Lowly in Tokyo

Japanese Tsunami Viewed From A Car

2011-12-08T08:40:00.000+09:00

Japanese Tsunami Viewed From A Car

Vegetable Chopping Monkey

2011-10-02T13:59:00.000+09:00

The Figgy faceplant

2011-08-30T05:52:00.000+09:00

FUNNY!

2011-08-04T14:11:00.000+09:00

We got him!

2011-05-17T14:28:00.001+09:00

look closely......

The British School in Tokyo - Spring Fair 2011

2011-05-14T06:55:00.002+09:00

Royal Wedding Excitement!

2011-04-26T11:43:00.002+09:00

March 11th 2011

2011-04-18T13:14:00.000+09:00

Thoroughly depressing all round.

Sakura Time!

2011-04-11T13:53:00.002+09:00

Why Japanese women walk that way

2011-02-21T10:38:00.000+09:00

Jim's Sayonara

2010-12-27T15:50:00.000+09:00

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-29T10:37:00.000+09:00

MC Hammer

2010-11-07T10:38:00.000+09:00

The British School in Tokyo - Secondary School Open Morning

2010-11-03T16:08:00.003+09:00

Everyone is welcome to join. Please come and join & bring along any interested parties.

Helpful Info to get to The British School in Tokyo Showa Campus:

Subway: Sangenjaya Eki

Bus Stop – Showa Joshi Daigaku-mae

Taxi –昭和女子大学, Shōwa Joshi Daigaku – Route 246 – Tamagawa Dori

FREE SHUTTLE from our BST Shibuya Primary Campus
http://www.bst.ac.jp/

NB: Please be reminded that there is NO PARKING on the Showa Campus.

There is coin parking nearby but we strongly encourage visitors to come via public transport or taxi.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-30T08:37:00.000+09:00

Castanets Monkey

2010-09-12T21:10:00.002+09:00

Hanabi Time! 花火

2010-08-05T09:33:00.000+09:00

Japanese Fireworks Festivals

During the summer in Japan, fireworks festivals (花火大会, hanabi taikai) are held nearly everyday someplace in the country, in total numbering more than 200 during August. The festivals consist of large fireworks shows, the largest of which use between 100,000 and 120,000 rounds (Tondabayashi, Osaka), and can attract more than 800,000 spectators. Street vendors set up stalls to sell various drinks and staple Japanese food (such as Yakisoba, Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, kakigori (shaved ice)), and traditionally held festival games, such as Kingyo-sukui, or Goldfish scooping.
Even today, men and women attend these events wearing the traditional Yukata, summer Kimono , or Jinbei (men only), collecting in large social circles of family or friends to sit picnic-like, eating and drinking, while watching the show.

The first fireworks festival in Japan was held in 1733.

House & Garden

2010-08-03T10:16:00.000+09:00

Did I tell you how much I love my new house & garden?

Well....Just for the record....'I LOVE IT!'

Beating the Summer Heat

2010-07-05T11:21:00.000+09:00

The Munkleloid (thankfully) does not suffer her father's overheating problem, so is coping well with the 30C & 100% humidity of the Japanese Summer.

Sayonara Donnington Park House

2010-06-18T15:05:00.003+09:00

Final moments are here

Should have gone to Specsavers

2010-05-25T13:50:00.001+09:00

My Merry Girl

2010-05-21T14:48:00.001+09:00

She is my JOY!

Luke....

2010-05-06T17:00:00.000+09:00

The British School in Tokyo - Spring Fair 2010

2010-04-21T16:48:00.000+09:00

The British School in Tokyo - Spring Fair - Saturday 8th May 2010

Time: 11am-2.45pm

Shibuya Campus

Full time working MUVVA!

2010-04-20T14:55:00.000+09:00

I am back to work....back to The British School in Tokyo after a YEAR OFF!

It has truly been an AMAZING hiatus - I feel totally revived, refreshed & reset. I really feel like I have a new perspective.

God Bless the Japanese Labour Laws.

Dare I say it .....Work is a lot easier than being a full-time muvva. I even get an HOUR LONG lunchbreak.

Sheer LUXURY!

Moshi Moshi

2010-03-31T17:14:00.000+09:00

Bit of a long video - but you get the message.....and you get to hear Steve speaking Nihongo!

Our New House

2010-03-31T12:18:00.002+09:00

This weekend we move into our new house (pictured above) - which is 4 minutes walk from our current house in Meguro.

