hitsumei

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.

2 October 2010

It turned quite warm again - perhaps 26C. While I disappeared for my class Nick took Emily to Hon Shiba and they had a playdate with Charlize, Cliff and Roy. Then it was my 'shift' in the afternoon. I didn't feel like straying far from home so I took Emily up to Kamezuka park. We had lots of fun, exploring and finding many berries and leaves, plus a huge green grasshopper. The toy plane flew well but then got stuck in a tree. A boy came to the rescue and shinned up 10 feet to dislodge it. Due to the return to warm, humid conditions, there were many mozzies on the attack.

Thursday, 30 September 2010

30 September 2010

September bowed out, damp and cool. We had a play date over at Bettina's. Until the kids ate there was lots of fighting but once they had been fed the mood was a lot lighter for a while with lots of fun in Tim's bedroom.

As they got tired the tears came more and more frequently though, so Jo and I felt that it was time to head for home and cool things off.

Wednesday, 29 September 2010

29 September 2010

After a couple of dreary and cool days, a bright, warm one. With the rising temperatures came a resurgence of mozzies, which beset me when I took Emily for a play at Mamiana playground on our way to lunch with Nick. While waiting for him at the office, I took her up to the 24th floor lobby so that we could have a look at the diggers on the building being dismantled opposite.

We were glad to be able to have a picnic lunch in the nearby little playground, then all too soon our hour of family time was over. Emily and I moved on to Midtown Park. On the way, I couldn't help notice an interesting product available at a party-goods store: Fanny Napkins! At the park we explored a few of the little paths in the landscaped garden behind the small lake, then spent ages playing Pooh sticks on a bridge over a fast-moving stream. We ate our snack in the little resthouse by the water. I know it is only a manmade urban green space but it is very restful there. The willows and rushes with their darting dragonflies are lovely.

I suspected that the small fountains would still be in operation, and of course, Emily wanted to play in them. She ended up stripped to her pants and spent a happy hour around there, including making mud pies.

Having had such a nice time, Emily naturally did not want to leave and make a huge fuss, screaming and kicking on the busy streets of Roppongi as I began to push her home. It is such a shame to spoil a nice day out with a tantrum at the end. I did not give in to her requests to go to another park, though I felt really mean as we may have had time to drop in somewhere else for a short while. However, she has to learn that I will not give in to that sort of behaviour. Hopefully the penny will drop quickly as I hate to have people turn around and stare at us as if she is a spoilt little monster, instead of the angel she usually is.

I am also pondering on whether to introduce a star chart reward system to make mealtimes less stressful. She just won't concentrate on eating when at the table, and also, I usually end up spoon feeding her as she loses interest after she has eaten her fruit or veggies.

Emily hasn't used the potty for more than a day; since I gave her a step she has been using it to get up onto the big toilet. On the way to bed, we stopped off to use the toilet and she said she wanted to do a poo. I thought it was just a delaying tactic to avoid bed, but she soon began to produce some, getting up after each one to have a look at in the bowl. I remarked that they looked like logs, and she said 'they haven't got any leaves on them. If I plant them they will grow into poo trees'! She seemed very pleased with herself and I was certainly glad not to have to clear up a messy potty. Sitting in that position will help her to go more easily, I think. That's the third time in a row she has done a number two 2 days apart, so the medication is doing the trick.

Sunday, 26 September 2010

26 September 2010

A brighter day though the air temperature is still cool. Nick felt he had put in a lot of effort towards the exam with his three late-night tutorials, so we had a full family day out to Minato Mirai. After the obligatory coffee stop, first was the bayside park, where we had a picnic (though Emily was too distracted by all that green space and the maritime vista to eat well). We took along a toy plane that is powered by rubber band and had a bit of fun getting it aloft on the grassy area.

By the water's edge we spotted a jellyfish (made me shudder to think one like that may have stung Nick last week) and small crabs in the slopping waves that occasionally sprayed us, eliciting squeals.

The sun felt a bit strong for Nick and he was gradually turning pink, so we moved on indoors. Emily was keen to go up Landmark Tower again, and as it was a clear day we thought it would be good to take another look at the great views from the 300m building. We spent a good hour taking in the panorama over the bay and the mountains.

I had an amazing run in the evening and felt like I had winged feet. A strong 42 minute performance. It helped enormously that the temperatures were so comfortable, and also that I had eaten a small high-carb meal a couple of hours earlier. The old days when I ran then ate a huge pile of pasta afterwards are gone. Clearly this is the way forward.

Tuesday, 5 October 2010

5 October 2010

4 October 2010

Sunday, 3 October 2010

3 October 2010