Speedy Science: hot and cold

This experiment was messy so do it somewhere it is easy to mop up the water, we used the bathroom, outside would work too.

What you need:

• 2 identical jars
• a piece of card big enough to cover the top of the jar
• a jug of cold water, coloured with food colour, blue
• a jug of hot water, coloured with food colour, red (slightly hotter than bath water)

1. Fill the first jar with the blue cold water.

2. Fill the second jar with the red hot water.

3. Place the card on the jar of hot water.

4. This is the tricky bit... hold the card and carefully tip the jar and card upside down...

5. Place the jar on top of the cold water jar, make sure the mouths of the jars are aligned. Then carefully remove the card...

6. Taa-daaa the colours don't mix!

7. But wait! What happens if you do it the other way around? Repeat the exercise but this time with the cold water on top, what happens?

I must admit, we had a couple of hiccups doing this and didn't quite get the jars aligned, good job we were doing it in the bathroom! Fun trick though.

The science...

Liquids of a higher density will sit beneath those of a lower density. Therefore this proves that hot water has a lower density to cold water. This is because the molecules in hot water are moving faster than the cold water molecules, which creates more space around them thereby reducing the density.

Don't forget to share the post if you think your friends would like to dye their bathroom floors purple too...

Poking Around in Shibuya

When I was looking for somewhere to spend out art date I spotted a free Damien Hurst exhibit, I figured it would only be small as it was free so kept it as a back up. From the map it looked like the place was just behind the station, it wasn't too hard to find! It was in the creative space on the 8th floor of the Hachi building.

before we found Damien's work, we came across a small exhibit of Japanese puppets, we had fun deciding what the puppets were thinking...

Then we found the Damien Hurst room, there were just a handful of prints, personally, not impressed. Especially after just seeing Murakami's work Hurst looked like a 5 years olds doodles in comparison.

We had a wander around the rest of the floor, there was a food exhibit for the 47 prefectures, not a lot going on to be honest but the set up was nice.

Then we decided to go and find something to eat and went down to the basement, the floor with all the omiyage, one thing Japan does so well is the displays... look at this chocolate...

And these were all spices, we actually spent a lot of time wandering around oooing and ahhhing but didn't buy anything! There did look like some nice cafes and restaurants on the 7th floor too, maybe we will check them out next time!

Get Specific When Talking With The Universe.

As you may know, I am a big fan of Denise Duffield Thomas and her Lucky Bitch Bootcamp. One of the things she teaches is to ask the universe for what you want. We have become master parking spot manifestors and we usually get the table we want at the restaurant too, except the big U had a lesson for this time.

We were at the Sun Cafe, on the 52nd floor so we wanted to sit by the window so we could take in the view, we asked the big U for a window seat, we were taken to our table and... yes we were right next to the window, the one that over-looks the lobby!

We did have a lovely lunch but it was a good reminder to use both that we need to be very SPECIFIC in what we ask for. 

If you think this is all nonsense, try it, next time you are trying to get a parking spot or a specific seat at a cafe or even a seat on the train, ask the big U... and remember to say thank you afterwards.

PS - I am an affiliate for Lucky Bitch, if you are thinking of joining, give me a shout, I am happy to give you a straight up answer to any questions, it's not for everyone so be sure to make the right decision.

Takashi Murakami - The 500 Arhats

Once a month my husband has to work on a Saturday so Ebi-kun and I have an arty mommy and boy date. This time we ventured down to Roppongi for possibly the weirdest exhibit I have taken him to so far!

We went to see Takashi Murakami's 500 Arhats and we both loved it!

When you first arrive you are greeted by this rather strange Murakami, he chants and his eyes roll, it is kind of mesmerising because its so weird...

The 500 Arhat is actually a 100 metre long piece of art, split into 4 panels, probably because they couldn't get it up all in one go! But there was a lot of his other work there too. Skulls featured a lot! I love this, very rock 'n' roll!

And there were various depictions of his character Mr Dob. There is some child like charm to some of his work, with a serious pinch of manga/anime and then the traditional old style Japanese painting thrown into the mix too.

I was surprised that it wasn't busier (but happy about that too) maybe the weather had something to do with that, it was grim outside. Looking up close at the artwork shows an insane amount of detail, layers upon layers of screen printing. 

It was hard to choose a favourite really, but I do have a soft spot for this, actually a section of the main piece but it reminds me of the stag in Princess Mononoke...

There were also several sculptures on display, Ebi-kun asked on of the museum staff, apparently they are molded out of some kind of plastic then covered with goal leaf. Some of them were the height of the room so getting on for 4 meters!

Murakami also designed the smiley flower, Ebi-kun made an acute observation when we were in the museum shop, they had several versions of the flower on sale - He said "Who says artists are poor, they can't be when they can charge so much for a cushion!"

The cushions were expensive, the one this size was ¥640,000 which is roughly $56,000 yep! Even the small, sofa sized cushions were about 1/10th of that.

