9 January 2011

I had my first hangover in ages. We were supposed to be ice skating with the Julia and co but I called her and postponed until the afternoon.

The temporary Midtown rink was predictably crowded. They had special kids' double-bladed skates for hire. Emily seemed to quite like the experience but I'm not sure if she will want to try again. Maybe she will if we go on a weekday when it is quiet. It was very expensive though, considering I barely spent half an hour on the ice, and if I go without Nick I won't get any chance at all to skate on my own.


Emily had a meltdown on the way home. She refused to go in the buggy if Nick was pushing. I did not want to give in and push her, as she wished, so I gave her ultimatum to walk or ride. She ended up walking all the way home from Roppongi - maybe a mile and a half. It took a whole hour and though it was very cold I could not go fast enough to stay warm. Emily whinged and cried periodically but eventually we made it. She was absolutely fine once indoors, of course.

8 January 2011

Today it is the first year we can't celebrate Grandad's birthday. He would have been 95. I wonder if Grandma will notice the date and remember, or maybe she will be blissfully in the dark and have forgotten he has gone.


I noticed for the first time today that it is still quite light at 5pm.

Brigida came over to babysit and Nick and I went out for dinner in Azabu, to Eat More Greens. We ate many dishes of fab and wholesome veggie food. I think Nick was surprised by how much he enjoyed a meat-free evening out. We managed to get through two bottles of wine and had more booze (sake) at home with a DVD. Not sure why we were so unrestrained as neither of us drinks the amount we used to!

7 January 2011

Nick forwarded an email from Komaki-san about transferring to London at the end of March. Perhaps as a self-defence mechanism, I feel quite sceptical. It is exactly a year since he came home and said out of the blue that the boss wanted to move him back and I wasted ages trawling the net looking at possible places to live and checking out house prices.

4 January 2011

Barring a relapse, Emily has worn her last nappy. She has been dry 95% of mornings so I am hopeful there won't be any accidents, but have a waterproof sheet on the bed in any case.

3 January 2011

It was a bright but rather chilly day so we elected to have an indoor option, having already agreed to spending the day with Julia and family. Before playtime we had lunch at Sizzler (I know I have said I should not go there any more but it is ideal for the kids). Afterwards the dads took the girls to Kid-O-Kid play centre and us mums went for a browse in the sales at Next and Top Shop. Although I mainly bought things for Emily in the end, it satisfied my urge for retail therapy.

2 January 2011

It was a chilly day, though as normal for a Tokyo winter's day it was bright and sunny. We took the bus to Atago Hills to make a hatsumode shrine visit.

Well, as it was packed, Nick queued up to ring the gong and make a prayer, but Emily and I just stayed by the pond and watched the many colourful carp.

At the shrine there is a famous set of 86 steps which are precipitously steep. We all walked down them then trudged back up. I couldn't help but wonder if anyone had died falling down there as it really is dangerous.

I managed to run for a full hour in the evening. It was not my best performance but I was glad to have ground it out. Getting on the scales afterwards I came in at 62.8kg, which is exactly 10 stone. It was a pleasant surprise after a couple of weeks of eating whatever I like, and a good way to begin 2011.

1 January 2010

After the present drought, the deluge began: we gave Emily her dolls' house, the beautiful clothes Gail had sent, some playdough and also her scooter. Later she went outside for a practice with Nick and did OK though apparently had trouble turning it.

Mid-afternoon, we togged up and walked over to Jo's apartment for a party. The streets were really quiet, like Christmas Day at home.

It was just us and Bettina, Steve and their two kids. The gathering was very convivial and relaxed and the children did not fight. The food all worked out well and there was just the right amount.

At bathtime, Emily's weariness showed through and she retired from the tub early in tears.

We eventually left at 8.15 and got a taxi home.