Last night was our last in Japan and a final trip to Shinjuku. First it was a visit to the Park Hyatt where “Lost in Translation” was filmed. My two colleagues seemed to remember the film more for Scarlett Johanssen than what it was about. Still – a lovely view in a very expensive bar with a cover charge of ¥2,500 each before you start.

I managed to get us moved to a table right in the windows to better enjoy the view.

Then a trip into downtown Shinjuku and a Korean BBQ of beef which you cook yourself. Now don’t be shocked Mr Fogg but I was the cook. Well I am female and this is Japan so when in Rome!

This is my colleagues trying to bbq spiced cabbage. It’s not meant to be cooked!

Finally, lights of Shinjuku at midnight before we took the taxi back to our hotels.

Visited Arishiyama Monkey Park this morning. Very atmospheric in the low cloud and lots of monkeys to feed.

And we saw the first spring blossom too.

Lovely visit. Time for food now.

It’s so nice to be back at the Oil Street Guest house with Yasu and Burritto. A lot colder this time!!

Yasu asked after Nellie and was very impressed that she is training to be a vet. He said come over and stay again!

Burritto is an old lady now and very gray haired. She doesn’t get about as much now.

Last night we found a quiet restaurant in the Nishiki market area serving wushu beef. Simple and filling.

A wonderful restful evening, no karaoke, early night and delightful sleep on a very warm and cosy futon. Bliss

It’s really strange travelling without Mr Fogg but I am doing the tour guide bit so doing ok I think. Missing my partner in crime!

Today is raining and threatening snow but we plan to go to Arashiyama to see the monkeys. Woolley Pom Pom hat at the ready!

So, all our meetings are now finished and it’s Saturday morning so it’s Nozomi time to go do a brief visit to Kyoto.

The day did not start well – the JR ticket office on Thursday had not sold us the correct ticket (wrong day), so we had an initial debate with a different ticket agent. Only in Japan would it be changed in pen once we had said an error was made.

Then we dashed for the 8:30 train. Forgetting to grab drinks or snacks…..a 2.5hr train ride with no sustenance. Doh!! I need caffeine!

However, all minor. The trip has been brilliant so far. A full on set of days and nights. I’ll need a long rest at some point.

Yesterday we did a cultural tour of Tokyo. Visiting Asakusa, The river cruise and then Odaiba, a shopping area.

The photo of me is with our Japanese liaison officer, Yoko. She was our tour guide for the day and my translator for the week.

It’s been brilliant so far. Even Karaoke. I’ve learnt lots and also now know however bad my singing is – there is always someone far worse who can crucify Eagles songs in an instant. Japanese Hotel California is pure pain!

Well you can test the 4×4 and Hill Descent capabilities of your car on your field

Well that’s 20 minutes filled

Ranty McRant Face

So, I got a dirty polluting car because Mr Govt told me to reduce my CO2 footprint when petrol was nasty and now diesel is a dirty word.

I live in a carbon neutral house because the heating is supplied by a stupid inefficient air source fan that extracts heat from the air (not in bloody winter it doesn’t), so I supplement the heating with a wood burning stove, not any more, it’s the new nasty, yet again I’m the bad guy (hasn’t mankind been burning wood since he first learned how to rub sticks together). Don’t we produce the least amounts of CO2 and NOx of most countries, yet doing the most about it!

Every home is to have a “smart meter” so they can diligently turn off their heating to save the world. Amazing that the EU requirement is for 80% of homes to have them but the good old Govt decided we should make it 100% (not that that plan will work by the deadline).

And now the latest crazy to come from a bunch of squabbling idiots who should be concentrating on sorting out the current mess that is how to salvage a deal that no-one knows enough about; yup, pass a law to make all door letterboxes between 70cm and 170cm high to save posties from bending down.

REALLY!

You gotta laugh at the sheer stupidity of the people who are supposed to be in charge.

I’m off to sleep before it becomes illegal to be awake at 1.30am with a light on!!!!!!

It’s 21:45 in central Tokyo. All my meetings for today have finished and I’ve just left all my colleagues after an incredible meal with our Japanese counterparts.

I’m sat in Starbucks enjoying a quiet (well if you can call a packed Starbucks quiet) cup of English tea!

Today went well. Very busy with lots of meetings and followed by a traditional meal hosted by my IT hosts. We are in a tiny place where you cook all your own food. Simply incredible, and not a place you can really visit as a tourist as they have only Japanese menus.

We started eating at 18:30 and finally finished with the various courses around 9:30pm. Plus the required level of Japanese beer to wash it all down. Great fun, capped off by a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors engineered to get us to eat the last of the dessert.

So, soon to bed before a free morning tomorrow to do a little sightseeing.

So Mrs Fogg has nipped across the world for some work (as well as sushi and karaoke bars), meanwhile back at home a chance to take the beast out for the first ride of the year and later on a chance for little Willow to have a nice snooze by the fire (tough day when you’re a cat and missing someone).

Here she is some 5,380 miles away (not tracking her movements at all cos that would be creepy😄).

The Beast in ULL

Chilling after a tough day

So Mrs Fogg is now winging her way to the land of the rising sun for a week of intense business meetings and a tiny opportunity to do a little sightseeing before she returns (including a stay at the Oil Street Guest House in Kyoto, where we went with Nellie Fink).

Dumped her at the station this morning so me and little Willow will be having a nice peaceful and relaxing time.

Raishū made