It led to an interesting discussion about how much it costs to produce art and whether people would be buying the cushion just to sit on or would it be an investment with a hope it would be worth more money in the future.

Of course, no trip to the museum is complete without goofing off in the museum shop! Pretty cool, that dude of mine!

If you want to catch the exhibit, it runs until March 7th and it's on at The Mori Arts Centre at Roppongi Hills

If you can't make it, this video gives you a wee taste...

Taste Tests: Ebi-kun Eats Book Giving Day Special Recipes

This week is a little bit different. Ebi-kun wanted to do something special for book giving day so we decided on making recipes from Roald Dahls Revolting Recipes book. This meant cooking them before he could taste them!

This is also the episode where I apparently got the sack! More on that later...

He got busy making Boggis Chicken, he did most of the work himself, I just stood around taking photos! (My kind of kitchen work!)

Making the dumplings was fun, we have never made them before, I always assumed you needed suet, which we can't get but the recipe called for lard, which we can get...

A rather messy process, great for a sensory activity! The recipe made enough for 2 nights worth of dinners for the three of us.

I think we should have used the iron pan as it did stick to the bottom, I managed to clean it off thanks to a friend Lias's top stip - use a dishwasher tablet and some hot water and leave to soak over night, no scrubbing needed at all!

Looks good right? But how did it taste? You will have to check out the video below to find out...

Don't forget to enter the giveaway, it runs until the 21st Feb 2016. Click HERE to sign up (scroll to the bottom of the page)

Taste Tests: Ebi-kun Eats and tastes tests - Food Book Review Special

Book Giving Day is here! Yes, this is the day where we trying and get as many books as possible into the hands of kids.

Ebi-kun wanted to do a book giving day special, he couldn't decide which idea to go with so it's in two parts, this is part one... His favourite foodie books reviewed just for you.

If you want to get involved with Book Giving Day, all the info is on the website
http://bookgivingday.com/

And pop over to mommys blog to enter the giveaway (Feb 14th - Feb 21st 2016)
http://www.my-organized-chaos.com/book-giving-day-giveaway/

Here are the links for the books I reviewed! I hope you enjoy them too...

Roald Dahls Revolting Recipes
Strange Foods
Incredible Edibles
Stone Soup
Pretend Soup
Honest Pretzels
Mission explore Food


I also made some of the recipes, you can check them out here...

Button muffins from pretend soup - these were easy and fun to make and they are tasty too!

My favourite recipe - Mac and Cheese from Honest Pretzels and don't believe what my mommy said, I didn't have a strop!!!!!

Zucchini Moons, I was only 5 years old here!

Here is my first ever Ebi-kun Eats - escargot when I was in Paris in the summer, quite tasty, very garlicy.

And another breaks an arm...

Here's the tale...

Last Saturday (yes I know I'm behind, deal with it, I am!) So, Last Saturday we went off to Yuzawa Nakazato for skiing/snowboarding for the day. The weather was clear and the snow was good, we did quite a few runs then had a break for lunch.

After lnch we headed back to the far side of the mountain - our prefered runs are that side, Ebi-kun was getting the hand of the jumps...

And Yasutoki too. Until he wasn't.

I usually head down first then wait by the jumps to take photos, this run I was waiting for ages, thinking that they had got stuck behind a group of beginners. Eventually Ebi-kun comes down, clears the jump. I wait a bit long to see Yasutoki sliding down, holding onto his arm.

He managed to make it to the bottom, but he was white as a sheet and in agony. We went to the rest area and I had a look at the arm in questions, it wasn't looking good, no broken skin but it was turning a funny colour and he was obviously in a lot of pain.

The next predictiment was how to get back to the main station, we were on the far side of the mountain. So Ebi-kun and I went to the lift bloke and explained what had happened and as I hoped, they sent for a snowmobile! *phew*

Yasutoki went back on that with his snowboard tucked in the back. We said we would meet him there, it was then a matter of how Ebi-kun and I would get back, we decided it would be quicked to go up the lift and ski back down the other side that it would to yomp over by foot.

We made it to the first aid cabin, they gave us the number for the local taxi and hospital. Ebi-kun and I ran in and handed out rented bits back and got changed into our own boots, packed everything up and then met the taxi to the hospital, well it was really a clinic, and full of people who had had accidents on the slopes!

So yes, he had broken his arm and the Dr had to pull it out to get it straight again and put on a temporary cast. Luckily we weren't too far from the station and made it back just in time to catch the train that we had booked tickets on!

Ahhh but there lay another problem! 

We had driven to the station and Yasutoki had packed the car at the department store but there was no way he could drive back, (I don't drive!)

Luckily we live in Japan and they have this amazing service (usually people who have had too much to drink use it). It is like a taxi service but they bring their own car and an extra driver, the driver takes your care and the service car follows.

So we got home and the car and I had dibber in the pot ready for when we got in.

