As Valentines Day fell on a Sunday this year it meant that it was a good excuse for the ladies to avoid giving their male colleagues any ‘giri-choco’ (obligation chocolates which the women give men on the 14th with the men returning the favour a month later on the truly commercial day which is exclusive to Japan; White Day).

Fortunately I still received a few of these ‘giri-choco’ from students last week and today and my girlfriend made me some chocolates too. Card-wise I was very prepared this year as I bought one back in England before I came back to Japan at the start of the year. Even though I wasn’t expected to give her anything I also bought her some flowers although I had to be told by the shop staff that the flowers which I originally chose were not suitable for a present! They must have been for a funeral or something so I narrowly escaped real embarrassment there!

 

I also bought her a bag* which she has been trying to fix to the vacuum ever since!! I booked us a table for seven o’clock last night* which is strange as she doesn’t even play pool or snooker!!

* not actually true.