2017年6月25日日曜日

BBQ




“We’re having a barbecue party in the garden this evening.”
There was a line message from my dad to mum who had just finished her Saturday course. She was astonished at the message because that was totally news to her.

(After a while)
“I’m home!”
My dad came home with large plastic shopping bags full of food and beverages.
“Hello, Dad! Oh, Momo-chan, how are you? Please come in!”

My mum came slowly downstairs and said: “Hello there!”

Chizuru-chan joined us later with a bottle of wine, ‘Pinot’ – our favourite!
‘That’s very kind of you, but unfortunately I’m not allowed to taste it,’ I murmured.

(BBQ till late at night)
They started with mojito cocktails, with mint leaves from our garden.
Late late late in the evening, at last I was invited to the party in the garden (feeling so sleepy).
Do you know why? To take a picture of me together with the bottle of Pinot consumed totally.

That was our BBQ last night. With or without Pinot?

2017年6月18日日曜日

Coffee jelly with ice cream




Coffee jelly is a unique dessert – easy and simple to make!
My mum’s favourite way to serve coffee jelly is with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Well, I’m not interested in coffee jelly, but I adore vanilla ice cream.

Last time my mum made ice cream with some milk instead of cream because no cream in the fridge. Can you call it ice cream???
Fortunately or unfortunately, I didn’t taste it.

This time she made it with some cream!

Do you like ice cream? Yes, I do. Yum. Yum. Yum.
Would you like it? Yes, please! Yum. Yum. Yum.

2017年6月7日水曜日

駐日リトアニア共和国大使夫人





リトアニア大使夫人・ガリナさんの日本語のレッスンが先日終了した。
大使の任期終了にともない、夫人は一足先に帰国されるそうだ。大使夫妻の来日当初から数年に渡って、マミーは麻布にある大使館に定期的に通っていたため、夫人とのお別れはとても辛く寂しそうだ。

ガリナさんは、大使夫人として休みなく日々活動していたため、急きょ、授業がキャンセルになることもあったようだが、日本の言葉と文化、習慣を学びたいと、熱心に取り組んでいたという。

「思い出に」と、マミーは夫人からリトアニアの麻製品をいただいてきた。帰宅し、「ティータオルかサビエットだと思うわ」と言いながら、包みを広げてみると、二枚組のクッションカバーであった。何とステキなカバーなのか。ボクはウチのソファーにぴったりだと思った。うっかり、爪で引っ掻きでもしたら大事になる。マミーの雷が落ちるゾ、「くわばらくわばら」。

 夫人はネコ好き、とマミーから聞いていたのだが、ボクは一度も会えず、残念に思う今日この頃である。

さらなるご活躍とご健康を願ってやみません。
では、どうぞお元気で。本当に有り難うございました。


2017年6月6日火曜日

Happy Birthday!






When I woke up this morning in my mum’s arm, she said to me:
“Joyeux anniversaire, cher Pinot, happy birthday!”
“(puzzled) … ... ”
“Are you listening to me, le petit?”
As she said unexpectedly, I was absent-minded.

I jumped out of bed, went slowly downstairs, and said “Good morning!” to the Giraffe, my scratching post, as usual.

“It’s Pinot’s birthday today,” she said to my dad.
“Oh, yes. Er … 12 years old?”
“Absolutely!”

“Happy birthday to you, … 
(He started singing while giving me the usual horrible medicine.)
… Happy birthday to you.”

‘Nothing special! Nothing changed!’ I murmured.

–– In the afternoon, after the lesson.
I was still taking a nap, my mum said to her students:
“Ah, it’s Pinot’s birthday today.”
“Really!? Pinot, happy birthday!”
“Happy birthday, Pinot!”
“Mmm, er, thank you, Hiroko-san and Mari-san!”
I wondered if they enjoyed their lesson on my birthday, and I stretched myself.
“How old are you now?”
“I’m 12 years old – not very young anymore,” replied my mum.
I stretched myself again.

–– later.
Ah, what time is it? I’m getting hungry.
“Give me my birthday dinner, please, Mum!”

“A table! Voilà! There you are! Happy birthday, sweetie!”
“Thanks! I love you, Mum!” Yum-yum …
She was most pleased with my appetite.

“Ah, you’ve got a birthday message from Alfie’s papa and mama.”
“Wow! But just a moment, please!” Yum-yum …