After almost 5 months in Japan, we're almost legitimate - Oli has his Certificate of Employment (work permit) and is just a stamp away from having a working visa. Life here has much more routine these days, it starts to feel as if we live here. I'm a regular at Tully's coffee shop, where I have my own eco mug and they know my order. Oli has found a replacement for the Mirror, and is now a regular message board poster. 

We are watching the sumo and eating guacamole. Oli's guacamole is better than that in the avocado restaurant, which came second in the world avocado contest. [Yes, an avocado restaurant where everything has avocado in it - avocado curry anyone?] The owner also runs a mushroom restaurant where, yes, you've guessed it, everything has mushrooms in it.

My favourite thing right now is kit kats. I never knew that one of the 'things' in Japan is to produce seasonal/topical kitkat flavours. So far. we've found the little wafers infused with coffee, watermelon, caramel custard and mashed soyabeans. We even stopped at a kitkat vending machine yesterday that sells little kit kats in jars. Sadly my not eating nestle is yet another ethic out the window.

Last weekend we visited family friends in Sendai, who took us up to the mountains (snow, temples and traditional street food) and out to Matsushima Bay, where we enjoyed sunshine, boat trip, oyster eating and seaside air. It was relaxing to be out of Tokyo for a few days, and we were touched by their warm hospitality. I hope that we can give our guests the same welcome.

On the subject of hospitality, saying goodbye to Oli's Mum was a sad end to our 5 weeks of visitors. Tokyo is filled with surprises, and it was great fun to share the delights of our new citiy with our families. And, at the same time, lovely to have familiar faces, english conversation and a new supply of tea bags!