Turning Japanese*

 

Octopus Teapot by Japanese ceramic artist Keiko Masumoto #womensart #CeramicsArtWeek

I saw this teapot on twitter. isn't it beautiful? It wouldn't last two minutes in this house though.

I've had an arty day today. Well, not exactly arty but I did go to visit the artist who's running an art workshop for me in aid of Zac's. She lives in a lovely cottage down a little lane, looking out at fields and trees. There were some beautiful sheep in the field and Jo told me they were Dutch spotted sheep.

Jo's going to be doing a paint along type thing, so she will be demonstrating at the front and we will each be creating on our own canvases.

Jo is the artist who put on an exhibition of her work in aid of Zac's in the autumn. Her work is amazing (and expensive naturally) and really stunning.

Back to Japan, two things.

First, the Japanese ambassador to the UK is an absolute star on Twitter. He travels all over the country, tries the local delicacies, makes friends, and, best of all, takes Paddington bear with him wherever he goes.

He is a delight.

Second, the book I'm reading is another Japanese book. I've read a number over the last year or so and most are slightly surreal - but not as surreal as the Korean book I read last. That was something else.

Anyway, the one I'm reading is called My Grandfather, the Master Detective.

A young woman got her love of mystery stories from her grandfather, who is now suffering from Lewy Body dementia. In each chapter she encounters a mystery that she takes to her grandfather for a solution. It's much more straightforward than some of the time travel Japanese books I've read, and very good.

* Turning Japanese is a pop song from 1980 by The Vapors. Apparently it's about the desperation, anxiety, and mental state following a breakup, rather than a direct reference to Japanese culture. Who knew?

Zombies and cake

GrandSon2's 14th birthday today. The plan was for all the local family to come to our house for cake at lunchtime but the number was reduced because people were ill or looking after others who were ill. So it was only a few of us who enjoyed Daughter's chocolate cheesecake and sang happy birthday to the birthday boy.

Conversation ventured into zombie territory with a discussion about how best to get away from a zombie. (Stand behind a lamp-post.) And whether the same techniques could be used if bull-running. Alternatively being faster than at least one other person would work in the case of zombies but not necessarily bulls.

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Last week the new managers of Rough Edges put out a little pot of salt and a candle to represent us being salt and light to the community.

Apparently nearly all the customers were interested in buying the salt. At least that gave the opening for Kathryn to tell them the reason for the display.

It was the same when we had piled up rubbish in the yard ready for the skip. Everyone coming in headed straight for the rubbish and had a good rummage through it, and even bought stuff. Stuff they didn't buy when it was on the shelf.

I'm sure there's a moral in there somewhere.

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On Zac's Facebook page I'm doing a #LentPhotoADay following the word list from United Methodist Church.

Today, Ash Wednesday, is Day 1 and the word is consume, based on Matthew 4:1-11.

Queen of the dirty dishes

My Sainsburys order arrived this morning. I looked at the contents of the two boxes the delivery man brought.
"That doesn't look very much."

Then I realised that I'd amended the order but must have forgotten to confirm it.

That was after I'd dropped Husband off in town for the optician's and nearly drove into a No Entry road. How's your day going?

Anyway, we had lots of milk so I thought I'd make some mini custard tarts for Zac's this evening. For some reason that took me the rest of the morning.

I was following a new recipe and, although it had lots of stars, the quantity of liquid they said wasn't nearly enough to make the dough. Then the filling was way too much.

Twenty-four small tarts, two larger ones, and a bowl of egg custard. They look more like the Portuguese Pastel de Nata than traditional British custard tarts but they taste good. Though possibly a bit too soft. Hm. 

Husband grumbles about the number of dirty dishes I create when I bake; on this occasion I have to admit he's right.

I'd written Portugese and spellchecker was telling me it was wrong, that there should be an extra u in in it. No, surely not, say I but it seems spellchecker is right. I would have argued on that. 

Nothing happened

I had a conversation with someone this morning. Thinking about it now I ask myself, "Did I just imagine that? It can't be true, surely?"

No reason to suspect the person of not telling the truth but just such an amazing revelation.

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Hidden treasures

Just filed a paper and discovered the half-full tin of Heroes chocolates I'd hidden in the drawer. Admittedly lots of them are the creme egg sort that we don't like but, still, I consider it a win.

Have also been in touch with the sexual health nurse and have arranged to collect some condoms on Wednesday. So my day's going well so far; how's yours going?

