Garance's interview with Jean-Philippe Delhomme

One thing is for sure, you should never wait. If you wait, it’s like you’re stuck somewhere, it’s very bad. So it’s just always trying to keep yourself moving, even if you think you should go in a different direction.

 -  Jean-Philippe Delhomme as interviewed by Garance

DUO Dexter boots: first impressions

My DUO Dexter boots arrived this weekend. They seem sturdy and well-made, although were a little scuffed when I received them.

I was a bit surprised to find that DHL charges a 700 yen handling fee, and also charges sales tax on the customs tax levied by the Japanese govt. on all leather imports. It would have been nice to know this in advance - I was aware of the customs tax, but not the other fees. DHL also has really limited business hours for a delivery company in Japan - they're only open a half day on Sat., and not open at all on Sundays, and they don't have an automated answering service that would allow me to schedule a delivery. Indeed, I have been spoiled by the Japan Post and Japanese delivery companies like Kuroneko Yamato.  It will be hard if I have to leave Japan!

I am a US half size, with a foot that is generally on the wide side, and DUO boots suggested that I go with the bigger European full size, as they don't offer European half-sizes. Now that I have the boots, I feel that the smaller size in the wide width would probably have fit better. It's hard to say of course, but there's really a good bit of extra space in the toe. I'm now in the process of breaking the boots in.  I'll update after I've had a chance to wear them in.

best baumkuchen so far

The baumkuchen at ねりん家 (nerinya) is fantastic. Moist and delicious! Expensive, but definitely worth it, if you can avoid the lines somehow. Whenever I pass Matsuya Ginza, there's always a line at the store. It's also available at Daimaru Tokyo and Seibu Ikebukuro - I wonder if they also have constant lines.

napkin rings - never for formal dining!

Did you know?

Apparently, napkin rings are used when re-using cloth napkins at home, to distinguish between each person's napkin.

Thus, one would never put napkin rings out when holding a formal dinner, as one would never re-use napkins then!  I had no idea!

Miss Manners column at The Washington Post

Happy 12th day!

2012/12/12!

Wishing that everyone is happy and healthy.

May you have a wonderful day!

Daelmens Caramel Wafers in Japan

Or stroopwafels, as they say in Dutch, I suppose.
Anyway, an import shop in Hibiya Chante sells the full sized stroopwafels, and I took note of the importer, EIM.  Page 9 of their 2012 All Seasons Collection catalog is a glorious full page of Daelmens products!

Natural Lawson seems to have temporarily stopped carrying the perfect mini stroopwafel, so the Hibiya import shop has been supplying my fix.

Oops 2: I have unfairly maligned L.L. Bean Japan

Turns out that they actually do carry regular sizes!
At least online.

I stand corrected.
I will have to go check if they carry regular sizes in store too.  How excellent!  Looks like I am an XS in L.L. Bean sizes. They should probably add a XXS for Japanese consumers.  But it's good for the larger Japanese consumers - their needs have been woefully under-served until now.