My Winter Holiday Plans

We can't/don't want to go abroad this year with a 3 month old baby so we decided to spend our winter vacation in our prefecture in Japan. We are lucky because Tochigi is famous for onsen (natural hot-springs) and has many excellent and scenic places to soak in the healing waters.

As avid "onsen-ers" we have sampled some pretty fantastic baths in and around our home. This year we've found a special hotel to visit.

The Ranryo in Kawaji, Tochigi has a a history of more than 300 years as a spa ryokan and we were able to book a room there over the Christmas holidays. With traditional Japanese food like trout on a stick, winter vegetable hot pot and sashimi plus and assortment of excellent indoor and outdoor baths we hope to finish this fantastic year in style.

The best part of the story is we got an excellent rate. Since frugality is the new black we decided we were only willing to pay a certain amount of yen for this hotel. At first we were embarrassed to ask but once we did we easily got the discounted rate we had hoped for.

What's the lesson?
Be willing to ask! You never know what you might get by asking.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to a fabulous 2007!

As you read this blog we have just come back from the winter highland of Northern Japan. For the last few days we have been holed up in a luxurious log cabin with two great friends, enjoying food, relaxing and taking “Onsen” - Japanese Hot Spring Baths in the Nasu Highland region of our prefecture.

With a bit of luck this past year has been fantastic for you. It certainly rates as one of my top ten. We have seen incredible
increases in Alberta Real Estate, our partners made outstanding returns on their investments and we helped people from 5 different countries meet their investing dreams. Speaking of dreams don’t let any dream stealers rob you with their negativity. Make 2007 the year where you do IT! Whatever it may be….

It is never too late to invest in Alberta. But, don’t take my word for it: take a look at this Labour Force Required Graph on our website http://www.glennsimoninc.com/edmontonfacts3.html under “It Has Only Just Begun” You can see for yourself that the Alberta Dynamo Economy is just starting and has a long future ahead. The amount of projects underway and new labour coming to Alberta is staggering. They all need homes to live in and apartments to rent as well.

Have a wonderful January.