Illustration: Bento

This was the second time to display cabinets in the Cardiff Central Library (See on Facebook, Photos; Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, UK) for the Japan Day to raise awareness of Japanese Culture.  This years Japan Day took place on Saturday 31st May.

I used to display cabinets in department stores and individual shops when I worked for a confectionary and cake company in Japan years ago.  It was a sort of work, but 10 display cabinets at once!  But my friends came to help me to do a lot on the day of display.

Many other friends supported for the display not only on the day of display, by such as creating Japanese calligraphy (amazing!), making origami art (amazing!) and lending invaluable personal belongings.

By the way, this time I drew some illustrations to decorate a couple of empty lunch boxes.

(Please see in Portfolio: Illustration)

Bento, lunch box in Japanese, is a kind of food art, or a treasure box, filled with colourful foods.  I cut the illustrations into the right sizes, fits to each lunch box.

Nowadays in the UK, you can get a lot of Japanese ingredients in supermarkets, but I still miss the traditional lunch box which my mum used to make for her children every morning!

Elderflower Cordial Season

It was a few week ago now.  I took my youngest son as a company for elderflower hunting one warm dry evening after very wet week.  He is a great fun of elderflower cordial.  So was he very delighted to come along with me.

Here and there were the bushes with full of creamy white elderflower.  We cut them just as much as we needed, leave the rest for the bees and the others who might want to make cordials or wine (or champagne).  As the berries ripen in the Autumn, we need leave the flowers for birds and for us making berry cordial.

I like the sweet smell.  We cut the flower from the stems, ready for making cordial.

The flowers are put in a large bowl, together with lemon and orange peels, which add a zesty touch, and left overnight to infuse.

Next day the liquid is carefully strain with a muslin bag.  Sugar, lemon juice citric acid are pour into the liquid and boiled.

Bottled cordial is ready for this summer!