178/365: Dec 29 2008. Look at those leaves, just gorgeous. I love seasons.

179/365: Dec 30 2008. Sigsy and Kei moved into a new apartment in Shin-Nakano and decided on an inpromptu house-warming with some of their new (kinda local) "neighbours" (April & Toshi & the kids, Tracey, Jeannette and me). I love this snap - look as Sasuke (the screaming kid!), he and his bro were so excited that the little one spewed all over the new floor just as I made my departure.... (good timing, I reckon)

180/365: Dec 31 2008. I did a photo shoot for Lara and Eric and their 3 gorgeous kids. The 2 littlies, both girls, dressed up in the finest ballet ensembles and charmed the socks off me. Gorgeous.

181/365: Jan 1 2009. This New Years Eve was one of the loveliest ones I've had in years. Christian, Yuiko, Tyler, Mihoko and I had dinner at Peppermin Cafe then wandered over to Hachiman Temple to take part i hatsumode, and ringing the bells..... then we checked out Benten SHrine in the park, before heading back to Peppa for their all night party. You can see more pictures from NYE at the facebook album.

In the afternoon I met up with my friend Lisa and we took off to her parents holiday house in Chichibu, Saitama, for Oshogatsu. The family dinner that night was nothing short of a magnificent feast and everyone lolled around on the floor under the kotatsu for a long time.

182/365: Jan 2 2009. Lisa's folks got their taxi-driving friend to take us all on a sightseeing tour of the area. It was a fantastic treat to check out some of Chichibu's finest sights and I had a hard time picking my "photo a day" photo. I had no idea that anywhere in Saitama was so beautiful. Ignorant me.

183/365: Jan 3 2009. Lisa's mum is one of 7 kids, most of them still live in the area around Chichibu. We went for a morning walk and dropped in on her older sisters family and borrowed their grandkids for our walk. Supercool. This is their backyard. Lisa and I came back to Tokyo that evening, feeling significantly refreshed and content to start the new year.

184/365: Jan 4 2009. And my new years adventrue: preparing for an inter-continental move. It's excruciating, sorting through piles of memorabilia and whatnot, trying to decide what will be joining me in my new home.

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