It has been a little while since I’ve written! Last weekend was a lot of fun, and despite the lingering effects of a cold it went pretty well.
Friday I went out with Antoine after work to try a burger place in Motomachi. Unfortunately it wasn’t quite in the same league as Star Child, but it had a nice atmosphere and the burgers were definitely above average. I’d go back there again if the opportunity presented itself. The staff wasn’t really friendly, though, so I think I should go with someone talkative (like Antoine) next time.
Afterwards we hit a couple of places around Sannomiya before calling it a night. Since I was recovering from a cold it was probably best to wrap things up early.
The next day I could spend at home doing chores, reading and watching TV, and generally not using my voice. In the morning my new exercise bike was delivered, so I spent about an hour assembling it – it is a little more complex (and expensive) compared to the previous bike. Hopefully it will last longer!
I felt much better by the afternoon, and was in great shape by the time I arrived in Sannomiya once again to meet Kuniko, Yoshi, Mamiko and Akira for Thai food at Baan Thai. We really pigged out and ordered lots of dishes, and it was fun to try some dishes for the first time. It had been more than a year since I had been to the restaurant, so it was fun to be back.
It turns out that Yoshi will go with some friends to Thailand this July, so he was interested in the food as a matter of preparation. Akira did well with the dishes, even though some of them were a little spicy.
After dinner Kuniko wanted to introduce them to her favorite cheese shop, Reims. It had been a while since I had been there as well, and they had really increased their wine selection. They had lots of unique wines from all over, and some from all price points. We couldn’t resist ordering a small plate of cheese to share with a glass of champagne for each of us (except Akira). In the French style, it was cheese for dessert. We also bought some cheese and wine to take home for the weekend. Yum.
Sunday we spent at home giving Kuniko a break. We did a little shopping but mainly stayed at home sipping sparkling wine, taking naps, and watching movies.
Monday I came home to find that the internet connection in our home was down, and I spent a frustrating hour or so trying to track down the problem. The internet plays a big part in just about everything we do for entertainment at home, so I wanted to get it back up as soon as possible. I didn’t solve the problem on Monday, but did get it worked out in just a few minutes on Tuesday evening. Seems a piece of equipment overheated and reset, and that caused all sorts of trouble down the line. It was a pretty easy fix in the end.
Tonight after work we’re going to Costco to stock up on the usual goods. We’ve got a party this Saturday, so we’ve got to get some supplies. I’m going to make a simple Mexican dinner for some of my coworkers… I hope they like it.
So that should bring us up to date. I can’t believe that July is here already. I received my summer bonus from the company which is always a treat, and it is just a few weeks until I get a whole week off from work for their “power-saving holiday”. What shall I do with all that time off?
