a marvelous white Moroccan Kaftan and flowered underwear (now how did I know that?) Who was there ..Ruth, Omar, Jonathan yours truly,a few others. He had redone his house and it was lovely..with candles every where and all that greenery, it looked like something out of a Roman orgy..the custom is that every first time guest has to do a pirouette and since it was Jonathan's first, we talked him into it .. he was a good sport about it and not only did it, but was great..any ballet lessons in your past there sir?..as I said the wine flowed and flowed and flowed..and the conversation?..well it wasn't quite about Roman orgies but almost..I'm sure you get the pic..welcome to the family Jonathan! I met my dear friend Elaine Egashira and her lovely daughter Sarah for lunch at the aromas at the Hyatt..I had been promising this to Sarah for over a year as a treat for entering Meiko high school and just got around to it..Elaine's husband is off to Atlanta to judge the olympics and there will be a grand party to see him off with all those distinguished guest there (truly the who's who of Omuta) ..except me.. unfortunately I won't be here so can't go but will be there in thought.. Harada Haruko-sensei had an opening party (at the Hyatt) to welcome all the committee members to the opening of preparations of the table setting show to be held at the Grand Hyatt in Oct..(more on this later..aren't you just thrilled?) the general manager Marco Nijhof gave one of the opening speeches and said he promised to make this one (the show not the speech) better than the one over at the Tatty Crow last year which was attended by 5000 people in one day..lots of gaigines ..Jane Inotomi, Ursula Harada, Tracy Rees, Katrina Nijhoff and my self will be doing tables and the always informative Marcus Pizzorno and dear, dear Warren MaCallen were on the preparation committee..also 15 men will be doing tables..THAT SHOULD BE INTERESTING!.. after the party Marcus and Warren and I had coffee in the first floor tea lounge and and it seemed like every one came by to say hello (definitely the place to be seen..or not seen as the case may be)..a friendly staff over there at the Hyatt..next month is going to be a busy one what with the bastille day party..fourth of July and the farewell part for Judith Bryant the director of the American Center..and as I said I'm off to Tokyo for a meeting and to see a few friends..so have a good month..be careful what you eat ..there's lots of food poisoning out there..although there are a few I would like to see eat a poison apple or two..ahhh wishful thinking!
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