1 January 2010

Nick still had a high temperature and was feeling rough. We shelved our original plan for a full day out and went for a wander around the temples and shrines near our apartment instead. Emily was obsessed by the clusters of berries everywhere, but was very good and left them alone 'for the birds' as she was told, though she insisted on touching every bunch.

I felt quite nostalgic for the old days when we all used to go to Clacton on New Years Day and have lunch at the Geisha cafe! A strange choice of name in deepest, darkest Essex: I don't recall it being particularly Japanese in decor or food (surely not; Grandad would not have deigned to eat 'foreign muck'!).