Cherry Blossom Adventures

Love Japan and all the cute things it has to offer??

My lovely friends (blog friends turned RL friends!) Deanne and Masao have started up a fantastic online shop called TOKYOMADE which is supporting designers living in Japan, both Japanese and foreign!!! Congratulations to them both for making it all happen!!! I entered in their first competition for hinamatsuri or girls day and while I didn`t win, some other lucky person out there will be receiving the cute dolls below!!! Lucky thing!!

Everyone should go check it out as everything is just so adorable!!! Don`t forget to sign up for the mailing list to receive info about there other competitions!!!

Popularity: 2% [?]

Well, this is my pinboard. I love pinboards. And while I have lots and lots of photos, and postcards, and paintings, and subway maps, and more postcards, and venetian masks, and other photos, and garbage explanation sheet all over my walls, the pinboard holds the most ecclectic range of things. (well despite the garbage explanation sheets…garbage here is complicated!). The pinboard includes some of my favourite photos (and definitely my favourite highland cow!) and while it doesn`t change that often, sometimes things are stuck over other things or out to the side making other things overlap. I was going to change it at the beggining of the year but I think I will leave it like this for a bit longer. Featured on other walls of the apartment are a family section, a europe section, a japan 2004 section plus other stuff like an aussie flag, some tinsel that really needs to come down and a mix of other things. I hate having blank walls!!

Like I said, I love pinboards, and I hope this will encourage others to post up their own!!

Ps: If you click on the photo it will take you to Flickr where you can see notes on everything that is on my pinboard!!! Explanations galore!

PPS: Yes, recently nothing that interesting has happened, except work and watching new season 24 and another cool drama called Men in Trees. So I didn`t want to bore you all with that so instead I decided to bore you with my piboard!!

Popularity: 3% [?]

High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

Folks in a town that was quite remote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Lusty and clear from the goatherd’s throat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo

Know this song? Sound of Music? When Maria and the children are putting on a puppet show. Well today during craft when we were making mobiles of winter clothing in which their were two paddle pop sticks crossed over at the top and glued in a cross pattern. Each child hung four pictures, one off each point.

Next thing we hear one of our four year old boys humming that above song. At first we were like…`Mmm, what a weird song for a child to know, especially a Japanese child, but whatever` and then it hit us…he had his mobile above the desk and was moving it like the traditional puppets in sound of music during the scene in which that song is played.

Strange how a child`s mind works!!! Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo…………………..

Popularity: 3% [?]

he

I have nothing really to post about but am sicking of seeing my face everytime I check my blog so thought I`d bump the new haircut post down a bit by posting this. This photo was taken in July at a house party in Kichijoji. James` had a friend who had a friend who was having a party and I live in Kichijoji and it seemed like a good excuse as any to go out for the night.

It is a couple months old but I really like this photo. I was looking for another photo when I noticed this one and realized I really have to print myself out a copy. Some of my closest friends are in this photo, and obviously that is Shun with his arm on my shoulder (Yes, and me drinking white wine out of a big plastic cup…Who said I wasn`t classy!).

This photo sums up the good times in my life. Friends (mix of nationalities, ages and occupations…), Laughter, booze, music (well you can`t see that but trust me it was there…) and good memories.

I would never have met any of these people if I had not come on exchange to Seikei University at the beggining of 2004. I spoke literally no Japanese. I had come out of a fairly long term relationship only about 4 or 5 months earlier and I was still hanging around with friends from highschool yet I was ready to move on. I left Australia in March and headed to Tokyo not knowing what to expect. I certainly didn`t expect that I would like it so much that I couldn`t wait to go back, or that my Japanese would actually improve so much (for the first 6 months it barely improved at all) or that I would meet a Japanese boy and fall in love (the boy that introduced us, Koki, with the glasses, introduced us) or that I would make such long lasting friendships. I am not sure exactley what I would be doing now if I hadn`t orignally come to Japan but I know that I made the right choices then and that because of that I am happy now. Everyone in this photo has played some part in making my time in Japan great and I want to thank them.

