Christmas is a coming and the bells begin to ring. The holly's in the window, and the birds begin to sing. Now don't take time to worry, and don't take time to fret, just watch Robson and Jerome's festive forecast.....
BLOOPERS
Merry Christmas!
xxx
Saturday 18 December 2010
Thursday 16 December 2010
Robson and Jerome's island adventure!
It’s blog catch-up time! Rianna/ Jerome here. What can you expect from my latest blog post? I will be telling you all about our trip to the island of Enoshima and our visit to ye olde Kamakura, and providing photographic evidence of course.
Enoshima is a little island about an hour or so out of Tokyo on the train. Wrapped up warm (I even wore a wolly hat) we got off the train and it was really sunny. The hat came off. Waking over the bridge to the island felt a little bit like L.A, with the palm trees, the sun, and the sea, but we were constantly reminded that we are in Japan- with the Japanese people, and Mt. Fuji on our right.
 |
| Mount Fuji, baby. |
The island is littered with temples and shrines and that, pretty kijun (standard) stuff. We got corn on the cob from a bloke in a hut and walked the jaggy cliff path to the ‘CAVES’. I had never been in a CAVE before at this point, so was very excited. Robson is claustrophobic. She was basically on my back as we went round, holding candles to light our way. But I was very proud of her, we got through not one, but TWO caves!
After getting our fill of island related fun, we hopped onto the Enoden train to Kamakura. Kamakura is a small city full of old temples and shrines. The one thing we wanted to see most was a MASSIVE BUDDHA. Seriously, this thing is HUUUUUUUUGE. We even went inside it. In Kamakura we had a nice luncheon, BLT sandwiches which we dismantled and ate the innards of (there was mashed potato in the sandwich- mashed potato I say!!).
We caught the sunset and went for a wander on the beach back down on the opposite shore to Enoshima island. It had become pretty windy, so walking along the beach was treacherous! Sand + eyes = mega discomfort.
Windswept, we had a lovely meal at a seafront restaurant. Hopped on the train back, and got stopped by the police at Shinjuku station and asked to produce ID. Apparently we looked suspicious.
We finished off the night with a rendition of Whitney’s ‘I have nothing’ and went our separate ways, still windswept and smelling of the seaside.
Thanks Robson for a great day out! :) xxxx
Windswept, we had a lovely meal at a seafront restaurant. Hopped on the train back, and got stopped by the police at Shinjuku station and asked to produce ID. Apparently we looked suspicious.
We finished off the night with a rendition of Whitney’s ‘I have nothing’ and went our separate ways, still windswept and smelling of the seaside.
Thanks Robson for a great day out! :) xxxx
Wednesday 15 December 2010
now I ain't saying she a golddigger...
Good evening. or lunchtime, depending on where you're reading this.
Robson and Jerome here. The collective. The royal 'we'.
We are sitting in my (Robson's) room, attempting to scrub our moustaches off and wash the pots from tonight's dinner. And WHAT a dinner it was.
On the menu from chef Jerome tonight:
Tortillas with chicken, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, you name it its in there
Homemade chips, just nicely crisp.
Angel delight, with chocolate coins broken up in there and strawberries dipped in.
We are now finding it difficult to walk, let alone emulate our gangster heroes, or try on outfits for the coming festivities! Expect a blog shortly (probably after Jerome's gone home, when I get my act together with photos) about our recent mini-hol to Enoshima and Kamakura, by the beach, depending on whether we can catch one Mr Harry Stanley on skype - we'd like to take this opportunity to wish him a very happy 89th birthday!!!!!! Congrats Parold, prezzie coming in just over a week now!
Anyway this week's festivities include another visit to the ballet - The Nutcracker, our Christmas dinner and Christmas day, and a masquerade ball!!! Excited doesn't cover it!
Signing off for now, Jerome's still got pigtails in and I've got her mobile counterbalancing my chains hanging down my back.
Robson and Jerome here. The collective. The royal 'we'.
We are sitting in my (Robson's) room, attempting to scrub our moustaches off and wash the pots from tonight's dinner. And WHAT a dinner it was.
