Local Smiles.

The great thing about living in a flat in a part of Tokyo for a short time, is that you can greet local people and perhaps get to know them a little.  These were the men who were in the octopus ball shop everyday.  They were so friendly with huge smiles.  It was really a highlight to see them everyday and quite sad when we waved goodbye as we left this area.

Gomi.

Gomi (rubbish) is an interesting process in Tokyo.
To the right is a cupboard to hold our shoes and the left is a slipper storage rack.  In the middle is a complicated recycling system to be used during our stay in Tokyo.  Combustibles, incombustible, plastic bottles (lids were separate, as were labels), general plastics and paper.
There were different collection days for various categories.  The bins would be unlocked by the local garbage person, and that night, the bins could be filled.  The next day they were emptied and locked up again.  If people had made a mistake rinsing or separating garbage, a large sticker is placed on the bin and the rubbish is left.

There is not a great deal of space for garbage in Japan, hence this highly organised system.

We did not see any litter whilst in the cities we visited in Japan.

Castles.

The Imperial Palace, Tokyo.

Nagoya Castle

Kyoto.

And these days in Kyoto, were precisely as I imagined traditional Japan to be.  We were so very comfortable in our old house right in the traditional part of Kyoto.

The Stig in Train Design.

The Stig

Google Images.

Shinkansen

Husband E.

Hikari, Hayabusa, Nozomi, Kaiji.... all names of trains that we got to enjoy in Japan.  I just think that these trains are so handsome!

13 year old son first thought of the Stig simile.

Meals near Mt Fuji.

All part of an amazing dinner near Mt Fuji.  Dessert was jelly with gold specks through it.  We did not photograph the dessert plate in time.

Meal Plan.

Unlike the amazing meal photographed above which we enjoyed near Mt Fuji, my meal plan is less spectacular.

Since the children are at school (including 5 year old daughter who started school this year), a fast and easy weekly meal plan is necessary.
For week one, this worked well:
Monday: steak and salad (fast after coming in late from visits with cousins and Grandad)
Tuesday:  chicken (this week 2 varieties: teriyaki in one pan and olive oil and herbs in the other).  There were leftovers for lunches and Thursday's dinner.
Wednesday: bolognaise or mince.  There were enough leftovers for the next night.
Thursday: A very busy night for us; so the leftover bolognaise and chicken came in handy.
Friday: pizza and sausage-relaxing night... but we might change that a bit next week.
Saturday: pasta and possible a bbq at lunch..
Sunday:  Bbq chicken at lunch and curry/roast/casserole for dinner.  I hope to use the oven only if the weather is cool enough.