お土産

Thank you to all my customers and friends who kindly give me souvenirs and presents from their trips. There is a photo album on Facebook dedicated to presents I've received. I will try to post them on this blog from now on.

From Australia

From England

From Vietnam

From  Yamagata, Japan

ハーゲンダッツ芸術

I had a creative moment with a tub of ice cream.

You're a cool dude, Mr Haagen-Dazs.

サンドウィッチ

The sandwich is probably the most popular convenience food in the world. Do you know its origin?

Sandwich is a town in Kent in the southeast of England. An 18th century aristocrat, John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich gave his name to the world's favourite fast food. He was very busy and wanted to eat meat without getting his hands greasy. In those days, bread and meat was the staple diet in England, and people usually ate with their hands.

Earl Montagu requested meat between two slices of bread so he could protect his hands from grease. His idea was copied by his peers and spread throughout England and abroad; the sandwich was invented.

There are many types of sandwich these days. The sandwich is one of the most popular lunch foods in Britain.

Today, I made a sandwich for my lunch. I used extra thick slices of bread which we call doorsteps, so I ate a doorstep sandwich. The filling was ham, cheese, gherkin and mayonnaise.

Here are two photos of my sandwich.

Royal baby: Congratulations

listen to ‘Royal baby: Congratulations’ on Audioboo

Royal baby: Messages of congratulations flood in after birth

Congratulatory messages are flooding in from around the world to mark the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's son, the third in line to the throne.

Prince William said the couple "could not be happier" following the birth of the boy, who weighed 8lb 6oz and is yet to be named, at 16:24 BST on Monday.

BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said the expectation is that they will leave hospital on Tuesday.

The birth will also be marked later with a series of gun salutes.

The duke was at the private Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, west London, for the birth - and stayed with Catherine and the baby overnight.

Leaving hospital

The couple are expected to talk to their medical team before they make any decision to go home.

BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said that in the meantime it was unlikely the Queen would visit her great-grandchild in hospital, adding "she can of course see him privately once he leaves".

Please follow the link to the original BBC story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23415636

Royal baby: Kate gives birth to boy

listen to ‘Royal baby: Kate gives birth to boy’ on Audioboo

The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy, Kensington Palace has announced.
The baby was delivered at 16:24 BST at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, weighing 8lb 6oz.
The Duke of Cambridge said in a statement the couple "could not be happier". He and the duchess will remain in the hospital overnight.
The news has been displayed on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in line with tradition.
A bulletin - signed by the Queen's gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, who led the medical team that delivered the baby - was taken by a royal aide from St Mary's to the palace under police escort.
The document said: "Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm today.

This news extract is from the BBC. You can read the full BBC news story here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23413653

Congratulations to the royal couple on the birth of their baby!