On the menu from chef Jerome tonight:
Tortillas with chicken, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, you name it its in there
Homemade chips, just nicely crisp.
Angel delight, with chocolate coins broken up in there and strawberries dipped in.
We are now finding it difficult to walk, let alone emulate our gangster heroes, or try on outfits for the coming festivities! Expect a blog shortly (probably after Jerome's gone home, when I get my act together with photos) about our recent mini-hol to Enoshima and Kamakura, by the beach, depending on whether we can catch one Mr Harry Stanley on skype - we'd like to take this opportunity to wish him a very happy 89th birthday!!!!!! Congrats Parold, prezzie coming in just over a week now!
Anyway this week's festivities include another visit to the ballet - The Nutcracker, our Christmas dinner and Christmas day, and a masquerade ball!!! Excited doesn't cover it!
Signing off for now, Jerome's still got pigtails in and I've got her mobile counterbalancing my chains hanging down my back.
occasionally, we scare ourselves.
xxx
Thursday 2 December 2010
what a way to make a living.
Oh my god. I want to cry. I've just written a HUGE long post about this weekend, and lost it!!!!!! ARGH.
I'll start again, shall I?
This weekend (Saturday morning, 7am to be precise) I set off on a trip to the Japanese countryside, to do a homestay weekend, living with a family and learning traditional practises! The whole thing was amazing, the students who organised it were fantastic, and the other people on the trip were so lovely too, so lots of new friends there! Sadly Jerome didn't come on this, as it was only really for Waseda students. Next time!
So we set off bright and early, took us about 4 hours to get up there, to a tiny village called Ten-ei (天栄）in the countryside North of Tokyo. When we got there, loads of activities had been organised for us, like field ploughing and ornament making for day 1, then wood cutting, bean crushing, onigiri making (those triangle shaped rice things, not my cup of tea but anyway), and then a ramble around the nearby woods. All very delightful, and topped off with a night staying with a family!
We were separated into groups of 4 to stay with the families (there were about 20 of us in total), and I was put with Clare, a friend from SOAS in London who'd also come to Waseda, and two Japanese students - Daisuke and Mao. Think me and Clare were put together because we both said we were vegetarian..... this caused quite a stir in the Japanese countryside as you can imagine, at least half an hour of chat (in Japanese) was dedicated to establishing exactly what we do and do not eat! Even weirder chats soon ensued, apparently Susan Boyle is a very famous figure in rural Japan!!!!! I couldn't stop laughing when they mentioned old SuBo (might have been a bit delirious from the cold) but they were pretty serious!! Anyway they made us a huge meal with about 578 courses, after which we were encouraged to go to the public baths....... neither Clare or I fancied this much, so we sat it out (after much attempted persuasion) and took ourselves off to bed. Now in the Japanese countryside, they don't do central heating. So at night, our heating consisted of an electric blanket, a duvet, and not much else (all this on a flat futon on the floor). However, the ever prepared Robson ended up being nice and warm, one pair of woolly pjs, one heat tech top, two thick pairs of socks and one cashmere jumper later!!! Kept the electric blankets turned up full blast as well, even though the fam reckoned we'd be best to turn them down...... ever prepared, but still not partic economical....
Anyway the following day dawned with rain, so we donned our fetching all in one waterproof get-ups from the day before, and chirpily trotted off to do some wood cutting! The rest of the day was taken up with more activities, and after a bit of an emotional farewell we returned to Tokyo, getting home by 11pm so not too bad! Going to leave you with some snaps of the weekend, there are so many tales and anecdotes still but I'll save those for when I see everyone in person!
Robson and Jerome's festive celebrations begin tomorrow, we're off to see Cinderella at the National Ballet so will take pics obviously, SO much planned for this month we've hardly got time for uni!! Merry December!
I'll start again, shall I?
This weekend (Saturday morning, 7am to be precise) I set off on a trip to the Japanese countryside, to do a homestay weekend, living with a family and learning traditional practises! The whole thing was amazing, the students who organised it were fantastic, and the other people on the trip were so lovely too, so lots of new friends there! Sadly Jerome didn't come on this, as it was only really for Waseda students. Next time!