Packers arrive on Friday, Move happens on Saturday.

PANIC STATIONS!

The Monkey Starts Daycare

2010-03-31T12:12:00.003+09:00

So.......The Monkeloid has begun daycare. The first day was effortless. She just pitched up, wandered in to the playroom & got on with it. The next few days have been a little teary....GULP! I keep telling myself 'she's fine, she's fine.....it's just like being in a BIG FAMILY'. Oh Gawd...I hope it's fine.

Anyway - The funny thing is - she gets a daily report card, which arrives in Japanese, Steve translates. All the kids there are Japanese or HAFU & so they are very interested in Monkey's blue blue eyes. Apparently the boys keep stroking her hair. Ummmm.

As all good daycare goes...she's now got a hacking cough & very runny nose.......and I am FREE to get on with packing our life up at Meguro 3-6-3.

It's the FINAL COUNTDOWN!

The Munchkin Turns One!

2010-03-22T15:16:00.001+09:00

Getting Steadier Monkey

2010-02-23T07:53:00.001+09:00

Walking Monkey

2010-02-16T09:53:00.001+09:00

Fresh Back from our Big Trip to The Americas - we now have an 11mth old 'Walking Monkey'.

Me & My Punckle Poo

2010-02-13T07:24:00.002+09:00

The Munchkin is now 11 months old.....Holy Merd!

Month Long Vacation

2010-02-09T00:04:00.006+09:00

Steve has resigned from Daiwa & starts with a new company on Mon 15th Feb....so we have had a chance for a vacation.

The BIG Itinerary included:

Washington D.C - The White House not as big as I thought it would be.
Colonial Williamsburg - very interesting. Needs another visit including Jamestown & Yorktown on a warm spring day (without jet-lag)
Virginia - Quaker, Steak & Lube Heaven. Hung out with Brian & Blythe, Devon & Alyssa. Very nice time indeed.
Barbados - HOT HOT HOT....Went to Polo for the first time & saw Prince Harry playing.
Bequia (St Vincent & The Grenadines) - got sunburnt, loved the beach, didn't want to leave & spotted Anthony Bourdain from 'No Reservations'.
Philidelphia - got monumentallly lost trying to find our Motel for the night. 1.5 hours LOST in The Twilight Zone.....got to see Rocky Steps tho!

Colorado...finally.......enjoying cardiac arrest fried food aplenty with the in-laws.

Am now counting down the days of return to Tokyo with dread.....having such a nice time.

Projects that loom on the return: Baby in to Daycare & Back to work, Moving house.

Sob....It's been a very eventful year. I am so lucky.

Taxi Home

2010-01-07T17:29:00.002+09:00

She'll be coming round the mountain...

2010-01-06T09:15:00.000+09:00

9 months & 2 weeks

New Year in Japan

2010-01-04T10:41:00.005+09:00

The Japanese have a tradition of celebrating New Year much like we celebrate Christmas. Similar to our Christmas Cards, the Japanese send New Year's Cards called nengajō (年賀状) & these arrive on the 1st of January. I love this tradition as after I've received my Christmas Cards, I then get my nengajō (年賀状)& I can actually claim that I have Japanese friends! Really...I do!

Merry Christmas All

2010-01-04T10:38:00.003+09:00

Rather belated Merry Christmas to you. We had a good Christmas Holiday in the UK. The Munchkin's first Christmas. I'm afraid I didn't buy her any presents as I'm sure she will have no recollection of it.
Good time had by all.....Jet lag to greet us when we got home.

Look what I found....

2009-12-09T09:03:00.000+09:00

Almost Standing Monkey

2009-12-03T17:59:00.000+09:00

Song - I love you Samantha....

2009-11-13T15:36:00.001+09:00

From Film - High Society

'Drunk at the Bar' Monkey

2009-11-05T07:24:00.002+09:00

The Munchkin Moo has now started to pull herself up on things. Whoa!

Crawling Monkey!

2009-11-02T08:48:00.000+09:00

7mths & 4 teeth!

Almost Crawling....

2009-10-21T16:05:00.001+09:00

A very special gift

2009-10-08T13:46:00.003+09:00

...from Fairy Godmother Louisa.....thank you very much.

The Flying Monkey

2009-08-28T09:43:00.002+09:00

Happy Birthday to me......again!