Cat- I still remember the first time I saw you. I had travelled what felt like days to get to Japan (Although really altogether it was only about 12 hours) and you and Phil were in the kitchen watching something when Nakamura brought me up and asked you to explain what she was saying. (Then megu showed up in her pink pajamas). Perhaps if we had met anywhere else we might of just passed each other on the street or at a party, but been thrown together in a place like the kaikan facillliated all kinds of friendships and I am really lucky that you and I were thrown together. The six months we spent together in Japan were amazing and you only have to look at the photos and think back to know we were having the time of our life. We first really bonded at Fuji Qyu Highland (probably due to the fricken scary haunted house).We both wanted to get back to Japan after we had gone home and we both did it. We are both together again. You are my best mate and you have done so much for me in the last couple of years and I really am so grateful and I know that no matter where we end up in the world and even if it is months between phonecalls or emails that we could meet up and take off from where we were when we last met. Have a safe trip home to Scotland for Christmas…counting the days til I see you in the new year.

James- After Cat left you told me something in Hiroshima that while at the time I didn`t like to hear but you were right, and because of you I went out and now my Japanese is awesome (Ok not awesome but it is a lot better!). Last year when we were all back in Australia you were always keeping in touch with everyone and making sure we all kept in touch. You are like the big brother I never had (although really you are probably more immature than even I ).That year that we spent in the kaikan together was amazing…there were lots of great times and some bad ones but we both came out ok right? You kept me sane that second six months…You are the best friend a girl could ask for. You and Cat along with Shun, are the main reasons I came back to Japan in the first place.You always listen and are always willing to help if I need it, plus you know really good thai restaurants. It is so good to all be together again!!

Mai- We met at a club in Shibuya, Xanadu. I didn`t even know that you knew everyone or that you had come with us but you got up and danced on the stage with me and Catherine and spoke English with me cos I had no idea what you would have said if you had said it in Japanese. Since then there have been many fun times and you are always up for a laugh, a dance on a stage or table or just to meet up for coffee and shopping in Shimokitazawa. You have the best style of anyone I know…You can pull anything off and always look faboulous. Lately you have been really busy with life and work but whenever we do manage to get together it is always fantastic. Can`t wait to see you in the new year baby.

Koki and Hifumi- Koki you introduced me to Shumpei. Well sort of. You held an illegal party in the 3rd floor kitchen and that is where I met Shun. You made sure he had my number and that I had his and while you were surprised when it actually all worked out I know that you are happy to have introduced us so thanks for asking me to buy that OJ on the way home and come up to the 3rd floor kitchen at 1am in the morning. Hifumi you made the best nabe at the 2004 Christmas party ever….It even tasted great the next day when we all sat around and raided the big Kaikan kitchen. I know you make Koki really happy and it was always great to see you around the kaikan and always great to catch up with you now.

Shumpei- We met only 5 or 6 weeks before I left to go back to Australia and I don`t think either of us knew what to expect. And now here I am back in Japan and we are living together back in Kichijoji, where we first met. There is lots I could say. Nobody thought we would last, well I do not think they did, but we did and now we are here together and really happy together. This is our first Christmas together in the same country and while our backgrounds are completely different and while we don`t speak the same language we make it work and I know this Christmas is going to be great. You love me no matter what, and no matter how insane things get you are always there to give me a hug and make sure I am ok. I hope we have many more great Christmas` together. I love you.

Thanks to all of you….You all play a part in my life and for that I am really grateful. Because of you, it is always good.There are other people in Japan that have made my time great. You know who you all are. Wishing you all a great Christmas and New Year…Here`s too many more fun times and great memories.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Well after months of procrastinating I booked myself in for a haircut for tomorrow morning with a Western stylist near Harajuku. I am just going to get a cut but leave the colour since It is so damn expensive!!

