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| Our Japanese year ended with us making "New Year" mochi with this 'beautiful' retro mochi-making machine owned by the Takeuchi's. They finally found out what the English meant! |
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| Our Japanese grandparents, the Takeuchi's, looking after us... as usual. |
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| Mochi hands. |
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| Our complimentary dinner at the Takaharu Kagura festival. Every year this little village holds a very tasteful and discreet all-night dance festival (not as Ibiza as it sounds). During the festival, local restaurants (and some private houses) open their doors and provide the punters with a free dinner in return for a bottle (or 2) of booze. Great deal! |
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| Emma and Miki checking out the lunar eclipse. |
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| Lunar eclipse during the Kagura festival. |
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| The dance arena. Click below for a recording I made on the night. |
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| Emma enjoying dinner a birthday dinner held for our good friend Satoko. |
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| The birthday girl! |
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| Finally we made it back to Australia after a year and a half away. We arrived home on Christmas Eve morning and were treated to a champagne breakfast for FJ's birthday! Then we were off to the Gale household where all these presents were waiting :D |
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| Christmas morning there were presents galore... "These are going straight to my Japanese corner!" Gwenny with her loot. |
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| Enjoying an amazing Christmas lunch with our family. |
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| The whole gang. |
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| Best 100 yen ever spent! Leigh, Harry, Milly and Ainsley getting into the spirit after lunch. |
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| Great Christmas day! Thanks everyone |
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| On Boxing day it was down the Merricks beach for a swim and more Christmas celebrations. Jenny, Robyn, Gwen and Ted at Merricks beach watching us crazy swimmers on Boxing Day. |
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| What dreams are made of! As part of our incredible gourmet Christmas gift from the Siera's we spent a day cruising the wineries of the Peninsula. We had a special picnic at Stoniers which included sipping on Chardonnay while feasting on hand made cheeses, olives and oysters. A definite highlight of our trip home for Christmas. Thank you Paul and Jenny! |
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| Luke managed to get in on the action too! |
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| A quick photo op while surveying the vineyard at Pier 10. |
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| We rounded off the day with a couple of brews at our favourite brewery, Red Hill. |
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| Gina and Megan looking very at home picnicing at the Ed Gardens in North Fitzroy. |
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| Sharing a brew with Sean. |
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| Our good mate Yuki happened to be visiting Melbourne at the same time we were which was a great coincidence. Here we are with Yuki's big plate of roo at 'Napier-san'. By the end of the night she was a true local ordering a 'pot of goat'! |
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| For NYE we headed down to FJ's beach house at Anglesea. The weather was perfect! |
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| Some of the MSW crew at Mick and Mandy's wedding. |
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| Emma with the beautiful bride. |
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| Yet another picnic at Ed gardens. The jumper Lauren is holding was hand made by Kerrie for baby Elenna. |
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| The crew after an awesome picnic of pizza and beers! We had such a wonderful time back in OZ... thanks everyone, you really reminded us that there is no place like home... |
