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.
2010年3月31日水曜日
2010年3月6日土曜日
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.
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.
2010年2月20日土曜日
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!!!
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!!!
2010年2月11日木曜日
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!!!
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!!!
2010年1月29日金曜日
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.
2010年1月17日日曜日
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.
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.
2009年11月28日土曜日
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!!!
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!!!
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