Meanderings: Mostly Shopping. And Maybe Eating

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Mostly Shopping. And Maybe Eating

We've had a quiet couple of days.

We went to a shopping mall on Tuesday. Lindsey wanted to get her eyes tested and to order some glasses. I am not sure quite why she couldn't do this in Australia, in English, with Jane the Optometrist. Apparently she doesn't have time to go to East Ivanhoe to see Jane, although there is a Specsavers right next to the surgery. Not that I would go to Specsavers; I have had less than impressive experiences with them in the UK. But at least they speak English. Fortunately, Austin speaks both English and Japanese so he could translate. Lindsey's eyes have been tested and new glasses are on their way.

I went for a wander around the mall while they were doing this. Mostly there are clothes shops. There is a small Loft and a Nitori (a homeware shop) but nothing to really excite me. I'm more into the shops that sell shiny things, assorted kitchenware, food things, gifts and souvenirs.

Lindsey also wanted to go to Uniqlo. So we did.

Then we went back to the house for lunch.

There is a pizza place next to Austin and Kaori's. A couple of years ago one of their pizzas came second in its category in the World Pizza Championship in Italy. Last time we were here we had hoped to try this silver medal winning pizza from a small pizzeria in an out of the way suburb in a city in central Japan, but time got away and we didn't have a chance. Also, Tatsuki is not a fan of fancy pizzas.

On Tuesday, Tatsuki was at school so we could indulge in the prize-winning pizza

It is topped with feta and ricotta,
with zucchini, lemon zest, garlic and herbs

A margherita for contrast,
both delicious

Then we went to Costco. I haven't been to a Costco for a long time. I let my membership lapse during the pandemic and haven't really needed it since. Lindsey still has hers and Austin also has one, so I could go in as a guest.

I do enjoy Costco. I may have to think about renewing my membership. Or going with Lindsey when she goes. Not that I need to buy things in bulk, but it is fun pottering around. It is especially fun pottering around a Japanese Costco.

For some reason,
Lindsey wouldn't buy this for Hugo.
He would have loved it!

She might have been tempted by
this, had we been in Melbourne

We had Italian style meatballs in tomato sauce with prawns and salad on the side, all bought in Costco, for dinner.

Austin was working yesterday morning. Kaori doesn't work on Wednesdays but had appointments and things to do. Tatsuki was at school. Lindsey went out for an exploratory walk.

And I? I restarted the veg box subscription, to begin on Tuesday the 12th (I get back on Monday 11th). I've changed it from a box for 2 people once a fortnight to a box for one, weekly. I can always change it back if need be. I also ordered a meat and fish box, not from the veg box people, for one person, delivered every four weeks. I used to get boxes delivered through Donald Russell, based in Scotland, when we were in Tupton and quite enjoyed them. I realise that I am lucky enough to have a very good butcher just down the road from me, and I can't imagine that this box would mean I would have no reason to go there. But it is useful to have packs of meat in the freezer. And I mainly ordered it for the fish. I can always cancel the subscription if I don't like it, or get mostly fish, or whatever. It too is coming on the Tuesday after I get back.

In the afternoon Austin, Lindsey and I went into the Gifu city centre and went to Don Quijote, which, very conveniently, has a Daiso attached. That was fun. There is also a DonKi supermarket attached.