30 April 08

I'd been trying to arrange to meet Sharon for a couple of weeks, and she called to ask if we'd like to go to Shiba Koen later.


It was really hot out, like the height of an English summer, and I wished the next few months here could be like this as it is the top end of my heat tolerance. I shall find it hard to force myself to go out much when it gets hotter and stickier, preferring to stay in with aircon on. We got to the park before Sharon arrived with Taylor, and I sat and watched a group of dog owners exercising their pooches. As usual the pets were dressed in some outlandish gear, and one dog had its ears and tail dyed yellow! Whatever next? At least they were being allowed to use their legs for once, though there were doggie prams in evidence nearby.


We sat on the grass for a while and exchanged notes on our babies' development. Taylor demonstrated that he has mastered rolling right over. He is 12 days older, so it can only be a matter of time. Sharon has not been able to establish a night routine yet so is still woken every three hours for feeding. Again, it made me realise how easy Emily is really. There was a class of schoolchildren nearby and they were group-skipping with about 20 kids on one rope. They managed a good 15 or more jumps in succession.


Afterwards we walked back via the little park beneath TokyoTower that I frequent, as Sharon hadn't noticed it before, then parted company. Such a shame that she will be back to work in June, as she is the only mum I know that lives in walking distance.