So we set off bright and early, took us about 4 hours to get up there, to a tiny village called Ten-ei (天栄）in the countryside North of Tokyo. When we got there, loads of activities had been organised for us, like field ploughing and ornament making for day 1, then wood cutting, bean crushing, onigiri making (those triangle shaped rice things, not my cup of tea but anyway), and then a ramble around the nearby woods. All very delightful, and topped off with a night staying with a family!
We were separated into groups of 4 to stay with the families (there were about 20 of us in total), and I was put with Clare, a friend from SOAS in London who'd also come to Waseda, and two Japanese students - Daisuke and Mao. Think me and Clare were put together because we both said we were vegetarian..... this caused quite a stir in the Japanese countryside as you can imagine, at least half an hour of chat (in Japanese) was dedicated to establishing exactly what we do and do not eat! Even weirder chats soon ensued, apparently Susan Boyle is a very famous figure in rural Japan!!!!! I couldn't stop laughing when they mentioned old SuBo (might have been a bit delirious from the cold) but they were pretty serious!! Anyway they made us a huge meal with about 578 courses, after which we were encouraged to go to the public baths....... neither Clare or I fancied this much, so we sat it out (after much attempted persuasion) and took ourselves off to bed. Now in the Japanese countryside, they don't do central heating. So at night, our heating consisted of an electric blanket, a duvet, and not much else (all this on a flat futon on the floor). However, the ever prepared Robson ended up being nice and warm, one pair of woolly pjs, one heat tech top, two thick pairs of socks and one cashmere jumper later!!! Kept the electric blankets turned up full blast as well, even though the fam reckoned we'd be best to turn them down...... ever prepared, but still not partic economical....
Anyway the following day dawned with rain, so we donned our fetching all in one waterproof get-ups from the day before, and chirpily trotted off to do some wood cutting! The rest of the day was taken up with more activities, and after a bit of an emotional farewell we returned to Tokyo, getting home by 11pm so not too bad! Going to leave you with some snaps of the weekend, there are so many tales and anecdotes still but I'll save those for when I see everyone in person!
Nearby scenery
Left to right: Caitlin, Me, Ashleigh, Clare
You want me to do what?
hahahaa
Making 'ornaments'
Robson goes back to her East Anglia roots..
quite literally means 'dream team'. On the wellies.
An 'ornament' I made, wasn't supposed to be a heart but I thought it was better!
Ropes? We made these!
Villagers who taught us to make ropes and bash beans
Our bedroom!!
Breakfast. Yes dinner was even bigger!!
Robson chops wood
or attempts to
Daisuke shows us how it's done!
Clare and I looking delightful
Group photo!
If I ever see another onigiri.....
The family!
Back row: Dad, Daughter, Daisuke, Mao
Front row: Mum, Me, Clare
Robson and Jerome's festive celebrations begin tomorrow, we're off to see Cinderella at the National Ballet so will take pics obviously, SO much planned for this month we've hardly got time for uni!! Merry December!
Thursday 25 November 2010
doncamatic
Just a quick mid-week post to update you all on what's occurrin over here!
I started my new job at Paul Smith on Monday! It's really good, the people are all so lovely, very friendly, and it's been fantastic for my Japanese already. I work from 12 until 8.30pm, so it's quite a long time but it does pass very quickly, as I seem to spend most of my time either chatting to the girls about clothes and makeup, to the boys about British music, or to customers about the clothes and British fashion! On tuesday night they all kindly took me out for a welcome party, we went to an izakaya and had loads of great food and cocktails, so nice!
Tuesday was also a very important day. Let me set the scene.
Lanvin and H&M have done a collaboration. I really hope you all know what I'm talking about, if not, have a look at the pieces here.
So 10am, Jerome and I met up at Harajuku station and headed down to the H&M store, only to find that you were given allotted times on a wristband!! It's so they could only have 30 people in at a time, and each time slot was 10 mins. Ours was 12.15 to 12.25, but obviously I started work at 12, so bit of a problem. Jerome however, was brilliant, and whilst I went into Paul Smith, she trotted off back to H&M, elbows out, and grabbed The Dress. This dress I had been talking about for weeks, it's amazing. Perfect colour, almost the Selfridges pantone, raw edges, exposed black zip, big black waistband, perfectly comfy yet looks like it shouldn't be.... and surprisingly a lot of fabric! Anyway, here's the pics, see what you think! I think the expression on my face says it all......
