Mazda Museum Tour

Last Monday was the first day of my summer holidays. Me and a group of my friends from school went to the Mazda Production plant to find out how cars are made. There were 10 mums and dads and 13 kids, so we were quite a group.

First we got on a bus to the museum, and in the entrance hall there were some new cars and we were allowed to get in them.

Some, who will remain anonymous, kept peeping the horns, so this man had to come out and turn off the noise, but we all had a great time anyway.

Then it was into the museum.

We all listened avidly for at least 5 minutes to the lady telling us about all the cars.

There were lots of cool cars to look at, but there was an audible gasp from all of us when we turned the corner and saw this racing car, which won at Le Mains!

Then we found out how cars were made. This is a full size clay model of an RX8, which they made in the design process.

And this is what happens in a car crash at 56km/hour. Keep your seatbelts on everyone!

We weren't allowed to take photos in the actual factory, but we saw how robots and real people put the parts of the cars together, and how the finished cars were put on giant boats to be taken all over the world.

Then it was back to the lobby for another go on the finished articles.

This green Demio was popular!

The bigger kids liked the swish Roadster!

The games they had at the end were just like Mario Kart!

We can't wait till we're old enough to really drive!

New House!!

Well, if you're one of the 3 people who have noticed a lack of blogging activity these days, the main reason for that has been a lot of obsessing about where to buy a new house. With the big 4-0 looming, we decided if we were going to to do it at all, the time was ripe.
Then on, to whether to buy or build. Much more obsessing, with a couple of near things: building on top of a sawn off mountain with spectacular views, but lots of other issues, and one posh flat right next door to my school in the city centre, and another option of land in a great place near dear friends.
Then suddenly, out of the blue we found a house in a totally different part of the city that we both liked, and boom, it was all a done deal in the space of 3 days! Barring unforeseen problems, this will be the new hacienda towards the end of the summer. I'm sure there will be much more obsessing to share with you. There is the whole, when and how much to renovate issue, but for now, here's the virtual tour:

Up the entrance steps (it's raised off the road)

Past the Japanese garden

This gorgeous maple tree is a major reason I wanted the house,

Although the pressure of keeping the garden alive is looming already...

Enter the entrance hall:

Plenty room for shoes:

To the right is the giant tatami room: plenty of room for guests:

View from tatami room of Japanese garden.

The "wee" bedroom.(Didn't get a pic of the big one, but it's the same but bigger!)

With the huge walk in closet.

Up the stairs. The view of the garden from the balcony.

Balcony in front of the windows.

Roof balcony(from South):

and from North

Tatami corner in living room.

View from tatami room.

And from living room window.

Living room.

Kitchen

No-one can believe I want to renovate this kitchen with its built in gas oven and dishwasher

Not to mention the refridgerated rubbish bin!


And the electric chopping board drying machine!

Bath is good, but in wrong place, so byebye!

Wallpaper and floor covering needs to go.

Needs some less 80s decor.

And these babies have to go.

We'll see how it turns out.
Will keep you posted.

Fashion Show Part 1

I have an Aunty who is great.
In fact she is my great aunt.
There are many reasons why she is great, but one of them is that recently she has sent me a collection of pretty dresses and outfits, with which I am quite impressed.
This is outfit number 1. It's a skirt and top, and I feel quite pretty in it, if I say so myself, which I usually do!

Thanks Aunty D!

Imperfect Buns

Had my first stint as a model on Sunday. Mummy needed to be told how to do a good chignon for my ballet show, so they used me as the make-up model too.
The ants in my pants were giving me trouble, but I did a good job.

This is apparently the correct line of a good chignon. No doughnuts sticking onto the top of your heads girls!

BUT
I had 15cm cut off my hair last week, after they moaned at me, but they said my chignon is still too big!!!!
I'm not cutting any more of myself off for 5 minutes onstage! Sorry sensei.
I just have naturally big hair!

School's Out!

ALREADY!
How to fill up 2 and a half months.....

Celebrated by a trip to Godburger, with "super" chips!

Then some bowling.

Once we found the giant skittle....

Everyone had to try.

There are no words to describe these chairs!