25 July 2009

It hardly seems a year, but we found ourselves back over at Odaiba for Nick's department's BBQ again. Thankfully it was a bit cooler and a lot fresher than last time, though I still ended the day saturated in sweat. We took the boat over, with Emily excitedly pointing out trains, boats, aircraft, and lorries on Rainbow Bridge. We parted company after we disembarked, so that I could give her some lunch in the mall, as I thought that if we went straight to the BBQ site she would prefer to be running around and exploring under the trees. However, Aquacity was busier than I've ever seen it, which may explain why she hardly ate anything. I tried in vain not to get cross with her as she toyed with her food and then attempted to climb out of the baby chair.

We rejoined Nick, and found that only a handful of his colleagues had so far materialised. It felt a bit awkward, and I was glad to have the excuse to play with Emily and then push her off in the stroller so she could nap. I found the only shady stretch of path available and walked up and down the 200 metre stretch for half an hour, before returning to the BBQ area. While we were away a number of others had shown up, including cute Max, the golden retriever who was there last year, and 7 month old Oliver, who was just a small bump last time. Poor Ollie was passed from pillar to post, but took it all in his stride and didn't cry at all. Nick got a turn at holding him, and did look quite at ease though he worried (unnecessarily!) that Emily would be jealous.




Emily happily tucked into fried noodles and then sank her teeth into a huge slab of watermelon. At least it helped with her poor fluid intake, which has reached worrying proportions.



After packing up the BBQ we said goodbye and headed indoors to the hell that was Toys R Us on a Saturday in sale season. I bought yet another drink bottle, in an effort to tempt her to drink more, and a doll pram, which I had been meaning to get ever since she had such fun with Tom's and Fern's on holiday.




At Mita we split from Nick yet again, as he had an invite to meet an acquaintance for the Sumida river fireworks. He seemed relatively comfortable with the prospect, despite it being an evening with a group of gay guys whose invite was entitled 'A lot of banging'! Emily and I whizzed home and she was ecstatic when I unwrapped the pram.