New Beginings ( did I spell that correctly?)

Well its May and I am sitting in our family house in glorious sunny England ( the garden is bone dry as it has been past 2 months really) and thinking I had better jot down closure to Japan, the interim Chicago stint, this temporary Uk situation and the impending move to NYC.

I guess the daijshin on the Friday followed by our lucky planned exodus on the Tuesday was all lucky timing really even though we really did not want to leave Japan when we did.

Cliff being back from his NYC job interview and in the house when the big one actually struck was very lucky as it was actually rather scary. I had scarily thought after all the shocks we had the month leading up to " Ooooooh we are due the big one, maybe its not a bad thing we are leaving japan after all..".

C thought after the initial 60 seconds turned into increasingly scary minutes and things fell down and smashed ( for some reason I grabbed the TV )and couldn't let go until Cliff shouted at me to pick up Satsuki sleeping in the other room and get the bugger out. Picked up a crying Lesely with pants half down she was on the loo and a sobbing Viv and barking Bella on the way. It really went on for long long time and the Singapore embassy people were outside too so we stood in the cold with no shoes and coats for at least 2 hours. Luckily Natalie pulled up in her big SUV and we sat with her for a while outside away from power cables. She said she had been on omotesando crossing with the kids luckily sleeping in the car and reckoned it was something out of Armageddon movie the whole of Tokyo pouring out from high rise buildings screaming and trying to take pictures of things at the same time.

C even now doesn't much like sleeping alone and saw the news a few days ago which was showing the Spanish quake and started getting fretful all over again. May take a while me thinks. Just getting to Narita even with confirmed tickets out was a shit show as some of the highways were closed and the Nartia express was not working. Luckily we had a taxi booked a month in advance. The airport was crazy though and we had the cat 8 bags and quarnteen checks.. The worst bit was the panic buying of food and drink. Seriously got pissed off everytime I popped down to the shops to find NO BLOODY BREAD ANYWHERE. One man in the 7 Eleven infront of me bought the entire stock of melon pan and onigiris. Anyways. 12 hours later and we found ourselves in chicago in a furnised 2 bed on the lack front. Welcome to the USA yes i got my greencard so now lumbered with US taxes. Nice location but the weather was still minus with snow in late April WTF?. How how how do people survive those winters? We had a heated pool in the basement and that was the only thing keeping me from not topping myself. Oh and Lexie and Macey lovely neighbours and the Japanese ladies that brought round tons of toys, sharp knives and the real deal bags of rice.

Was all a bit stressful us trying to work out what road to take. In the end after much backward and forwarding Cliff took early retirement option ( he could as he had 15 years service and hence could keep lifetime flight benefits). He was offered another job in Marketing with United on return but was treated so poorly and with oil prices rising and the merger not of equals I think he would have rather eaten his own feces then stayed I kid not. Luckily already had 2 other jobs on the table just needed to work out which one to take Berlin or NYC? Well it to date is NYC but after starting there a few weeks ago after I insisted he dropped us into the UK for the interim as I refused to do "600 square meters with kitchenette" and no stuff all on the boat, with 2 small children.

With grandad the Gruffalow for now and the girls are loving England in the summertime. Berkshire does have loads of parks and stuff for kids. Even got her into Pre K and she is doing a fantastic ballet class at southill park arts center.

Grandad wants to sell the family home and downsize as reckons it "too bloody much" for him. I don't want him to as selfishly we want to come back to the Uk and stay and in a 2 bedroom flat that would be hard. He is set on the idea though so may have a tough time convincing him likewise. I did explain that he wont be able to comfortably stay with us in NYC as we will be poor and live maybe n one bedroom with den if we are lucky. He might be coming round after that talk we shall see. He doesn't need the money that's for sure he never puts the bloody lighting and heating on anyway. I think he is fantasising about spending the whole time with us in NYC. Maybe that picture needs a bit more explaining... Then again after the stroke maybe downsizing now while he is fit and healthy and we can sort the entire lifetime of stuff is not such a silly move hum.

I am exhausted another crazy day tomorrow. Cant belive in 2 weeks time my plumpster turns 1!!!! Where did that time go??? She is so so sweet and funny. This week we have had 4 new words already I really cant believe it. Today it was a clear Shoooooes as she handed them to Charlize. She also loves to say poo poo when she has done one in her nappy and randomly to make charlize laugh. Also does baby and trys to poke the dollys eyes out and to grandad yesterday when he brought her blankie in to her a clear "blankie" which again had C in stitches. Yes we have another blankie boo situation...

C is seriously eloquent these days but she and Grandad are doing my nut in arguing all the time. I told them I had enough today really enough. She was then all worried about me being upset and tried to "just calm down mama everything will be alright if you just take a big breathe and have a cup of lemon and ginger tea". Ok Charlize.

She is writing her name now, not so good at getting it in a straight line but numbers and letters and sight words she is now really getting into she is really wanting to read alone. I just feel guilty as I have not read anything to Satsuki and find it hard to make time for C with the two f them full throttle. I think I need a job. Well I know I need to find one anyway if we want to survive NYC and I am no exggageration we will be very very poor in our new country. Stay tuned..

December already!