2009-08-24T07:52:00.004+09:00

I managed to make it to another year older. I am now 36.

We celebrated at the American Club with an all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffet.

ACE!

Low Flying Baby Vom

2009-08-22T20:29:00.001+09:00

Gotta watch out for those low flying babies!

Happy 40th Birthday Steve!

2009-08-20T08:29:00.000+09:00

You made it!

Chinese Grandma Learns Engrish

2009-08-19T09:48:00.001+09:00

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

The New View

2009-08-16T09:15:00.005+09:00

So....since I have become a pilot of 'Super Pram' I am also now the user of 'disabled routes' around the globe. Stairs are now replaced by elevators or escalators (when I can find them) & going from simple A to B routes are now strategically planned to enable 1) stroller access 2) lavatory breaks that can accomodate strollers.....so....this means that I now have a greater appreciation of what life must be like for those in a wheelchair.

Luckily Tokyo is a stroller & wheelchair friendly city....so getting out & about is pretty easy....not so enjoyable in the summer heat though. What IRKS me though is the FAT & LAZY people who take elevators.......because they can't be BOTHERED to walk up the stairs.

Seriously....I am now on a crusade to eradicated lazy fatties with full working limbs from this world.....my mantra goes like this:

'Get your FAT ARSE out of this elevator & walk up the stairs you LAZY BASTARD'.

It's working so far...apart from the one time when the said 'lazy fatty' showed me her wooden leg.....!

Post Natal Body Observations

2009-08-16T09:07:00.003+09:00

Ok....On the NEGATIVE side..I have noticed that I am losing some of my hair. This is all fairly normal but slightly concerning at the same time. Great big strands of hair keep coming off in the shower & in my baby girl's hands.......some of it grey too.....! (I have since remedied the grey with a Marilyn Manson disastrous home dye job). My hips still ache a bit & I'm told that this is due to the relaxin hormone still sloshing around the body. It all seems to be improving weekly.

...and on the POSITIVE side.......My circulation has improved! I used to have ICE BLOCKS for feet & had to wear socks in bed all year round.....but now....Hallelujah....my feet are always warm.

Laughing Monkey

2009-08-09T16:34:00.001+09:00

Wedding Anniversary Lunch

2009-08-04T13:03:00.004+09:00

We managed to celebrate our Third Wedding Anniversary (The UK Version) with a jaunt to The American Club (www.tokyoamericanclub.org). We had a swim in the morning & then BURGERS & MOET for lunch.

Little Moo came and joined us after her first stint in Child Care.

Motherhood: Similar to bag of rice?

2009-08-04T12:57:00.003+09:00

So....I have come to the conclusion that motherhood has similarities with carrying around a bag of rice. The rice is valuable, it needs to be watched all the time so that no one steals it or it doesn't get damaged & when you have a chance to put it down .....it feels AMAZING!

I experienced this amazing feeling whilst celebrating our 3rd Wedding Anniversary Lunch. I put Little Moo in to child care for one whole hour. It felt EXTREMELY LIBERATING!

It's bitter sweet really...similar to when you work hard. Hard work is hard....but my god...that feeling when you have a break is AMAZING.

I think everyone should carry around a bag of rice.

United Nation Amigos

2009-07-31T13:32:00.003+09:00

A multi national reunion of our Birth Class.

Clockwise from the top we have Sakura (British/Japanese), Ellie (Chinese/American), Little Moo (British/American) & Takara (Japanese/American).

Looks like Americans get everywhere.

The Exersaucer

2009-07-23T14:55:00.003+09:00

I think I have found the ultimate accessory in keeping Little Moo entertained.

THE EXERSAUCER

It's BRILL. As my friend Eloise described it 'It must feel like you're in a rave'.

The Ring

2009-07-22T09:45:00.003+09:00

...so I'm figuring out motherhood is all about 'snatched time'. 15 minutes here, 15 minutes there. Things don't keep Little Moo distracted for long unless it's a jaunt out in SuperPram ....but spending days out means that those essential smaller jobs just at home don't get done.

It's been a bit of Groundhog day recently with Little Moo discovering she can roll over...but getting very frustrated at not being able to roll back. So...life has been:

rollover
faceplant
cry
get picked up & rolled back by Mummy
rollover
faceplant
cry
get picked up & rolled back by Mummy

however.....I have now discovered 'The Ring' which might be the next BIG THING!

