Kimono de Jack UK Anniversary

It has been a year already since KDJ UK began!

Where did the time go?  Whatever the time there was only one way to celebrate and that is to visit the same location as we did one year ago which was Trafalgar Square.

Weather prediction said it was going to be a good weather for kimono which is under 20 Celsius and slightly overcast.  However you can never be too careful so we planned for the worse case scenario.

I arrived around noon due to my train and greeting me was the kimono de jack group with a new attendee! Her name is Stephanie and she happen to be visiting London at the same time as our anniversary and couldn't believe her luck that she was able to attend our Kimono de Jack.

After a few photos around Trafalgar Square we got on the bus to Nizumi. We got a little bit confused by the building numbers but we got there and had a lovely lunch!

I had a lovely Tendon.....

while the others had chicken katsu curry, teriyaki salmon, 

teriyaki beef bento box and fried chicken udon noodles.

All our lunches where very nice by the way.

After lunch we slowly walked back to Piccadilly Circus to look at the shops along the way.  We went into the M&M world but was disappointed by the lack of M&M!  :(  However they did have a nice elevator which we had to take a picture of.

After our disappointing discovery we went to our favourite wagashi shop, Minamoto Kitchoan!
   

They were holding a tea ceremony so we all had tea serve to us.  The lady was quite stern with us but liked the fact that we wore kimono.  She pointed out my mofuku obi but I explained that I understood what the black symbolised but I was dressed for Halloween.

Then off to japan centre so I could buy some onigiri for the journey home.  It was very busy but we fought our way round to get what we wanted.

It was only 16.30 and although my train didn't depart until 18.55, I wanted to get to the station because my feet were tired.  Also everybody else was tired after walking around London.

Our next planned kdj is in December at the Birmingham Christmas Market! November hasn't been scheduled because a lot of us are busy and need to save our pennies for Christmas time but we might organise some local meetups around where we live.  So keep following our facebook or tweets to see what is happening.

January Kimono de Jack

A new year and it is time the kdj gang met up again in kimono fashion. This time we will be visiting the 30 years of Japanese fashion exhibition at the Barbican Centre in London.

We hope to be join by a guest however illness prevented him from travel so could not come. If you are reading this, get better soon!

So my day started earlier, 6.45am. Well early for me because I have been getting up around 8.00 for the past few weeks as I don't go to bed well past midnight. This time I was determine nit to miss my train and arrive 20 mins earlier. To aid my speedy kitsuke I wore my black tsuki obi although I'm not sure if I got the front the right way up?? Nevermind. I teamed this obi with a nice dark green wool kimono and the accessories with red since my obi has red on it. It is a safe option really but unless my hair is tied and pinned in an interesting manner then I find it hard to dress flamboyant. The obi-jime is interesting as it is braided strands of stiff leather. I won it as a lot and been dying to coordinate it but it is quite dark. However it appears to stand out against the black obi so I had to wear it. There was a little kitsuke malfunction, one of the strings that holds the belt closed came off so not only the obi-jime is holding the otaiko part but also keeping the belt closed. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything stays together.

Coach A the quiet coach, why does it never live up to it's name? The passengers were not overly rowdy but they were not quiet. Especially if you can hear a conversation from the other side. At least I should be great full that it wasn't like my last journey when I had football supporters swearing and shouting for an hour before someone told them to keep quiet.

There is nothing to report on the train journey. We twist and turned through the Yorkshire countryside which isn't too bad. Seeing the occasional sheep which is very important, you can't have a countryside without sheep!

For once I turned up time 11.00 at London Liverpool street, Lyuba and Hong arrived shortly after me and we made our way to Barbican Centre.

Between trains and tube Tegan was going to be late and Mio (a new person to our group) was going to arrive around 13.00. The three of us waited until 12.00 before we decided to get our ticket and have a look at the clothes. No sooner we wandered round the first corner Tegan appeared. Once we were all together we peruse the exhibition. Then 13.00 came and Mio showed up, we stayed until 13.45 before we decided to find some food.

To summaries the exhibition in a few words the fashion was highly conceptual with some clothes just plain weird. No pictures I'm afraid as it was an exhibition but to put it simply the clothes on show are not really wearable. Once we were outside we took some photos. Hong got most of those so here are some of my ones.

It was so cold and wet that even the seagulls felt at home in London.

Since we failed to see any restaurants open around the gallery we headed towards Carluccio were Hong's boyfriend worked to have some lunch. Yummy, chicken pate and then a panni washed down with a nice cup of earl grey.

By the time we finished lunch it was 15.30 and it was time for Lyuba to take photos. I must get hold of those and included them in a posting. It was freezing whoever predicted the weather to be mild was wrong!

Hong wanted pictures of her coat so here you are!

