[Ammi]

1603

[sooty]

[QUOTE=Ammi;6327460]..it's a lovely custom Sooty, you give gifts to your hosts in Japan..?...I googled a bit about it because I'm always intrigued with different customs..aren't there other things about giving the gifts, like giving them with two hands..?...and giving them privately and not in front of people..?...do you follow Japanese traditions closely when you're there..?...
/QUOTE]

1604
Gifts are for sisters, brother, their husbands, wife, nephews, nieces, their husbands and wives, old classmates (since kindergarten) etc. so many of them, I have to make lists.
I have forgotten about some manners, like two hands

[reece(:]

[Ammi]

[QUOTE=sooty;6330948]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..it's a lovely custom Sooty, you give gifts to your hosts in Japan..?...I googled a bit about it because I'm always intrigued with different customs..aren't there other things about giving the gifts, like giving them with two hands..?...and giving them privately and not in front of people..?...do you follow Japanese traditions closely when you're there..?...
/QUOTE]

1604
Gifts are for sisters, brother, their husbands, wife, nephews, nieces, their husbands and wives, old classmates (since kindergarten) etc. so many of them, I have to make lists.
I have forgotten about some manners, like two hands

..wow that's such a lot of gifts but a beautiful tradition as well Sooty..your family must be getting so excited to see you...


1606

[sooty]

[QUOTE=Ammi;6331044]

Originally Posted by sooty

..wow that's such a lot of gifts but a beautiful tradition as well Sooty..your family must be getting so excited to see you...

They would cost as much as air tickets and I do not think it is a good tradition.
Long long long time ago, my husband and I went to Japan to see a snow festival.
We decided not visit any of my family as we had budget for tickets and hotels only. But when we arrived at Japan, my husband insisted to phone his favourite person, my sister, from airport.
What happened? We ended up visit all my families and relatives. Before that I had to go to a department store using credit cards and bought presents for them.

1607

[Ammi]

[QUOTE=sooty;6331145]

Originally Posted by Ammi

They would cost as much as air tickets and I do not think it is a good tradition.
Long long long time ago, my husband and I went to Japan to see a snow festival.
We decided not visit any of my family as we had budget for tickets and hotels only. But when we arrived at Japan, my husband insisted to phone his favourite person, my sister, from airport.
What happened? We ended up visit all my families and relatives. Before that I had to go to a department store using credit cards and bought presents for them.

1607

..awww, but they don't have to be expensive gifts though do they Sooty..?..just small token gifts..

1608

[T*]

[Ammi]

1610

[Ammi]

1612

[sooty]

[QUOTE=Ammi;6331536]

Originally Posted by sooty

..awww, but they don't have to be expensive gifts though do they Sooty..?..just small token gifts..

Yes, Ammi. I am no longer working, so I should be wise.

I have a good idea for some ladies. When I moved, I found collection of pair of tea cups which I never used. I know one day, they will all go to a charity shop.
One I brought from Malta, one I bought at a Buckingham Palace souvenir shop, etc. As a present, with a box of chocolates would be ok. I will explain to them, they will understand.
Normally I buy proesetns light and easy to put them to a suitcase.

[Ammi]

[QUOTE=sooty;6333544]

Originally Posted by Ammi

Yes, Ammi. I am no longer working, so I should be wise.

I have a good idea for some ladies. When I moved, I found collection of pair of tea cups which I never used. I know one day, they will all go to a charity shop.
One I brought from Malta, one I bought at a Buckingham Palace souvenir shop, etc. As a present, with a box of chocolates would be ok. I will explain to them, they will understand.
Normally I buy proesetns light and easy to put them to a suitcase.

..yeah you have to think of the weight of them as well Sooty, the tea cups sound perfect and I'm sure they will love them too because they're things they can't buy themselves and that's the most important thing..especially with some chocolates, which most people accept with pleasure..I think in a lot of way's it's much better not to spend to much on gifts because expensive gifts can feel quite embarrassing for the receiver....

1614

[sooty]

[QUOTE=Ammi;6333556]

Originally Posted by sooty

..yeah you have to think of the weight of them as well Sooty, the tea cups sound perfect and I'm sure they will love them too because they're things they can't buy themselves and that's the most important thing..especially with some chocolates, which most people accept with pleasure..I think in a lot of way's it's much better not to spend to much on gifts because expensive gifts can feel quite embarrassing for the receiver....

Unfortunately, Ammi, some of my member of family , they will never feel embarrassed, I know.

Sometime ago, I had a very young male colleague next desk, he said if he received Thornton Chocolates as a present, he considered he was not important to the person who gave the choco. if he received Godiva or say La Maison du Chocolat or expensive ones... , he would feel satisfied, regarded highly (is this the word?)

