On day four, the English Parents are up early and have a small satchel packed with cured ham and bread.  They already have a walking route planned and they like a nice circular walk so it is, of course, a circular route.  Roughly 4 km following the 193 south out of Kawamata then back round past the nursery and up over the small lane to rejoin the original road.  I find the English Parents a walking stick and someone mumbles about dogs off leash.  I wonder if they would like to borrow my bamboo spear..

Looking down at the nursery ‘Everything was for sale’*.

‘We’ve seen so many fruits still on the trees, I wonder if they are going to harvest them?  It seems a shame to waste them’*

After walking almost the full loop the English Parents hit a snag.  The road was busted up.  A bloody typhoon washed it away didn’t it.  So, painfully, they turned on their heels and walked back the way they came.. ‘Ooh I hate it when that happens’*

‘Did you see the curved mirror and the reflection on the floor?  I like that picture’*

2 HOURS LATER..

The English Parents are back home and ready for a cup of tea.  I pre-empted the need for tea so I was already warming a kettle on a charcoal hibachi (less gas you see – English Parents require a lot of tea and gas is not the cheapest way to heat water).
English Parents need a quick snooze.

I woke them up by photographing them.  But English Parents are very civil.

1.5 HOURS LATER

Having nipped out for a quick walk myself, I return to find the English Parents with sleeves rolled up tackling the garden.  Well done!  Give those two another cup of tea and a biscuit!

My good friend Kusumoto san (from Shimobun) had given us a lovely huge cut of pork and the English Parents had had the forethought to get it in the oven early and cook it slowly all day on a low heat.  So, when we were all finished with the garden the evening meal was pretty much ready to eat.  I made some bread too and we had some little salad and radish and it was nice.

* Possible quotations.  45% accurate.