I understand about the long hours. While we do not live in Japan, my fiancee has been working for a biotech company for years and he would work crazy hours because of his projects or he would be called in the middle of the night. We barely saw each other for a while because our schedules just conflicted. It’s great that Shun gets overtime benefits, not many places here do that anymore. I hope the time goes by fast so you can see him more

The parent/child cafe sounds very interesting. I don’t think I’ve heard of such a thing before.

I’m so glad you had such a nice time with your friend! Seems you get a lot of guests from home, eh? It’s always nice to have stuff like that to look forward to.

(I enjoy your ramblings too, so don’t you dare stop! It’s not like my blog is full of facinating discoveries and useful knowledge or anything either )

The cafe was great- we should definitely go! I think there is something similar in Ichikawa too which is half way between us both (once you move that is!)! I haven`t been to that one before though! Also – it is not a cafe but offers activities for kids/mummies in Myoden which is two stops from Nishi Funabashi on the Tozai line!

He can GRIP things now! But you are right it started happening around the same time as the hand facination! hehe! He could grip spot and soft toys for awhile but he has started to grip his teethers, balls and rattles a lot more now which is cute!!! He can pull the rings off his bouncer (near the parrot)- i think you know what I mean cos Sakura used to do it too when she sat in it!

Marianne- I am glad he has another fan! hehe! All his fans are female! In fact any babies he knows lately are female although I have a friend out Chiba way who has a bub a week older than Noah and she is German but we haven`t introduced our bubs to each other yet. Is millie saying much yet?

I know his hours will improve after this project is finished- although they will get like this again in the future. At least it is not ALL THE TIME and only a couple months a year. Plus he does get reasonable overtime benefits so at least it isnt unpaid like some!

Hope that Shun’s work hours improve.What crap.

And i totally agree with Sarah that your post makes a very interesting read:)

Seems like you had a great time with Claire! How nice that she was able to come and stay with you.
What is that red furry thing in your pictures??? I have been to your house like 5 times now and don’t recognize it… is it new??? I am intrigued.

I remember when Sakura would do the exact seem thing with her hands It was super cute! I think I read somewhere that one day babies just “discover” their hands and they will just stare at them in fascination. If I remember correctly she got pretty good at gripping and holding on to stuff after that – so maybe something you have to look forward to?

The baby cafe sounds nice!! We had one in Kobe but I only went once for my baby shower. I’m only going to be 15mins from you soon, so we’ll have to have a lunch date there sometime!! I was excited about being close to one when I thought we were moving to Nishi-Kasai but now I think that the one where you are is the closest to me as well!

Sorry to hear about Shun’s long hours and WOW can’t believe that he has to stay in a hotel near his work for a couple days. I think you are right about things in general being ill-managed here. I remember when Ryohei worked long hours he would be sitting around doing nothing for a few hours in the afternoon and then had all these meetings and other things at night after his “working hours” were up. As much as I’ve not been in love with living where we do now, he is home fairly early and I have a feeling that he will be coming home a lot later once we are in Tokyo and a bit bummed that he and Sakura will have less time than they are having now.

Anyways – thats enough from me.