PLAYFULNESS + CURIOSITY Page 9 of 16

Now that’s what I call a football stadium

Posted on 2012-04-28 at 3:00 pm.

Home of Yamagata Montedio J2 team

I have been in a lot of football (soccer) stadiums in my time – from Argentina to England, Germany to Japan, including one for the FIFA World Cup Final. But I think thisis my favourite one – for the incredible mountain view, for the draft beer and fried noodles and for the Japanese fans who politely cheer the opposition team’s fans for honourably bothering to make the trip to see their team play away.

To round off our trip to Yamagata we went to watch my old team Montedio play (although I must admit I spent much of the match staring at the mountains in the distance…)

Learning to cook

Posted on 2012-04-25 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

One of the best things to do on a cold day in the countryside is to cook up a feast with deliciously fresh mountain vegetables.

Kyoko gave me a couple of quick cooking lessons on making tempura and shabu shabu – yum…

Looking forward to learning how to cook lots of new things while here in Japan!

What is your favourite Japanese food?

Best sign ever?

Posted on 2012-04-14 at 8:40 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Sign found outside a tiny gallery in Gion

Now here is someone doing what he loves (and not doing what he doesn’t love when he doesn’t want to do!)

Love the essence of this philosophy…

Old haunts, new memories

Posted on 2012-04-06 at 1:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

When you have lived somewhere for a while, at an impressionable time in your life, it always holds special memories. Coming back to see my old apartment in Shinjuku was both strange and comforting. I lived there for nearly three years over a decade ago. The nearby shrine hadn’t changed, and the corner house still had a tiny flourishing roof garden, but the new houses that had popped up here and there left me temporarily disoriented. That’s where I used to do my laundry… that’s where I used to go for delicious grilled fish and miso soup… that was the massage place open until midnight which brought welcome relief after long days in the Japanese office…

These past few days in Tokyo have felt important for reflecting on good times past, but preparing the way for new memories to be made. I hope sharing each special place and its stories with my man has helped him see a little of the country that captured my imagination many years ago, but also paved the way for all the adventures to come…

Have you visited any old haunts recently?

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If you fancy your own adventure, why not join me for the Do What You Love e-course? This very special online adventure is designed to help you identify your passion and make it a greater part of your everyday life. Class starts on May 14. Find out more and register here.

In the city

Posted on 2012-04-03 at 4:05 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Several months ago we decided to make a big move to Japan. It seemed so far away back then but now it is here, and we are here.

First stop the capital, Toyko, where I spent three years working long hours in an exciting job 10 years ago.

Glass, concrete and neon.

Clean streets and fast trains.

Cool design shops and anything-goes fashion. Sweet old men who randomly offer you gifts of hard boiled eggs.

Drinking with old friends. Noodles at midnight. This is Tokyo, and it is good to be back.

PS All this week I will be bringing you glimpses of this city that I once called home…

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Window shopping in Paris!

Posted on 2012-03-08 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Some of the window displays were simply divine. Look at the colours!

More Paris posts here: Parisian markets / Paris story / Les papeteries / Parisian cafes / Paris details

I was in Paris researching The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design – join us if you want to get inspired with your own pattern designs!

Paris details

Posted on 2012-03-03 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Inspiration and beauty everywhere in this magical city…

More Paris posts here: Parisian markets / Paris story / Les papeteries / Parisian cafes / Window shopping in Paris

I was in Paris researching The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design – join us if you want to get inspired with your own pattern designs!

Parisian cafes (love, love, love)

Posted on 2012-03-02 at 2:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Let’s just say I spent a LOT of time in Parisian cafes. Heaven.

I think this might just have been the best raspberry tartine in the world, ever.

More Paris posts here: Parisian markets / Paris story / Les papeteries / Paris details / Window shopping in Paris

I was in Paris researching The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design – join us for the next course starting in April!

Les papeteries

Posted on 2012-03-01 at 2:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Paris and paper are an intoxicating combination. One particular street in the 4th Arondissement, rue du Pont Louis-Phillippe, is home to Calligrane (I literally couldn’t speak this shop was so beautiful), Papier Plus and Melodies Graphiques. The handmade paper, precision and care of display, beauty and textures on every surface, ahhhhhh it was just perfect.

Take a look…