Gosh time has flown I cant believe that Charlize turned 3 and Serafina is now 6 months!!! Since we still have no word from head office when we are supposed to be out of here ( were told initially end of the year) but now silent as people wait to see if they have a job still, so we are just in limbo which guess will last until feb or march at this rate when the new org is released. Well since it was Nov for Cs 3rd birthday we made it a massive one paid for by the girls modelling money!! K space again but with Kiwi kitchens catering some lovely food this time not mine!!! Rosie Csballet teacher came and did the ballet theme games and a performance with the girls who all came wearing tutus with Max and Fin the token action figures and very good ballet boys they were too!!! Aimee did face painting and downstairs they ran off the sugar in the soft gym. We had 84 people in total with 40 pink and white iced cupcakes and an Aerial cake which C was gagging to see as she couldn't find Aerial for a week I told her she had gone on vacation to think of a good present for C!!! Charlize wore the pink puff ball dress I got on sale in the summer in Azabu and looked really lovely. Homestay mum from Nagano stayed the night and her sister came down too as well as Arichan and Kochan so thank good for all my Japanese friends who basically cleaned and tidied and acted as hosts. Would have been dead without their unprompted help. Have just finished sending Oseibo ( the thank you gifts at New Year) this time tsukemono rules it seems according to Rieko my present giving adviser! Other highlights worth jotting, C is finally in big girls bed. She no longer frets about the goonies and Cheshire cat coming so we have taken the side off the cot and she climbs in and out now and has her books on a little step next to her. She has been excellent not getting up and down and sleeping thru till 7:30 8am before coming to find us!!! Some classics out of her mouth-"Daddy did you have a conference call today?"-Cliff-"Yes Charlize my boss was a little bit annoying". C-"Shall I smack him for you daddy I can do that you know". Her Japanese is not so bad too she was playing Japanese cards with Homestay okasan and she has all the hiragana down and apparently according to homestay mum perfect intonation ( I am jealous). She also likes milk more in a cup. Just got blankie boo and thumb sucking to go!!! I have to confess to being much lazier with 2 and not doing enough letters and numbers with C and poor Serafina hardly gets read to compared to the first golden child who had about 10 books a night at age dot. Need to make more time and def limiting Tv these days. We also did 7-5-3 with her little mate Emily. I found a really good place in Roppongi for just 3890JPY that included hair make and kimono hire for 2 days. Torihodai session for 40 mins in the studio next door was 8000JPY but worth it they gave us the original data and we used for Xmas cards this year. I think I choose the best Kimono for C but she was insanely jealous of Emily's Barnett as she has load of hair and could do Amazing roller type things with height. C had 2 pig tales and wailed when she saw Emilys so the stylists swapped and backcombed like crazy until we got a semi Aime winehouse effect and covered the bald bits with flowers!!! They looked adorable and the Shrine was very atmospheric with the golden ginko leaves.
Other stuff- Emily and C had their first haircuts this week At Golds Salon mega expensive but worth it as its a lovely Salon, we got the first appointment and the gay boys fawned over them and made us all cappuccinos. They washed and massaged her hair and Flavio did a great job it looks sooooo cute but of course we had the pout making an appearance again when she saw Emily's bob!! Still with lots of kawaiiiiiis Lize chan she is feeling good about it now I think. I kept the hair! Other Yay is Jolie and the twins and Marlena are in town and we pulled off a play date. Charlize saw Marlena in the park while she was torturing a little white miniature chihuaha called Lisbeth who she reckons she was teaching circus tricks!! She made her a bed of leaves and dragged her around. When I asked' are you being evil to that dog Charlize" she replied, "yes mommy a little bit evil". At least she does always tell the candid truth!!! Her and Viviene were fighting over it while bella big dog watched on jealously. Marlena was coerced into the action for a bit too. Oh what fun and its 9:48pm time to make like a pumpkin!!! Baby was up all night I did not close eyes last night as we all have horrible long lasting phlegm colds and she cant breathe the poor darling but at 4am I don't feel like a nice mum when I am thinking and sometimes say out loud CAN YOU PLEASE SHUT THE F#@# UP AND GO TO SLEEEEEEEP!!! God give me strength and patience to be a good mummy. Over and out probably for this year.

Thailand and 2 months of Grandad

So Grandad left on monday after 2 months with us. What to report? Well he arrived at 114kilos!!! I sent him home at 106kilos. We had a few rows mostly over his use of slang, Charlize started saying "you wanna punch up the ear? or a bunch er fives".... After a month of winding each other up they did get friendly to the point of C letting him push the buggy and being rather sad now that Grandad is no longer around to fight with!!! I had him pushing it up and down the hill 4 times a day!!! Also he got on the bike and cycled to the Shiba Koen pool with cliff every Saturday and moaned alot about having t0o cover his tattoo with sweat bands to be allowed in but I think we managed to sweat quite a fair amount of fat off so pleased with the plan just need him to stick to it. If you are reading this dad I hope that is a banana you are munching on seriously. We managed a family holiday to Thailand. Cliff left us for a week ( eek it was not easy) to pop to Milan to attend his sister Dominique's baptism of 2 daughters Anna and Sara to whom he is the god father. There was no way I could have done standby with 2 kids to Europe for a few days and back again. He flew from Milan directly to BKK and left me to bring the 2 monsters and Grandad on the red eye on standby... Well we made it but only just. Stayed in Amari again room 2520, got the 155 dollar rate for corner suite massive with 2 rooms and a connecting door for grandad included breakie on executive floor and 3 oclock cocktails and dinner. We chilled mostly round the pool with knowing all the staff as we have been going there since she was born and they love her its the same nice ladies. She wanders up to pool bar and orders herself a fresh coconut juice then does the hands together kapumka thing!!! Did a bit of shopping in pratnam whole sale mall directly outside teh hotel doors and had a Thai massage for 99 bath that is 3 dollars for 2 hours every night. Also splurged and for 30 bucks had mani pedi, 2 hour hot herb massage and facial. God I love Thailand for the affordable pampering. Also the Thai restaurant Thai on 4 in the Amari is great as was the food court on top floor of MBK. Other bargains- I got my Tag watch serviced and battery replaced for 30 bucks instead of 100. Got my teeth filled and cleaned for 50 USD was going to do whitening but then chickened out at last minute thinking it oouch as they are sensitive anyway. Also from the photo shoot we did in Tokyo had the disc and took it to MBK where there is a studio where I laid it out the way I wanted into a collage, bit of photo shop in places and mounted on a massive canvas for the living room. It cost 60 USD as apposed to the 86,000JPY that is 900USD in Japan!!! Shipped it home for 25 USD as too massive to plane and it arrived 3 days later in one piece hurray!!! cliff hates looking at himself on the wall he wants it down but I am not budging! We had a nightmare getting home but stayed calm. All flights out of BKK way over sold on every airline and have been the last year!!! What is the poingt in having airline benefits with a family you can never ever use them. We need better salary instead. We had Grandad with us so our options on other airlines were limited. In the end we had to Jet Star for 50 bucks each but no check in luggage!!! to Singapore ( in end I paid the 20 USD for a check in bag with all my Thai shopping in) and then one night at airport crowne plaza in singers ( modern and walk to check in 1 minute so good as flight left at 7am and nice food court in basement with play area) back to Tokyo on United. did manage 5 seats all to us in Premium economy and had an extra on the bulk head which grandad nabbed and had a nice kid free return flight until charlize worked out how to bonk him on the head over the seat with her head phones!!! The kids were very well behaved with all the travel all things considered but we did get reminded that Charlize can not do cars she projectile voms after 10 mins in a car we had that prob in Italay too every year in the people carrier I had just forgotten. So that meant we only managed Wat Po and a river boat taxi and the rest we had to sky train. Back to Tokyo last week and its still warm now even in October it has been a very hot hot summer this year. Serafina doing well growing growing so fast. She coos, says mamama, sits almost unaided and can push up really well on her tummy. She is a very easy going little dolly although we do have some probs with colic she really does not bring up wind no matter how much I try and burp her and then an hour later screams in pain. Roll on 6 months. Also breast milk low at 6pm feed but sorted that thankfully with the Fungkuk herb tablets from Lesley. To date she has not had formula ( I tried) but she wont take the bottle..) Apart from making armpits stink of cumin they really do work. Charlize in love with Lesley's little girl Vivinne and Bella the dog who she wants to take for walks all the time. Dont ask me about cliffs job I still have no idea and almost afraid to think about it. Just putting out of mind. Soon to be Halloween and then after that it will be Cs birthday so other things to keep us busy. Xmas is how many months away???!!!! HELP!

