Birthday adventures...

My actual birthday was a weekday...but Leah still surprised me by coming out to the island and providing a candle-lit supper. On the weekend Leah put together an adventure whereby I had to choose the next step from a series of envelopes...not knowing what was inside! Here I have chosen french toast for breakfast...mmmm it was deliscious!

We ended up in Amano Hashidate...one of the three most scenic places in Japan! according to the locals. We took the fast option across the bay.

Leah surveys the dinner spread at the Ryokan that we stayed at. It was a nice meal and a great way to end the day.










We went up the chair-lift on the side of the hill to get a better view of Amano Hashidate...it's a pretty place!

This is what you do here...am not sure it enhances the view...but it does provide a bit of a laugh!

Of course no day would be complete without an ice cream!

Thanks to my dearest Leah for a fun and adventurous birthday!

Engagement..

January 3rd will forever remain as one of those special days.

Leah and I had done some serious ring hunting leading up to Christmas and before New Year. I had purchased one and it was touch and go as to whether it would be available in time to propose in America. I had previously mentioned to Leah that I was most likely to propose in Japan and only decided to do so in Williamsburg when thinking about dates and timing and where and how and when etc. I decided that in Williamsburg it would be and thought that New Years Eve a good time...when this became impossible I settled on Jan. 3rd the day we had booked for dinner at Christiana Campbell Tavern, a nice restaraunt in Colonial Williamsburg.

I planned it for when we would be alone in Leah's parents house and had gathered a few of Leah's favorite things: Mango, Almonds and most important of all Godiva Truffles. I started it out as a thank-you for a lovely christmas holiday in Williamsburg and then put on some music...a song called "grow old with me"....I carefully took out the ring box I had carefully placed within reach... and asked my beloved Leah to marry me.

We were both quite overcome with emotion and joyful tears flowed...and yaaaaay! my dearest said "yes". We then celebrated with a lovely meal and shared our good news with Leah's parent upon our return home.

Garden looking...in Richmond.

Not so many flowers out outside...but what was surprising was daffodils at Christmas...strange!

All the action was inside with Gingerbread houses, trains, candy and orchids.

Buffet lunch at the Williamsburg Inn.

Wow....what a lunch! And doesn't my beloved look beautiful! mmmm Dessert was delicious and left one feeling slightly full...possibly over-fill.

A second Christmas...

Tom and Kara arrived and brought with them some more Christmas cheer and presents!

Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg.

A great time to visit with traditional Christmas decorations everywhere and lots of warm apple cider and gingerbread!

Presidents Park..

Gerald Ford...the 38th President of the United States...died...so we all went down to Presidents Park...bought a wee momento of the occassion and got in for a fraction of the ususal asking price! Thanks Mr Ford.

Christmas Day...

The Shy's sure know how to celebrate christmas! I had a fantastic time...which I shall never forget! and very much look forward to future Christmasses in Williamsburg. Next time I shall try and not go down the stairs before I am supposed to! but I shall try and eat more PIE..

My first Christmas in Williamsburg...

Christmas Eve...everyone heads into Colonial Williamsburg to sing carols and watch the lighting of the big tree. I don't know why I thought this???...but I thought that the matches were gonna come out...but the pretty lights went on instead! There were however some very impressive noises coming from some old guns!

Illuminations..Christmas 2006.

We only made it three quarters of the way through before they turned the lights off...Leah will have to wait another year to see the whole thing!

Visit to Kyoto...

Kyoto is a great place to go...anytime! Leah and I went up a few weeks before christmas and did some shopping at our favorite store and caught a look at the bamboo being illuminated as well. And of course...anytime is good for an ice-cream!

Tokyo...Tokyo...Tokyo...

It's a BIG place.

It has a big population...some big parks...big neon...a big fish-market...big buildings...a big theme-park...big earners and big spenders...

and shops...lots of shops....actually it seemed to me....just one BIG shop?

It is a busy and exciting place and a great place to visit.

Leah and I went in late November 06 and spent a few days wandering around as part of our trip to see Bono and the boys.

Apart from me having a touch of the flu it was an enjoyable few days and we had a good time seeing the sights and sampling the food and.....window-shopping.