The Piano In The Hills...

Sometimes you are driving along, minding your own business  when the weirdest of things pop up - like this piano on the side of the small lane we were on, next to the woods.

Couldn't resist stopping to take a photo, it didn't play well! Random, very random!

We were actually on our way to the photography museum, the exhibit itself was so-so, all young, up and coming photographers. The building it was housed in was really interesting. Half of it used to be a hotel and French restaurant, back in the hay-day. It was a bit sad to see it closed down because the architecture was great, I would have loved to have a proper poke around the place.

One of the things that surprised me the most about being in Yamanashi for golden week, was the lack of crowds, nowhere we went was crowded, in fact, quite the opposite, we might be heading that way again!

Nana Fran Survives Her First Week In Japan

Ebi-kun is back at school so we haven't been doing any adventuring - unless you count a trip to the garden centre!

Mom flew on her birthday so we made her a cake for when she arrived...

And she absolutely LOVED the velvety cat purse (not! my mom hates cats, she thinks that they are evil!) We did put a ticket for Cirque Du Soleil inside, so it wasn't all bad! We will be going next week to that, I can't wait, I've been wanting to go for years!

Ebi-kun is still on his architecture kick and so he used Minecraft to design mom a 'she shed' to her specifications. There was quite a bit of umming and ahhing because mom was being picky about the colour of the wood and the style of windows and really, Minecraft doesn't have a lot of options!

Mom has also made a special guest appearance of Ebi-kun eats! You will have to wait for the video to see what 'delight' she had to try, let's just say, it could have been worse! She did accidentally eat some ume-boshi earlier in the week which resulted in Ebi-kun and I collapsing in laughter. We have yet to crack open the natto.

And, she had been getting on down on the wii, probably the most exercise she has done for a long time. Whilst I have been working mom has been pottering around in our yard, which admittedly was a mess - I don't have the gardening gene. It's looking good, I'll share the pics when it is done.

I think we have pretty much worn her out... and she has another 3 weeks to go! Golden week started yesterday so we will be doing some adventuring and travelling around. If you use instagram you can follow us with #nanafraninjapan

The Nana Has Landed...

Mom arrived yesterday, great journey apparently and loved the whole business class experience! Make sure a difference being able to sleep on the flight, she looked well rested when I met her off the bus.

Of course Ebi-kun will be wearing her out, he is currently making her play on the wii! And she thought she was coming for a holiday!

We have some fun things planned but for the most part Ebi-kun will be at school, so I will have to keep her busy around the house...