Modelling with toddlers DONT DO IT!

Today was a toughie. Had a family pic at Keyshots with Kerry. She did one of us with C but now we have S decided to update much to the humings and DO WE HAVE TOs??? of Cliff and my Dad..

Had a big poof ball of dresses for C and S and made grandad and Cliff change out of shorts and flip flops pleading that "its only 1 hour of your god darn lives suck it up will ya!!! Well it was world war 3 at the studio given that C would not give up the farting elephant soft teddy she found (why oh why keep that in the studio?) for love nor money. We had to do all her shots with the farter!!! Then she had a screaming kicking fit on the floor "NO PICTURE OF MOMMY WITH SERAFINA!!! I resorted to bribery but even that didn't cut it. So 160 quid poorer and only pics of C with a pout you could hang a picture off and farting elephant making cameo appearance in every shot. As far as getting her and S together, forget that idea she was about to murder her!!! The green eyed monster really was in full force today so naughty.

She was like an angel 3 days ago for the combi mini shoot which also turned into an ordeal given it was 5 hours long instead of like 2 and the kids did 6 outfit changes and were there till 6pm. I had left S with Aimee at home as it was over her long nap and thought would be done and dusted in 2 hrs max but instead she woke up screaming for boobie would def not take a stinky bottle so had to cab poor aimee with wailing S strapped on to the studio. Also blame the studio experience for 2 bad things. They had toy guns in the toy box ( which I had passed off to C as a "bubble machine" until the little boy model corrected us.. and then the stylists taking them up to the glitzy mirror stylists room to tong their hair and put blusher on them!!! I told C it was face paint, again shattered when Isabella said : don't be silly its make up my mommy wears that!" I don't wear make up ( i need it mind you) and had managed to avoid her knowing about it. Today when she was playing for the 1000 time snow white with Grandad as the wicked witch, she told the mirror on the wall after she feel down dead from eating the poison apple, that she neede to " quickly do her makeup!!!" ARRRRRGH. Anyway she is down now after being out till 9pm romping in the mud in Juban park as its the local bon odori. Had to hose her down at the door.

other news is cliff got Lasik. I took him on friday (I would never had gone thru with it) but he did and he was in pain all yesterday so I was frabtically looking at all teh things that could go wrong online ( big mistake). Then today he waked up no pain and gets checked up andnow has 20/20 vision. Just hope all stays well. he looked a bit bruised in the pics but what with the farting elephant and wailing Serafina with a bad case of wind the pics are just AWFUL anyway!!! Gotta laugh!

3 month check up

Took plumps for her first check today. Found a nice newly opened clinic in Hiro called Flow East clinic!! The nice doc from Aiku who speaks English opened it they take both hokensho and private and the minatoku coupons. Lovely and clean and appointment system online so no wait. Plumps is 64cm long and 7kilos at 3 months the doc says she is the size of a 6 month baby and in the 91st percentile. God love her she really cried at the injections very different from C she is a real sensitive type mummy's girl whereas C never did nor even now bats an eyelid at the doctors injections and all. Next is BCG which is the hideous one with 12 needles. Maybe I shouldn't do it as we are off to US but thinking it might be good to get out the way as UK do it school age. Planning a get away to Thailand. Flight going down look good but always coming back they are full. Grandad if he can change his ticket will come with us too. Plumps in terms of development has been able to push up on her hands for the past month and kind of go forward. She is very alert, grabs everything and something that C never did she actually talks and coos all the time like a real conversation. Much more tactile and cuddly. c is more Ike Cliff does not like cuddles and space invaded. c also still a little jealous and a little spoiled which I am working very hard at turning around. She is just too clever for her own good. The most fab negotiator. cliff and I love " No mommy I don't like my bath its just not my favourite"!!! She is so full of imagination telling stories about the Cheshire cat that lives in her curtains and the goonies and tooth fairy etc. She asks all the time what words say in books and on the TV so she is ready to start reading I think. Need to stretch her more and Juliet has asked to put her up which I want to but then she would miss Ellie and Sumire her best mates so maybe she needs to stay longer and play. They do phonics anyway its just that the other kids are not articulating diddly sqat and its boring for her. Anyway it was a rude wake up at 5am this morning with S so better get to bed before 10pm this evening!

3 months tommorow

Well I have been rubbish at keeping up to date but by the time 9pm rolls around I am ready to hit the sack! Plumps is doing well soooooo chilled compared to manic C THANK YOU DEAR GOD!!! Now no longer afraid to be alone with the 2 of them. even managed music together today with both and Charlize had Serafina sit on her lap for Trot old Joe and didnt kill her RESULT!!!