She's already started to try & get out of the Bumbo...so now I'm trying the more 'free to move' ring.

Watch this space.

First Swimming Lesson

2009-07-17T13:33:00.001+09:00

Little Moo took her first dip in a swimming pool today. She started off thinking it was bathtime...but then realised it wasn't. Started crying...then promptly fell asleep.

We'll try again when she's less knackered!

Bumbo Baby Sitter

2009-07-13T08:08:00.002+09:00

I think I am a fan of the Bumbo Baby Sitter. It means that Little Moo can sit & watch me empty the dishwasher, put the washing on, tidy the kitchen...again. All fascinating stuff.

Refreshing Beer Garden discovery

2009-07-12T16:16:00.003+09:00

My old colleague, Ingrid, was in town for a few days so we hung out. As houseguests go, she was brilliant! As a previous resident of Tokyo I didn't have to hold her hand or look after her. I gave her a key & she came & went as she pleased.

We decided to go out for a beer one night - baby in tow - & re-discovered the Sekirei Beer Garden at Meiji Kinenkan. Meiji Kinenkan is where the Japanese Constitution was drafted after World War II.

http://www.meijikinenkan.gr.jp/english/restaurant/sekirei.html

Extreme Shepherding

2009-07-08T18:09:00.001+09:00

The Rollover

2009-07-07T16:06:00.000+09:00

She did it!

Kawaii-iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Baby!

2009-06-29T15:44:00.004+09:00

On our weekly jaunt to the dry cleaners - Little Samantha is greeted with the phrase 'Kawaii Baby' which means 'Cute Baby'.

...and they don't just 'say it' ....they SING IT...

Imagine...'Kawaii-iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Baby!'.

In fact....all Japanese people say it when they see her....It is most amusing...and obviously...very complimentary........cuz she is darn CUTE!

See Sakura-chan here being held by Mrs Dry Cleaner.

Kawaii-iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

R.I.P Michael Jackson

2009-06-29T08:19:00.002+09:00

...seen here with The Addams Family.

Happy Father's Day Steve

2009-06-24T06:59:00.002+09:00

Checking out my Daddy.......

Hoshinoya Baby!

2009-06-22T16:01:00.003+09:00

Lovely weekend spent relaxing at www.hoshinoya.com in Karuizawa. Dressing in Japanese clothes for the weekend was compulsory.

Is there a likeness?

2009-06-14T16:57:00.001+09:00

This is me with my brother & sister. I reckon I must've been about 3 months old here. Same age as my Little Bird now.

SUPER PRAM!

2009-06-09T18:02:00.003+09:00

I have officially mastered my Stokke Xplory Stroller - www.stokke-stroller.com

Today I set off for a 3 hour round trip to a very busy shopping area called Shibuya.

I've realised that Tokyo is a very 'pram friendly' city with lots of concrete & ramps & so I shall be attempting a daily mission in SUPERPRAM.

A Short Story

2009-06-08T13:58:00.000+09:00

US Friendship Day Celebration Tokyo 2009

2009-06-08T13:27:00.003+09:00

Date: Saturday 29th August 2009
Time: 11:00-17:30
Music: United States Army Band & Rock Bands
Performances: A Parade, Taiko, Magicians & Much More
Activities: Children's Games Corner, Dunkin Tank & Bouncy Castle
Food: Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Pizza
FREE: Beer, Sodas & Water
TICKETS NOW ON SALE - Y1,000 (children under 5 are free)
Public Tickets & Event Information Hotline - 03 3224 5501
Advanced Tickets Sales at The Tokyo American Club http://www.tokyoamericanclub.org/ or just buy them on the day.
Venue: US Embassy Housing Compound - 2-1-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (No Parking Available)
Nearest Subway Station: Roppongi, Akasaka, Tameike-Sanno

Parents of God

2009-06-07T21:35:00.005+09:00

So....Samantha-chan chose 3 Godparents....and luckily they said YES.

On the God Parent Pop Idol Panel we have...

Auntie Louisa

Auntie Lisa

& Cousin Timmy.

Thanks Guys! Looking forward to the fun times ahead.

Home

2009-06-06T15:47:00.001+09:00

I miss home....the greenery, the garden, the countryside......all washed down with a nice pint of Scrumpy at a country pub.

