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How is everyone's jet-lag?  I am finding it much worse here than on the way out.  Still I enjoyed watching the birds in the garden this morning at 6am!  Good to be back home now and already Japan seems but a distant dream.

Tuesday was our final free day and we all enjoyed various outings to Nikko and Kyoto amongst others.  Do the Geishas in Kyoto know when the ROH are visiting as they seem to have made an appearance every time!  Nikko was a few degrees cooler than Tokyo and really beautiful with its huge cedar trees enclosing gorgeous temples and shrines.  Kyoto sounds amazing and I am very envious of those who went so hopefully in 2015 I can visit.  Last minute shopping and return visit to my favourite area , Yanaka.  I even bumped into Tamsin, Luke and Dominic there - how weird is that in such a huge and strange city!  Last Traviata was fab with Anna Netrebko on sizzling form.  Final drinks party afterwards and then a quick dinner in TGI Fridays (how sad is that!!!) and then packing for our early start on Thursday.  A few worried faces at the check-in with regard to over- weight luggage  but I think we all got away with it.  Long flight on Virgin with the worst food ever, I hope the BA lot fared better.  Pouring with rain and much cooler when we left Tokyo and it would seem this is the end of the hot spell.  How lucky we were there.  This has been the most amazing trip and we have all had a wonderful time.  It has been good to socialise with different groups of people and also good to get to know the orchestra a little better.  A huge thanks to Steffi, Ruth and Cormac amongst others for all their efforts in making this trip so enjoyable.  I still can't believe no-one got lost or was late for any rehearsal or show.  That must be a first!  Hope everyone enjoys the long weekend as it will be the last for a long time.  See you all on Monday for a double rep whammy!!  X