I was very surprised to hear it anybody could rank themselves by them. (I love Thornton.)
But ever since he said it, I am very conscious which chocos I would buy as presents.

I am going to buy small chocos from Tesco/Sainsbury for my family as they love them more than Godiva. But I have to buy main presents something as well.
1615

[Ammi]

[QUOTE=sooty;6333678]

Originally Posted by Ammi

Unfortunately, Ammi, some of my member of family , they will never feel embarrassed, I know.

Sometime ago, I had a very young male colleague next desk, he said if he received Thornton Chocolates as a present, he considered he was not important to the person who gave the choco. if he received Godiva or say La Maison du Chocolat or expensive ones... , he would feel satisfied, regarded highly (is this the word?)

I was very surprised to hear it anybody could rank themselves by them. (I love Thornton.)
But ever since he said it, I am very conscious which chocos I would buy as presents.

I am going to buy small chocos from Tesco/Sainsbury for my family as they love them more than Godiva. But I have to buy main presents something as well.
1615

..haha, I laughed at that Sooty, so he became more important with the most expensive chocolates but felt he was being insulted with Thorntons..?...and they're quite expensive as well, I would love to be bought Thorntons and would feel quite special..but was that in Japan though, was it a Japanese Colleague..?...oh Lord, Sooty, I can see why it's such an expensive time for you and a huge task you have to think of everyone's gift before you even start your journey...the next time maybe they can come to visit you so that they have to bring you gifts..?...

1616

[sooty]

[QUOTE=Ammi;6333959]

Originally Posted by sooty

..haha, I laughed at that Sooty, so he became more important with the most expensive chocolates but felt he was being insulted with Thorntons..?...and they're quite expensive as well, I would love to be bought Thorntons and would feel quite special..but was that in Japan though, was it a Japanese Colleague..?...oh Lord, Sooty, I can see why it's such an expensive time for you and a huge task you have to think of everyone's gift before you even start your journey...the next time maybe they can come to visit you so that they have to bring you gifts..?...

That young boy was Japanese and yes, it was just him. But it was shocking comment.

Last time my sister came, I asked her to bring stationeries, as they are very good quality, specially I like Japanese staples. They are so good. Once I asked her to send me dozen and gave them to my friends and colleagues. It is very difficult to describe it but it is so easy to use.
If I exaggerate, I could staple ten pages without any trouble.

Also she brought pair of hand bags, deferent sizes, unfortunately they were not my taste. I kept them for a while but I gave them to my neighbour to use them for presents when she goes back to Poland for holiday. Buying presents are always difficult.

But Ammi, as you say, I will be learning.

[Ammi]

[QUOTE=sooty;6334695]

Originally Posted by Ammi

That young boy was Japanese and yes, it was just him. But it was shocking comment.

Last time my sister came, I asked her to bring stationeries, as they are very good quality, specially I like Japanese staples. They are so good. Once I asked her to send me dozen and gave them to my friends and colleagues. It is very difficult to describe it but it is so easy to use.
If I exaggerate, I could staple ten pages without any trouble.

Also she brought pair of hand bags, deferent sizes, unfortunately they were not my taste. I kept them for a while but I gave them to my neighbour to use them for presents when she goes back to Poland for holiday. Buying presents are always difficult.

But Ammi, as you say, I will be learning.

..I think it was Jords who posted a thread about staplers quite a while ago Sooty, you could have posted a pic of your stapler in there, it sounds really great..are there any things that are so much better in Japan that you plan to buy for yourself and bring home Sooty..?..


1618

[sooty]

[QUOTE=Ammi;6335143]

Originally Posted by sooty

..I think it was Jords who posted a thread about staplers quite a while ago Sooty, you could have posted a pic of your stapler in there, it sounds really great..are there any things that are so much better in Japan that you plan to buy for yourself and bring home Sooty..?..

I did not see the Jords's staplers thread, but the one I was talking was not unusual looking just unbelievably easy to use. But recently I heard there are staple-less staplers. When I get Japan, I will have a look.

At the moment I am very happy with my Japanese toilet seat, electric bidet seat, (Washlet - paper-less toilet) already I have installed in my bathroom.


================================================== =====
I found this video, Ammi. The black one is very similar to the one I was talking about.

Youtube video

[Ammi]

[QUOTE=sooty;6337561]

Originally Posted by Ammi

I did not see the Jords's staplers thread, but the one I was talking was not unusual looking just unbelievably easy to use. But recently I heard there are staple-less staplers. When I get Japan, I will have a look.

At the moment I am very happy with my Japanese toilet seat, electric bidet seat, (Washlet - paper-less toilet) already I have installed in my bathroom.


