Blog
Lover Wanted
My writing career began in December 1998 with this piece in the monthly English-language features and listing magazine, Kansai Time Out. At the time, there was also a weekly free, A5, black-and-white, classified ads paper, Kansai Flea Market. It listed jobs,...
The Spanna
The Spanish City and Whitley Bay Pleasure Gardens opened in May 1910. Recently refurbished into bars and restaurants, it has also previously housed amusement arcades, a ballroom, the Starlight Rooms bar, and of course the famous rides and sideshows. Immortalised in...
Evolution of Our Schools: Past, Present and Future
I’ve been interested in evolution and our simian ancestors since reading Darwin and Morris in my teens. I also like The Who. Computer programs, when I was young, were noted as generational languages. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. Our work has evolved and we are approaching the...
Learning is Good; Education be Bad
Our company offers a variety of products and services, and I felt we needed a parent brand which would care for them and we and clients could relate to. We chose ME Learning as we foster learning, and are not involved in education. I’ve written widely on this. I’ve...
Stats Entertainment
Moran actually outperforms Elon Musk.* Not only does the frivolity restart with the borders reopening, but I'm finally updating and re-posting articles from my archives. Back in May, 2022, Elon Musk suggested on Twitter that if Japan didn't start doing a lot more...
Have Bag (and Net) Will Travel
On October 5th, 1992, 30 years ago today, I left England. I had a one-way ticket to Australia via Bangkok, and, save a few months dossing at me mam’s on the dole, I've never returned there to live and work. When I left, I was 25, a pint of beer cost £1.49 and...
Jobs in Japan Podcast
I hope everybody enjoyed a good Golden Week break. I recently spoke to Charlie Moritz from the Jobs in Japan podcast. We did three podcasts that you can watch and listen to at the links below. Be great to hear any questions or comments. Recently Elon Musk caused a bit...
Number Crunching Part 1
In the coming posts I will expand upon the valuing schools post. Using information from schools for sale posted online recently and in the past, I have put together some fictitious, hybrid examples. None of these schools are real in themselves, but are all based on...
Buying, Selling and Valuing Schools and ELL Businesses
Five valuation methods for buying, selling and valuing schools and ELL businesses.
Timing, Team, Location and Sunk Costs
In his 2015 TED talk, Bill Gross, the founder of Idealab, looked at why start-ups succeed or fail and concluded timing was the most important difference in success and failure.