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

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.

 

Outdoorsy types cont..

Just some of Nami's photos from our day out. First the lovely cafe by the ocean, then the park.

Bamboo.

 

There was a line of cars waiting to get into the park so we decided to park a bit futher away and walk in.

It was a long walk and this is where we came out at the park. 

Thanfully we were in plenty of time for the duck race!! 

Mise taking pictures.

 

Here comes Aimee.

 

 

 

Nina.

 

Nina collecting sticks to make the dinner with!!

 

Nina spends a lot of time collecting sticks, stones and nuts.

She also talks to herself.........alot.

 

A swan in the pond. Lovely Autumn leaves reflected in the water. I'm telling you Nami has an eye for photos.

 

Not only did I have to carry the flasks, camers and snack boxes etc.. I also had to carry this lump and Cocoyo, the monkey.

 

Aimee doesn't like steps.

 

Aimee trying to convince me to carry her all the way down to the other park. No thanks.

 

More steps and I'm still carrying Aimee. Nina was great.

 

The sun through the bamboos.

 

Aimee found an old tree stump with a hole in it and went looking for faeries.

 

We had to stop and discuss EVERY berry, leaf and nut.

 

The car park turned out to be the best place for nuts. Look at all those acorns. And can you feel that sun?

 

More talking to herself and nut selecting.

 

Aimee has to copy Nina for everything.

 

We're the outdoorsy types.

Bundled the pair and poor Nami into the car for an adventure today. First we took off to have lunch at a seaside outdoor cafe. It was fab, right on the beach, the weather was cool but beautiful. The food was delicious and Nami took some great pictures. My photos are all on the old film camera which I'm still very fond of, so you 'll have to wait.

I just realised that we didn't actually take a photo of the cafe itself which was probably due to a hasty exit. The food was great and the girls were hungry and all was well until Nina threw up her lunch. She wasn't ill she just has a very quick acting stomach and something went down which didn't agree with her so she brought it ALL back up (much to the delight of the lady diners beside us). It wasn't that bad, just regurgitated rice and thankfully Nami isn't the squeamish type. We cleaned it up and bolted. Nina was right as rain afterwards. Her shoes weren't, neither was her jacket but she didn't care.

The only other hitch being the toilet. After a million "does anyone have to do a pee"s before we left (and of course nobody wanted to) we get tot he cafe. It has a loo, a port-a-loo, Japanese style (i.e squat type). We're there two minutes and Nina has to pee, then Aimee and then Aimee has to make a return visit for a number 2. Riveting stuff.

So anyway Nami again is repsonsible for all the gorgeous photos you're about to see in this post and the next.

She is also a bean for helping me clean up puke, watching that my children didn't fall off any balconies or ledges, watching Nina while Aimee and I hung out in the port-a-loo, carrying a million bags, flasks etc., directing me around the countryside and just for being all round calm and efficient.

She would make a far better mother than I am.

She also spoils the pair. And they know it.

She spoils me too.

I will try to get a picture of her up soon.

 

Don't I look a litle cool here?

 

On the cafe balcony.

 

The three stooges.

 

Nina found a wind chime.

 

Taken from below. The mustard coloured part below is the loo.

 

Spinach curry to die for. This isn't what got Nina. I think she just ate a bean or something and didn't like the texture. It can be as simple as that with Nina.

 

 

Autumn in Japan

I know it's November and it's officially Winter here but it feels, looks and smells like Autumn. The sun is a gorgeous golden orange, the leaves are spectacular due to sudden temperature changes, the birds are still migrating and it's cold but not wintry. One of my favourite times of year. Tomorrow the girls, Nami and I are going to visit some mountains and hopefully take some fabulous pictures of the leaves changing colours. Masa has to go and hang out with the eternally damned (until 42 at least) Bad Luck boys.

Until then, some photos I took going home from the girl's creches the other day. It was an unbelievably golden evening and my photos don't do it justice but thought I'd try.

Phone lines, everywhere. Really ugly but can't be put under ground due to earthquakes. 

A gambling hall, slot machines and pachinko. I'd have to devote a whole post to gambling, very complicated over here. It's officially illegal but you can go and play, you won't receive money, you'll get silvery balls or fake coins. Then you have to leave the premises and exchange them for cash at a secure location off site. Don't know why they bother but the laws the law. 