Plumps is 7 kilos at just 3 months. She has "OSHIII HAMU LEGUS" as auntie Reiko likes to tickle! We did actually get modelling work the usual combi mini was surprised but both monsters got choosen so that is 700 quid for 3 hours work, YES WE LOVE CHILD LABOR!!! S made the front cover if the mag ( well at least that is what they were shooting for so hope they do use it as quite cute pics I think?) Will be using that dosh for either new electric bike f towards Cliffs eye surgery!!!! He went and had a 3 hour test in Shinjuku clinic with Rikeo and is thinking about it.

So far the summer tokyo heat has been minging. 35 degrees to 40 some days unbearable. We have had some nice matsuri stuff going on. Did a big one with Donna, squidge and aunt diane on the saturday in Azabu. Rieko Naomi and her mum and Setsuko Cs Japanese teacher and her daugher Mari came over and we did the whol yukata dress up and photo Shoot on the balcony. Good fun and Riekos mum even got a x5 XL jimbei suit for Grandad who is here for a month until end of September. Next day we did it all again with the Harbers, Austins and Mines. Sunday was a nice chill out went to Blue Point cafe in Shiroganedai for the STylists garage kindly told to me by Mary in the know. Had a lovely lunch while plumps did her big sleep and Aunt Diane, Rieko her mum and Donna and I then proceded upstairs wher 8 stylists had set up selling off al;l theur ohito shoot clothes for hardly anything. Got a gorgeosu Marni beaded skirt for 2000JPY and Day Birger top with intricate lavender flower design on also for 1000JPY!!! Aunt Diane and the girls went made and bought loads. You could try on and the stylists would suggest stuff and do your make up too. Since I cant shop these days it was great everything in one place, chilled, only a few people and not so takai.

Still looks lilke Chicago for the end of the year. That is likle 16 weeks!!!! Arrrrgh not thinkng about it.

1 month and counting!

So Serafina Satsuki made her appearance on May 30th 2010 at 11:30pm just 30 minutes off my birthday 4 days over !!! Sakamoto asked if I wanted to hold on I told him to bugger off!! Contractions started around 2pm on sunday and I managed to hold off going to Aiku until 7:30pm so that I could make sure everyone had eaten their tea including Rieko her mum cliff and the monster!!! We all cabbed it up there with c doing heavy breathing with mommy!!! They took me off for a little fiddle to discover I was alrady 8cm dilated hurrah!!! It didn't hurt so bad this time and they reckoned I would go into pushing not so long so I was praying Sakamoto would get in his posh car and get there super quick. He came and I was doing ok so he went away then came back and said I needed to break my waters. I said NOOOOO but he did it anyway. THEN the contractions really stepped up so 15 minutes later I had him back in and said DO EPIDURAL NOW!!!! He did it and 10 minutes later I was already pushing the baby out. 6 pushes and she was out but they were very very difficult pushes. She weighed in at 4.3kilos and 54cm long!!! Ouch they then left me in the delivery room ALL NIGHT on that hideous bed on a drip saying I would need to stay until came next day as afraid I would bleed like last time!!! So NO SLEEP AND EXHAUSTED In my own crap and undercarriage so hurting even with the epidural wearing off!!! Lasted only 3 days in Aiku as the woman I HAD to share with (all single rooms gone) kept opening the window at 4am !!!! ARRRRRGH. Breast feeding went much better though this time and I am still persevering now and the milk flow is much better than with C where I had bugger all. Its one month on today and c is the biggest nightmare or at least I think we are turning a corner with the jealousy stuff this week. She is helping more and not so terribly clingy and stopped saying PUT THAT BABY DOWN NOW MOMMY!!! I THROW HER AWAY!!!!

Only positive side is I lost 11 kilos in 3 weeks!!! Crazy I know I weigh less than before Igot preggers. better stay this way! Its just exhaustion and breast feeding I think?

Next stress is Cliffs wicked boss has called us back to chicago by the end of this year. NOOOOOO We wanted to stay for the ANA integration one more year that was the point.. Anyway now only a few months to get action plan together sigh.

Baby waking up have to run

D Day is here

Its the 27th today but baby Apple Juice as C has endeared her still has not made her debut. Riekos mum came over on wednesday and is camped out in the spare bedroom with enough luggage to last her a year and so much food I can hardly shut the fridge door. Had very bad belly ache but cured the benpi after countless trips to the loo so reckon its probably going to be tomorrow as its a full moon too!!! Whatever, just want this over with now Fed up of waiting. Monster being tantrum like knows the baby is coming and reverted to siting in the babies vibrating chair asking for a dummy!!! Also having fun trying to communicate with Obachan as best she can in Japanese!! She had a good pose in her frilly pink dress the other day ( only frilly and pretty pretty cuts it these days) forget trying to get her into jeans and Tshirts.. She does at least attempt to dress herself though which is some progress at 2 and half. Plus I don't have any potty training nightmares thank god that happened at 16 months record speed I am thankful for. She is talking like an old lady, comes out with some very funny things. Had school report for which she got all top marks for verbal communication which was not a surprise. She is apparently quiet good at logic and reasoning too but we are talking about a 2 year old so as long as she is learning some manners I am happy as she is a bit wild and THE most stubborn child I know Exhausting! Anyway off to check I have everything in the hospital bag. Really hoping for a quick and not too hideous labor. ARRRRRGH