Not quite the adventure we set out for. He had to go back to our local clinic the next day to get a proper cast set, looks like he will be in it for a minimum of 4 weeks. Not fun. And yes, it is his right arm, the one he writes with, should make working interesting!

That looks like the end of our snowboarding/skiing for the season :(

Taste tests: Ebi-kun Eats and taste tests bollos fritos anis

My brother Daniel sent Ebi-kun some snacks from the Canary Islands, these were aniseed doughnuts, sounds good right... Not sure Ebi-kun would agree with you there!

Please click through to You Tube and leave him a comment - he does answer all his comments (and it's a great way for me to sneak in some English writing/typing practice!!)

Book Giving Day is almost here!

What is International Book Giving Day?

The aim of International Book Giving Day is to get more books into the hands of more kids.

Why?

Well, there are many kids out there that don’t get chance to read all the amazing books that our kids have the opportunity to read. Books change lives and it could be your book donation that changes a child’s life for the better.

It could be the book you donated inspired them to try harder at school to become a doctor, a teacher, an astronaut. Or it could be your book was the one they turn to every time life gets tough, keeping them grounded, their little piece of stability.

Or maybe your book is the one that proves to them that they are not alone and there are people out there that care.

Here are 10 ways to get involved...

PIN ME!

Find out more about what is happening this year over on the bookgivingday.com website, and do share what you will be doing for Book Giving day!

Lunch With The Foreign Biz Ladies

The other day I decided to take a few hours off, well to be honest, pretty much the whole day. But I am the boss, so that's OK!

I headed into town and went straight to the massage place, my neck and shoulder was so stiff, she worked a treat on it! Although I sometimes wonder if masseurs actually make it hurt more just so when they stop you feel total relief... hmmm.

After that I met up with an old friend, Laura, she had arrived early. We had a bit of a chat then met everyone else at the cafe. It was great fun meeting other entrepreneurs, most of my foreign friends here are teachers/moms so the conversations tend to circulate around those two topics, this time it was different and I enjoyed the ideas being bounced around!

We were quite a mixed bunch too, I was the token Brit then we had a couple of Aussies, an American, a Jamaican, and a Dane plus two adorable hafu kids who were both incredibly well behaved.

I am hoping we can make this a monthly event, we all have to travel to the central spot but once a month should be doable.

Speedy Science: Mysterious Magic Thread

We have some more Speedy Science experiments for you!

What you need...

• Piece of cotton thread
• Bowl
• Jug of water (from the tap)
• Washing Up detergent
• Small spoon/dropper
• Small child (optional)

1. Tie the ends of the cotton thread to form a loop.

2. Pour most of the water into the bowl.

3. Dunk the cotton thread into the left over water to get it wet.

4. This is the tricky part... float the loop of thread on water in the bowl. What shape is it?

Now add one drop of  washing up detergent inside the loop. What happens?

If all goes to plan the thread starts out as an irregular shape but when you are the washing up detergent, the thread moves to make a circle (much harder to capture in a photograph than you might think!).

When you add the detergent the surface tension of the water inside the loop is weakened, making the outside stronger which pulls the thread into a circle.

Try it! Let me know how it goes :)

More speedy science experiment HERE

Using Songs For Poetry Inspiration

Ebi-kun and I decided to dissect some song lyrics, one of his favourite songs is Beautiful Day by The Levellers (who he got to see live back in the summer).

The song isn't really about lovely sunshine and skipping through meadows with the wind in your hair... or whatever. It's actually very political so it turned out to be a very interesting lesson.

We started by going through the lyrics a few times and then picking out a few key sections. We talked about what each bit meant, was it literal or did it have a hidden meaning? Why did they use the 5th of November as the date in the song? Was it significant or did it just sound good?

It was interesting to listen to Ebi-kuns ideas and point of view about it all. 

I had to finish up to get dinner started but Ebi-kun felt inspired to write a poem, not connected to the song at all, just how he felt at the time...

The Secret Den Command Centre

Remember Ebi-kuns den? Well, he decided he needed a command centre, the den is the headquarters for the local spy ring apparently - of course, you will have to forget that I told you that!

So he got out the recycling basket - we save anything that might be handy for crafts, and set to it. I can't remember why we had a big sheet of hologram sticky backed paper but it came in very handy. I also have a box full of pictures cut out of magazines, that is where he found the men in the hazmat suits. You can't really tell from the photos but he placed a piece of wavy plastic over the top to give it a proper TV feel to it.

He added various other bits and bobs, I'm sure they all have a function, I have no idea what they do - I'm not a member of the spy ring! But there are lots of buttons, dials and levers.

I did say he needed a Big Red Button - because, well there is always a big red button, that is what is inside the black box, to prevent accidental firings of missiles, we wouldn't want that would we!

As a kid, I would spend hours making things from the recycling (well back in the day it wasn't recycling, basically stuff saved from going in the bin!) and it makes me happy that Ebi-kun is happy to do the same. A load of junk + a vivid imagination and some decent glue/tape!