Busy day!

It was a busy day.
Until 1pm I had school as usual and then we had lunch with Merriwyn. She gave me a beautiful silk scarf and an interesting card for my birthday present. I liked them very much. Thank you, Merriwyn. After lunch we went to the Home Show in the city. We have a plan to renovate our kitchen, laundry and work room one day. Therefore we collected information today.

SAKURA

We have cherry tree in back yard. It is in full bloom now.
Japanese often compare the cherry to human life
such as its peek period is very short
and the way its petal fall is gracious.
Last April we also enjoyed the full bloom of cherry tree
in Tokyo with my sister.
I remember the crowded Palace where we had a picnic lunch watching cherry tree.

Merriwyn

Last night we were invited to dinner at Merriwyn's home,
who is Jon's cousin and an interior designer living in Windsor.
At her place there is lots of stuff from Asia
and she beautifully co ordinates them with deco furniture.
First we had chat with Merriwyn and her boyfriend, Peter in the living room
having Champagne and dip,
then we shifted to dining room where was lit by candles.
I noticed a Japanese belt (obi) which was used for the table centre.
She served three course meals with formal dishes and cutlery.
Her cooking was marvellous,
each dishes had very delicate flavor.
We really enjoyed meals and chat with them until over midnight.

Dali

The other day we went to Salvador Dali Exhibition at National Gallery. It is holding more than 200 collections in painting, sculpture, jewellery, cinema and photography. I have not seen his works before and did not know he worked film making with Hitchcock.
I enjoyed it very much.

Soccer

On 17 June we went to MCG to watch a soccer game, Australia vs. Japan. There were about 70,000 audience, which are mostly supporter of Australia. Australia won by 2 to 1. Both countries
have already got the ticket to 2010 World Cup in South Africa. If possible I would like to go there and watch the games.

Long weekend

We went to Anglesea on the long weekend.
It takes nearly two hours driving from our place.
We usually change over at half way.
Even though the weather was chilly
there were lots of people.
We browsed around in the farmer's market
and bought honey and went to the art show at community centre.
They were selling the local's works which are paintings, pictures and crafts.
We also enjoyed jogging on steep hills as usual.

Sandown 10km race

We had a 10km race at Sandown Racecourse.
The course was almost flat but it was windy today.
Though I have got a personal best
I am not very happy.
Because I thought I could run much faster.
This time Tarquin drove us there.
He is amazingly thin and very fast.
Maybe I am too fat that why I run very slow.

school excursion

I went to the Ian Potter Art Gallery on a school excursion.
First we viewed indigenous arts.
Our teacher explained Aborigine's 'Dreamtime' and also 'stolen generation'.
Next we viewed early day's Australian arts
which are The Pioneer by McCubbin and Shearing the Rams by Tom Roberts.
And finally we viewed young student's arts.

After the excursion Jon came to the gallery.
We ate big pizza for lunch
and looked around the gallery together.
We became members of National Gallery of Victoria.

Cross country in Lardner Park

Last Saturday we joined the cross country race
in the Victorian State Championship.
Stuart drove us to Lardner Park in Warragul
for over one hour.
There was a beautiful stock farm.
But it was a difficult race for me
because the course was wet and hilly.
I ran 19minutes 26seconds for 4km,
which was 10th of my age group.
Jon ran for 8km and got a good result.
We are very happy.

Old Scotch AGM

The other day we went to Annual General Meeting of our running club.
I had great time with old and new pal.
This year an Olympic gold medalist, Steve Ovett was the guest.
Everybody enjoyed his talking.
But it was too fast for me to understand.

English school

We came back to Australia last Tuesday.
Since next day I have been to English school.
The class starts from 8:45am to 1pm.
I get very busy now.
In my class there are about twenty students from all over the world.
I noticed their strong accents from each countries.
Most students are very active.
They try to speak English even if their English is not perfect.
I knew I am bit quiet.
I would like to utilize this great opportunity
and brush up my English.

short trip in Tokyo

Yesterday we stayed at serviced apartment in Aoyama, Tokyo.
That was the prize of Most Improved Woman in 2008.
We've got two bedrooms and living room and kitchen.
Internet and paper were available in their comfortable big lounge.
We explored around fashionable Aoyama area and had a dinner at the barbecued chicken shop.
This morning we walked from Aoyama to Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi.
We really enjoyed this short trip in Tokyo.

Sakura

We went to see the cherry blossoms in Yasukuni shrine area.
As it was a warm day there were so many people.
After eating a bento box
we walked around the Palace.
There we saw beautiful cherry blossoms and a lot of people again.
And we enjoyed free Japanese tea and rice cracker at National Theatre.

Aroma lesson

I have an aroma therapy lesson here in Tokyo also.
Yesterday it was advanced class for body treatment including Chinese massage and reflexology.
They enjoyed to make relaxation gel and treatment oil by hand.
I hope they will try to give massage to their family at home.
This time I had set up one and a half hour for this lesson.
But actually it took over two hours.
I might rearrange the content.

Last Friday we came to Tokyo. Unexpectedly it's been bit cold.
We ran half marathon and got personal best on last Sunday.
Jon pulled me as a pace maker.
I appreciate him.
Last night we enjoyed Rod Stewart concert in Tokyo.
He changed costume four times.
It was very colourful.
He always moving on the stage.
Hardly to believe he is sixty four years old.

Mayumi-san!

We met Mayumi and Rodger at BB
and had great time.
Mayumi has been my friend since twenty four years.
Today we knew Rodger is a fanatic Demon supporter. So the four of us may go to the MCG in April.

driving license

Today I got it.
I do not need international driving license here any more.

I'm enjoying.

I joined 12km race in Coburg
and got PB since '08 March.
I am very happy but I want to run faster.
I keep training everyday.

We visited Anna and Rohan's house.
Their BBQ equipment is huge!
It looks like a restaurant stove.
They served grilled tuna and salmon.
It was really yummy.
We enjoyed chat till the night.

VISA

I've got a stamp on my passport.
I became real Aussie.
It took long time since applying on last August.
Now I feel easy.

Today there was aroma's one day lesson.
They enjoyed hand made bees wax cream.
The class finished successfully.

homemade lemon muffin

I cooked lemon muffin following the healthy desert book.
It has no butter and uses honey instead of sugar.
It was ok but more honey and lemon would be nice.
I might try it again.

Today we had Shield Competition of Victoria Championship. I ran 3km at track in Box hill
and got personal best.Very happy!
We met many old Scotch and young boys.
I enjoyed small chat with them.