Mama....move. I can't see the T.V.

Christmas Day

No surprises here. The bird which fed 7 and then did Turkey curry on day two and Turkey soup on day 3.

I have to say I was happy to see the last of it.

I even did a starter.

Nina, Aimee and Aina had a pink champagne (sparkly grape juice) toast.

After dinner Nina got all dressed up in her "Suite PuriCure" super heroine's outfit. She's something else heh? Aimee got the same in blue but so far has been too embarrassed to wear it. Go figure.

Aimee watched some t.v. from her favourite seat.

Until things got a bit scary (The Polar Express does have it's scary bits).

Nina finally got out of her super heroine outfit to do some reading.

Apparently she needed her sunglasses for that.

Nami was taking the photos as usual because I was sitting around rubbing my tummy. I ate too much and the bean was making sure I knew how put out she was with the sudden lack of space.

Meanwhile, my lovely husband was doing this.

Aina and her Mama, Andromeda. They just loved the Brussels Sprouts!! Apparently they don't have those in Romania, or America or Australia. Which makes me ask, where did Brussels Sprouts come from and why, why are they a Christmas staple?

Binkie was there to celebrate too. We didn't leave him out.

The ladies watching the telly at some point during the day.

It was a lovely Christmas. I was very grateful to have friends and family around. Nothing majorly exciting apart from a large pot of mulled wine, well boiled, so I had a little. I'd like to thank Marks & Sparks for the pair's Christmas day dresses and Santa for the awful "Puricure " outfit. I know he had no choice but to buy it, his back was against the wall. At least he managed to find it at a bargain on line, especially as he had to buy two and especially as one of the outfits has yet to be worn.

 

 

And she's up.

Well, she's been up a week. The pair couldn't wait.

New set of lights too.

Every evening I notice the decorations have been rearranged. Think it's Aimee having a go when no one is around.

Most days after school there is also some origami or bits of doily stuck to the branches.

Still, nearly ten days to Christmas. Can't wait.

Okazaki Mindscape Museum

I am up to my eyeballs in work at the moment. Now I'm home and I should be printing out Christmas cards for the office but it can wait.

I love living in Gamagori. I love smelling the sea every morning and driving along the sea roads. This wasn't the case for most of March or April but all is good again between me and the waves.

Another place I absolutely love and it's not far from me is the art museum in the neighbouring city of Okazaki. The museum itself is no great shakes unless you're into Buddhist art etc.. They do get some interesting exhibitions but it's the place that just bowls me over.

It's also the best kept secret, for whatever reason very few people know about this place and I'm not complaining.

The museum itself, with shop and restaurant.

From across the lake. Look at those Autumn colours.

A waterfall.

More water, kind of makes me want to cross my legs (pregnancy bladder for you).

Walking through the surrounding gardens.

One of our favourite sculptures called "One became two". Aimee had a far ruder description for it but I won't share that with you.

A sculpture in the foyer called " A chair for the Gods and one for you".

Nina in motion.

Nina blowing dandelion clocks and talking, with some wind turbines behind her.

The Toyama Trio.

Oh and you know by now that it was Nami who took all the lovely photos. I didn't even bother to take out the camera. From now on just assume the nice shots are Nami's unless I say otherwise.

Remembering 9/11

Should have done this earlier but here we go.

When Mum,  the girls and I went to New York we took time out to go and see the remains of the World Trade Centre.

It was only a construction site and if you weren't familiar with the history the only give away that something was different was the hoards of people trying to peer in the wire fencing.

They also had a memorial centre just up the road and that was very humbling.

After sitting through the whole March 11th earthquake and nuclear disaster I have to stay I thought I might be a bit numb to anymore misery and sadness but watching nature wreak havoc is one thing, deliberate destruction and murder is another.

Let's hope episodes like this are behind us.

So here's what we saw.

 

 

 

The Memorial Centre.
 
 

Badges and pins from the fire brigades involved in the rescue mission.

 

What the plan for the new park and business centre holds.

 

A humbling experience but completely lost on the bold pair. I tried to explain but (thankfully) the real horror of what happened was lost to them.

Aunty Brid's wheelbarrow and more....

 
This is Aunty Brid's house in Newbridge. Brid was great and put us up / put up with us for two nights.

 

Poor Brid also went beyond the call of duty to entertain the girls. The result was they didn't want to go home. They now also want a wheelbarrow.
 

They also told Masa Daddy that they would like a house, a garden and frying pans for the birds to have baths in. Best go see Brid's lovely garden to check all that out!!

 

They helped / hindered Brid with her gardening.

 

They watered / drowned the flowers.

 

Then they cooked dinner in the wheelbarrow.

 

Brid looks after the birds very well.

 

Brid is also very green fingered. She's also a fabulous artist, but I'm not allowed tell you that.

 

 

 

 

It's a wonderful house and holds great memories for me and now the pair. This is where Ganny Brewer, Brid and the whole gang of 9 grew up. I could never wait to visit when I was small. It's also the place where William Brewer took a hurley to poor Grandad's greenhouse, but that's another story.

 

I should really call this "Nami's blog".

Nami chan took some fantastic pictures on our day up the mountain. I'll print some for Granny but here are some of my favourites.