One of our favourite park outings

Today we've had a lower maintenance day. We took our friends in a van (no public transport) to one of our favourite parks – Koganei Park. 

We were somewhat discouraged when we woke up and discovered a very overcast sky and then it started to sprinkle lightly. Not being able to come up with a good alternative, though, we decided to press ahead with our plans. It actually ended up being a great day in the park. A bit damp and muddy, but we almost had the park to ourselves on a wet Monday.

The kids were quiet on the trip home – proof that we'd given them good opportunities to get rid of some energy. But also a chance to put a little space between one another. It was always going to be a challenge, putting another family in our relatively small house. Not that we cannot fit them, but that it means less privacy for everyone. So today we saw evidence of children overloading with the constant social interaction that they've been involved in over the weekend. The park helped to even that out.

Tomorrow we're putting even more space between us. We're all heading up to our mission's holiday house in the mountains north-west of here. Our family will be driving, but we thought we'd send our friends on a little adventure. They're catching trains and then the ultimate in trains – the Shinkansen/bullet train. We'll meet them up there. Then while we're there we'll be residing in two different apartments in the same house. Sharing meals and all the fun, but just a little more separation between families. It'll help us all stay sane and last the distance (not that we're having any major difficulties!).

The mission house up there has no phone or internet access, so we'll be out of contact for much of the next week. Hopefully we'll have a relaxing time away.

I've asked our friends to write a couple of guest blog posts, so hopefully you'll see them here in the next ten days or so too.