Bye bye Dr Ed!

Said goodbye to another friend today. Hazards of the job of being a long term gaijin. They all leave eventually. Boohoo.
Anyway, Shez, here's the proof that I put him on the plane and made him leave the country.

After check-in there was a bit of an absence. Apparently there was no English on the instructions in the gents. I suspect it might have had more to do with the 8 pints of Guinness the night before at Molly's, but then I'm never right....

We waved good bye from the newly revamped observation deck.

Proof that the last grain of rice has really left the country.

We miss you all.

Come back soon.

Dr Fish

Dr Y and Weechan tried this last week.

These fish apparently like nothing more than to feast on the dead skin on your feet. Your feet come out after 15 minutes feeling refreshed and clean.
Apparently.
Just the thought of it was too much for me.
Yuck.

Scary US Democracy

Long time no blog, y'all.
There are many excuses: summer away, jetlag, general hectic bedlam after going back to work, school, and the whole PTA thing, to name but a few, but the main two are that I poured a bottle of mineral water all over my new camera, thus destroying all my photographic evidence of my summer in the UK (AND I couldn't blame anyone else to make myself feel better), and that we have hardly done anything worth commenting on since we came back, because every free weekend is taken up with ballet rehearsals. The joys of being a primary school parent!

Anyway, to be going on with, here are a few priceless shots which show why it is questionable that the choice of the leader of the free world rests in the hands of so-called "normal" US citizens. Now "some of my best friends " are American, but I did love these.

My personal fave. I bet Obama has this framed on his wall!

Got these from my friend. Have no knowledge of the original source, sorry.

Photos

We had our family photos taken yesterday by the brilliant Ken Sharp. Now I have the nightmare of choosing which ones I want printed, or whether once again to buy the whole lot of them on DVD.

Check out his blog, on which Mairi features today. If you do decide to use him, please mention my name!!

http://www.kensharp.com/blog/2009/08/19/mairi/

Ballet

So, this is not because I think my daughter is the next prima ballerina with the Royal Ballet. We are going home next week and thereby missing the most intensive training period for the December Ballet Show that M has promised to take part in. SO the teacher suggested I video the class today so that M could watch it, practise, and not forget the steps while we are away. So, in the name of dedication, here is the dance in its raw form. From last year's experience, they will all suddenly look great on the stage, even if it seems far off now!

Twinkle Toes- Nail Art

Finally went and got my toes done today. I've been meaning to do it for a while, but I never had the 2 hours free. My summer holidays which started yesterday have been started off in style with a 3 hour massage yesterday, and an emergency hair dye today which was accompanied by the arty nail do.

I deserve it dammit.

Note, I did not get my finger nails done. Too bloody expensive to get both in one sitting!
I wasn't really aiming for the Liberace look: the gold looked much more understated on the display models, but hey, if you're going to do a thing....

Now all I need is a few nice outfits to go with my feet.

Two Hot New Girls in Hiroshima

Went out for a coffee this afternoon with the girls, and was charmed by the latest Hiroshima debutantes. Young A with her luvly Mummy above, who I thought was teeny until I saw her next to (almost) 2 week old E, below.

Destined to be a beauty like her gorgeous brothers (and Mum of course).

And adorable cheeky monkey O was on hand to remind us what happens when they start to be able to move!

Fred

Before

1 week later

Barber shop

Skinhead Fred

Thank you.

Scottish Visitors bring the Rain

It really has been a real Rainy Season this year.

Don't know if they brought the British weather with them, but we were glad to see our good friends from Scotland the other week.

New addition since we last met, C is definitely a "braw bairn".

"Baby" S wasn't playing when it came to getting her photo taken this time, but she's definitely no baby any more!

And another one of Prince C with his two slaves. Haha!
Great to see you guys. Will phone when we reach sunny Scotland.

Swine Influenza Precautions? 豚インフルエンザ対策？

No.
This is the get-up Weechan had to wear to serve the school lunches at her Japanese primary school.
That's fine, but my major complaint was that I had to iron it. My iron hasn't seen the light of day since Granny was last here!

いや。
小学校の第一周は給食当番でした。それはいいけど、Grannyがスコットランドに帰って以来、アイロンを出さないといけなかったの。原則としてアイロンかけない私ですから、タイミング悪いなあ、と思った。