the pros and cons of pressurised water

our nieces were in town this week from singapore and were able to see the end of a humid summer and beginning of autumn - all of which must be a pleasant change from the monotony of the weather near the equator: the red road.

my brother-in-law's wife's family live in a traditional wooden house that her father designed and built when he was 27. it's a really comfortable space made even more so by the presence of so many children and grand-children. we had a great barbecue and the meat was very good, I'm developing a special liking to lettuce leaf and slather of miso paste with strip of beef on top. fantastic. even the 'mino' or cows stomach, which at many izakayas is inedibly chewy, was delicious. I stumbled through most conversations with as many new words as I could remember but still knew I was closer to my 3 year old niece's level but it was good, much needed practice.

strangely, despite the moon being typically large, it started raining half way through the meal before we all realised that it was in fact the timed sprinkler trying to do it's evening job. the kids looked almost as perplexed as us but it was the introduction of mayonnaise and a water spray can which won most attention. all fun until you are on the receiving end!

while the kids were being bathed the guys sloped off for a sento public bath and sauna which I have to admit to being one of the really great things about Japan: the whole neighbourhood sharing a really hot bath. I also tried the denkiburo which seemed to be electrified water - slightly unnerving, that combination. finishing with the freezing plunge pool, as ever, was a must. simple pleasures.

back in the house we drank some more, heavily relaxed and glowing. with my in-laws-in-laws being exceptional hosts I was showered with gifts on departure and the continual topping up of beer throughout the night meant I had no idea how much I had drank until I donned my cycling shoes, tried to find my balance and snaked off into the dark night.