Otto's blog

Ise

3月

29日

On Sunday we visited the town of Ise, beside the famous Ise Shrine. It`s a nice place - there are lots of traditional-style shops & buildings, as you can see*. There is also a shop that I really like which sells woodblock prints [hanga] and woodblock print style postcards [ehagaki]. Other shops sell various kinds of traditional food, souvenirs & goods.

Unfortunately, on Sundays there are also a lot of people & cars - it took a long time to park our car!

If I go to Ise again, I`ll try to go on a weekday (Monday to Friday).

[*click on the image to enlarge]

#建物 #旅行

Let`s to Horse!

3月

23日

This is another toy car I saw at Osu Kannon markets. I didn`t buy it - I just took a photo.

I really wonder what `Let`s to horse!` means. Maybe:
- Let`s ride a horse!
- Let`s ride two horses!
- Let`s horse around! (horse around = be silly)
- Let`s go to a place that has horses!
- Horses to let! (to let = rental)

Hmm. It`s a bad English mystery.

#趣味

Osu Kannon Markets

3月

20日

On the 18th & 28th of every month, there is an outdoor market in front of Osu Kannon Temple in Nagoya. By chance, last Sunday (my day off) was the 18th, so I went there with my son to take a look.

Most of the stuff on sale is old or antique. It`s interesting - some things look like junk, but they`re valuable. Other items may look valuable, but actually they`re junk. Then there are things like this toy car that I bought - it looks like junk, and... well, it IS junk! But I don`t mind. When I saw it, it really caught my eye, and Owen liked the opening doors ("Look - now it`s an aeroplane!").

And one day, when I`ve forgotten where I bought all my kids` toys, I think I`ll still remember where I bought this car.

#趣味

Lyle`s Golden Syrup Label

3月

16日

This is the golden syrup I used for my Anzac biscuits. I bought it at Kaldi store. Check out the picture on the label.

It`s a dead lion.

With flies buzzing around it.

Nice.

UPDATE: My mother (in comments) says they are bees, not flies, & explains the reason.

#ブログ

Anzac Biscuits Recipe

3月

15日

This is an easy recipe for Anzac biscuits. If you want a more difficult one, just ask your wife or mother to give you advice while you cook.

Ingredients:
125g butter
150g plain flour
90g oatmeal
65g desiccated/shredded coconut
150g sugar
2 tablespoons golden syrup (or honey is okay)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1. Melt butter with golden syrup, then mix all ingredients together
3. Make balls, about 5cm diameter
4. Put on tray, put in oven
5. Cook at 150 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes

Easy!

#レシピ

White Day

3月

14日

If you`re not Japanese, you probably don`t know about `White Day`. In Japan, girls often give chocolate to guys on Valentine`s Day, then guys can give chocolate or cookies/biscuits to girls on March 14, White Day.

I made these biscuits for my workmates. They`re called ANZAC biscuits. I`ll post the recipe soon.

#グルメ #バー #レストラン

Sherlock Holmes - A Game of Shadows

3月

12日

Today my wife & I went to see `Sherlock Holmes - A Game of Shadows` at the cinema. We haven`t been to the movies for ages (ages = a long time). In fact, I think the last movie we went to was the first Sherlock Holmes movie! Anyway, like the first one, it was very entertaining.

The lead actor, Robert Downey Junior, is very good, although his character, like many things in the movie version, is quite different from in the original stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. Have you read any of them? I`ve read them all - they`re great!

#映画

Algarve Cup Final

3月

9日

Japan`s women`s football team beat the United States 1-0 to reach the final of the annual Algarve Cup in Portugal - excellent! Unfortunately they lost 4-3 to Germany in the final, but I think they can be proud of that result. Well done, Nadeshiko! And well done Aya Miyama - she received the tournament`s Best Player award.
Did you watch any of the games?

#スポーツ