Summer Holiday Homework

So, it's been unbelievably busy an-an. I am almost burnt out...

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No, it's not about Wagashi production.



My son is 4th glade of Japanese School in London,
the amount is just over the top.

I know, it's my son's fault as he left them for all 6 weeks.
...and I know it's my fault as I was approaching to him softly, softly for the past 5 weeks.

Anyway, this week my son and I locked up ourselves in son's room to finish off his homework.

As they are only from Japanese language school, so nothing but Japanese, though...

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This year my son had a homework "produce one sheet newspaper ".
In his textbook, it is made in a group for the classmates. It's a kind of group activity.

However, in our case, we need to collect and complete the whole contents by himself.

... I found out my son is good at taking advantage of his situation.

So, what is his newspaper topics?

Of course, "an-an".
Interview with an-an, one day work experience, and more.

On the other day, my son asked me if he can help me to sell Wagashi at my stole. Then he was going around other stales to try tasters.

As the result, he managed to get the experience to write about.

After the article, he put an interview with me... He just copied what I said!!


In the end, I cannot help looking at the newspaper as an advertisement poster.
I wonder how his teacher receive this homework.

at the end...

Good Luck, my son.
from your mum

Well, it was a bit unexpected result

I have just come back from Shoreham Artisan Market.

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It was a bit of lucky and unlucky.
lucky... the first market was in the middle of the annual Adur River Festival.
Unlucky... Weather was unbelievably BAD.

Other repeat shop owners were very sympathetic to me.
"Good day, yea?"

I just thought, may be it'll be ok.

and... then...

There is a idiom "cats and dog" for a very hard rain.
But, it was more than that. It was more like...as if the marquee was under a fall.
Just one moment you go out, and you are soaked.

I could see Adur River through the entrance. The surface of river was almost there to the top... only spearing less than a foot. So scary!

However, inside of Marquee was lovely atmosphere as we had nice bands playing all day long.

The first band...Jazz

Very nice, but very wet, too.

　The second band...the Pirates!!!

Cool!

I found they hide a gun in the pocket of accordion.

Good singing, funny and cheerful.

Apparently, they are quite famous among the locals.

Third band was a duo of amazing gentlemen. They played anything and anything.

Guitars, violins, a Lute, an accordion and flutes...

They also played Swedish Fork music instrument, nyckelharpa. It has 12 strings as well as keys. It looks like a really long violin. With left hand he hit keys on its neck, and with right hand he play with a bow as an ordinary violin. it sounded like...harpsichord.

I forgot to take photo.... :(

There was a dry spell above us for 3 hours. During that short while some people tasted my strange sweets as well as my Kasutera (Japanese style sponge cakes). My old friend came to say hi and surprised each other  to see our kids grown so much!

There is some thing unexpected findings. I was thinking may be because people are not familiar with the texture of Wagashi, so I made some Wagashi whose texture were somehow similar to Western cakes. Castella (Half baked, half steamed sponge cake. It was influence from Portugal in 16 century. The name come from the area in Spain.) and donuts in Japanese Green tea flavor.(here is the link to wiki=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castella)

Today's most sale come from Mochi. People are not so fund of Green tea flavor...maybe.

Next weekend is off. Instead, I need to look over my son's homework. I don't want to think about the amount he needs to deal with in this 1 week...

Photos

When I realized, I only am chasing kids everyday since summer holiday started...

I have been collecting interesting photos to put up on this blog. As I cannot find any time to settle down at computer,  only photos are piling up. 

So, I would like to show some of photos I wanted to show you!

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Masterpiece of my son and mine.

This couple never learn not to forget about time. 

The sand castle got so big as involving passing by strangers.
By the time they realized, it was high tide.
It went under waves without any moment of photo shooting after completion.

Awww...  T-T

While my son was into the sand castle, 
I found hundreds of mussels stuck on wave breakers. 

Not big, but quite heavy.

Brought back a few and cooked. 
Of course, there was a bit of worry about food poisoning, but it was too good to miss.

Anyway, there was no news of red tide recently.

It was sooo tasty.

Anyway, I am still alive. :-]

 One day, my daughter suddenly found a yellow penguin was hiding in her banana!
Yum. 

My friend from Taiwan live in a near by village. Her Japanese is better than mine. 

One day, she invited us to her garden party. 

Her garden was really "English".

Although I live here much longer than her...

It is my dream to have a real British garden. hum.

Da-Dah!

So, if you recognize this logo, I would like to be friend. 

This has become a symbol of my loving singer Kirisho (Kiryuuin Sho) from Golden Bomber.

He wears Tami-T (White t-shirts with these two stars logo on its chest) all the time.

I didn't expect to meet with this logo in such a "off the beaten track" village.

It's The World's favorite plastic model company.

My son and I found some really exciting bits and excited so much.

Tomorrow...Here comes Brighton!

Today was...very dull day.

And...

Very cold.　（>-<）
　　　　　…Sorry for those who live in Japan. but I really wish if I could bring this cold air to Japan...

I went shopping in short sleeves and short pants today... I got shiver in and out of the supermarket!!!

Where has the strong sun, which made flip flop marks on my feet gone on the camping trip last week?

