3 October 2010

Nick was really exhausted, so we left him to a very long lie-in and went to Tamagawa wth Charlize, Cliff and Roy. Despite a forecast for cloud it was sunny, very warm and with not much breeze, so I regretted my thick jeans and heavy trainers. The girls loved the big open green space and explored a lot. In the long grass on the banks there were many grasshoppers and big, brown insects that flew a long way when disturbed (not sure what they were).

A little way along a few men in their sixties were flying homemade kites. One offered the girls a small kite each that were made from plastic carrier bags. They flew really well, excpet when the kids forgot to tug on them to keep them aloft. We were pleasantly surprised that he would not take them back and said we could keep them.

Back towards the station we stopped for lunch, at a great place which Nick and I have passed many a time and thought about visiting. Fish and chips and London Pride! No beer for me but will return soon with Nick on a Saturday (one of my two allowed booze days a week). The fish was very tasty and not a bad attempt at the British version. Deep-fried garlic cloves were an unusual and delicious addition, and it was even garnished with flash-fried rosemary sprigs. Not so good for my diet, though!

We carried on up to the wooded ridge for a play in the playground but Roy and I were beset by mozzies and the girls were getting tired anyway so we only stayed twenty minutes; Charlize dropped off before we even got on the train.

Once home, Emily did another huge poo in the toilet. The two-day cycle seems to be setting in. She has not used the potty for several days now and has had no real accidents either.

I am a bit suspicious of the readings on our new all-singing all-dancing scales. For a third week I have dropped weight, making a total of 3kg in 3 weeks. Again, it was after a run, but I don't really feel that I have adjusted my ways enough to warrant such a loss.