Tokyo

We are back in Tokyo - settling in and over the jetlag. It was a great summer in the UK - Tim was official photographer and I know it is cheating but here is the link to the pictures he took to save me posting them:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdsigh/sets/72157624748625434/

Also check out his pictures of his trip to visit us earlier this year - what a great photographer (with great subjects!):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdsigh/sets/72157624702041640/

Now we are getting back to real life and looking forward to the next influx of visitors - I will be better at keeping up to the blog now too!

Back in Blighty

Isla and I are back in England for a while, catching up with family, seeing friends, celebrating Isla's first birthday and missing Charlie a lot. I have lots of pictures to upload, whenever I find the blasted wire to attach the camera to the computer I will upload them.

More soon!

Another Video

Tanabata

Tanabata originated more than 2,000 years ago with an old Chinese tale called Kikkoden. Once there was a weaver princess named Orihime and a cow herder prince named Hikoboshi living in space. After they got together, they were playing all the time and forgot about their jobs. The king was angry at them and separated them on opposite sides of the Amanogawa River (Milky Way). The king allowed them to meet only once a year on July 7th. This is why tanabata is also known as the star festival. It's believed that Orihime and Hikoboshi can't see each other if July 7th is rainy, so people pray for good weather and also make wishes for themselves.

This is the entrance to a park we visited yesterday - the trees are so pretty with all the wishes tied to them.

Walker

We were in a playcentre yesterday and I spent an hour just turning this walker around when Isla got to the end of the room so she could go back the other way. Have you heard how loud those ducks are, think people might have been glad when we left?

Second Attempt

This batch went down a treat. Increased the white flour, decreased the wholewheat flour and made buns rather than a loaf. Look at that last picture they are actually fighting over it! Next step - rye flour. PS Last jar of marmalade - arghhhhhh

Magazine Rack

I made from another kit I bought and made at home - I LOVE the red and black washi paper. It is amazing that is has been made the same way for years and years.