Eh, the road. 

Don't suppose you're getting any sense of that "golden evening" I was rambling on about? 

Look at those leaves and that's only a taste of the real thing, think red, gold, green, yellow. Because the Summer was so hot and then it cooled so quickly the people who know about this sort of thing reckon this year will be amazing. It is already amazing and should continue until mid December. 

The local business centre on the right, just across the road from our apartment. 

Trees of oranges in the car park of Aimee's creche.  

Aimme's creche. 

Mr. Sun, Sun,.....Mr. Golden Sun. Please shine down on me. Was that a Bosco song? 

 

Children's Land

We have some great friends from Okazaki (nearest town to us), David and Kiyomi with two gorgeous little princesses and we try to get together monthly because it's fun and the girls get to chat in English about all the stuff 5/4/3 and 2 year olds talk about.

So this Sunday we went to a park near our house, a HUGE park with loads of different areas and activity centres. You could spend two days covering the park. We spent 5 hours and barely covered the basics. Will definitely be heading back soon. That's one thing I have to hand it to the Japanese for, they are great for putting land aside for children, parks, nature etc.. Their petting zoos leave a lot to be desired but you just have to keep reminding yourself that "it's a different culture, it's a different culture".

An activity course,that went on forever. 

Maia and Nina's head. 

Masa leading the way with Aimee doing all the worrying at the bottom. 

Masa and Nina. 

Nina and Maia loved the course. 

They especially loved the swing. 

Aimee didn't. 

Maia and her Dad. 

Emma getting into the swing of things. 

Next on the course was a flying fox. Masa was sent in first to check the weight etc.. 

David with wee Emma. I have to give it to David and Masa, they were great sports and ran up and down with those girls. 

Now with Maia. 

There goes Nina and her Pa. 

David on a solo mission. 

Nina and her Dad again. Aimee did do it with Masa but wasn't that convinced. I even tried it and it was great fun. We had to drag Nina and Maia away in the end or we would never have gotten home in the light. 

Taking the park train to the other end of the park. 

Passing another train. 

This is Coco. He/She was the star attraction at the petting zoo and he/she didn't give a toss. 

This hamster wasn't as excited as our girls were. 

Aimee starting to fade. 

Yes that statue is peeing on the Flamingos. Very popular fountain head in Japan, can be found almost anywhere. 

The view from the petting zoo. Masa's parent's house is down there somewhere. 

Some strange woman accosting Aimee. 

Aimee passed her tired stage and now in her batty stage. 

Trick Art

Will get to the Sports Day soon (just takes ages to download all the videos) so in the mean time.....Trick Art.

My little ladies and I, took off with Rocsana, her little lady, Maria and Roscana's Mum to see an exhibition on Trick Art. It wasn't the main attraction but by far the most enjoyable experience. Let you have a look for yourself.

Aimee, getting into the swing of things. Sort of. That's Binkie, her blanket and he (she?) is usually not allowed outside but she sneaked him into the car. 

One of the best pictures, it chanaged as you move. You'll understand when you see the next photo.

 

Very clever. 

Aimee kept pinching this lady's bum. Me thinks she was asking for it. 

Looked a lot more 3D like from a distance. 

"Couldn't be bothered" pose. 

Another clever one. The gentlemen in the picture are actually all the same size. 

2D but looked 3D. Nina giving it a dust. 

Aimee versus the Octopus versus the Eel. 

Aimee and her old lady preparing to be eaten. 

I did try to get into the swing of things. 

Nina and Maria (off whispering most of the afternoon) posing for their Mamas. I had to rotate this picture. 

Outside. 

The real reason we went, some dreadful anime/cartoon show called PreCure. Dreadful stuff but the girls wanted to go. 

And then balled their eyes out the whole way through the show. Apparently it was scary. I blame Nina's Dad for constantly jumping out to frighten her as a child. Nina was so funny the way she reacted but now we have a complete scardy cat on our hands and it's contagious, always sets Aimee off too. 

We didn't even get as far as the door for the Halloween show, just came back afterwards to pose for a picture. Aimee's still terrified.