It's the homestay trip this weekend as well, had the orientation tonight and a meal with the others going, looks like it's going to be good!!
I started my new job at Paul Smith on Monday! It's really good, the people are all so lovely, very friendly, and it's been fantastic for my Japanese already. I work from 12 until 8.30pm, so it's quite a long time but it does pass very quickly, as I seem to spend most of my time either chatting to the girls about clothes and makeup, to the boys about British music, or to customers about the clothes and British fashion! On tuesday night they all kindly took me out for a welcome party, we went to an izakaya and had loads of great food and cocktails, so nice!
Tuesday was also a very important day. Let me set the scene.
Lanvin and H&M have done a collaboration. I really hope you all know what I'm talking about, if not, have a look at the pieces here.
So 10am, Jerome and I met up at Harajuku station and headed down to the H&M store, only to find that you were given allotted times on a wristband!! It's so they could only have 30 people in at a time, and each time slot was 10 mins. Ours was 12.15 to 12.25, but obviously I started work at 12, so bit of a problem. Jerome however, was brilliant, and whilst I went into Paul Smith, she trotted off back to H&M, elbows out, and grabbed The Dress. This dress I had been talking about for weeks, it's amazing. Perfect colour, almost the Selfridges pantone, raw edges, exposed black zip, big black waistband, perfectly comfy yet looks like it shouldn't be.... and surprisingly a lot of fabric! Anyway, here's the pics, see what you think! I think the expression on my face says it all......
It's the homestay trip this weekend as well, had the orientation tonight and a meal with the others going, looks like it's going to be good!!
Friday 19 November 2010
The Boy Who Lived...
Greetings. As supreme champion of 'Harry Potter Scene It' in my local area, it is my pleasure to tell you all about mine and Robson's trip to the cinema tonight to see the new Potter film -
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Before we headed to the cinema, we dressed up as characters from the books/ films. I was Bellatrix Lestrange and Robson was Alecto Carrow- both female Death Eaters. I have to say, it was rather liberating walking the streets of Tokyo being somewhat feared as opposed to seku harra-ed. Looking like this (photos to follow) we went for some food, and then partook in a wee bit of Purikura. Allow me to explain to those readers who may be unfamiliar with 'Purikura'. It is a nugget of Japanese popular culture, which involves its participants (usually female) having their pictures taken in a booth, the principle aim being to look cute, pretty and sweet. You can then write nice things about you and your friends all over the picture with the help of computer design. So, off we trot to the Purikura booth dressed as Death Eaters and scrawling slogans such as 'Die Potter' and 'Avada Kedavra' onto our pictures.
Tonight was our first trip to a Japanese cinema. We had excellent seats, however the snacks of the people around us were slightly nauseating. When the music started, you know the music, we were both so excited! Me slightly more so I think...but Alecto got into it too. The film was brilliant, as expected it deviated slightly from the book, but overall we both enjoyed it greatly. It was very dark, even scary in some parts. The highlight of the film for me was the animation during Hermione's story of the Hallows, but we both loved the scenes shot in London- where we have both lived for two years. It was lovely to see Piccadilly Circus and Shaftesbury Avenue, even if it was only in a Harry Potter film.
Cannot wait for the next and final installment now! But I can't help thinking I'll be a bit sad when it's all over...
I'll leave you with some photos of us as Death Eaters...try not to be too intimidated.
Tuesday 16 November 2010
they looked up and saw a star
Evening!
Just thought I'd write a quick post about the weekend, I'm in between a fabulous meal of jacket potato, cheese and beans, (yes I did make it myself) and am about to settle down to a Potter film with chocolate...