Normally autocorrect on my phone is keen to leap in and suggest the word I might be typing. But I got as far as 'sexua' and it still didn't identify it or offer a suggestion. Even when I typed it in and finished the sentence I noticed my phone had changed it to serial. It obviously thinks I shouldn't write such shocking words!

I looked out of the window when I got up this morning and the roofer's van wasn't there so I was safe to wander into the bathroom. Imagine my surprise then when, as I was passing the window, what looked like a little orange goblin head suddenly appeared at the top of the scaffolding. 

I haven't treated you to one of my amazing pieces of artwork for a while so here's my take on it.

Admittedly he looks more like a zombie in my drawing but you get the idea. In real life he looks perfectly normal I assure you. It's just my eyes - and my drawing talent - that makes him look otherwise.

Not too bad

When your team loses 54-12 and you say, "Well that wasn't too bad," you know you're a true fan.

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I cooked a new recipe for dinner tonight. Pan-fried hake in lemon and caper butter sauce, served on a bed of mash with tenderstem broccoli. It was very nice too.

Hm, looks like meat in the photo but that's because it's skin side up.

The life I lead

On the streets, Friday night, in prison Sunday morning. What a life I lead!

Martine, the prison chaplain, was on fine form this morning. With her blue hair and her rainbow-heart-covered clerical shirt and dog collar, you can't miss her in a crowd. She spoke about mental health and showed the video of Lewis Capaldi's breakdown at Glastonbury in 2023, and then his song, Survive. 

She has a very different style from the other chaplain. She goes with the flow, takes questions, and is relaxed, and very loving. I tried to find a photo online of the shirt she was wearing but failed sadly.

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We don't do Valentine's Day so yesterday I spent it washing, shopping, cooking, gardening, and jigsaw-ing. I even managed to fit in watching Scotland beat England at rugby. Husband was disappointed but admitted Scotland was the better team on the day. Last week Scotland was beaten by Italy and there were calls for the manager to resign, and so on. It looked as though the team was in the doldrums, then they come out and play their socks off. 

So it looks as if Wales will be getting the wooden spoon again this year! This afternoon it's Wales against France. Not sure if I can cope with watching it: it could be a massacre. I will watch of course but I'll definitely be accompanied by a box of Maltesers.

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Completed my latest jigsaw.

White liberal

Unlike many, I'm still on Twitter because my timeline consists of golden retrievers, police dogs being brave, Welsh rugby, and the occasional left wing political comment. I responded to one of the latter along the lines of, "Yes, I'd rather live next to a refugee than a Reform MP," and suddenly I receive a torrent of abuse.

I say torrent; I mean twelve abusive comments. Actually make that eleven as I count white liberal as a compliment. I reported one as it wished harm on me but I can ignore the rest.

It confirms my suspicions that Reform voters are not only unpleasant people, the majority of them are thick as two short planks.

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Went to Mumbles this morning to buy fish and take back my library books - with the serious intention of not borrowing any more for the time being as I have loads to read. I'll just take a little look, I say to myself, and come home with five books I couldn't resist.

As the shop was waiting for more fish it necessitated me wandering around for a while. I have a couple of dresses that I've been thinking need a cardigan without sleeves to go on top. I couldn't think what the word was. I said to myself, "What's the word for waistcoat?"
"Oh, that's the word!"

I googled waistcoats and find out they're on trend at the moment. Get me, a trend-setter. well, maybe not exactly a setter but definitely on trend. So I bought myself one in Mumbles. Tried the charity shops first but they didn't have any - obviously because everyone's wearing them not getting rid of them.

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Out on High Street last night with the friend who works with the girls working on the street. I know there are women who say they personally choose to do it but not the ones on the streets, who are driven to it by poverty, addiction, boyfriends. Their stories are so tragic.

Last night one of them was asking if we had any crop tops. I went into full Welsh mam mode saying, "You'll get a cold in your kidneys, child!"

We had several requests for condoms. I have undertaken to find out where/if we can get free condoms to hand out.

Another bit of Icelandic wall art

Icelandic wall art and statues

Ice cream with Vivien for brunch then jigsaw. Feel I should be doing something but can't be bothered.

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Reykjavik is a city of statues and wall art. Here are a few of my favourites.

There was a QR code on this bench so you could listen to poetry by Tomas Godmundsson.

You can't see this one very well but it's a stone from Hiroshima commemorating the victims of the 1945 bombing. Every year on August 6th a candle lighting ceremony of remembrance takes place with the candles being released onto the lake.

I don't know what this man did to upset the sculptor to make stop halfway! Apparently the statue is most often called The Unknown Bureaucrat.