Warm and Sunny May

Ok 10 minutes before monster waks up so highlights highlights!!! Only weeks or maybe days away now from loosing Orca status and having 2 kids.. April was terrible rainy and cold but May so far has been sunny all the way. Golden week I begged cliff to take us to Thailand and the flights were looking good as the unrest kept people away, but my belly was not looking safe so cliff said no boo hoo!! So we ended up going to Nagano Ken to see homestay family and all the Olympic Volunteers from when i worked as a CIR in Nagano prefecture during the 1998 Olympics. Its been 12 years and they all looked pretty much the same. We ended up in a lovely soba noodle restaurant which I might add was only 1000JPY for a massive fresh portion with a huge plate of Tempura whereas in Azabu its 1800JPY for rubbish!!! Aunty Rieko came with us thank God so had extra pair of hands to tame the monster who without a nap is hyper nigtmare and there was no place for naps on our 2 day adventure. After lovely lunch we went to Homestay mums mothers house which is something out of a Samurai castle warrior movie massive in the countryside with orchard but she is 90 almost and living there alone and its just too much for her. She was sooo happy to have company charlize ran the tatami matt rooms and corridors and banged on the piano and then finally stopped energiser bunny mode when we went to the orchard and she climbed into pushchair. We took a later shink to Karuizawa picked up hire care and had a hard time figuring which of the HUGE and many Prince hotel cottages we were staying in. Finally found it, checked in and then headed for dinner and an onsen. C was soooo tired but went in the onsen with cliff and went crazy swimming In the rotenburo she has very thick skin so tolerates 42 degrees no probs! I was just relived to get to relax without her! At 9 we got back and she was out for the count. Next day we had an early Japanese breakfast and at the hotel and then headed up to Onioshidashi the volcanic hiking trails at bottom of Mt Asama ( bear in mind I am waddling at a few weeks before D day!. C was tired and grumpy but picked up after ramen and a poo!!! So we looked for the farm and then trecked to a lovely waterfall before doing the Karuizawa ginza street full of tat and ice creams before a sniff around the American outlet mall at the station before shink back to Tokyo. Next day I started to have contractions and needed to stay in bed the whole day!!! Just over did it tad!! Cliff took c to Karate workshop on tuesday led by a very scary looking black belt hulk. Instead of punching the guard she hugged it and would have gone dressed in her tutu if possible. Spoke to Karl and dad and they have actually booked flights to come out ( wow!). Dad arrives 1st June for 1 month and Karl 12th June for 10 days. Today just got back from a fire station trip with the school and c and thinking should I do that hill again in search of an ice cream this afternoon. Hum? Anyway over and out until maybe after baby arrives or maybe not we shall see.

Spring showers

The weather was a scorching 22 degrees on sunday and we headed to Shinjuku Park after gymnastics for the Tokyo Mothers Group Teddy Bears Picnic. Great afternoon with Charlize coming second in the egg and spoon race beaten only by a 5 year old boy but then she worked out half way through it was easier if she actually held the egg on the spoon!!! Won a gap voucher. Afternoon Aunty Rieko drooped by with a strawberry plant from her mum which she loves picking teh strawberries from some big juicy ones! Charlize is become a handful a bit spoilt as she has undivided attention which is all about to change but feel exhasuted just thinking about it! She is heavily into cinderalla and snowwhite and Aunty Rieko bought her a magic wand and tiara which she uses in the bath to re-enact the story turnning the boat into the horse and carriage and dancing with rubber ducky as the prince.. She is coverting a pair of fake dress up glass slippers in the toy shop but Cliff told her after she held them to her face with longing the other day that she has to work for them i.e get dressed with no complaints and clean her teeth properly including the back ones. 10 stars and they are hers!

Karen had a little boy last week Adam, we popped up to see them at Aiku hosptial and the room 402 that they are in is a good one so note to self to remeber to ask for that one!!! She is doing really well the birth was just 3 hours. Her parents are here helping but looks as though we wont be in such a fortunate position so could be hard going at first we shall see.

Want to go somewhere like a beach but getting sooo preganant now dont feel so genki. Only gained 9 kilos so far and been cutting down a bit after being told its a big baby so may have to think about epidural oouchie.

Emma moved house and to Shiroganedai this week and we went round and picked up her old baby cot to use for the new baby. Still have lots of cs clothes to sort thru and rearrange second bedroom. Much spring cleaning and sorting to finish before dont have energy for it.

C obsessed with Pepa pig need to try and order vids or anything with that one from the UK. Dad reports Dudley cat loosing eye sight and has some kidney failure so looks on last legs but what to do? Wait it out or have him put down. Both options none too clever but also means dad cant leave him and come here. Will just have to see how it goes. No idea if Karl is coming either. Looks like we might have to employ someone part time just for a few months to help us out. expensive year. Its raining raining now horrible weather and feel very tired so will be bad mommy and put bolt on this afternoon. Sometimes just have to do it.

Sakura Sakura

Yes its cherry blossom mania again this year blooming a couple of weeks ahead of schedule. They were supposed to be Mankai March 27th so we ordered Kiwi kitchen and headed up to Aruisagawa with a pose of mums and babies. It was a bit nippy but had a lovely picnic although C was puffed out by 1pm having played the gracious hostess and been excited about the picnic since the night before offering everyone banana cake! We hit Teian Art museum park too on tuesday with Loretta Jackson, Lize the girls, Rachel Ashling and Saori and Daiki came in from Kawasaki first time to see them in years since we worked together at ANA. We had a lovely sunny morning the place is a sun trap and then headed back to home where C slept daiki played and we ate take out sushi that was actually oshii for a change.
Have been watching weight after Sakamoto sensei tells me I am having a "chubby chan" I kid you not those were his words, and that I need to curb the carbs as the baby is heading towards 4 to 4.2 kilos... I tested negative for gestational diabetes and was all fretful for a while but when I look at my total weight gain I started at 64 kilos and now am 73 and will deliver May so that is only a total of 9kilos so I dont think its anything to do with what I am shoving in my mouth!!! He has been very wrong on size front before too so need to think carefully. Also I have been mega active this pregnancy hardly sat down and the killer hill I do at least 4 times a day so don't know what to think except perhaps EPIDURAL please!!! Still cant decide on names cliff likes things such as Tilda, Kiki, Penelope, Heidi.. I like Stella, Frederique, Serefina, Delphine etc. We cant agree really except for a boy Henry or Harry is ok nothing either of us feels passionate about. Still need to work out how to cope with 2 kids with no help. Cliffs mum is noway coming out and my dad maybe not either sigh. Maybe I can convince my brother to come but he has no idea what to do with babies or willful toddlers. Looks like we may have to bite the bullet and pay for a helper at least while I am in the hospital so someone to take care of Charlize. Its going to be an expensive year the birth alone 12 grand and we are not fully covered insurance and have to pay up front. Better make sure we have the money in the bank then! Looks like ramen for dinner for the next 3 months!! God this country is insane and school fees are crippling us. Number 2 goes straight to Japanese kindergarten none of this international school malarkey!!! Charlize development wise is tall and gangly and speaking like a 65 year old woman!!! Very stubborn, but has us twisted round her little finger. Her Japanese is coming on even though she is not attending Japanese school yet she plays well with Japanee kids in the park and will use her limited Japanese with them. She goes up introduces herself and just slings out words that she knows to get the job done. This baby bump is sitting very low ( does that mean I have NO stomach mucles whatso ever now?) and moves ALL THE TIME. Happy the weather is warming up. Still to sort plans for the summer. Dont know if I will even be able to make Europe with 2 kids this year will have to talk to cliff sensibly about that.

