It’s been pretty busy from the moment we landed! Not trying to do everything there is to do, but just sorting breakfasthis,  bags for the day and extracting a little diary written takes up all the time! Rio  is on day 4 of 12. Orlando is on day 3, Elodie’s diary is more of a free flow is thoughts and pictures! The highlights so far have been the picnics with Jul and Co in the parks. Delicious food,  and very heart warming seeing the cousins interacting. The Kotaki-Brockbanks seem nicely settled in Tokyo. I can see how one could grow to love it here. An easy place to get around, lovely, healthy fast food (some not so healthy as well, which Jul shows a tendancy to favour! But very easy to eat healthily here. Obvious by the size of the inhabitants. I feel like a largish whale here) people are peaceful and respectful. We are by far the loudest thing in Tokyo! ! I would say the hardest thing has been trying to keep the hoard quiet in the apartment, and stopping them doing pull ups on the metro hand holders!

Jul and Mayumi have put themselves put hugely and accompanied us on nearly all our outings. A huge bonus, and worth coming for on its own. Fitting into Jul’s elastic view of time has been easy. He followed the saying ‘go with the flow ‘ to the letter, and does all possible to lead a stressfree life!  Both he and Mayumi have a relaxed, calm approach to parenthood which seems to have worked wonders. Two thoroughly happy, contented babies.

Our three have been brilliant so far. Mostly taking the parks /temples /food shops in their stride. Yesterday was an exception. Cold and windy, they were all (accept for the O man) gripey. Bleating on in the park. Mainly along the lines of ‘you can’t force a girl to look at more trees ‘ and Rio questioning the need to see the English and French style gardens, pointing out that this can be done at home! Orlando, meanwhile, looking at the beautiful leaves in the greenhouse and the bush formation in the park! Right, off to lunch with Jul and Niko. Raman today. Possibly a got coffah too!