This weekend was one of the best we've had I reckon! On friday, I had a lovely night out in Ikebukuro, a few cocktails and a meal with Uno, Masa, and some new Japanese friends of Uno's. I'd never been to the bar before but anywhere that plays both Katy Perry and Eminem in Japan is a hit with me. Anyway, on Saturday I had a rare lie in, then went down to Omotesando about lunch time for some christmas shopping, very successful but obviously can't reveal here what was bought! A bit later Jerome met me in Starbucks, I'd gone there to get some homework done, and we ended up sitting there the whole afternoon, eating them out of festive foods and gingerbread lattes. Yum yum. Then we adjourned back to IkeB and got ourselves some more christmas cards to send, and tickets for Potter on friday!!!!!! SO excited!! Of course we're dressing up, but we'll leave you to guess at which characters until the pictures go up....... On Sunday, I was very excitable as I knew that Sara and Annabel were arriving, and had booked us somewhere for dinner on Sunday night. Had a chilled day, usual gym, homework, spot of revision for these mid term tests, that sort of thing. I chose a restaurant near Tokyo station, there's a fantastic bar next door as well so after a few cocktails we headed off for our meal - BIG success, vegetables and 'real' food! I have to say though, the friendly faces from home were more welcome even than the food, as well as the bag of goodies they brought with them! Bakes beans, green and black's choc, Selfridges mince pies, ADVENT CALENDARS (two, obvs) and my beloved navy Pinko coat.... my Mum knows me too well!!
I then had a wee interview on Monday morning (more info when I find out what it entails.... not being deliberately elusive!) and afterwards went to meet Sara and Annabel in Ebisu for lunch and shopping for work stuff with them! Jerome had a day in uni planned but unfortunately wasn't well at all on Monday, thankfully she's had the day off today for more recuperation, finger's crossed she'll be on the mend in time for Potter on friday!
I'll leave you with a few pics of Tokyo getting into the festive spirit.... yes that is both a tree and a man made out of plastic bottles, and also my amazing dinner I had!!
Ttfn, Robson xxx
Just thought I'd write a quick post about the weekend, I'm in between a fabulous meal of jacket potato, cheese and beans, (yes I did make it myself) and am about to settle down to a Potter film with chocolate...
This weekend was one of the best we've had I reckon! On friday, I had a lovely night out in Ikebukuro, a few cocktails and a meal with Uno, Masa, and some new Japanese friends of Uno's. I'd never been to the bar before but anywhere that plays both Katy Perry and Eminem in Japan is a hit with me. Anyway, on Saturday I had a rare lie in, then went down to Omotesando about lunch time for some christmas shopping, very successful but obviously can't reveal here what was bought! A bit later Jerome met me in Starbucks, I'd gone there to get some homework done, and we ended up sitting there the whole afternoon, eating them out of festive foods and gingerbread lattes. Yum yum. Then we adjourned back to IkeB and got ourselves some more christmas cards to send, and tickets for Potter on friday!!!!!! SO excited!! Of course we're dressing up, but we'll leave you to guess at which characters until the pictures go up....... On Sunday, I was very excitable as I knew that Sara and Annabel were arriving, and had booked us somewhere for dinner on Sunday night. Had a chilled day, usual gym, homework, spot of revision for these mid term tests, that sort of thing. I chose a restaurant near Tokyo station, there's a fantastic bar next door as well so after a few cocktails we headed off for our meal - BIG success, vegetables and 'real' food! I have to say though, the friendly faces from home were more welcome even than the food, as well as the bag of goodies they brought with them! Bakes beans, green and black's choc, Selfridges mince pies, ADVENT CALENDARS (two, obvs) and my beloved navy Pinko coat.... my Mum knows me too well!!
I then had a wee interview on Monday morning (more info when I find out what it entails.... not being deliberately elusive!) and afterwards went to meet Sara and Annabel in Ebisu for lunch and shopping for work stuff with them! Jerome had a day in uni planned but unfortunately wasn't well at all on Monday, thankfully she's had the day off today for more recuperation, finger's crossed she'll be on the mend in time for Potter on friday!
I'll leave you with a few pics of Tokyo getting into the festive spirit.... yes that is both a tree and a man made out of plastic bottles, and also my amazing dinner I had!!
Ttfn, Robson xxx
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