No Thailand. A loooong week with the grumpster

Well so much for Thailand this half term week. The flights were oversold on all carriers by at least 35 plus UA cancelled a flight. We could get there but not back so we had to stay home... The bags were packed and everything and C was really disappointed. Cliff had to go he had a confirmed business ticket but even with that he didn't know if he would get offloaded.

C was a nightmare, chesty cold running nose ( this is the norm always) but also teething and low grade fever equaled wake up 5:50 every morning cliff was away... Arrrrrgh. Plus no school and no respite being half term break. We did our best to get out and about but C a bit of a nightmare an the whole week rain rain rain. Cliff called from the 5 star Amari poolside one day his meeting finished after lunch so he got to sit in the sun sipping coconut juice and eating Padthai! I cant begrudge him he has been working like a maniac and next day had meetings till 7 then had to catch red eye home and coz flight was full had to sit in TG in economy on a packed plane and get off and go straight to work. We also had a trauma at music together class. There is one Damian like little Japanese kid whose mission in life is to take out as many of the little ones as he can while his passive mother sits and does nothing!!! Its been going on since last term the aggressive behaviour is unprovoked and made worse coz mum acts as if its not happening!!! Last week he pinched Andrews cheeks so hard he left scab marks on his face and his mum had Eva strapped to her and couldn't get there in time. He usually just pushes and hits but he had done that to c in the morning so she pushed him back which he was none too pleased about but when she went to reach for a drum during free music play he decided he wanted it and bit into her arm so hard he broke the skin and drew blood. Again mother sat there while c was inconsolable and other mums looked on in alarm. I left the class immediately to look for ice and Angi came out and I lost it. Saiud I wouldn't be coming back as this was not a one off. Angi promised to talk to his mum. Some of the class mums joined us in the park afterwards where charlize was still distressed and said they were fed up too as his terrorizing is something they had all been putting up with for term after term. That evening the director of music together wrote to me and said after many complaints and for the safety of the group were asking him to take a leave of absence. I felt bad as it could be C one day doing something naughty BUT the difference is I don't sit and watch when she does she is in deep doodoo if I as much as sniff her doing something spiteful. I thin Some Japanes emums never discipline their kids its another type. Anyway at least we will be safe again!

Cliff got back and we were downstairs at a Hina matsuri doll party at Takakos. It was nice she had made lovely food and the kids played really well they had a bag of Cinderella shoes that they were clomping around the house in!! I foresee trouble ahead although I am not going to be fashionable enough for her when she gets to punk teenager stage and wants my clothes! came back upstairs to find cliff had set yup a dolls house which the ladies at Thai had taken him down the back sois behind TG office to the market and bartered for along with some funky maternity summer dresses for moi, ballet outfits and ballet shoes and the entire repertoire of Disney movies. Aristocrats and Ratatouille seems to be a hit these days good as I could not take another viewing of Jungle book! Ashling and Rachel kindly cooked us dinner the other night while Cliff was away and the girls had great fun doing the bear necessities dance. Charlize insisted on teaching ashling! Some funny things she says recently ( I'm back) when she walks back into a room. They did world culture day at school so she can tell me which country everything she has was purchased in i,e Dada got me this in Thailand, Uncle Karl Karl bought ne garby doll in New York, I got this pen in Japan, my clarks shoes are from England from grandad!!! She is funny but exhausting too I am seriously wondering HOW HOW HOW will I mange two. Please don't let the new one have the same intense personality PLEASE!!!. Ok time for the bath over and out.

Prima Ballerina Age 2 years!

We had a busy weekend always good for feeling as though we did something! Saturday afternoon was Isabellas 2nd birthday party with Princess and spider man theme. It was at Gymboree so great for the kids as teacher led with massive obstacle course and great food and games. Charlize went mental and aunty Rieko came along too. We went didn't leave until 6:30pm so she was out like a light! Sunday was gymnastics and duck feeding after and Auntie Rieko came with and enjoyed getting out of bed before 2pm! She stayed the weekend. I promised I would accompany her to a singles party at a friends house but I got some strange looks from the people being 6 and a bit months preggers. Met a couple of English teacher types but absolutely not future partner material for Rieko but fun anyway although there was no good food which had been promised and we hadnt eaten so was starvin!!! Cliff busy working he has been coming to bed all this month never before midnight poor love. Rieko baby sat on sunday so we could go out for a nice valentines dinner I booked a spectacular course menu at ANA intercontinental. Got appetisers, Cesar salad, fritto mista, home made bread, pasta, lobster, steak, chicken, fajitas, chocolate fondue with fresh fruit and ice cream coffee and wine!!! it was a decent 12,000JPY for the both of us and cliff had both my wines so no need for more bottles!!! We rolled out of there and had a nice evening! This week wa Charlizes first ballet class with some of her mates we created a class with a good school in meguro the teacher is a good dancer Rosie and native English speaker and she brought the girls fairy wings which they loved and they are learning a dance to teddy bears picnic as well as plies, good toes naughty toes, jumping and rhythm. She is very imaginative and controls well a bunch of 1 and half to 2 year olds!!! Charlizes is speaking almost like an adult these days some of teh funny things she says and does I must write down before they are lost in space. She talks alot about our upcoming trip to Thailand where she recants the whole tale of how we will take the plane, hail a cab and sip coconut juice around the pool. she loves to hold the big coconuts! She also puts her hands together and says Sawadeeka!!! Just like the Thai ladies have shown her. She tells me I should "go buy it in the shops" whenever she wants something and points to over where nissen is. She tells me everything that happened at school including who cried etc. She pretends to go to work like cliff she packs her backpack and says see ya later mama dada I go to work on my computer alright. When she does a poo poo she always covers her mouth when she is doing it and says errrh smelly it really stinks mum!!! She is really funny the things she comes out with I need to record as she says as I forget all of them. Oh she knows every word to the film Madagascar both 1 and 2 including "when the zebras in the zone, leave him alone!" She loves Jungle book too especially the songs and the elephant march. Her fav songs are still Lady gaga and J Zs New york which we have to play lots..

