When I was young I wanted to live in a treehouse. I think I liked the idea of having my own base high above the everyday world on the ground. I would be able to watch the comings and goings down below, and swing through the trees on my way to school. Finding this website of green (environmentally friendly) treehouses has reminded me of that. It shows new designs from all over the world. Some of them are a little strange (especially the one in Okinawa), while others are truly inspirational. Trees are the ‘mansions’ of the future!

See more images:
In pictures: The best green treehouse designs | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Elbow are a band from Manchester in the UK. Their last album ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’ won the Mercury Music Prize (the top award for new British music). Here is a link to the video of their song ‘One Day Like This’. I like the song because it’s uplifting. The video is a little out of the ordinary, but for me at least it’s powerful and life affirming. See what you think.

今年最後の展示替えのための搬入作業を行いました。今回の作家さんは、野田凉美さんです。展示するほぼ全ての作品が黄色です。だから来週行うパーティのドレスコードは黄色なんです。一番目を引くドレスの展示はスカート部分を奇麗に丸く作るのに時間がかかりましたが、後はスムーズに進み無事展示終了。近くで作品を見ていくと、ひとつひとつ手作りなのに本当に感動します。今年4回目の展示替えとなりますが、ペイント・写真・オブジェとそれぞれ全然違った空間ができて私たちも本当に楽しませてもらいました。これからも様々な作家さんの作品を紹介できるよう英会話教室と併用で運営していければいいなと願います。

I can’t believe how time flies! It seems like only yesterday when we were opening our school (in fact it was last March), and now it’s nearly Christmas! It’s been a great year. I’ve met lots of new people and made some good friends. Ed and I moved to Ashiya last May so it’s been fun settling into a new city and a new routine. Ashiya is a very nice place to live, quiet but not too quiet! Also, it’s in an excellent location – in between Kobe and Osaka and next to the mountains and the sea – perfect! Our family will be spending Christmas and New Year in Japan so we’re looking forward to seeing them and showing them around. I wonder if it will snow soon? It would be so nice to have a white Christmas! I hope you all have a lovely break this New Year; relax, have fun and all the very best for 2009!