By now it was time for me to get my train back to Sheffield. Hong was feeling tired so decided to go home, leaving the rest to invade Oxford circus and Haagen Daz. Oxford circus/Road was fine however Haagen Daz was closed for refurbishment. I hope they managed to find somewhere nice to have a treat.

So the 4th kdj is over, our next meeting will be 19th February at Cadbury's World. Until then goodnight.

Its Monday already!

I had a very busy but thoroughly enjoyable weekend because on Saturday, the first official Kimono de Jack UK took place in London.

After getting up a 07.00 and taking an hour to get dressed, I took the 08.27 train to London. Since it was so earlier, there wasn't many people out and about in Sheffield so I didn't notice any adverse reactions. Then again, seeing someone wearing a kimono is hardly the most eye-catching thing if one is living near a university.

Anyway, got to London at 10.30 roughly and went straight to the tube. Getting the tube wearing a kimono is always fun. You can occasionally catch the odd look from the other passengers who have this confused look on their faces. After getting off at Charing Cross, I made my way to Trafalgar Square, the tube station was signposted nicely however when I got to the surface I had no idea which way to go. Should I go left or right? So I decided to walk towards the biggest building that I could see which lucky for me was the National Gallery and in front of the gallery was Elizabeth (with her husband) and Lyuba.

Hong arrived a few minutes later because she went to Piccadilly Circus instead. Oh well, one can be forgetful after feeling ill and going to a concert the night before.

We waited for another 30 minutes because Lyuba mentioned that someone else would be turning up. During this time we took photos and had a good chat then as we were chatting away we noticed another soul in kimono. Surely this was our mysterious guest the Lyuba mentioned and she was!

After the usual introductions and more photos we went inside the National Gallery but we didn't stay for long because it was far too warm for us and Hong and I were not art lovers. Instead we headed for the nearest Starbucks since Lyuba was desperate for a coffee which was fine for all of us as we needed a place to have a seat down. Especially me, since my rain zori were hurting my feet.

After our little coffee break, we went to Japan Centre for a little bit of food shopping. I ended up buying a little grater for garlic and ginger and some wasabi peas (exciting I know!). Then off to Whittards of Chelsea on the same road as Japan Centre since Lyuba needed another tea fix (I think she has a tea addiction).

By this time it was around 14.00 and we were feeling a little peckish and our feets were tired but we couldn't come to London and not go into Minamoto Kitchen. Everything in that store looks all too good to eat especially the jellies.

Now we were feeling very peckish and even more tired so off we went to So Restaurants. Not sure why I suggested this restaurant, probably because it was close to Piccadilly Circus and reasonable priced. We were not disappointed in anyway, food was very nice and we were sat at the best table I have seen in ages. We were even joined by April and her husband, Kevin.

After our late lunch I had to be off because my train was 16.55 but not before some more photos for April and Kevin. Why did East Midland had to charge more for the 17.55 train!

So as Tegan and I were off to get the tube, the rest of them went off for some more shopping and the traditional Haagen Daz.

I tell you what, I was feeling very stiff the following morning because my zori had made me walk in a weird way so my poor calf muscles were stiff. I'm still feeling the pain today!

Anyway onwards to 13th November for the 2nd Kimono de Jack but this time in sensible footwear!

For photos of the day you will need to see April's and Lyuba's album on facebook.

First Kimono de Jack UK tomorrow!

What an exciting day it will be tomorrow. Not only I will be seeing my friends in London for a good chat and lunch but it will be the first Kimono de Jack UK event.

Started up by Lyuba, we are both trying to organise events for kimono lovers in the UK to meet and wear their lovely kimono. We both feel that kimono should be worn everyday but it is hard to be the centre of attention for everyone so we are organising these meetings to encourage the inner kimono wearer.

Of course one has to take into account for weather and we are hoping that the weather in London will be dry and cool. Otherwise it will be ama coats and umbrella.

So what kimono am I going to wear! I thought it was time I began to wear my triplet kimono set which I won over a year ago. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw one auction on ebay for three different coloured kimono but with the same pattern. Just had to have it!

I decided to choice the lavender/lilac one

and then team it with my re-decorated striped obi

I haven't decided on the obi-jime or obi-age but I am thinking of pale blue since the kimono has shades of blue on the leaves.

I am very excited!

New lunch box

I'm a little bit too old to get excited about a new lunch box but this one is great!



It is a little bit bigger then standard bento boxes that you can buy but the good thing about this one is that it is insulated! Therefore one can make something hot in the morning and it should be warm at lunchtime.

Supposedly you can carry soup as well and it will not leak but that will need to be tested. I'm thinking of creating noodle soup where the bottom container will contain all the ingredients (noodles, meat and veg) and the top container has the stock.

So many possibilities!! I can't wait to use it.