Enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of first-time parenthood. Progress on the vegetable garden and other ramblings of a gaijin in Japan’s least populous prefecture.
Plans for the New Year are, first and foremost to stay with my family in Europe for a few months. Secure in the least a reasonable income. The garden will have to take a backseat. Although I expect to be away in the spring, there will still be opportunities throughout the rest of the year in which to exploit the vegetable garden. I would like to grow more from seed and understand more about the individual varieties available here.
In part, perhaps it is a case of seeing what comes up?
Although under a few inches of snow, I managed dug down to retrieve a few potatoes for lunch.
The red team was clearly lagging. After I took this photo and defrosted my fingers, I had another probe about to even things out. The larger ones were a good size to bake in the oven.
We had a little snow last night and awoke to find much had fallen during the night. Most of the prefectures facing the Sea of Japan, were reported to have had a fair measure. Nearby Mount Daisen had received 50 cm and here in Yonago 16 cm. I’m glad I spent Christmas Day and Boxing Day changing the tyres. I spent an hour the first day, trying to read the Japanese manual on how to remove the hub cabs. In the end, I left it to somebody else.
I had a trudge around the garden before eight this morning, then decided to retire for a large Scotch whilst things (and my toes) thawed out.
These were taken around half ten. Bottom right is my onion bed, just above, protruding slightly, a two litre bottle.
Spot the herb garden…
A friend of the mother-in-law asked us all to visit yesterday. Her two twin daughters were back from Tokyo. On the premise of an afternoon of absorbing converse, I brought with me a crochet hook and a ball of wool. I made a trip around the corner to the local sake shop, just to be sure. There, to my surprise I found a few bottles of Bass. In the UK this would be quite a way down the pecking order. Over here it is a different matter. The price was reasonable too, about that of the usual “premium” beers.
Between dishes of nimono, I got some needlework tuition whilst my wife received a massage. It’s has been about fifteen years since I tried to crochet and was pleased to receive the help. If I can get the hook facing the correct way and a consistent tension, I might be able to fashion a hat for Kento.
The beer was superb, better than any of the draught pints I have had in the past. My opinion of a bland, indifferent beer was quickly washed away. It had flavours, colour and depth. I am evidently missing British beer. I topped myself up with a magnum bottle of Asahi Super-Dry whilst attempting to remedy a Japanese Blue Screen of Death on our host’s laptop. I did enjoy myself, and it was soon time to go home.
Once back, the drinking continued making a noticeable impression was made upon the bottle of Benriach I’d brought a few days ago. I feel fortunate today, that my mini binge hasn’t left me with a hangover.
Christmas has come early and a good job too, since everybody is at work on the big day. We had kani shabu-shabu (crabs dipped in boiling water) for dinner. Afterwards a typical Japanese Christmas cake. A sponge cake with lots and lots of cream.
The weather was good, so it was decided that we would be having a BBQ for lunch. The in-laws were already out shopping and I was expected to have the coals ready on their return. I would have liked to have taken my time, but relented and used an odd fire-lighter that was recovered from the garage. The mother-in-law got a bag of shiitake, whilst her sister got the meat. This cut of Japanese beef cost ¥6000 about £30.
Over the last couple of weeks, I have been completing a questionnaire to give an impression into life as an expat. Seemed to have dragged my heels, but I wanted to give an honest opinion without reiterating the obvious. The article can be viewed here: Expat Interviews
Feeling much more motivated than usual and with a little sun, I strode out into the garden. The first thing I wanted to do, was to try to route out whatever had been eating the onions. A close second was to improve upon the mizo, to try to prevent further flooding. I had a pretty good dig about for the elusive nekirimushi but to no avail. Replaced those that were half devoured and then set about digging another trench.
I am keen now for it to rain, just to see if it works. Hopefully all the runoff will collect around the asparagus. Thinned a few more feet of carrots, despite being unsure if it is sensible at this stage.
The highlight was checking on the spuds. The leaves are beginning to spot, so I thought it about time. I felt overwhelmingly happy at the sight of one red and one white potato. With that, I transplanted the remaining strawberry plants.
Despite getting the worst of headaches, I’ve taken to nihonshu.
400W 1 minute 10 seconds
500W 1 minute
600W 50 seconds
Snow was forecast for today but I guess the wind prevented it. Expect to change the tyres on the in-law’s fleet soon. The odd chance I had, I checked up on the garden. Saw that a couple of onions had carked it, unsure if there is a nekirimushi on the loose or if it was the rain got them. It has been a slow week which suited me. Dusted off the baking trays, I made a chicken pie and several pizzas. A Japanese addition of nori is well recommended.
