Last night, I went with Mayu, Ellie, Andy and Saranne to Sligo Inn to see the Irish folk band play - probably for the last time. Their next performance will be on the 30th July, which is the day before I fly back to England :(

By amazing coincidence, Aeon (the English-teaching company I leaflet for) were having a party that same night for all their students. However, I didn't join in - they were sitting too far away from the band, and besides, I was there to meet my friends :)

It was pretty emotional, hearing the band for the last time. Mayu and I have become "groupies," nearly, turning up to their every performance without fail. We've also made good friends with the bodhranist Asakosan, who's our age. Remember when I said that she was ill during the last performance? Well, she told me that she'd only recently just been discharged from hospital since then. She obviously didn't want to say what the problem was, so I didn't ask. But it must be quite serious :( I hope she's ok.

Anyway, soon everyone but Mayu and I left, and then Mayu, Asakosan and me went to do purikara (those photo sticker things!) That was fun - we even did one on a pirate background :) When we'd done that, we went back to the Irish pub, and the band played the last song :(

I will absolutely treasure those silly little purikara photos.

While that's the last time I'll see the band, it hopefully isn't the last time I'll see Asakosan. She and Mayu are both coming to an "Arigatou (thankyou) Party" that we're holding in July for all our Japanese friends who've helped us while we've been in Japan. Coincidentally, it's also Asakosan's birthday, which'll be even bigger cause for celebration :)