Baby Worship in the UK

2009-06-06T15:44:00.003+09:00

The purpose of the trip to the UK was to meet 'da family'. Sammy has 8 cousins already who all wanted a hold. She got PLENTY of attention. The weather in the UK was amazing too. 27C on one day! Phew!

Flying Long Haul

2009-06-06T15:39:00.002+09:00

So...having returned from the UK on my first long haul flight with Sammy-chan, I have discovered I have an ANGEL baby. She slept for take off & landing BOTH there and back. AND didn't cry! The BOSE headphones were not needed.

The Mother & Sister Ships in Tokyo

2009-06-06T15:34:00.003+09:00

Mother & Annabel came for a visit - in part to meet baby Samantha but also to give me a tutorial in 'Pram Management'. Seriously...I have been terrified of the super dooper Xplory Stroller pictured that I forked out for....it's scary!

I then decided to book a ticket home with them & take my first long haul flight with my new baby.

Smiles

2009-05-18T12:00:00.003+09:00

My Little Bird is 7 weeks!

2009-05-12T18:00:00.002+09:00

Look at my Little Bird......now 7 weeks old.
She's now beginning to plump out a bit & is growing well.
We've said 'Hello & Goodbye' to Grandma & Grandpa Patrick...and are looking forward to welcoming Mother (Granny Norgate) & Auntie Annabel next week.

Citizen of the World!...

2009-05-07T17:53:00.003+09:00

Well....of UK & USA...

Samantha-chan has now got both her UK & US Citizenship! God Bless the UK!

Golden Week in Japan

2009-05-07T17:49:00.003+09:00

Finally! I was able to celebrate Golden Week in Japan with Steve this year. Normally I am working.

So..the extra holidays meant that Steve could have some time off & his folks have come over for a visit.

Golden Week info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Week_(Japan)

You gotta LOVE Japan!

What's in a name?

2009-04-26T17:22:00.001+09:00

A Patrick Baby

2009-04-24T07:00:00.005+09:00

Samantha-chan enters the Tokyo 'Strong Man' Competition....

Little Samantha...with all her hair....is definitely resembling her father as a baby.

See Steve with his Dad in 1969. This is the moment Steve decided that life was more bearable under the covers.....something I've been trying to get him out of since I've met him.

Operating with one arm....

2009-04-16T18:39:00.004+09:00

....am chasing my tail trying to keep on top of everything while having a 3-week old child who demands to be surgically attached to my left arm. In the event that I can put her down without her noticing, I get a chance to catch up on paperwork, emails, sunbathing...(very important task). Failing that, I have to wait for the weekends when Steve is on babysitting duty & I am free to do things with 2 hands again.

I am thinking I need a secretary or a laptop that I can surgically attach to my right arm & type with my nose.

Brawl at Romanian rugby match - Very Amusing...

2009-04-15T14:34:00.002+09:00

Brawl at Romanian rugby match

Motherhood...the view so far...

2009-04-08T12:52:00.002+09:00

...so here I am in early 'motherhood'.

I have quickly worked out that motherhood can be defined as 'less time on the internet/less time thinking about food/less time thinking about myself'.

.....which all in all was probably something I needed to do less of from the start!

I am enjoying the part where I stop thinking about food..it is having great benefits....at least my 'cankles' have now disappeared!

Sakura Springtime is here!

2009-04-02T11:20:00.002+09:00

Sakura (Japanese kanji : 桜 or 櫻; hiragana: さくら) is the Japanese name for cherry trees and their blossoms. In English, the word "sakura" is equivalent to the Japanese flowering cherry,[1] and their blossoms are commonly called cherry blossoms.

We are taking Samantha to her first 'Hanami' Party this weekend where we eat, drink & enjoy the blooms.

Hanami (花見 ?, lit. "flower viewing") is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, "flower" in this case almost always meaning cherry blossoms (桜 or 櫻 ,sakura ?), or ume blossoms (梅 ,ume ?).

Here She Is..........

2009-03-28T14:24:00.003+09:00

....so here is my beautiful baby.

Samantha Sakura Patrick - born Saturday 21st March at 5.40pm via Emergency C-Section.

She weighed in at 6lbs exactly & I'm sure 3lbs of that was her hair.

Feeling utterly blessed that all went well & she arrived safely. Also feeling very blessed for a whole week in the hospital with no interruptions. The ultimate BabyMoon.

We are now THREE!