================================================== =====
I found this video, Ammi. The black one is very similar to the one I was talking about.

Youtube video

..the black one looks really cool Sooty, I can see what he means about the staples being flat, they're much neater..he's right though, I wonder why we can't buy those here..

..have you started to feel like your new house is home now Sooty...does Charlie like it..?...

1620

[sooty]

[QUOTE=Ammi;6337922]

Originally Posted by sooty

..the black one looks really cool Sooty, I can see what he means about the staples being flat, they're much neater..he's right though, I wonder why we can't buy those here..

..have you started to feel like your new house is home now Sooty...does Charlie like it..?...

I can bring one Ammi.

I can't believe that Charlie and I only lived here for a few months. He is getting on well with Yko as well.

1621

[Ammi]

..he's properly made it his home now then Sooty..?..is Yko your neighbour..?..


1622

[sooty]

Yes, Charlie looks so relaxed now.

Yko is my best friend (I know her since mid 80s). She sold her flat but paper work was delayed, she could not move in to the new flat she was buying when she sold hers. She is waiting for exchange/completion dates at the moment.

She moved in on 2nd August to my house with 100 boxes (her words) and furnitures which are in my living room, two spare bedrooms (one is for her to sleep) and study. Luckily we have two bathrooms and TV for each of us, there is almost no stress between us luckily.

But the other day, at a café, we almost had a row/tension.
Before I retired, I was a regular Mail reader. These days, I buy it occasionally. Then when BB is on, I buy Star without fail.
Recently we take for a walk in the morning, then would go to a café and read papers Yko is also a Mail reader so she would read the paper.

That particular morning, when I bought the Star and started reading it in a café, she was really upset. She also dislikes BB. She would say she was embarrassed having a friend (me) who would watch BB also read a paper like Star/Sun.

Normally she says jokingly she dislike people (me) who watch BB as she knows I watch BB, but that morning, she was really upset. It may be because there were another customers around us and made her embarrassed.

Well she is all right now, but do you remember she did not talk to me for a year when I was.....

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by sooty

Yes, Charlie looks so relaxed now.

Yko is my best friend (I know her since mid 80s). She sold her flat but paper work was delayed, she could not move in to the new flat she was buying when she sold hers. She is waiting for exchange/completion dates at the moment.

She moved in on 2nd August to my house with 100 boxes (her words) and furnitures which are in my living room, two spare bedrooms (one is for her to sleep) and study. Luckily we have two bathrooms and TV for each of us, there is almost no stress between us luckily.

But the other day, at a café, we almost had a row/tension.
Before I retired, I was a regular Mail reader. These days, I buy it occasionally. Then when BB is on, I buy Star without fail.
Recently we take for a walk in the morning, then would go to a café and read papers Yko is also a Mail reader so she would read the paper.

That particular morning, when I bought the Star and started reading it in a café, she was really upset. She also dislikes BB. She would say she was embarrassed having a friend (me) who would watch BB also read a paper like Star/Sun.

Normally she says jokingly she dislike people (me) who watch BB as she knows I watch BB, but that morning, she was really upset. It may be because there were another customers around us and made her embarrassed.

Well she is all right now, but do you remember she did not talk to me for a year when I was.....

..aww, I guess a lot of people don't like BB in it is quite rubbish TV but it's our guilty pleasure, I joined TiBB because no one I knew watched it so I had no one to talk to about it...she's not embarrassed about you though Sooty, just about reading BB news and maybe she was looking forward to reading her Mail but you bought the Star instead, so that's probably what irritated her really...Yeah I remember you told me she didn't talk to you for a while but I can't recall why that was now...I am pleased that it's all working out well her living with you though...do you enjoy having her there..?..

1624

[sooty]

My friend bought her own Mail. Anyway she is all right now.

Today we went to an afternoon tea dance in Epsom. She just watched but enjoyed music. Tomorrow is a local market day, so we will do some bargain shopping.

1625

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by sooty

My friend bought her own Mail. Anyway she is all right now.

Today we went to an afternoon tea dance in Epsom. She just watched but enjoyed music. Tomorrow is a local market day, so we will do some bargain shopping.

1625

..I'd love to go to a tea dance Sooty, we don't have anything like that here but it looks quite fun..do you dance..?...I think my dream would be to learn ballroom dancing from one of the professionals on Strictly...

1626

[sooty]

Yes, Ammi, I do dance, socially. I met my husband at tea dance, Empire Ballroom, Leicester Square in 1974.

Because I do not have a partner (now), it is difficult specially there are so many single ladies.

Unless you are really keen on dancing, population on tea dancers average ages are, I guess, 75~80, you would get shocked if you enter the room. Even I would feel rather young among them.

It would be lovely to be able to learn dancing from Strictly dancers.

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