H is for.... Happy 100th Post!

H is for...

Happy 100th Post!
Thank you to my friends and family (and anyone else!) who have been reading and keeping up with my adventures! I've been here over 2 years now, but knowing you keep up with what I've been up to makes me feel less lonely.. don't forget to keep me updated with your gossip too!!



H is for...
Happy Christmas!

December 23rd is a National Holiday, as it is the Emperor's Birthday, and as per tradition, Jen and I celebrated 'Early Christmas'.
１２月２３日はいつも祝日だから毎年友達と「早いクリスマス」を祝います。

First, we greeted the Emperor at the Imperial Palace, which was open especially on this day. He had been ill recently, but was well enough to wave enthusiastically and give a meaningful speech about the trouble this year and how we have to work together.
まず、皇居で天皇様を見ました.

 Next, a shameful visit to McDonald's.. followed by Christmas Karaoke

Lots of waving Japanese Santas!

Christmas dinner!!!!!!

December 25th was spent with Toshi. Santa brought me a keyboard, so despite 8 years of rustiness, we decided to play 'We Wish you a Merry Christmas'
サンタトシは電気ピアノをくれたからこの歌を一緒に'We Wish you a Merry Christmas'を弾いた　（けど８年以上弾いていないから下手くそでした（・・；）

 Afterwards, we enjoyed tapioca tea and a crêpe, followed by Christmas karaoke

December Happenings

Toshi competed in the Ootaku Half-Marathon on Dec 18th:
トシ君が参加した１２月１８日大田区のハーフマラソン:

I attended an End of the Year Party (known as 忘年会/"Forget the year Party") with my coworkers.

The bar we went to housed the 2009 World Champion Cocktail Flairing Pair- check out this video I took:

Welcome to the world, Satomi-chan!

Toshi's brother had his first baby, Satomi, on Sunday December 11th at 01:07. As it was a weekend, Toshi and I raced to Nagoya by car at night, and on barely any sleep we met little Satomi that afternoon!

 Mum and Dad

 Welcome to the world, Satomi!! I'm sure you'll be very happy with such a large, fun family!!!

 

4 generations in one room!
この部屋には四世代がいました！

That night was also host to a total lunar eclipse
(Photo credit: Akihiro Ueno, one of my previous students)

Remember, Remember..

..Wow! Where did November go!?

November 5th is Fireworks Day in the UK, so while doing some night time fishing, Toshi and I played with some sparklers:
１１月５日はイギリスの花火の日。釣りしながら、花火をやりました!

 <-- Before and after! -->

We made tempura, which is deep-fried battered fish (^-^)/

A GIANT pear from one of my students! (Yes, that is a pear and not an apple.)

Toshi will enter a half-marathon in Tokyo on Dec 15th, so I've been accompanying his training (on my bicycle of course!). 15.6km each way 4 times has really bulked up my leg muscles!
トシくんのマラソントレーニングに自転車でついていった。

 頑張って！

A trip to see the Autum leaves last week ^^

I now babysit a friend's baby once a week, and he's so cute! (*^^*)

And finally, I got a Japanese Driver's Licence! Woohoo!

Alice's Adventures in Cosplayland

November 3rd was 'Culture Day' (文化の日), a National Holiday (also known as a 'day off'), so Yoko-chan and I decided to wear our Halloween costumes at an Alice in Wonderland-themed Cafe in Shinjuku and indulge in Cosplay Culture~~☆
Photo shoot!

 (Chess photo for my Dad)

 

 Cheshire Cat-shaped beef and gravy, and Caterpillar and Cat puddings!

An Unbirthday Tea Party!

 

Finishing with a Disney-themed Karaoke session (and more tea!)!

A Short Update

Sorry I've been a little lazy updating!! Here are some snapshots of the last two months:

I went to three festivals in two days: Sept 10th+11th

Ootori Jinja festival, Azabu Juban festival (Andrew is the awkward-looking foreigner) and Nebuta Festival in Tokyo

 I survived a very large, wet and windy typhoon: Sept 21st

 No umbrella was safe (especially when spoked were hurtling at you in the street)!!!

Saw my first baseball game, Oct 2nd

Thank you to Yukimitsu-san for the free ticket!

Camping, Oct 9th

 Illegal camping at a secluded, quiet riverside we found in West Tokyo

 Toshi built a massive campfire using tons of wood washed up from the afore-mentinoed typhoon

 No fishing, but we cooked up some yummy food nonetheless!

Went to Disneyland, Oct 16th (for the Supercalifrajalistic-umpteenth time.. :D)

 Very serious posing for the crew of seven (left) on Splash Mountain, posing in crazy 30'C heat (centre) and meeting fellow British (right)