12 April 2009

We got lucky with the weather for our TMG fundraising picnic in Shinjuku Gyoen, joining crowds flocking there for the final days of cherry blossom viewing. I got there early so that I could let Emily have a play and eat her lunch. She was quite a handful and every time I sat down on our mat she'd disappear off into the undergrowth. Nick was off buying himself a new guitar, but arrived in time to push her around for a nap in the stroller, which enabled me to help meet and greet the trickle of TMG members arriving. Steph, Jill and I were pleased with the eventual turnout, there being around 15 families.

As always, though there were big signs saying 'no alcohol in the garden', every group of merrymakers appeared to be imbibing with impunity. When one of the mums put up a small playtent though, the park police soon came over to explain that tents are not allowed. We protested and they went away to consult a higher authority about it, so it didn't come down in the end.

After the picnic I went round with Steph as she collected donations. I had prepared a guess the eggs competition but would have found it very awkward asking for money if we hadn't gone together. I am just not pushy enough - I could never do any kind of a sales job (actually, I can't see how I could ever do a proper job of any kind again, though one of these days that issue will have to be addressed). Nick did a sterling job of playing with Emily while I did my TMG coordinator bit. Given the strength of the sun, it was lucky that she seemed drawn to playing under a huge low-hanging cedar tree, though from time to time she would take off at quite a lick across the grass and into the open.

With all that childcare followed by the socialising effort of the event, I felt totally drained by evening; I did get out for a run but it felt quite a plod despite the new running shoes I'd finally got round to buying.