Friday Afternoon

Late Friday afternoon, sun has disappeared behind the hills that loom over the university and the chill in the air is already causing your breath to steam. I usually have classes in a nursing school I teach at, next town over, but they have ended for the year, so my week's winding down time has lengthened. On Fridays I pick Cian up early from the creche and we head to Sapporo Co-op, a local supermarket, where we gorge ourselves on the free bread, cakes and fruit samples, before buying 100% guaranteed cholesterol enhancing croquettes for dinner. I like to think it is the highlight of Cian's week - well that and his back-to-back double header of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse we let him watch on Saturdays.

I have a 'bonnenkai' this evening - an end of year party. I realise it is only December 4th, but the group organising it are taking no chances. They know how in demand I am at these end of year rice and raw fish extravaganzas, so they booked me early. Plus they said there would be chips. I'll pretty much go anywhere if there is a chance of chips. Rice, let me think of an excuse, but chips...I'll bring my own ketchup.