3Y8M 1Y11M 明日出発します Leaving tomorrow

12日が最後の勤務日だった。最後のスピーチでは大方の予想に反して涙もみせず（？）、12年間働いた会社を後にした。

日曜日はWokingの日本人のお友達でランチ＆パブ。今日は、Josieとカフェで最後のおしゃべりしてカドル（抱擁）。たまたまVeraも通りかかってカドル。Akhtarにもちょっと会ってカドル。お掃除をしてもらっていたSofieともカドル。Adibaが会いに来てくれてカドルした時は、お互いなみだ目。夕方には夕子さんが最後にもう一度会いに来てくれて、カドル。二人で泣いちゃった。

夜中、やっと荷作りが終わって、一息ついたら急にしんみり。3年住んだこのフラットも今日が最後の夜。12年住んだ英国から明日出発。明日、やっぱり泣くかなあ。

My last day at work was on 12th. At my final speech, I didn't cry. Lots of my colleagues expected me to cry.

On Sunday, my Japanese friends in Woking gathered for lunch, then went to a pub. Today, I saw Josie and Vera at a cafe. We cuddled to say good-bye. Akhtar came round and we cuddled. Our cleaner, Sofie and I cuddled. Adiba came to see us again, and when we cuddled and I saw her car off, we both had our eyes full of tears. In the end, Yuko, my best friend in Woking, came round. We cried when she left.

At about 3 AM, I finished packing and started to feel sad. Well, probably, I was too busy before and I haven't had time to feel my sadness. This is my last night at this flat, we lived here for over 3 years. We are leaving the U.K. tomorrow. Am I going to cry?

3Y8M 1Y11M 子供服やおもちゃの再利用 Children's clothes and toys donation

月曜日から母と二人でパリへ行く予定だったが、先週のヨーロスターのトンネル火災のため間引き運転をしている。セントパンクラスまでは行って並んだが、あと20人ぐらいの所で乗れず、次が4時間後だということで諦めた。アラタ出産以来初めて子供なしで寝る予定だったのに・・・。幻のパリ。

代わりに火曜日には母とアラタでギルフォード。水曜日、会社の同僚とのランチにアラタを連れて行く。同僚とおしゃべりをしている間に、アラタは私のデスクの上で静かにジグゾーをしていた。ベンは「おお、チズのリプレイスメントだ～」と冗談。夜はゆうこ＆トーマが夕食に来て、木曜日は母帰国。午後は子供服やおもちゃを処分したり、アディバと公園で会い、夜はマリエットがワインもって訪ねに来てくれた。今日は午前中はアクターが、午後はまゆみさんがお茶しに来る。夜は会社の同僚とウエストエンドで、最後のロンドンナイトアウト。明日も飲茶に中華街。ああ、忙しい。でも火曜日から始めた引越し荷物のパッキングもほぼ終了だから、要するに寝不足。

さて、ここ1ヶ月で学んだ子供の服やおもちゃの有効な処分方法。おもちゃは、ナーサリーが引き取ってくれる。長く使ってくれるのでいい寄付先。服は、Women Refugeという家庭内暴力からの駆け込み寺に寄付すると本当に必要な人に渡ると聞いて連絡。が、今の所足りているのでと紹介してもらった、

The Besom

というチャリティーは、家庭内暴力シェルター、ホームレス、貧困の人たちに届けてくれるという事で、赤いバンで来てアラタカラの服と靴3箱分持って行ってくれてすっきり。

Mum and I were going to go to Paris from Monday but because of the Eurostar tunnel fire last week, we couldn't do it. We went to St Pancras station anyway, but as the number of the trains was reduced, we couldn't get the seats just by about 20 passengers. The next train was scheduled in another 4 hours time and we decided to come home. It could have been my first night without kids since I had Arata. Paris vanished to my dream.....

Instead, I took Mum to Guildford on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I went to my work with Arata. Arata was sitting quietly at my empty desk and doing jigsaw puzzle while waiting for me. Ben said jokingly, "Oh, he is your replacement!" In the evening, Yuko and Thoma came for dinner. Mum flew back to Japan on Thursday. In the afternoon, we arranged to get rid of children's toys and clothes, then we went to see Adiba and Jamal at Woking park. In late evening, Mariette came to have a chat over a bottle of wine. Today, Ahktar came in the morning, and Mayumi dropped in after lunch. Then I went to the West End for dinner & drinks with my colleagues. It was my last night out to London..... We are going to China town for Dim Sum tomorrow again. Very busy! But guess what, we have nearly finished packing as well. Means I'm lack of sleep!

I've learnt that the best place to donate toys is nursery because they use them for a long time. For children's clothes, I've read that Women Refuge takes them. I rang one of them but I was told they have enough donation at the moment. Then they suggested me calling the charity called
'>
The Besom.

They collect clothes donations and pass them to those who really need. A red van came to pick up 3 boxes of Aratakara's old clothes and shoes.

3Y8M 1Y11M ひんしゅく買っても行かなきゃ I have to go out even though....

金曜日が会社の最終勤務日だったので、スピーチをして、素敵なプレゼントをいただいた。先週は夕食、ランチ、カフェでちょっと、それに飲み会と、一日にダブルやトリプルヘッダーで、一気に多忙。Ｊａｓｏｎが帰ってきたので、会社の飲み会と先週の飲茶は彼も参加したが、それ以外は1人でこなしているので、子供の面倒を見てくれている母もＪａｓｏｎも機嫌が悪い。でも、しょうがない。もう会えないかもしれない友達に、この何日か、顰蹙を買っても会っておきたい。（3枚目の写真はゆんさん撮影）

Friday was my last day at work. I made a speech and they gave me nice presents. In the last week, I've been extremely busy. I had lunch, coffee, dinner, and drink appointments. Sometimes, I had 3 different appointments in a day.... Jason came back on Tuesday and he also attended my farewell drinks at work and one of the lunch dim sum meetings with my friends. But apart from them, I went on my own, sometimes with Arata only, and my mum and Jason, who usually end up looking after kids, are not happy. I simply go out too much. But otherwise, I will probably not be able to see them again. So I feel I have to bear with their complaints and go to see my friends, only for another week at most!　(The last photo was taken by Yun.)