This year finally had my winter holiday in the UK! This was the first time I had arrived back in the UK since I left in August 2016. My first observation, nothing much has changed – the motorway leaving Heathrow Airport quickly instructed us it was 50 miles an hour for the next 100 miles…yep,…
Tag: friends
Golden Week 2019: Waterfalls, New Friends, and Animals
After our big hike on the Monday of Golden Week, Dan and I decided to chill for the rest of the week. This was partially encouraged by the very typical bank holiday weather – the world over it seems to rain on bank holidays – but also because we truly had exhausted ourselves with the…
Spring 2019!
Spring time in Japan is a big deal – it means a change in the weather, ample amounts of hay-fever, and cherry blossom viewing (known as Hanami – flower + see). The chance to Hanami in Tokyo is a first for us. It means we are trying to catch a glimpse of the fleeting blossoms…
Friends in Tokyo
It is fair to say that Japan is pretty far from our UK home. Therefore, we don’t expect many friends from home to visit, so when they do it is particularly special. James and Jade came along to holiday with us in August 2017 and next up comes the wonderful Sally in October 2018. Hanging…
That Beach Over There
On the 16th June Dan and I hosted a beach party. I mean, there was little hosting to be had really, but we selected a spot on the beach and people joined us from across the prefecture to relax in the sun and swim in the sea. Coming from the UK, it is a pretty…
Our First Snowboard
On the first weekend of March, we took off on Friday after work in pursuit of snowy pastures. We had a weekend booked at Geihoku Kokusai in Hiroshima prefecture, and a weekend rental of a cottage and snowboarding equipment…the cottage was an excellent pine cottage in the woods style. But without any Gothic horror vibes….
Setsubun
Setsubun, the day before Japan welcomes spring, and a chance to banish demons and wish for good luck in the coming year. This year we celebrated (for the first time) with our friends at our local shrine in Ayaragi. To ensure good luck for the year, any new years eve decorations need to be burned…
Tsunoshima and Goodbyes
In January we took a trip up to the Tsunoshima bridge and island. The trip was our last (for now!) with the lovely Lauren, who is moving back to Hawaii to pursue her career goals of becoming a flight attendant. Lauren’s dedication to seeing as much as possible and Instagram photos has led to some…
Akiyoshidi Winter Wonderland
To fight those January blues we have been trip planning. It is certain death for the savings, but for the life experience, totally worth it! Before we depart Yamaguchi Prefecture in July, we have decided to check out some of its hot tourist destinations. The first on the list…Akiyoshidi Plateau and Cave. We decided on…
Family and Friends Fun in Paris – Photos
The winter break 2017 was spent in beautiful Paris. What an amazing city! Paris evokes romance at every turn, with its incredible architecture and relaxed vibes. We enjoyed five days of Parisian delights, which we shared with our family and friends. Thanks all for coming to see us and here are some pictures of our…