diary.e200606

Wednesday, 28th June, "Sato Farewell Party"

Sato is flying home after 2days in Athens. We had last supper together at Achirreon with Mr. and Mrs. Joisis, Vasilis and Dinos. Then we went to the harbour to take a photograph, and had a gigantic icecream pafe at the Kouroutas beach.(HK)

Tuesday, 27th June, "Gorgona"

We set Sato's Marmade "Gorgona" into the harbour. Falklift arrived on site at 12, and workers gathers slowly. They first tried to put his pies standing on the base onto the small 2t truck to carry!! I suggested to carry on the folklift and so they did. Theydid not have right size drill and had to get it from shop and... It took us about three hours, but it was set on the spot.(HK)

Monday, 26th June, "Working Again"

After one week working in Amaliada residence program, ,my piece is slowly coming out in shape. A day in Kouroutas is like this, we start working from 8-10 until breakfast, 11-2, then lunch siesta until 6, then 6-9 and 10 for the supper until usually 12. Go out to Amaliada town square with Janicza, Mrs.yoisis or with Vasilis to the bars in Kouroutas.(HK)

Sunday,25th June, "Weekend"

I had this weekends off working. Drunk tons of beer from morning til midnight. So many visitors arrived in Kouroutas beach today. Sato was working to get his piece finished in time.(HK)

Saturday, 24th June, "Amaliada Festival 2006"

The stage was set up next to our stone suddenly, and a music festival was on tonight. Started off with children's performances, dance and songs, which was nice, but as soon as students started band music, it was too bad to stay on another 5 minuets. (HK)

Friday, 23rd June, "Turn Over"

We got a folklift on site to turn the stones. I roghly finished one side and startted the another side today. Hole is through now. We had lunch at George's restaurant in the beach side park near the working site. He had marverous grilled squid and octopus with mastard source. He remembered some japanese words from his time in Japan when he was a sailor. He says he miss his japanese girlfriend Yoshiko! (HK)

Thursday, 22nd June, "Japan VS Brasil"

We sat in front of the big TV screen in restaurant Achirreon to watch the world cup match, Japan against Brasil. We had a little hope some miracle might happen, but no, it was 4:1. The result of almost what everybody was expected.(HK)

Tuesday, 20th June, "Hung Over"

Memorial first greek hungover. Mixed all beers, wines,whiskys and Uzo. Whole day completely sick and nackered, felt so hot. it is 38 degrees today! I had a swim before lunch which was just great!! (HK)

Monday,19th June, "Start Working"

Plans almost fixed and started cutting hole in the middle by hand from today. Went to swim after working at 9 O'clock and washed off all the marble dust. We are usually working from 7-10,11-2 and 5-9 everyday. Went out to one of the cafe in town and beach, had a lot of whiskys. (HK)

Saturday, 17th June, "Japanese Food Party"

I have cooked japanese meals at Mr.Yoshi's house with Jane, Mrs.Yoshi and Sato, another japanese sculptor. It took us three hours to prepare Sushi and Tempura with shrimps, squids, fishes and vegis bought from gigantic supermarket in next town this morning. I believe that meal was successful to the guest, most of them never had japaanese food before, for luck, and had a nice evening in the garden.(HK)

Friday, 16th June, "Marble"

	My stone arrived from Athens in timeas scheduled, which is extraordinaly lucky in Greece. This beautifl Macedonian marble sizes 2.5m x 1.7m x 0.6m, weighs 8.5tons.
	30tons crane was arranged for lifting this peace. I was surprised that they got budget for this.
	So, this is how it looks, my (our) open workshop in the beach park.(HK)
	Mr.Sato arrived 10 days ago before me, started working on his marmade statue. He was appologetic about his english was not good enough to communicate with Greeks, but it looks to me that he is managing life here o.k. so far.

Thursday, 15th June, "Olympia"

	Olympia, where ancient oympic games are started is actually quite close to the Amaliada. It took us only 30 minuetes by Mr.Yoshi"s Alfaromeo! He was explaining all stories translated by Baslis, and this is the Museum of the Olympia.
	This Hermes is meant to be one of the best sculpture at that time in their collection.(HK)

Wednesday, 14th June, "Amaliada"

	I woke up at 6. Tryed to find somewhere to have breakfast, because of that we are not eating at the hotel. MrYioshi came to fetch me to introduce the funtastic Greek restaurant "Axilleion"right next to the beach, where we eat three times a day.
	Then he took me to the Amaliada city hall to meet everybody. Mr.Yoshi (left) is the vice mayor of the city,who is taking us everywhere to look after us all the time from themorning until midnight, and Basilis (right) is the Managing Director and translator for us.
	I was also introduced to the Mayor( I forgot his name!). I'm presenting my catalogue to him in front of TV camera and newspaper reporters.
	Kouroutas Beach is one of the most famous greek resort. Now I am going to make a sculpture for the city under the theme of greek mythology! (HK)

Tuesday, 13th June, "Greece"

I got flight to Frankfurt instead, not via Rome, which was originaly planned, and arrived in Athens at last after midnight. There are two guys from Amaliada city office to take me to the Kouroutas Beach Hotel to stay for a month during the Amaliada Residency Program, in which we arrived eventually at 4 in the morning.(HK)

Monday, 12th June, "Narita"

First trained down to Naritato catch afternoon flight in Narita, but flight was cancelled die to mechanical trouble, birds flow into the engine. Stasyed at Narita hotel which Alitalia has organised, waiting for tomorrow's replacement(HK)

Sunday, 11th June, "Cousin"

My far cousin, Mr.and Mrs.Miura and his daughter from Karakuwa suddenly turned up in Ukishima today. It was nice surprise, even though I was very busy trying to organise myself for one month Greece trip tomorrow!!(HK)

Thursday, 8th June, "Set"

Piece is set happily now. Started at 6:30 from hotel and site meetings began at 7:45, preparing scaffolding until 3 o'clock, then eventualy stone's set before the sunset. Kate and I took last train to Morioka and drove home from there, arrived at 1:00am in Ukishima.(HK)

Wednesday, 7th June, "Sent Out"