...hello EU

At the end of a very long flight from Tokyo that took us backwards through time to Rome, and eventually Florence, we were pleased as punch to see some familiar faces. Marghe's beautiful house just outside of Florence proved the perfect place to relax and contemplate our return into, arghh, normal life.

yep, Tom's still the tallest

bag ladies

the Italian heat of the 2011 'staring at babies' championship commenced

Elliot had clearly been honing his cuteness skills

so long Asia...

Beijing airport had laid on special entertainment

the long walk to freedom

tokyo life

a land of utensils

and people who LOVE their pets

native footwear, foreign legs

sensai in training

like a model village

catatonic

Between the two of us, we took 138 photos in our one hour slot at the cat cafe. Let it be said these cats were pretty snooty, there was not a moggy in sight, and they were more interested in the premium chicken chunks that desperate punters were scattering about their persons than in actually providing any bonafide 'fur therapy'. Still, they were pretty darn cute. Especially the ones in t-shirts.

like a dream I once had 

they made us wear these psychiatric ward-style slippers

toyfest

soulmates

lunch hour cat ladies

he didn't stand a chance

this one scared Flossie

*Thanks again to Mai, Flossie and Andy for making a sad old cat lady very happy. I owe you all 1000 yen.

cool for cats

And so the day had finally arrived when all Bella's dreams were about to come true. But before we were let loose on the felines of Calico cat cafe we had to be issued with special agent cat IDs...

look how patriotic these ones are

will Flossie ever forgive us?

qualified? I've got an PHD in tummy tickling

the day Will left our picnic on the train...

... we were headed for the 'beach' at Odaiba. Once the picnic had been rescued (which involved a call to the next station where Mai had to verify, in detail, the contents of our hamper, and sandwiches before they were handed over) we spent the afternoon micro napping and snacking at regular intervals while the fine people of Tokyo went about their leisure activities.

the Brits crash out 

but Will's shorts give him the power to resist a nap...

Will aligns his parting with the windows at Fuji TV

people of Tokyo



harping on...boom boom

Mrs Nakamura - stage left

Harijuku girls channelling Little Bo Peep