As divulged in one of my recent publications, I had the undoubted pleasure of my mother's company throughout "Golden Week" (the Japanese holiday season) and the week after.

Here are a few random snaps:

The misty mountains of Nikko.
A big, gold bloke.
Traditional Japanese "water magic," as practiced for centuries by those hardy few who can be bothered to do so.
My mum had some scathing comments to make about water pistols, but, for me, it still didn't ruin the magic of watching an overdressed woman watering her petunias in such a ridiculously ostentatious fashion.
Posing for photos with the water magic lady. Note mum's sensible choice of attire.
By a total coincidence, we met my Australian friend Tom (he snores like a tractor) in Nara, who was showing his mother around. Maybe there was some sort of convention going on.
Mum getting aquainted with Nara's psychotic deer (rats with horns.)
...and the inevitable consequences.
The great Todai-ji temple, the world's largest wooden building and home of the largest Buddha in Japan. Those tiny insects scurrying about in front are actually people.
Me hauling my skinny ass through the hole in the pillar in the temple, thus assuring my place in paradise.
HELL, where fat people go after they die.