What a lovely day today!

On Mondays my mum usually leaves home at about 9 o’ clock and goes to work by train (not on her bike, of course), but she is off today.

After lunch, she let me go into the garden. I’m now taking a siesta in the sun (on a leash, of course). 
I’m really lucky today, aren’t I? 

“Mum, you know something?” says Sleepyhead.

“No, what?”

“Er . . . nothing. Mm. What a lovely day today!”

“It is, isn’t it?”

“Yeahhhhh . . . Zzzzzz . . . ”

第72代横綱 稀勢の里奉納土俵入り

「オー、カッコいいなあ。品格もあるし、素晴らしい横綱の誕生だ！」

稀勢の里の初お披露目の土俵入り。「横綱奉納土俵入り」というのをボクはテレビで今日初めて見た。新横綱の姿を一目見ようと、明治神宮は大変な人出である。（実は、ボクは野球も日本に来て、初めて見た。イギリスには存在しないため。ボクにとって、まだまだ知らない日本がたくさんありそうだ。）

ボクらは、長年ロンドンにいたため、大相撲を見ることがなかったが、マミーは元々大相撲ファンで、帰国後、この三年は欠かさずテレビで観戦している。

「がんばれ！」「ああ、ダメかあ」「今度こそ！」「あっ、またダメか」

「この一番に勝てば、よし、今度こそ！」「あ〜あ！」と、目の前のチャンスを逃し続けてきた稀勢の里。だが、ついに咲かせた大輪の花！ マミーは歓喜の声をあげた。

「もしも、ボクが次のライフで、人間に生まれて来たら？ 野球かサッカーの選手になりたいな。でも、お相撲さんもいいかなあ？」

「そうねえ。ピノは瞬発力があって、身体能力も高いし、小技もあるし、でも体が大きくないから、小豹力士だね。元力士の舞の海か、石浦か、新入幕を果たした宇良のようなイメージだね」

「四股名は？」

「四股名がもらえるほど上位に行ければいいけど。え〜と、‘ピ’の当て字は「比」がいいかな。‘ノ’は「ノ、の、乃」、どれがいい？ ピノは水が苦手だから、「比の海」はダメね。どっしりした山のイメージじゃないから「比ノ山」もダメ。「比の里」「比乃国」もしっくりこないし、「比ノ錦」がいいかもね」

「マミー、でもボクは走るのが得意だから、やっぱり野球かサッカーのほうがいいと思う」

待望の新横綱が加わり四横綱時代到来。上位に立ち向かう平成生まれの若手力士たちの活躍も期待できそうだし、来場所が本当に楽しみだ。

Tuesday Elementary Course – inside the White House

 

This morning I had supplements and drippings. What a nasty morning! 

However, thanks to that I had a good appetite. I couldn’t wait for lunch.

In the afternoon, there was ‘Tuesday Elementary Course’ – very interesting!

Today’s lesson was about the Oval Office, the President’s own office, redecorated for Trump – ho ho ho!

Today, I was listening closely with all my ears.

Last time my mum told students: “Each new president chooses new curtains, new furniture, and a special new carpet.”

The students, H-san and M-san, were really amazed.

Today, let’s find out how Donald Trump makes changes in the Oval Office.

According to Mail Online News, Donald Trump started making decorative changes to the White House as follows:

The Oval Office was redecorated for Trump. He swapped out Obama’s crimson curtains for the bright gold coloured ones.

  (Hmm, as I expected.)

In addition to the curtains being changed, the huge, circular rug from Obama’s presidency was also replaced. It appears to be the sunburst gold and yellow rug with garland edges designed by Laura Bush.

  (Er, I can imagine.)

He brought in new couches. It appears that the couches inside the historic office are now brocade and no longer grey suede.

  (Sounds gorgeous!)

He also returned a bust of Winston Churchill to the Oval Office.

 (Well, that’s very nice of him.)

Donald Trump is widely known for loving gold accents. I wonder if he has  plans to bring more changes.

This afternoon, I was learning while taking a nap in my red roof house made of cardboard, inside there was a plain blanket only.

I love my cardboard house. Two years ago, my dad got two cardboard boxes from a convenience store and made this house for me, then my mum put a piece of red cloth on the top, and the blanket was a present from my best friend, Alfie, with his sweet smell.

My red roof cardboard house with the sweet-smelling blanket is gorgeous, isn’t it?

I wonder if my own house is better than his own office.

本日快晴！

 

マミーは、いろいろな家事がすむと、ランチをとり、「自転車に乗って来るわ」と言って走り去った。

今日は久々に何の予定もなく、風もなく、快晴なので待ちきれなかったようだ。

（一時間後）

「ああ、暑い！」と完全防備から放たれると、マミーはすぐさま冷蔵庫からジュースを取り出し、そして、

「ピノ、お庭に出してあげるね」と、窓を開けてくれた。

ああ、ぽかぽかだ。本日快晴！

あっ、マミーの姿が見えないぞ、チャンスだ！ 今日は花壇に入って、久しぶりに土の感触を味わってみよう、よし、今だ！

Get Well Soon, Sean!

