Folding Bikes!

A new way to look at the world? Well, maybe!

We can hop on a train, go somewhere new and not worry about being in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Why not? Because we have these new and awesome bikes.

In principle this idea is brilliant - class A, brilliant! In practice, it is taking a lot longer to get off the ground.

The bikes arrived and loitered in our kitchen for about a week. We had no time to even unpack them, despite the excitement. But, once that box was opened - oh boy. They are a thing of beauty!

We have set them up, although they still need pumping up and tightening.

Then there was the bag...you would think that for a bike built for convenience, you would easily find a bag that would hold the bike and off you go.

Well, no.

Perhaps it is these little challenges in life that spur us on? This is definitely not the case, but let's just pretend that we have enjoyed such a challenge, rising to it and conquering it.

Now, when you 'google' terms and expressions, you always take for granted that there will be something on the web to help you - and in most cases there are. Well not for the stupid Ostrich Chibirin bag we bought, so from now on, I shall be blogging much more, not just about our travels on the wonderful folding bikes (probably now minimised by the hassle of the bag itself) but, I shall be trying to figure out if I really am carrying bag correctly each time.

The thing that got us was that we had paid 5000yen for each bag. They have the joy of being attached to your bike and that is very useful. But there were no instructions to guide us. Even on their webpage, all they seme to boast about is their 'craftsmanship'. Yet, the canvas bag we have, is a fiddly way to simply 'throw the bike in and get on the train'. (http://www.ostrich-az.com/)

Basically, in Japan, the bike has to be covered when you travel. It works on the same principle as carrying pets, I suppose. However, we don't always put Elbi in the pram. We have been busted though a few times, so rules are rules. The bike too must be covered.

The clips on the side are to give the bag shape, but we would benefit so much more if they were on the handle too.

So the bike goes in the bag and then you must manually add the strap to the frame of the bike. Surely it would be so much easier if there were clips to do it.  So, (I think) we carry the bike from the frame, through a slot in the bag and off we go.

It's not quite the 'hop-on, hop-off' fun we had intended on, but it was all our local bike shop had to offer.

Nevertheless, the bicycles are amazing and we shall bit hitting the road really soon. Can't wait!!

Flowers!

Last year, I couldn't believe the joy of 'The flower'.

Living in the countryside for the first time, I have never seen so many flowers out and about. I was so amazed that I wanted to preserve them, so I tried to dry them. This worked for a while, but it is so time consuming and this year, time is even more precious, so we are keeping them fresh!

The first poppies have appeared around the lake and I was cheeky enough to steal one. However, even weeds are helping to make the house look so much prettier!!

チャーミーレイ　

poppy by the lake

poppy by the lake

 This one has a long way to go before it looks like anything I have seen at the flower shop. But, we have two flowers on these lovely plants (charmirei) that I almost ruined last year. I had planted them outside, but my neighbour gave my strict instructions to re-pot and move indoors! Good job I listened to her!!

Sunflower-CRAZY!!!

The sunflower seeds have gone crazy! Let's hope they continue to grow and actually flower this year!!

Decorating the house!!

flowers galore!

And recycling bottles!

A taste of Indonesia

I was lucky enough to get an invite to a lovely Indonesian lady's house. She studies at the same Japanese class as me and comes from Solo, Java island.

Dried eel - a delicacy from Java, along with seeds from  a 'big tree'.

She made lovely mie goreng and then offered up this odd looking eel. Now, I don't mind a bit of Unagidon, but this was too lifelike for me. Apparently, you had to break off the head and crunch away.

I wasn't brave enough to try, perhaps still scarred from my dried cockroach experience!

The light brown things are seeds, but I couldn't gather which tree and I also couldn't get over the fact that they looked like the skull of the eels!!! They were the same size, but thankfully, they were definitely not...They were sweet, crunchy, but not skulls!

We washed it all down with some delectable ginger tea and I was fortunate enough to get a souvenir to take home! Looking forward to a cuppa!!

What fun!!

Sunflower 2012

So, last summer, I managed to watch my sunflowers grow and grow but not flower. (See this picture - The flower-less Sunflower)

I am determined to not let it happen again.

I bought a couple of packets of small seeds from the wacky shop up the road, then, remembering that I have hoards of seeds for Mimi, our hamster, I took her dinner and planted it!

It rained all day yesterday so I haven't been looking after the plants so much, but I took a peek today and was soooo excited to see that some of the seeds have sprouted or are in the middle of actually sprouting!! I think I a excited as a child would or should be! But, it's my first time at starting from scratch, so I am allowed.

Sprouting & sprouted.

There is another pot too, so hopefully this summer, we will be living in a jungle once again!