"Gossip is the creation of civilisation"

The relentless humidity continues but luckily I've had some welcome company. Three intriguing characters; Manlius Hippomanes, a philosopher in the final days of the Roman Empire, Olivier De Noyens, a medieval poet during the years of the Black Plague, and Julien Barneuve, living in Vichy France. One text links their stories, The Dream of Scipio:



It's a clever novel with some interesting points to make about civilisation and our failure to live civilly, not only today, but in every age.

"Do you think that the peace of a thousand cancels out the unjust death of one single person?" (Pears, 2002:389)

(Image from Amazon Japan)

"Irrashaimase"

In Japan, the customer is not only always right...they are God!

A few weeks back I was waiting at the train station and decided to purchase some more Kirin Nuda Life Sparkling to quench my thirst. Most PET bottle drinks in vending machines are 150 yen, but for some reason Kirin Nuda is priced at 130 yen. So, after fumbling around for loose change I found 130 yen. I put the first 10 yen coin into the machine, then the second, and then the third. When you insert cash, the amount lights up on the machine. I then inserted the 100 yen coin but the amount didn't register on the machine.

Did I mention that this was a 36 degree day (um that's Celcius!) and that I was parched?

I hit the coin area of the machine, nothing happened. I hit it a little harder, still nothing. People nearby are starting to look at the foreigner attacking the innoncent vending machine. I combine a little hand and foot action, still nothing. Actually, something happens...I'm thirstier than ever!

Suddenly, a Japanese announcement, my train is arriving in 30 seconds but the machine has my money and I have no Kirin Nuda. So I whip out my cell phone to snap a shot of the vending machine number and jump on the train.

Later that day I place a call to the Kirin Beverage Call Center (0120 883 065 if you ever need to call!) to complain. They take my details and apologise profusely for my inconvenience.

Three days later there's a knock on my door...a registered package has arrived for me and requires my signature:



The lovely people at Kirin have not only refunded my 130 yen, they've sent me an extensive written apology and a brand spanking new pencil emblazoned with Kirin's logo.

Now that's what I call customer service!

("Irrashaimase" is what sales staff say to customers to encourage them to spend big!)

Here comes....Hanabi!

Natsu - summer - is well and truly here...
...and that means just one thing:



Fire Flowers! (Or Hanabi)

Tomorrow night is the annual Sumida-gawa Hanabi Taikai (The Sumida River Fireworks Display). About 20 000 fireworks will explode in a spectacular fashion over the Sumida River...and a couple of hundred thousand spectactors will be celebrating on the riverbank. Most of them will be wearing yukatas and 99.98% will be drinking beer and chowing down on excellent festival food like takoyaki and yakitori...I can hardly wait!

So, if you are in Tokyo...head on down to the Asakusa area by 7:10pm, and be ready to be gobsmacked...

(Photo taken by me at one of last summer's hanabi taikai)

Fruitalicious...

It's been stiflingly hot the last couple of weeks, so we've been eating lots of cold fruit in a fruitless (sorry, I couldn't resist!) attempt to cool down. The plums, cherries and grapes have just been taken out of the fridge...see how quickly the condensation has formed (and note our hardy begonias in the background!) :



Rest assured, they tasted as delicious as they look!



The grapes were incredibly sweet and juicy and the plums were perfectly ripe...



The cherries were the most interesting...I nearly didn't buy them due to their pale colour as I'm used to cherries with a dark maroon skin...



Surprisingly, these cherries turned out to be some of the sweetest I've ever eaten. They were grown in Yamanashi Prefecture (where they are famous for their stone fruit) and I'm so glad I took the plunge!

By now I'm sure you are all convinced I'm obsessed with spherical food!

What's your favourite way to keep cool in the hot summer months?