My first day back this year
(Don’t forget! It’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow!)
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Saturday 9th of February:
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To be honest, I nearly didn’t do it.
I waddle-walk like a penguin, can’t bend over to pick things up, & I’m very S.L.O.W. at everything I do. All the typical pregnancy discomforts present, staying comfortable becoming a challenge. I really worried if I could ‘do it’, standing in the kitchen for 2 whole days & then standing/ selling outside on a winters day…
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But, my pal A (who’s the girl that started this business with me initially) offered to help me out at the stall on Saturday. If this was anybody-else, maybe I would’ve been weary, but we’re talking about Ms.A, who’s done it before, & I trust her completely. And I also looked forward to spending time with her – so much girly catch-up to do!
She’s a good woman, that A. She was even there waiting at the stall before we arrived, & helped with the setting-up, which I feared would’ve been the most strenuous task for me. (THANK YOU A!)
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The day itself turned out superbly so – I realized once again that the market-life gives me so much pleasure. There were countless “You’re back!!”‘s & “I missed your cakes/ chocolates!!”. So heart-warming. Plenty of “How have you been?”‘s which develops to lengthy chats, exchanging new news. It was exceptionally sweet when the two girls (sisters) who have been regularly spending their pocket money on me the past 2 years, came up & excited said: “We didn’t know you’re pregnant! Really really REALLY happy for you! Wow! Congratulations!! Soooo happy!!!”. They showed true happiness & radiated smiles so natural that only children can do. – it was positively infective.
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Perfect blue sky brought outside many many people & the market was totally buzzing. Thermometer reached 16.6c apparently, & it was the warmest day for this time of year in over a century. The cakes & the chocolates went quickly, & I sold out except for half a dozen raspberry truffles, which got munched to non-existence on the way home.
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Two blog readers came to visit my stall too (seperately). I was so happy to see them! Thank you for coming by guys.
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– Ms.J came to buy a tart for her neighbour (how nice are you!?) & then came back to the stall again later on to buy a brownie! (It was great chatting to you, & I hope to see you again for another chat!) – Ms. J has just excellently written a report on her visit to Broadway Market. Check it out on her blog!
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– And then there was Ms.R in the afternoon, who kindly gave the baby on it’s way it’s FIRST EVER PRESENT!! It’s a very very sweet Miffy book about dreams. It was so pleasantly unexpected & I was lost for words (for once)! THANK YOU! – I made Ms.R sign & date it. It’s gonna be a family treasure!
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(With so much going on, I didn’t get to photograph the market & it’s beautiful weather, so here is a picture that D took on our way home, just before 5pm, near where we live. – As some of you know, we moved to a new area recently, & as you can tell from the picture, it is on a hill with amazing views across London. (Although our house does not have a wonderful view like this, instead look on to a block of flats…). We are in love with our new area, we often talk about how it’s like KIKI’s town, what with a church at the end of the road just like the film!)
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i’m scheduling to work for another 3 weeks at the market, so I hope to see you there! t xxx
Oh, how I wish I were going to be in London — I would love to stop by the market to say hello! Your little tarts look amazing, as always. Hope you are feeling well!
Comment by Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) - February 13, 2008 12:46 pm
If you were in London, I’d love to have a good ol’ foodie chat with you! :) :)
Comment by tamami - February 13, 2008 4:46 pm
I’m so glad you’re doing a few more markets! I’ll make sure to come earlier in the day though, before the hordes descend and gobble up all the cakes and tarts… ;)
By the way, I feel tremendously honoured to be the baby’s first gift-giver. I’d had no idea! xx
Comment by Rachel - February 13, 2008 8:18 pm
The bird on your chocolate tart looks amazing! How did you do that?
And it’s so nice to see you refering to Kiki :). I definitely see what you mean. Personally I’d like to live in her parents’ house – I’m in love with her mother’s witch kitchen – or in Satsuki’s and Mei’s house in Tonari no Totoro (with Totoro around, of course ;)).
Comment by Agnès - February 13, 2008 9:27 pm
I’m glad you made it to the market cos I would never have met you and seen your tarts first-hand otherwise and I’d have gone home really disappointed!
