Rain, Fabric and Sushi Rolls

It's a sunny morning after a very wet day yesterday and I heard from Al that it is frosty at home and he had to light the fire.  I have had my last night at Mr Sawa's and this afternoon will be meeting my Indigo Sisters at the Hilton in Shinjuku and tomorrow heading to Bryan's to start the Japanese Textile Study Tour.
Yesterday I met up with Carin and we were intending to visit the Japan Traditional Craft Centre but it had disappeared!  Carin let me know last night that she had discovered it is relocating and will re-open on 23 April.  I shall have to start a "next time list".  Instead of the craft centre and because of the wet weather Carin and I decided there was nothing for it but to go fabric shopping!  She was very self controlled and bought some Liberty lawn for her miniature quilt project.  I, on the other hand, was like a child in a sweet shop and I will share my purchases (in photo form) when I get home.  I was also amazed by the selection of notions and items for a wide selection of textile crafts in the shop we visited.
After a tasty lunch I headed to my little home in Yanaka to prepare for my next adventure - the sushi and sobu party!  Heading out into the rain with a couple from Holland and a family from Germany and led by Isao we boarded a bus (another new experience) and travelled towards Ueno.  After this I was lost but we ended up at Soba-House Daishizen and received a very warm welcome and discovered we were going to make the sushi and then eat it.  Readers of a certain age may remember the Generation Game?  It was similar!  The sushi rolls we made were cut to reveal a rose.  

Yoko made us some more that she cut to reveal a cherry tree in full blossom.  We also had sobu noodles which we told to slurp - and then I cleaned my glasses.  I discovered more about the elastic band which was in my bento box!  It was actually made from a gourd and the version we had last night was very tasty, I think the piece in the lunch box was a bit dry.  However, when I described the rice parcel to Yoko she said it was very special.  Look at Carin's comment on my last post and you will see that she has very kindly provided some links to show all of this.  The sushi evening was part of the programme of events organised by People's Educational and Cultural Exchange and was a great success.
So today....I am off to the Tokyo International Forum and a flea market/antique fair. Then off to meet up with Nat and co.  A massive thank you to Julie and Carin who have been such generous hosts and helped me to see and enjoy far more of Tokyo than I dreamed of.  They are both a delight and so when people say don't meet up with people you 'know' on the internet the warnings don't apply to quilters.  More news when I can.