5 June 08

A very sticky day. We went over to Geraldine's place in Komazawa Daigaku. She's the one I met last week who also had her baby, Gaby, back in the UK and came out here in March. Coincidentally, they were living in Newcastle and working just along the road from me at the Nissan works in Sunderland. Gaby is about 9 months old. She has very plump thighs but is a strikingly attractive little girl.

It was quite a faff getting there as I had to carry the buggy down three separate double flights of steps at Shibuya station, in the process getting a nasty bruise on my bicep. When we got to her local station, she had made a mistake in her directions and I headed off the opposite way for a while before I realised the error. Their house is quite Scandinavian in apearance, being made of clapperboard and painted bright green. It's really nice and spacious with four bedrooms and an open-plan first floor, and has lovely hardwood flooring. The joys of an expat package and two salaries.

Already there was Heather with her 9-month-old Charlotte (also very cute), who we also met at Arisugawa last week. Later a Dutch girl (Elske - sp?) came too with her little boy Joep. Emily should have been tired and hungry but was so excited by the company and all the toys that I couldn't get her to settle at all. While we were there she rolled over several times again, and was most taken with Gaby's playgym. By the time we left it had come on to rain steadily, though it was still very warm. The rainy season proper is due to start soon, and will be a bit depressing as there won't be any chance of picnics and visits to parks for a month or so.

Later in the evening the cloud lifted and the air felt nice and fresh. I rarely venture out of the flat after dark, so always forget what an impressive view we have from the north-facing front, though the attached picture doesn't really do it justice.