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!

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!!!!!!

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

Greetings and a Happy New Year MMXIX.

An awesome night at the Star Inn with The CaddieFrogs and the Treasure-Smiths. A 5 course tasting menu, champagne, wine, yet another morbid quiz (how old was Stephen Hawkins when he died, how many people died on a flight, which bridge collapsed and how many people died, common theme here).

The evening started with a game of Dead Celebrities (obviously to get us in the mood for the morbid pub quiz ) including miming famous dead people (as poorly demonstrated by Mrs Kevin Treasure-Smith).

All togged up and ready for grub (couldn’t get a better photo from Crimewatch)

Frivolity and good fun abounds (whilst Mrs CaddyFrog slowly removes anything not bolted down from the table) and deep conversation with Mr CaddyFrog.

The evening was completed with a firework display by the Star and then our own mini display (courtesy of the CaddyFrogs), whilst everyone sat and toasted in the New Year in the FoggCabin.

And today’s final stop is the Shard with champagne of course