Haven`t exactly decided what I am going to tell them to do with my hair except cut it off. I haven`t cut my hair since August and it is usually fairly short so it is down mast my shoulders now when it is out. But I am thinking something like this (minus the colours so it won`t have the same impact obviously…and won`t scare away my new employers when I go sign my contract tomorrow afternoon.

What do you think? It is kind of hard to see it but you get the idea I suppose. This photo was taken pretty much exactly a year ago!!

Popularity: 3% [?]

I was sitting in starbucks this morning in Shinjuku and i managed to resist cream in my coffee and the yummy snacks they had on offer. I even got a short coffee instead of my usual grande or tall. And the best thing about my morning coffee was they were playing Ray Charles…(I love Ray Charles…but I really was just glad to hear something other than christmas carols)

I grew up with music from the likes of Ray Charles. Not to mention The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Roy Orbison, John Lennon, Simon & Garfunkle, Hermans Hermits, Aretha Franklin, Carole King and many many more…

Not only did dad have many records and cd’s and a very eclectic style in music but he also had a record player and that was the one of the best things about been home with Dad when nobody else was around because he would put on a record lay on the floor and just listen to it…

My father can also sing…The best thing about that is that i can also (luckily) hold a tune (when I want to)…so I not only inherited my height from him but also my singing voice. The other great thing about my father singing is for some unknown reason when dad sings, he sings like the artist…My father can sing like John Lennon and then turn into Aretha Franklin at the drop of a hat.

I think before I knew how to sing twinkle twinkle I could sing Imagine by John Lennon and I am a Rock by Simon & Garfunkle..and by 8 I could play them on the piano.

I think my father (and mothers) love of music rubbed off on both me and my little brother because despite growing up catholic I grew up thinking that prayer time was a sing along of 60’s music. If I ever have children then I would love to instil a love of music in them also…although for lessons on the 60’s and 70’s they would be going to their grandfathers place.

Dad always regretted not learning an instrument when he was younger…he would tell stories of how boys and girls who could play instruments were also hits at parties and got all the girls (or boys). He told me this everytime I did not want to go to my Piano lessons…”You’ll be sorry when your at a party and a nother girl can play better than you or if a boy whips out a guitar..” At the time I always thought it was so strange that people used to play instruments at parties but now I understand. My little brother has jam sessions over beer with his friends all the time. He owns three guitars, a keyboard (the piano is at Dad’s place) bongos, a harmonica and probably other assorted instruments…

When I was about 8, I had already been learning the piano for 4 years or so, Dad decided to start getting lessons. It didn’t last long but I will never forget coming home from school and my father saying excitedly…”lulu lulu…come listen to this” because he had taught himself to play I can see a rainbow…

I received my first cassette player at 5 and my first CD player at 11 or 12. My first cassette was Michael Jackson in the early 90’s and my first CD later on in the 90’s was Crowded House. My father approved of both my choices even if he thought they were not QUITE old enough for him. I now have a very eclectic taste in music and my ipod carries tunes from all over…

Popularity: 5% [?]

Unfortunately nothing intresting is really happening at the moment but I did join a couple of flickr groups including 365days, What do you want and 26 things as well as a couple of others so that I could look around at the photos. For 365days you are supposed to take a self portrait of yourself everyday for 365 days…I am only 5 days in and already I was late posting yesterday (Although I did take the photo yesterday morning hehe). The 26 things project is something a couple of other bloggers whose blogs I read have done. Notably Martine over at Frangipani and Kinki at 35degrees, both of who are fantastic photographers!! I know a couple of other great photographers who read my blog as well that might be intrested in the 26 things project so check it out. There should be a new list coming up in the next week or so for November…

I on the other hand, while know how to hold my camera, focus and shoot, lack the talent that a lot of others out there have whether they are professionals or not. By joining these couple of groups I hope to be able to learn to take better photos and improve on my own techniques…I love taking photos and I take a lot (most of which are kind of crap!!) so it seems like a good idea to actually work on taking better ones.

