Iced green tea on the Shinkansen

Hello from Japan!!

We have been in Tokyo for the last four days which has been amazing and fabulous!!! We have done lots of shopping, eating ramen and noodles, and enjoying being swept along by the crowds as we explore different parts of the city.

Today we travelled by Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Kyoto. As we had been told by everyone who has been to Japan, the rail service is amazing. The train is clean, comfortable and punctual. We were able to buy drinks and snacks from a cart that arrived twice during the trip. 

I don't really like green tea, however I am trying to learn to like it! It is very healthy and in Kyoto it is the tea used in the traditional tea ceremonies. Ella likes green tea so when she ordered a bottle of cold tea I decided to join her. 

I love the packaging here in Japan. This close up of the bottle shows the gorgeous detail - and it didn't taste too bad either.

Isn't this chip pack great? I love this image of The Great Wave. This one is coming home in my suitcase! 

More from Kyoto when I get a chance - hoping to do a traditional tea ceremony here. 

Vanna xx

A colourful cuppa!

 

The books are old Enid Blyton's that I saved from the library last year. **
 

 

During the week I met my friend Josephine at a local café for a quick cuppa. As far as writing goes Josephine is the real thing. She has been an inspiration to me for the last few years, always encouraging me to write and sharing her thoughts and ideas about writing. Josephine's blog was the first blog I ever read, and has been a big part of giving me the courage to start my own blog. I love to spend time over at her gorgeous Tale Peddler blog and encourage you to have a look, and also discover her work. I am excited to read her next book which will be published soon!

 

As you can see we had a very colourful cuppa which suited our conversation and spirits. It is so lovely to spend time with like minded souls who share interests and ideas about the things that matter in life. It is easy to get caught up and feel like you don't have time, however for a while now I have been mindful of using my time well and spending it with people who make me feel good. Rick Hanson - who writes about the neuroplasticity of the brain and mindfulness, talks about 'watering your fruit tree', a phrase that he accepts is rather corny, however makes a lot of sense. In order to maintain your well-being he says, you need to 'nourish the things that nourish you'. For me, finding time for people who inspire me, who make me laugh and who make me feel good about myself, is an important part of my self nourishment. As is making time for cups of tea too of course!

 

Vanna xxx

 

**photo taken by Josephine Pennicott

 

'Why Not' cafe - our last morning in New York

This is my last 'tea post' from New York - when I get a chance I'll post some photos of a couple of book shops and thrift shops we visited as well.


Sadly we are leaving for home this evening (March 8th) and we are starting the day at the cafe on the corner of the street where we have been staying in an apartment in the West Village.

I have watched the cafe from our apartment window and have seen a steady hum of customers at all times of the day and night - many of them sitting with laptops, I guess working, reading and communicating. It really seems to be the thing to do in this city - also cafes are cosy warm places to get away from the cold. 

I have finally ordered correctly and once again got a lovely large mug of English Breakfast with room for milk! Steve had his usual hot chocolate and we shared a delicious pain aux raisins.

I love the way the milk is displayed here in this cafe. Right next to it is a turn table playing Stevie Wonder - so cool.

So off we go now to fill as much as we can into our last few hours. The sun has come out and its a beautiful day in New York! New York!!

Vanna xxx

Make a pact with yourself.

This morning while drinking my morning cup of tea I had one of those realisations that I always knew but hadn't totally formed into a nice neat awareness until that moment. It's about what I call 'making a pact with myself'. I've done this a few times in my life and on reflection it's made decision making easy, and the results of that decision satisfying. 

Pacts I have made include giving up smoking when I decided to have children - and promising myself that I would never smoke in front of them. This isn't unusual I know, however in moments of temptation the pact helped me to resist.

 I also made a pact not to constantly complain about my children when they became teenagers - as I so often heard other parents do. This isn't always easy to stick to - however it has really helped me to shift my perception and to always begin from a positive place. 

My favourite pact with myself is my promise to be at as many of my children's performances, school events and important occasions and moments as possible. I made this pact after I had breast cancer (the first time) when my desire to be there for my kids was really heightened. Now 9 years later this is still a priority for me and each event gives me reason for a little celebration with myself - I'm still here!! 

The thing about the pact is that faced with a decision or choice about what to do or if I have time to go - the decision is easy, actually I've already made it by commiting to my pact. Ill be there for my kids and this is something ill never regret. 

This pact has influenced some big decisions and life choices, particularly around my work and subsequently the amount of money I earn (not that much - but enough!). Time and presence always beat money in my book.

This may not sound all that enlightened but for me who finds it hard to make decisions, making a pact gives me real freedom. For those of you who also struggle with decision making you'll know how much mental energy it can take up. Even deciding what to cook for dinner can be exhausting for me on a bad day! 

I have this card from www.cecily.co.nz on my kitchen wall right next to my kettle. 

I guess making a pact is a bit like committing to follow the rules of a club, or even spiritual teachings or a religion. These things give you structure and perhaps moral and ethical guidance. Every thing we do is the result of a choice and having some clear guidelines is essential. On the other hand I do believe that there are always many ways to consider a situation, and points of view to respect, hence my slow decision making. There are however some things that are personally not negotiable and in these instances having a pact with myself is comforting and gives me strength to make the decision that is best for me.

 I wonder if you have made any pacts with yourself? Do you think it's a helpful strategy?