The highest temperature is now below 20 degree.

It is typical British Summer. 

I read a newspaper article yesterday. It said "30 degree again around August Bank Holiday weekend." Now it would be very slim chance.

Shall I warm up the azuki drink with Tapioca pearls tomorrow? Shall I do the same to Japanese Green Milk Tea with Tapioca, too?

I really don't like the weather focus.

So, let's ignore it and recap what I am bringing to tomorrow's sale!!! Haha!

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Daifuku Mochi（smooth、coarse、or Japanese mugworts flavourd mochi with coarse azuki paste）

Strawberry Mochi

Mizu Yokan（Japanese Green Tea or smooth azuki paste）

Umenoka（I know it's out of season, but this is popular even now.）

Dorayaki（smooth、coarse、or Japanese Green Tea）-non vegan sweets-

Sanshoku Dango　（It is also out of season, but everybody loves this!）

Warabi Mochi with Kuzu

Azuki drink with Tapioca Pearls　（for vegan option, coconuts milk instead of cream）

Japanese Green Milk Tea with Tapioca Pearls　（for vegan option, Soy milk instead of Cow's Milk）

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I will bring all of these on my trolley by train. I will load as much as possible.

I will bring my son as my precious helper.

A bit worry if he will be any useful.

Well, he can smile at my customers, at least.

So, tomorrow from 10 am to 4 pm...I will be at...

Brighton Farmer's Market（link for more detail!）！

Please pop in even if you don't buy anything. I just have fun and chat....well, I just need to earn to cover the cost of pitching the stall. That's all. 

Change of plan (24th August)

The market I pitch as tall on 24th August has been changed. 
It will be the first participant in this Shoreham Artisan Market.
I am very excited.
It will be a bit different market... in terms of stalls and customers... Please pop in to this lovely seaside town.

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Shoreham Artisan Market
10:00－16:00　（It is not long enough, though...）
Here is the link!



East Street
Shoreham-by-Sea
West Sussex
BN43 5ZD


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I am feeling luck of time... due to my kids' Summer holiday.
I really hope if it was 30 hours a day...Oh, well, I will be dead tired before the sunset, I guess.

I'm hoooooooome!

So, I am back from the annual 4 nights camping trip today...no, it's already yesterday. 

I am dead tired. 

"Camping trip? What's so bad?" 

If you think so, camping would be the cheapest holiday away home you could have... Well, depending on how cheep you want to me, though...
We pitched our tent bu ourselves. 
We started fire and caught some fish in the river. 
At night, we get warmth from campfire after BBQ. 
...and, my breath was white IN THE TENT in mornings. 

No TV, no computer...even no mobile phones, as our car charger was not working. So only for the emergency we used mobile and wifi. 

Hello again, Civilisation. 

What i did first when I got home was checking FB, Mixi and Twitter. Too sad?

I need to start making sweets from tomorrow. 

I shall write some reports about camping in the UK style later.

Good night...zzz

August sweets and Events

Temperature has gone down to just above 20 degree, but British summer is still hanging on to us.

The night of lightening and thunder storm reminded me of Japanese Summer.
However, a big rain fall always course of signal loss for my satellite TV. So I gave up watching telly and looked out to the natural electric show in the sky.

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Here is the sweets for August

Mizu yokan (Koshian or Japanese Green Tea)
100g in cups. Easier to eat!

Ichigo Daifuku (Strawberry Mochi)
Still the best seller. I shall make more and more!!!

Daifuku (Koshian, Tsubuan and Japanese mugwort )

...something more for markets.

 


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Currently, an-an will be in the following venue;

Brighton Farmer's Market
17th August (10:00~16:00)
Old Steine War Memorial Square
If you come down to Royal Pavilion on the Old Steine side, the Market will be there.

Shoreham Artisan Market
24th August (10:00~14:00)
East Street, Shoreham-by-sea, BN43 5ZD
Just 10 min. walk from BR Shoreham-by-sea station.There will be about 20stalls, not only foods, crafts, too.

Croydon Japanese School (Delivery Only)
31st August (12:30ish) In the parking space at Croydon High School in Seldon.
If you would like my wagashi, please email me with your order and mobile number.
（order@an-an.co.uk）

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...and more...

Brighton food Festival ーBig Sussex Market
7th and 8th September (11:00-18:00)
North Lanes (Jubilee St. and New Road)
Annual participation of Autumn Food Festival! Some events for children, too!

Brighton Japan Festival (Anime)
14th & 15th September (11:00-18:00)
Old Steine, Brighton
This is the celebration year for 400 years UK and Japanese friendship. This event will be larger than last year.
Brighton and Hove Japanese Club will have a tent for you to experience Japanese culture.
Detail will be here on my blog. Please watch out!

Brighton Japan Festival (Traditional)　
21st & 22nd September (11:00-18:00)
Old Steine, Brighton
Final event of the 10 days celebration of 400 years friendship.
Brighton and Hove Japanese Club are preparing for a carnival in Japanese Style.

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Currently, I am negotiating with Japan Matsuri at Trafalgar Square on 5th October.
This year is the mile stone year for an-an, too. I will try to join festivals as much as possible!
So, I have to work really haaaard!!!