Since I have nothing else to chat about today (and hey I wouldn’t want to bore you to sleep!!) thought I would post the first five photos from the first five days of my 365days challange! (Go see D’Jen’s flicker also as I know she has started too!!!…In fact I stole the idea off her!)

Maybe after another 360 days I will have gotten to be a better photographer!

Hope everyone has a good weekend!!

Popularity: 3% [?]

D’Jen has inspired me to do something about my hair since I hate it at the moment and she took the plunge and cut hers again and it looks bloody fantastic. And Enny has given me a way to find out what I should do. I am asking you fellow bloggers! I am copying!

I have put six photos from the last couple of years that show my hair in different styles/stages/colours/countries in a folder on flickr here and I want to know which was good or what I should do with my hair. Suggestions welcome. I got it cut in Australia recently and didn’t like it. For more recent shots see here or look at my other flickr shots.

They are crap photos but I don’t really have many photos that show my hair as such…so the photos in there are VERY random.

Let me know what you all think!! Please! I want to cut it or do something before BB’s wedding in a couple of weeks.

Vote & give lots of advice!

ps: thanks to Jen’s helpful advice I put notes on the photos so everyone will know which one is me! Although I am not shy about showing my face on my blog so most people already know!!

Popularity: 3% [?]

I came home from work today to find a wonderful package from Babs filled with the above goodies!!! It is a shame my photography skills don’t do it justice. But there was loads of cool craft stuff like cute material (My favourite has peas in a pod print), iron on patches, vintage trim, stuff to make jewellery, some beads, cool buttons, plus sweets (can’t wait to try those sour patch lollies!!!) local free newspapers from Babs town and even a Japanese one!! Plus a mixed cd and a cute badge and postcard from Haight Ashbury street in San Fransisco!! It is all such cute stuff that I am inspired to try and make something crafty this coming weekend! Thanks Babs, you were so much fun to swap with and I hope you like your package too!!!

I am loving swapping with people and am so glad I came across Gimmeyourstuff. After these current swaps are finished I am going to do one more with Delightful Jen and then stop for awhile because at the moment there are four packages on there way to me (YAY!) which means i have sent just as many! I love it though and after a couple of months break will get back into it. I will be looking for some people living in Europe to swap with.

In other package news, I have received two packages from my mum recently the first was filled with a gorgeous vintage style purple dress which I will probably wear to Taka’s (Shumpei’s brother) wedding. In there was also a lace pink and black singlet (very hard to explain will post a photo another time). It also had a book, some sweets for Shun & some chocolate for me. Then just on the weekend I got another package with a winter suit in it that mum had picked up as a bargain. It is so gorgeous and I can’t wait for it to get colder so i can wear it to work when I have meetings!!! Thanks Mum!

Popularity: 2% [?]

Friday was Tanabata (star festival) so around almost everywhere was bamboo and bamboo grass with the little paper Tanzaku wishes on them. Everyone writes their wishes on the paper and then ties it to the bamboo Again i apoligise for my crap photography but you get the idea…

This last one is the tanabata tree i have in the apartment…I took one into work also, because for less than 200yen i bought some bamboo grass (sasa) and i already had some oragami paper to make tanzaku out of… When you take the Tanzaku down there are a couple things you can do with them to assure your wishes come true including let them float away on a river or you can burn them. This is meant to be done the next day, but i am going to leave our tree up for a little bit longer. Then we might burn them…but i think i will give that job to Shumpei!

A lot of the places have tanzaku paper near the trees for anyone to write their wishes on, for example the first and second pictures are taken near my work, and because that is in Roppongi there are a lot of foreigners around, either visiting or living in the huge ex-pat apartments in the area. The second photo was taken of a tanzaku i had seen a few times as i had passed by in the week leading up to Tanabata….Big English writing usually draws my attention (sort of like whenever i hear English on the train, i always look up and am like “what? where?”) and while it is not a wish i loved the fact she had written something and tied it up!

Popularity: 1% [?]