We went to a cool pop up market saturday morning well first it was the organic market where we got some really nice veggies and fresh eggs then to the gallery where there was a baby fair got some really nice designer boutique top and skirt for just 1000JPY by the Australian designer Obi. Also had a 5000JPY mini fashion shoot with the proffesional photographer who had set up shop. Took changes of clothes for C and because it was a rainy day not many people there so we got an hour to oursleves and some good prints of 2 shots and family portaits. Gonna be sent to Dad for his belated birthday pressie!

I have made good friends with Karen and her daughter Maddie who live over in the funny corm shaped building in motoazabu. She has a good sense of humour and can laugh at herself which is important. They have a lush gym and spa in the building and on tuesday her helper grace has the girls while we run downstairs for a swim. She will deliver baby 2 1 months before me so good to have someone going thru the same body upheavels!!! Going to see Avatar 2 tonite with Cliff as cecelia is babysitting. Off to pack the case for Thailand we leave friday cant wait!!!

Pot Noodle Doodle Tastic!

February has been an interesting month. Lucky its bright blue skies even when it is cold outside.

Had a busy weekend it was Mary and Taikis 2nd birthday. Mary did a really nice chilled party at her house with some lovely food and a shinkansen cake. She is about to give birth next week. On the sunday Cliff took Charlize to gymnastics and I had a little job lined up with some friends Steph, Alison, Helen and Nick for a pot noodle advert! They want to shoot a variety of foreigners eating pot noodles with funny faces! for a big advert in the national newspapers. The studio was a house in Shibuya and they shot us in different rooms of It I got the living room!Got 150 quid for about 15 minutes work and it was fun. Rieko came along and took pics of us all then we had a nice lunch with Steph and Helen. In the afternoon cliff had his cooking class made some lovely fish rice etc and brought some back for us to scoff. It takes a long time to prepare though he is always gone for 4 hours! Japanese food is way too labour intensive for my liking. I want to eat it not make it! Ionah invited me swimming with her on thursday she is really changing her life I am really pleased she is doing it. We went to her posh gym in Roppongi Hills it was very posh we had breakfast there for an hour before we did a swim. They had all teh flash spa products etc. Looks as though I will make the swimmingclass a regular slot. My belly is massive its 6 months plus now but the cycle to school and back is keeping me fit plus the flipping hill we live on! Charlize starts ballet class next Wednesday in Meguro and I am still on the look out for Japanese school for her she speaks and understands ok but needs to go to school now. Homestay mum and cousin Yuka her mum and Arichan one of 3 of Okasans boys, and daughter all came down at the weekend so 7 for dinner it was lovely but feel knackered after cooking cleaning and shopping. We had a lovely time and I made chicken Korma which was mild so they liked it phew! Cliff brought back Teriyaki chicken from his cokking class so we had that as the vorspiesen! Homestay mum bought her a lovely Japanese book called " My one piece dress". Her Japanese is coming on well I read to her everynight in both Japanese and English and she comprehends and uses alot.
Cliff has a conference in Thailand the end of Feb and we will tag along. I cant wait to check into the Amari again and sip coconut juice around the pool with C. They have promised us room 2020 the corner one again yippee!!!

Hakuba Ski weekend

What a fab ski weekend in Hakuba. Ended up with 5 families and 6 toddlers which was actually a good strategy as the kids all know each other and went into daycare play in snow care no probs. We stayed in the double black ski lodge a wooden lodge in teh woods of wadano bit more upscake than usual and run by Australians mainly for overseas visitors. The chef was great the food was totally western but really oshii and the beds big and comfy. Made a made dash to Jimbocho with Alison to find snowboots for C and Emily. Got bargain 998 Yen ones so was well pleased as teh whole weekend added up to more than the 2 weeks in NYC!!! Cliff had kamiki fare filing season to contend with so lucky the hotel had wifi so he only skied the whole day saturday. I did half day saturday which was good going I thought with my 6 month fat belly but the slopes were empty and it dumped on friday night so powder all around. It was bright and sunny too so we got really lucky. Sunday I had the best morning and it all clicked better but my fitness unfortiunately just wasnt up to scratch I had to stop several times instead of charging down as usual.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010

Its already mid Jan and I have not updated since before Xmas. We did have a lovely Xmas and New Year in NYC with the monster, tanuki Rieko, grandad, uncle Karl Karl and auntie Alex. I don't think my brother new what hit him with a 2 year old in his pristine loft and all us bickering adults!!!! To his massive credit he bought in preparation for us a potty and a baby bed and I got to order online the stuff that she might eat. The designer sofas got covered with throws though and I think he could only cope with 2 toys at a time in the living space but charlize really followed him like a shadow and Grandad was great at tormenting teh hell out of her everyday. Taught her "yum yum pigs bum you cant have none..) It was FREEEEEZIING cold weather to the point she would cry with the change of temp when we got in from the cold and had to use the rain cover all the time to keep wind off. The flight over was NIGHTMARE. Don't ever do Northwest/delta the old hags were complaining as they were serving us about their jobs as if we didn't exist. After much begging we got the bulk head going out but armrests don't go up and we had a 8 month old Chinese baby next to us whose mother was having a nervous breadown because it wouldn't sleep. In end threw the akachanhonpo futon that I took on board ( lifesaver) with Charlize on it and took the poor baby from her before she killed it. Considering C and I flew alone c was not too bad but the 17 hours we were in the plane because of delay on way back, I could not have done without Cliff. I threatened divorce!