  

Yesterday, my dad and mum were at Taka’s.

I was home alone after long time and I was in a sleepy mood. So after having lunch, I was sleeping all afternoon peacefully.

In the evening, mum said to me: “We had a very nice time with Taka’s family today. Sumi-chan came over too, and she told me Sean, you know, her beautiful dog, was ill and lost his appetite. Poor Sean!”

Mum felt sorry for him as she recalled my illness – our images were overlapping.

When we were in London, Sumi-chan sent us an email with Sean’s picture attached.

“Hello, Pinot! I’m Sean. Nice to meet you,” he said to me.

He was a sweet, lovely puppy.

As I could recover from my illness (I can enjoy watching TV and even keep watching my garden now. ), and he is younger than me, we hope he feels better and gets his appetite back soon.

Sean, if I had a Pandora's box, I would open it and give you a magic potion right away to beat your illness.

Get well soon, Sean!

新年会 – 集う喜び

マミーの古き良き学友達がご主人同伴で我が家にやってきた。

マミー達は旅行したり、何かにつけ女子会をやっている。彼女達はロンドンにも二回来たことがあり、エネルギッシュなおばさん達で、ボクにとってもお馴染みの面々である。

今日は、久々にご主人達も一緒に、ということになって、我が家で新年会を催すことになったようだ。

本日のメニュー：

ダディの中で今ブームの‘ピザ’、自慢の‘ブイヤベース’

マミーの中で今ブームの‘アップルサラダ’＆‘チョコレートケーキ’

来客は毎回別の人達だから問題ないが、ブーム中に再度訪れた人は、同じものを二度食すわけで、何とも気の毒である。

今日は、皆さん色々なおつまみや料理を持参してくれて、テーブルの上はもう華やかだ。さあ、乾杯のようですね。

乾杯！

乾杯！

何時まで続くか分からないので、ボクはいつものように、二階のベッドの中で待機しようかな。あれっ、ダディが薪ストーブをつけている。じゃ、二階には行かずに、ストーブの前でうたた寝でもしよう。今日は小さい子供達がいないので本当に有り難い。ボクはちびっこギャングにはお手上げだからね。

みんな、集う喜びを感じているようだ。大声で愉快に笑っている。ああ、ここで一眠りできるかどうか、不安になってきたボクである。

Alfie + his papa & mama

   

13 January 2017

“My goodness! Alfie’s Papa and Mama! Hello there!”

“Hi, Pinot! How have you been?”

“Very well, thank you! I’m glad to see you again.”

His papa cuddles me, and happily strokes me for such a long time on his lap while speaking to my dad. (purring) He smells of Alfie.

“I wonder if Alfie’s fine.”

“He’s very well.”

What a relief! Last year, I was very ill. I’m a bit worried about my best friend (from my early childhood), Alfie, as he’s the same age as me.

When his papa and mama are both away, he is always at a cat hotel because we are not in London any more. I hope he enjoys his stay there, truly relaxing with receiving 5-star hotel service.

I can still recall my life in London. When he came to my house, we would play together, eventually fight for a place in my bed, then enjoy grooming each other and finally fall asleep together. We had awesome younger days.

He cannot come to Tokyo, I cannot go back to London either. We’ll never see each other again. What a shame!

His papa and mama, like today, please visit us from time to time, or my sweet memories of that time will soon fade away, sadly.

 

DIY

“Bang! Bang! Bump bump hum hum whack thwack rat-a-tat . . .”

“What!? What’re you doing, Dad!? Not again!”

Oh my goodness! He’s making something again.
No one has the right to disturb my sleep.

My dad is a serious DIY person.
He makes something one after another – big ones or small ones – this time, photo frames. 
Once he starts, works on that rain or shine.

 “Your dad is going to put some his ‘Zoo Photographs’ on the wall in a café restaurant soon. He’s making four large frames for that,” my mum said and continued, “Stop whining! He’ll finish in a couple of days.”

He wants to frame his ‘Zoo Photographs’ to keep them protected and make them look great when they’re on display.

“Oh, good news. Well, I’m glad, but . . . er . . .what’s he making next?”

His enthusiasm for DIY started in London. I wonder what he’s made. If I remember . . . 
    a bed,  a TV stand,  bookshelves,  tables,  benches,  walls,  fences,  gates, 
    velux roof windows,  a kitchen,  a darkroom,  a bathroom,  bar counters,
    bicycles(assembling),  a background board,  photo frames,  my house,  er . . . etc.

Oh, it’s quiet now downstairs. Let me go down and have a look at his work.

“Pippy! Don’t disturb me!” 
“Ho ho ho! You took the words right out of my mouth, Dad!”