Thank you for linking my entry, I hope you didn’t mind that I put up a pic of you without asking first, if you do, just let me know and I’ll take it down!
Honestly, it was a real pleasure for me to sample your baking and write about it. There’s something so……. luxurious about eating something that one knows was lovingly made, I feel like by eating your tarts and brownie (which was YUM btw! I forgot to blog about it, and ate it all before I remembered I should’ve taken a pic, whoops lol) I am treating myself really well!
You’ll have to keep me updated on your impending birth and I know it’ll mean that you won’t be at the market much this year but we’ll have to keep in touch! I want to pick your brains about food and all sorts, if that’s okay :)
Alright, and here ends my mini-essay on your comments page lol
Comment by Jan - February 13, 2008 11:50 pm
Forgot to say, I love Kiki’s Delivery Service! I can just imagine her flying over your house on her broomstick :)
Comment by Jan - February 13, 2008 11:53 pm
Hi Rachel! Thanx for coming by last Saturday. Yup, you indeed are the first-ever baby’s gift-giver! And I think it’s amazing. thank you… :)
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Hey Agnès, I knew you’d pick up on the Kiki bit! I’m totally with you on the Kiki’s mum’s house kitchen. It’s beautiful… And Mei’s house, did you know that the house was built for real at the Aichi expo 2005? I would’ve queued up for that one for sure! By the way, I wouldn’t mind a conservatory just like Nausicaa’s secret underground one with flowing water…!
– Also on the Totoro-front, we have an attic where we tell our son there lives the Makkuro kurosuke! :)
– The bird on the chocolate tart was stamped with a ‘marzipan cutter’ (that i purchased on ebay)! and then dusted with cocoa powder whilst the stamp/ cutter is still embedded in the tart.
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And a big hello to Jan,
I’m so happy we managed to chat, albeit for a short time! :) :) And thanks for writting about the market & my stuff on your blog. Y’know, that market doesn’t get that much publicity compared to Borough (in my opinion), & your many beautiful photos & excellently written reportage was amazing, I’m sure it’ll entice anybody that reads your blog!
– Kiki: Me too!!! I love ALL of Miyazaki films, probably Nausicaa first, then Kiki!
Comment by tamami - February 14, 2008 12:30 am
And Jan, forgot to say, yup, pick my brains anytime! :) And ofcourse will keep you updated on the birth front too! txx
Comment by Tamami - February 14, 2008 12:52 am
Wow, your photography is stunning. Happy Valentines to you too and now you make us want to go to London even more badly. But we know how expensive it is, so we’ll have to start saving lots of $$$ !
Comment by White On Rice Couple - February 14, 2008 8:21 am
Hello to the White On Rice Couple! Happy Valentines to you too!! How would you be celebrating your day? We’ve celebrated ours already on the 12th, what with Thursday being my baking day it is too hectic.
London is expensive, you’re right, but is (I think) a beautiful city, if atall, come in the Summer when it’s sunny but not too sweaty hot!
Comment by tamami - February 14, 2008 10:01 am
Tamami-san – I was actually in Eastend last Saturday, but couldn’t make it to your stall! The motifs on the tarts look so elegant and beautiful. I hope you’re feeling better soon, take care. kx
Love the shot from the hill – it was a beautiful day indeed.
Comment by keiko - February 14, 2008 2:14 pm
Hello Keiko-san. Thanx! And next time you’re in the east-end, do hop by to the market – you’d love it – I’m certain! – And I’m glad you like the shot of the houses – especially coming from someone so good at taking photographs such as yourself!
Comment by tamami - February 14, 2008 9:58 pm
Hello Tamami,
I just found your blog today and its so wonderful. I look forward to meeting you at Broadway market! I think you idea for the unicorn and bird prints are outstanding! I am so inspired by your creativity!
Would you have a picture of the bird cutter, I have searched extensively on the internet and can not find anything. And may I ask where your unicorn cutter is from? I love unicorns too!
You a baking genius and I can’t wait to try some of your recipes when my oven is fixed!
Best wishes,
Eva
Comment by Eva - May 12, 2010 9:39 pm
Hello Eva!! The bird & also the unicorn is actually a “marzipan cutter”!! Hope that helps!! xx
Comment by tamami - May 13, 2010 1:32 am