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For Yvonne, for when she needs a break from Milduran realities :)


As with many (most?) other single un-attached attractive females out there, I have an antagonistic relationship with the dreaded Valentine's Day. On one hand is the gleeful opportunity to scorn the sugary, syrupy insicerity dripping from department store-bought cards and pre-packaged mass-produced chocolate boxes. On the other hand, however... the prospect of being diagnosed with sour grapes syndrome is enough to send me into a psychopathic teeth-gnashing fury.

This year's V-Day passed by rather pleasantly though, despite having ZERO traces of romance in it. My Japanese teacher, Noriko sensei, invited us to her in-laws' house to celebrate Hina Matsuri - a traditional dolls/daughters festival. After meeting up with Nozomi and hurriedly grabbing a few boxes of Ferrero Rocher from Tesco's (thoughtful, aren't I?), I somehow made my way to the correct destination.

The dolls were tricky to set up. First, we had to assemble the shelves on which they stand, and then figure out all the little trinkets and dresses that go with each doll. Great fun, with fits of frustration when we couldn't find the cow that was supposed to drag the tiny wooden carriage, and hilarious moments when we realised we'd put the groom's hat on one of the musicians, or accidentally stuck an arrow in the maidservant.


After about 2 hours (it shouldn't have taken this long, except that we kept getting 'distracted' by food and fits of photo-taking/camwhoring), the entire ensemble was beautifully assembled, and we stood back to admire our handiwork - and of course, to indulge in more insane photography.

As a reward, we held a FOOD PARTY.
Noriko sensei had prepared lots of food and wine, and we proceeded to gorge ourselves for the next... uh, 4 hours or so.



Yes, I realised this post ended up having nothing to do with Valentine's Day at all, aside from the predominance of red - red cloth, red kimono, red clothes that people are wearing.

BUT I DID GET A VALENTINE OK!
Ladies and gentlemen, ta-daaaaaa~~~~




Hats off to Nozomi!
She made the chocolate herself, and it took her several attempts (and blocks of wasted burnt chocolate) to get it right. OF COURSE, it was delicious!


Needless to say, I feel lurrrrrrrrved. DO you?