ロッキングチェアーに揺られて

寒い寒いと思っていたら、みぞれが降ってきた。
「薪をたこう！」ダディがすかさずストーブに薪をくべた。

マミーはボクを抱きかかえ、昨日届いたばかりのロッキングチェアーとやらに、ボクを座らせた。無論、ボクに特等席を譲ってくれたわけではない。ただ、そのチェアーに座ったボクの写真を撮りたいだけなのだ。

何だこれは！？ ゆれる、ゆれる、いつまでもゆれている。少し怖いなあ。なあんだマミー、今日のところは、あんまり揺らさないでくれると有り難いのだけれどなあ。ストーブの心地よい火に、顔があからんできた。

写真撮影に少々時間がかかり、その横で、「もういいだろう!？」と、ダディも座りたいのかイライラしている。
じゃ、ダディ、一緒に座ろうよ。ボクはダディの膝の上が大好きだからね。

「じゃ、ココアでもつくりましょう」と、ボクを椅子から抱き上げたマミーのぽっぺもあったかい。

Saturday Beginners Course

                 


Saturday Beginners Course, with two learners, has commenced today.
As the two of them are so busy, they only have time to study on Saturdays.

Every time I meet people here, I show them how friendly I am.
“Hello, ladies! I’m Pinot, mew!” 

By the way, I was born in Cambridge and grown up in London. I understand British English. I’m native, cannot speak though.

I’m always here, sometimes downstairs, sometimes upstairs, but not to worry. I’m quiet during the lesson – sleeping most of the time!

As far as I know, today’s lesson is supposed to be ‘Introductions’.
Let me find out their names.

First Brushing This Year / 今年初めてのブラッシング

Brushing!
My teeth? No, of course not! I can’t stand it!
Brushing!
My hair? Yes, please! I love it!
Brushing, brushing!
My mum is shouting while waving her hand with my favourite green brush which Alfie’s papa gave me.

When I’m upset, I often pull out my hair, but this time I somehow scratched my head too much and it turned out I had no hair on my head.
Now, I completely recovered from my skin problem. My hair has grown back. Whoopee! I’m young enough.

Now, I can enjoy being brushed – exciting! When my mum holds the brush, I always rub my back, tummy and face on it, today of course, head as well.


ブラッシング！
歯を？　そんなわけないさ！ボクはあれは我慢できないんだ！
ブラッシング！
毛を？　うん、お願い！　大大大好きなんだ！
ブラッシング、ブラッシング！
マミーが大声をあげている、アルフィーのパパからもらったボクのお気に入りのグリーンのブラシをちらつかせながら。

ボクは腹を立てたら、よく自分の毛を引き抜く。だが、今回はどういうものかひどく頭をひっかいてしまい、それで、頭のところの毛がなくなってしまったというわけである。
皮膚炎が完治した今、頭部の毛がはえてきた。わ〜い、まだまだ若いぞ！

今すぐ、ブラッシングしてもらえる、わくわくするなあ。ボクはいつだって、マミーが持つたブラシに、背中、お腹、顔をこすりつけるんだ。ああ、今日はもちろん頭もね。

First Cycling in 2017

My mum went cycling for the first time this year.
She cycled along the riverbed with views of Sky Tree and Harp Bridge as usual. 
She told me that it was really refreshing but strangely there weren’t any cats today – sleeping in their house there??

I was, with my dad, taking a nap in his arms on the sofa – lazybones!
Still New Year holidays, who cares!?

A New Year's Party – Pizza Making

2 January 2017

“Happy New Year!”
“Happy New Year!”

This afternoon, a lot of people came over, including three kids.

We held ‘Pizza Experience’ for the kids. They were so excited about making pizza because they had never made it before, so quickly put on their aprons and hoods, and said:"We are ready!" – amazing!

Everybody managed to make their own pizza. They put it in the oven, sat in front of the oven and were staring intently through the oven glass door. They were so amazed! I was just watching them quietly.

My dad and mum prepared a lot of food and the guests brought some food – too much food – and lastly a big roast chicken. They couldn’t finish!!

On the other hand, no feast for me, just renal food as usual.
But, never mind! We could celebrate the New Year – great, great indeed! 

大晦日

31 December 2016
恒例の白鬚神社、初詣。
深夜に地元の人々が行列して、太鼓の響きと共に氏神さまに参拝する。
昨年の大晦日は、丸山新婚夫婦と、その列にいた。今年は甥の剛と一緒である。
境内では、半袖のボーイスカウトの少年達がパチパチはねる松明の側にじっと立っている。火の粉が飛ぶのでは、と気にかかる。年が明け、初詣がすむと、甘酒がいただけるので、参拝者はみなそれが楽しみなのである。
「ああ、おいしい！」熱い甘酒に、去年のは、ぬる目だったことを思い出した。
「う〜ん、おいしいね」と甥も甘酒をすする。


と描写したが、これはマミーのお話で、今年はいったいどんなことをお願いしてきたのだろうか。きっと、ボクを含め、家族みんなの健康であろう。
明けまして、おめでとう！