3 January 2010

Despite a slow start and Nick still suffering with a dodgy tummy, we went ahead with our plan to go to go to the seaside at Zushi. By time we arrived we needed to have lunch, so we walked straight to the Red Lobster, the American-style seafood and steak restaurant right next to the beach where we ate last time we were there. Emily fussed with her food but we just about got enough into her.

We went from there onto the long beach, where I set straight about flying our kite along with about a dozen or so others. Though there seemed to be a fair breeze I just could not get the darned thing aloft. After half an hour of frustration I finally gave up, but not in time to stave off a few tears as I felt that yet again I was reminded of my limitations. A decade ago I owned a two-string kite and was able to fly it very well so I couldn't understand why I couldnt come up with the goods now. And Emily had been really looking forward to seeing her turtle kite airborne. The tears were probably as much about the strain of Nick's continued work pressure and hours, plus his illness on what should have been four days of family enjoyment though.

Eventually I calmed down and helped Emily make a sandman.

As we put the finishing touches to it we realised that she had done a poo. Had she ever! Once in the toilet I found that her trousers and bodysuit were both caked, as were her legs and back. It was very cold in there but I had to strip her off. Luckily I had a change of clothing with me. She did well not to get upset as she was by now very tired. Somehow the opportunity for a nap had passed and again I thought we should try to get through without the sleep. We carried on along the beach and into town, where we hung out in warm Starbucks for a while before getting the train home. Amazingly Emily managed to eat most of her tea and get through the evening routine without breaking down. I am not ready for her to drop her nap every day, but on days out it is quite useful if we don't have to plan around her sleeping.