We did the Bronx zoo which was great but again soooo cold. Central park zoo where she got to see her Madagascar friends and the gigantic FAO toy store where she was in heaven. She painted a ceramics penguin in psychedelic colours as a present for Uncle Karl Karl. I hope he understands when it arrives in the post. Auntie Rieko was already there when we arrived but more jetlagged than us on day 3! We did have a nice day in the snow in central park, lunch and then the natural history museum which is FABULOUS for kids. The dinosaur floor is amazing as was the butterfly house and imax theatre along with all the stuffed animals. We spent 4 hours but needed a day! cliff arrived with Grandad Xmas Eve and the boys were in charge of Xmas dinner as bruv is Jamie Oliver in kitchen. Did a bit of shopping in the sales but mostly watched Rieko spank her credit card in Anne Taylor while I sat through hours of trying on sessions with her! We also did ladies that lunch at the Palm Court Plaza Hotel with full on scones and little sarnies delicately arranged with free flowing earl grey ( of course without c for a change!). In Old Navy picked up all bigger sized clothes for C for nothing so she is sorted for the rest of the year. Apart from that not really too much shopping we didn't have the energy for it but Union Square with the squirrels and new play place and organic market was a daily run. The kids museum with Dora rubbish was ok-ishfor maybe an hour but many more things to do that are better. The rocker fella centre with the ice rink and lovely restaurant was a nice afternoon with c very well behaved. Would liked to have done statue of liberty but way way too cold even just to pop to deli! Think spring would be a better time to visit but the Xmas lights made it very festive we did have a good time. Also manged to get C baptised in Grace church right next to bruvs place. Its the most amazing Episcopalian church gorgeous.l The lady vicar after explaining our nomadic circumstances agreed to do it for us the very next day and gave us a guided tour and personal service which was really lovely. Now I don't have to suffer the constant nagging from Cliff any longer plus I am happy that its not Roman Catholic as I just cant bring myself around to some of those ideas. School has already started and C is over jet lag but Cliff pretty much turned around and went back to Chicago for work and just got back today. c also being very spoilt recently so both of us laying law down and more shouting these days or else there is no stopping her. We have started gymnastics too on Sundays at Nishimachi school with full on trampoline, beams, bars and floor mats where they teach them handsprings!!! She loves it but wants to do all the other stuff really fast just so she can get onto the trampoline!!! belly IS REALLY massive and have to wear Cliffs coats now.. Need to curb the scoffing too or else its gonna be a tough next year. Monster waking up cant think of anything else to report except we are off to Hakuba next weekend for fun in the snow and there is so much of it this year too.

Novemeber-visitors galore

We have no visitors all year and then November BOOM! they all arrive en mass! Anna's mum and Dad arrived from the Philippines to snow in Toks minus Celsius wearing tshirts! Had to kit them out in ski gear for Hakone! They had a Japan rail pass and no hotel bookings on a holiday weekend so couldn't find them the best place to stay in Kyoto but at least managed to book something ok ish for their travels each day. They stayed 2 nights with us and it was like having grandparents Charlize loved them. Then it was a quick change of guard and sheets as the Swedes arrived family of 3 old colleague from SAS knows both cliff and I was there in the same Star Alliance committee when Cliff and I met for the first time! They only in for 3 days and I think the plan I gave them completed exhausted them but they were totally smitten with Tokyo. Their last night we popped to see the amazing lights in Roppongi hills and midtown, all blue and surreal and allowed C stay up till 8ish to come out with us, she was so excited to be out so late at night but feel asleep on the walk home. Took the Scandies to a lovely Japanese restaurant and have a storming set menu 9 courses including shabu shabu and sashimi for bargain price of 3000JPY per person. Its my little secret place where I take all guests who want something Japanese but dont want to drop a small fortune. Monday Buffalo and Goose and their parents arrive flying in from Deli ( told them we don't want Deli belly or swine flu again thanks!) stay 3 days and then Michelle arrives for a week i think. Then a few days mad packing and stressing and its off to NYC on the 21st DEC for Xmas with Dad and Bruver. Looks like Rieko will also come for a few days.

Had a mad cleaning day today and felt exhausted but Cliff made nice pasta for lunch and took C to the park and book off to choose some new bookies and 1 DVD. She choose Monsters incorp..
Had a thanks giving brunch with school however the dinner was supposed to be ready by 11 on the table but turkey still wasn't cooked at 12 and I was supposed to pick c up at 12. Left with a few veggies and pumpkin pie in doggy bag was very HUNGRY!!! Loads of birthday parties and xmas parties to go. Managed to get all the xmas shopping done just have two parcels left to post and cards left to address but will brave the azabu rabbit hole post office with C again armed with my usual bribe of a choco croissant on monday sigh. Oh and the xmas tree is up but no good decorations as they are hiding somewhere in teh basement which will all fall on me should I attempt to retrieve them. C has already taken most of them off so tree looks a bit sado. Oh and got a free double stroller mountain buggy from wealthy expat family who dont want it they gave it to me for free it costs 800 dollars new!!!

Feel sooooo tired so early night as usual like 9pm!!!

Charlize turns 2

What a great party we had at K space on Saturday even though it was postponed by one week because of the flu lurgie and 11 people could not come many down with sickness themselves. Still it was a lovely afternoon although the stress of catering for kids and adults after a massive cotco run nd then ferrying it all between azabu and shiroganedai.. ( remind me to get catering next time!). cliff reckoned the food was not edible anyway. My stuff was only vaguely picked at (I did do crackers with Cheddar cheese and braston pickle!!) but the ordered giant plate of sushi did get scoffed so at least the parents were ok! The kids went mental with pass the parcel and then headed down to the soft gym for a rough and tumble. Around 4:30 we did the cake and Kokomo came in to scare all the kids who like him but not too close!!! Cecila came and helped me and I did just throw away paper stuff ( haughty me) but made life easier. THANK GOD with 40 odd people it was not my house!!

They have now closed K space school the upper one as more than 6 kids have Influenza A and some confirmed 1000% as swine. Lower school has hand foot and mouth going around so may not send c back this week!!!

Took C to the docs for my nucal fold test and scan at 13 weeks. C was really into it looking at the baby on the screen and saying baby brother baby sister. It seems that maybe there is something between the legs so 95% a boy. Will know for sure next scan. Cliff is over the moon brought back blue roses and keeps on about now I have a partner in crime and heir to the throne!!!!! Charlize knows what is happening however and reverting to baby mode saying mommy I am a baby can I have milky in bottle..

Anyway better go have loads to do Anna's parents arrive from Philippines soon and the house is a tip..