4Y0M 2Y3M おなかの中で In mummy's tummy

最近タカラのカメラ熱が激しくて、気がつくと自分を撮った写真が私の大事なカメラに一杯入っている。よーく見ていると、カメラを自分に向けて「ニーッ」と言いながらパチッ。これもその一つ。

そして、カメラをアラタに取り上げられて怒って泣いた瞬間をアラタに撮られたショットが２枚目。

ところで、実家に飾ってある私とJasonの写真を見て、アラタは母にこう言ったそうだ。「（この時）アラタはオリとママのおなかの中で一緒に遊んでいたの。」

どうしてアラタは写ってないのって聞かれた時にアラタはまだ生まれていなかったと言った覚えはあるけれども、可愛い解釈するんだね。

Takara is 'in' taking photos. Without me noticing, he takes lots of photos of himself with my camera! I observed him and saw him facing the camera towards him and pressing the shutter button saying, "Neieeee (Japanese onomatopoeia of smiling)." The first photo here is one of them.

The second photo was taken by Arata when Takara got angry and started to cry because Arata snatched the camera he'd been playing with.

This morning, when Arata saw a photo of me and Jason before Aratakara were born, he said to my mum, "Arata was playing with Oli in mummy's tummy." Yes, I told him something like that but it's so cute!

4Y0M 2Y3M 飲み会 Get together

理工野球部同期の新年会に行った。去年に続き２年連続での飲み会だからそんなに緊張しなかったけど、自分が会社員辞めてしまった事が嫌なんだって事、仕事している彼らと話して再認識。やっぱりペナンで働きたいなあ。

I went to the get-together with my friends from University baseball club, where I belonged to as a non-playing manager. It has been the second time since last year. I felt so envy them and I realised I don't like my status as being unemployed after talking to those who are all enjoying their work. I probably need to look for a job in Malaysia...

4Y0M 2Y3M あけましておめでとうございます Happy new year

マレーシアとの時差は１時間。英国とは９時間差なので慣れるまでに１週間はかかるから丁度よいが、今回は３週間の滞在が長く感じられる。その上、インフルエンザ対策として、人混みへの外出禁止令（？）が出ているからあまり出歩いていない。
今日は弟が来たので、アラタは早速一緒にジグゾーパズルや貨車の模型作り。何日も前から、「ひろおじちゃん、なんで明日来ないの」と毎日言っていたからとても会いたかったみたい。アラタカラは本当に嬉しそうだった。
そして、アラタはたまに「マレーシアに帰りたい」と言う。なんでって聞くと「ダディに会いたい。」私は来週末、成田からロンドンへ帰る気がしてならない。錯覚なんだけれども、帰らないのが不思議。ロンドンが恋しいなあ。

There is only one hour difference between Japan and Malaysia. That's the reason I feel 3 week stay here is long. From England, it's 9 hour difference and we usually need a week to get rid of the jet lag and 3 weeks is just right. On top of that, we have been 'home arrested' by my mum, well, she has asked us not to go out much to avoid getting colds and flu.

My brother visited us today. Arata wanted to see him for a long time and he asked me "Why is uncle Hiro not coming tomorrow?" nearly every day. Arata did jigsaw together with him and he also asked his uncle to make a wooden model train. Both Arata and Takara were so happy to see him.

And Arata often says "I want to go back to Malaysia." When I ask him why, he says he wants to see daddy. For me it' so strange that we are going back to "Malaysia" next week. I still feel as if I was going back to London. I miss England...

4Y0M 2Y2M 4才! 4 years old!

アラタ４才の誕生日。Jasonはマレーシアなので、おじいちゃん、おばあちゃん、そしてはぎちゃん、葉子さんがお祝いしてくれました。

Arata is 4 years old today. Jason is not in Japan but Grand dad, Grand mum, Hagi-chan and Yoko-san sang "Happy birthday" to him.

3Y11M 2Y2M メリークリスマス Merry Christmas

昨日の夜から「明日は早く起きてプレゼントをあける」とアラタ。すっかり忘れていたが日本ではクリスマスイブの方が盛大で、フランス(ドイツ？）のようだけれども、英国やニュージーランドではクリスマス当日が本番。

朝起きると、タカラは開口一番に「サンタさん来る？」いつもはグズグスしているアラタカラだが、今日だけはぱっと起きてさっさと着替えてプレゼントを開けた。写真はヒロおじちゃんからもらったアンパンマンと一緒に。

私からのプレゼントとは別にサンタさんからということで更に一つずつ包んだが、アラタには、西松屋に行った時に欲しがっていたブロックを選んだ。アラタは、「サンタさんアラタの欲しいものよくわかったねー」だって。

午後は２年ぶりにのんちゃんと再会。お母さんのしのさんとは話しもはずんで楽しかった。
"I'm going to get up early to open presents tomorrow" was what Arata said last night. I didn't realise much but in Japan, Christmas Eve is the big day like in France (Germany?) but in the U.K. or New Zealand it's always on the Christmas day.

Anyway, as soon as Takara woke up he said, "Is Santa coming?" It's one of the hard jobs to get them dressed in the morning but this morning, Aratakara got up and get changed very quickly.

I prepared presents from myself and from Santa separately. I chose the blocks Arata wanted when he saw them in a shop yesterday, as a present from Santa. Arata said, "Santa knew what I want!" This photo is with Ampamman, uncle Hiro gave to Takara.

In the afternoon, we went to see Nozomi. It's been 2 years since we saw her last time. I enjoyed talking to Shino, her mum, too.

3Y11M 2Y2M 抵抗 Resistance

タカラは頑固で気が強いので、気に入らないととことんまで抵抗する。ショッピングモールでもひっくり返って動かない。こんなことは日常茶飯事だけど。

Takara is very stubborn and he often tries very hard to get his way. In a shopping mall nearby to my parents, he lied flat on the floor and didn't move for a while. He often does this anyway...

3Y11M 2Y2M 「しまじろうに渡す！」 I want to give it to Shimajiro

しましまタウンに再々度挑戦。さすがに今回はアラタはしまじろうを怖がらなかった。

さて、ベネッセの子供チャレンジの今月号ではしまじろうにお手紙を書こうという企画があって、早速ハガキを書いたアラタは、「しまじろうに（直接）渡す」と言うのでそれを持っていった。

勿論、しまじろうにはそっと事情を説明してハガキを一時的に受け取ってもらった。アラタは嬉しそうで、みんなで記念撮影。ところが、ハガキを返してもらっているところをアラタに見られてしまった。「しまじろうはポストに入れて送ってねって言ってたから」とあせって説明したけれども、夢を壊したらかわいそうだものね。

We went to Shimashima town again, the 3rd time since Arata was born. This time for the first time, Arata didn't get scared.

Arata is subscribing Japanese a monthly magazine and in it, Shimajiro is the main character. In December issue, there is a theme to write a letter to Shimajiro. It's supposed to be sent back to the publisher but Arata wanted to take and give it to Shimajiro in person.

I explained the situation quietly to Shimajiro and he received the letter and we all took a photo. Arata was happy but he saw Shimajiro returned the letter to me. So I told Arata Shimajiro asked me to post it instead. I don't want to disappoint Arata and he doesn't need to know Shimajiro is not real.