Kompira-Chaya (Udon in Meguro)

After my friend's live at Meguro, I decided to have a quick Udon nearby. I was longing for it for a long time since I saw on TV the other day. I, a Mochi-freak, ordered one to check myself to see if the commentator's comment was right and it was. The ingredients and the producing procedure (according to an explanation on the menu) were of high quality, which made it one of their specialities, and the combination of Mochi and curry was not any worse than I imagined.

Anyway, I had to share a table with 2 ordinary salarymen after work in a suit, who seemed to be Kohai (younger salaryman) and Sempai (elder salaryman). As I was alone and had nothing special to do I just let myself listening to their banal conversation that went like:

Sempai: 'What's your plans for Christmas Eve? You're not staying overworking that day are you?'
Kohai: 'No, Mr. xxx, but I might as well as just stay at home with my girlfriend.'
Sempai: 'So you do have a new one do you?'
Kohai: 'Yes. I'd be killed if I overwork that day.'
Sempai: 'Yeah... girls are always like that. How about your holiday, when does it start?'
Kohai: 'From 27th, Mr. xxx, exactly as in calender.'
.... and so on.

It was better to concentrate on their conversation though than to do nothing while waiting for my Udon with only a glass of cold water.

They went off when my Udon came, as another 2 musician-like guys in a street fashion came and sat on my table. So again I listened. Another pair of Sempai and Kohai.

Sempai: 'So what're you gonna do if you have the gig that day?'
Kohai: 'She'll be fine. She's no longer as she used to be.'
Sempai: 'That's bad, it's a proof that she's tired of your relationship then.'
Kohai: 'You think so? How about your wife?'
Sempai: 'She's almost happy when I take out a bowl of Udon here. BTW when's your holiday gonna start?'
Kohai: 'I don't have a holiday, even on the New Year's day I work.'
.....

Did Japanese men speak only what is safe?
When the waitress brought a bottle of beer for the musicians, I was just so satisfied that I finished at last my bowl of Kompira's Udon I dreamt about and stood off to pay my bill.

Autumn windfall

At office my co-worker left me a bag full of something... and I found some kakis wrapped neatly in a newspaper with their branches...! I was touched by the warmth of her mother in Nagano...

Christmas Illumination

One of my favourite moments of the year in Tokyo... though I can't help feeling the commercial effects. A very cosy dinner at Bikini, Spanish restaurant with my old friends and their new boyfriends afterwards. A really friendly guest from France as well! Bon sejour!

New Style Manga Cafe

To be honest, I don't feel confortable being in Manga Kissa, a place you can read as many Manga books in a louge space - typical not only for Otaku or NEAT, but for anyone who wants to kill time until your next plans. It's not that I'm being posh but just that I couldn't be brave enough to break in the atmosphere where Otaku guys concentating in there stories. I'd rather go to bookstores and 'stand-read (Tachi-Yomi)' without buying them, which is not an elegant thing to do anyway.

Except for today, that I really had to find a place where I could use internet after work (you see, the company's filtering system is so secured you can't use web mails from work), as I had to hand in my translated documents. Helas, I found THE place to spend hours and hours and was just few minuts away from where I work!

A nice and clean Manga Cafe where ladies can go by themselves.

Aprecio.

The fee was not bad with Internet service, free Manga reading as well as magazines included. Also with flow drink and.... softcream! For a sweet tooth like me, it caught my heart. I made myself a nice cup of Affogato to sip while translating.

Again to be honest, a place I don't want to recommend.

Baked Cheeeeeeese cake!

Simple but delicious.........!

Ca fait longtemps.

I didn't realize how quickly the time has past since Summer; seasons have changed and my lifestyle has changed.
Since I started working as French translator 'at domestic' from Summer, a great opportunity came and started to 'go to work' in automobile industry. My motivation had been growing somewhere inside and was lucky to meet the chance.

The routine of getting dressed in business wear and moving to my office, is somehow very stimulating. Especially when I ride my bicycle to work on a sunny day.

My Louis Ganneau will have to work harder ever since so far!