9 May 2009

After a week off for Golden Week, I was back to my Japanese class. But after a week of Emily waking in the night and rising very early, including today, I was too zonked to concentrate well so it was a good job it was the more easy-going teacher.

Meanwhile, Nick took Emily to see a dermatologist, as her previously mild eczema flared up about a week ago and she has been scratching furiously until it is red raw in places, especially the tops of her ankles, her buttocks, and behind her knees. He prescribed a mild steroid cream, and after just one application it had improved massively.

After lunch we had a date with a professional photographer. Emily looked very sweet in a pretty fuschia dress, but I made the big mistake of suggesting that we stop off at a playground as we were early for our appointment. She fell down on the gravel and skinned her knees, so what with the grazes and her eczema, her bare legs will not come out well on a high resolution photo. At the small studio, we had to try to get Emily to pose, first on a little wicker chair and then on a furry white rug. It wasn't that surprising that she barely smiled once, and kept trying to get away as soon as we had placed her where we wanted her. I thought the photographer would be constantly snapping, but she took her time with each shot and consequently missed a few opportunities. Well, we are under no obligation to order, but there may be one or two worth having.

We rewarded Emily with a visit to Hon Shiba park afterwards. After climbing up the pirate ship ladder a few times she made a beeline for the fountain, with Nick in hot pursuit. I was distracted, and when I looked round she was actually in the shallow pool with her trouser legs rolled up. I could see what was coming, and she started walking across the middle of the pool and then slipped, ending up soaked from the waist down. At first I was cross with Nick, but eventually saw the funny side and Emily seemed quite pleased with herself after a brief cry. Unusually, I didn't have a proper change of clothes with me as I usually do so she ended up back in the short dress.

After dinner Nick and I watched the first episode of The Office. We really enjoyed our dose of humour and ended up staying up later than intended to watch another episode. It was even funnier than I remembered.