The Epidural vs Tylenol PM

2009-03-20T09:55:00.004+09:00

I am trying to have no preconceptions about the pending labour & delivery & will 'go with the flow' on how to get this baby out safely.....C-section or Natural or Industrial Crane...whatever it takes.

However, in the absence of 'Gas & Air' in Japanese hospitals I am relieved to know that an epidural is on offer....and I won't be completely numb in the legs if I have it.

Tylenol PM probably won't do the trick on the pain relief.....so I think an epidural anaethesia is the way to go....

Oh gawd.....now I'm scared.

Spring has sprung....

2009-03-19T09:07:00.002+09:00

Spring has sprung.....Well...in the UK anyway..and that's good enough for me...

The weather here in Tokyo has been fabulous & a real mood lifter.

Cherry Blossom Season blooms at the end of this month.

I LOVE Springtime!

Only the Lowly....

2009-03-16T17:50:00.004+09:00

You'll be pleased to hear that now I'm at the end of the pregnancy, my constipation has stopped & I have now entered in to the world of 'sloppy stools'. This is the bodies way of clearing itself out ahead of labour. It's all fascinating stuff. I've enjoyed the whole anatomical learning of pregnancy (it IS truly amazing) but have not enjoyed the experience one bit. It's an endurance test...but not that bad...but I do think that women who say they 'love' pregnancy are clearly big fat liars. I can't complain though I've had a textbook pregnancy...lets hope I have a textbook birth! I'm still not even that big which is just incredible.

So...my last 2 weeks of being 'Only Lowly' I am cherishing...thinking to myself..I've done all the crazy things I've wanted to do...I've had all the (tequila) shots I can take...I am now ready for the next phase....BRING IT ON!

I am ready.

Seibo Catholic Hospital

2009-03-11T21:21:00.004+09:00

So this is where I am going to be doing 'BIRTH...the final frontier'.

Seibo Hospital - http://catholic-toshima.web9.jp/english/seibohospital.html

Bring on the Catholics!

The Human Caterpillar

2009-03-09T07:42:00.002+09:00

Cankles.....at 37 Weeks...

2009-03-09T07:09:00.001+09:00

....bring on the rhubarb & custard!

Pregant in Tokyo

2009-03-05T17:10:00.003+09:00

Pregnancy Photo Shoot - care of http://www.keyshots.com/ - with some HEAVY editing obviously.

Sorry that you cannot see the swollen CANKLES (definition: when calves join the ankle)

This is me at 8mths 'up duff'.

Also - I have started a group on FACEBOOK called 'Pregnant in Tokyo?' - open group, please feel free to join.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=559541081&ref=ts#/group.php?gid=46211465339

Plum Blossom is here....

2009-02-19T12:23:00.001+09:00

....which means Spring is on it's way!

Birth Class ....coping methods

2009-02-16T14:15:00.003+09:00

Steve & I managed to survive a 2 day birth class which was actually a bit like going to work (on the weekend). I guess it felt like that to prepare us for another definition of work - 'labour'.

Anyway we managed to get through it in good humour 'heee-heee-haaaww' & with the added bonus that one of our favourite restaurants (Beacon) was just around the corner from the class.

The Bloody Mary helped when watching the final birth video.

Fighting for bed space during the final stretch

2009-02-11T06:05:00.003+09:00

...now on the countdown to 'Birth'. We now have about 7 weeks to go...so still a while.....and the hormone relaxin has kicked in giving me achy hips & legs as everything loosens up.

This means I need a few pillows to prop up my loosening ligaments & we have gone from 4 pillows in our bed to 6.....plus 2 hippos...

Our bed now resembles a bouncy castle at night & I need a GNAV to find Steve.

Powderhouse Weekend

2009-02-04T19:27:00.003+09:00

...lovely weekend with the fabulous Mick at the Powderhouse. A great host!

www.powderhouse.jp

Maternity Leave in my sights!

2009-02-03T15:05:00.002+09:00

....so ...this week I finish for maternity leave.

In Japan they make you finish 6 weeks before your due date (24th March) ...which is fine with me.

I intend to start my first week off with some educational viewing of a medical team....namely watching the first season of Grey's Anatomy which I still haven't managed to watch/appreciate.

Lots to do from here!

I'm married.....

2009-01-24T19:45:00.002+09:00

...to a die-hard Sooners fan!...

aaaaaaaaah.

Brother Tom & Polly Pocket...

2009-01-24T18:47:00.001+09:00