I've posted photos of my time in Nagoya. It was such a treat to visit friends, and the work arrangements there went well.

PS Just discovered that this blog has been having lots of spam posts ... time to move away from Drupal and admin it a bit better

A brief update ... I've had a fantastically successful week of work in Japan. We've been working with our partners here developing and configuring a system for a refinery, and today we had a meeting with them and got very positive feedback, which was very rewarding. I'm totally loving being in Japan again! So much seems so familiar even after a long absence. I've posted photos of the trip so far online.

Danielle has been doing a sterling job at home with Charis being sick with high temperatures - a bug that's going around Cape Town... Loving and missing the three of them loads!

Tomorrow I go down to Nagoya for a few days to see old friends for the first time in three years. It's quite amazing to think about it! On Monday I have a business meeting in Nagoya, then return to Tokyo on Tuesday to catch my flight back via Singapore and Joburg to Cape Town.

Some brief news updates after a long hiatus:

• Charis had an eye operation in July to correct a squint. She was very brave and the operation was successful! We're grateful. She still wears very cute glasses
• David's off to Japan on a work trip for 10 days. He will be in Tokyo for a week working with partners and clients there, and in Nagoya for a few days seeing friends and sorting out company business.
• James is heading towards the end of his 3-year maintenance chemo treatment at the end of the year, and starting primary school (at Grove) next year.
• Charis has been enjoying a playgroup four mornings a week and is going to the same wonderful preschool that James has been at next year.
• I've posted some photos from David's sister Anni's visit last weekend

Just discovered DiddleFinger which lets you use Google Maps without having to understand Kanji, etc...

For example, a certain building in Tsurumai...

Phew we haven't written anything here for ages as seems to happen with blogs. Brief summary:

Charis was born! See photos from around that time by clicking on Charis under tags...

David went on a preparatory trip to Japan which was a whirlwind tour involving very late visa applications and much answer to prayer!

Anni and Richard got married! No photos up yet... but it was a fantastic celebration and we got to see all David's immediate family which was great. Danielle's family visited immediately after so we've stocked up on family before we head off which is great.