Rain, Rain and Rain

We had another rainy Sunday today in Tochigi area.
I know this rainy season is necessary for the plants in Japan. But, I always wish the sky would clear at least for Sunday and Saturday so that I could enjoy biking around.

I upload photos of hydrangea flowers that I took last week because I stayed home all day long today. Those flowers are blooming only few blocks away from my home.

Tomorrow is the last day of the first half of the year 2008. Time really flies quickly. Sigh.

Rainy Season and Hydrangea

I got up late today on Sunday. It’s been raining since last evening in Utsunomiya. I booked company’s tennis court but it’s impossible to play in the rain today.

Here we are in the middle of the rainy season in Kanto area.
I did nothing special today except taking a walk nearby my condominium with an umbrella.

Flowers of hydrangea are blooming beautifully in several places, a public park, a private house yard and corners of streets.
Hydrangea suits very well with rainy Utsunomiya city.

Party For Patent Rewards

We had a party to celebrate that I received patent rewards from my company last week. Every employee can get a reward when their patent is applied, registered and is used in the products.

It’s quite controversial whether or not those rewards are enough paid to inventors in Japan.
Of course, the more I get, the happier I’ll become. But, the important thing to me is that I had a chance to celebrate this rewards with my family or my colleagues.
In addition to buying a new bicycle for Emi and two new pairs of shoes for Rina, we could have a party.

I went to a restaurant called SAMURAI near my condominium with my family, drunk beer and ate Japanese food.
We had a wonderful dinner together. Though, my wife complained me that I had ordered too many dishes to eat all. lol

Emi is standing near her new bicycle.
Rina shows off two new pairs of shoes. The picture on the PC monitor was taken last time I bought her new pair of shoes.

Tokyo / Ebisu, Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku

I took pictures and videos in Tokyo a monuth ago. I edited them last week and uploaded it on YouTube site today.
Please check it out.

Day Trip to Nikko

Friends of my mother-in-law, Judy and John who live in Australia came to Utsunomiya last week. My wife and I went to Nikko shrines, Cider Tree Park and Ohya Stone Park with them.
Nikko Toshogu shrine, Futarasan shrine and Rinnoji temple were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. My wife often goes there but I haven’t been there since about ten years ago. This time, we bought multiple tickets for shines and temples in the area, so we stayed there about three to four hours, watching the wonderful heritage built in the year 786 to 1617.
Judy and John have retired from a primary school working as a teacher and a principal in Australia. They have now ample time to do what they want. That’s really wonderful. I asked them how many countries they have been so far. Judy answered, “Too many, Can’t count, lol.”
My mother-in-law also loves traveling all over the world. She retired as a highs school teacher from schools in Tokyo.
Overseas traveling must be a nice pastime after retirement. I think that I have to save energy for traveling many countries even after retirement needless to say to save energy for playing tennis. hahaha.