Blythe & Toys

I know some people think I am more than a little too old for this stuff, but I so want a pair of these ears to wear while I’m out and about in Tokyo next year!

I’ve been trying to track down dolly events happening in Japan while I’m there next year, and the wonderful atelier matin has given me the details of a show he is exhibiting at in Osaka!

The I-Doll West Vol.6 will be happening on 24 Feb 2008, at MyDome and I can’t wait to go. Apparently it’s a very large show with Blythe, BJD, Lati, Volks, Obitsu and so much more on display and for sale.

Amazingly talented people like atelier matin will have booths to show and sell their wares.

How excitement!

On Friday night, my friend Ilka had her hens.

We started at The Black Pearl, where the barmen can and will make any cocktail you like to perfection - or even make them up on the spot if you just don’t know what you want, but it must contain strawberry.

Then, we headed on over to Afghan Gallery for dinner. Seated on cushions around a low table, the head guy showed us his sense of humour, but lack of any knowledge about wine. They had a riesling on the menu. Perfect I thought, with the mildly spicey food items we had been offered. I ordered a bottle. It turned out to be that god awful, sickly sweet crouchen riesling - a totally different animal indeed. I sent it back, much to the amusement of the head guy, who thought it was all the same thing. The sav blanc was ordered as a replacement, and I have to admit I drank the entire bottle.

It was after dinner and time to totter off to a bar to get the hen smashed. Right next door was Rust - two for one cocktails and shots. Suited us. It was almost empty, apart from the couple having sex in the dark as midnight front room. And I believe we soon found out why. You have to be real drunk or real cheap to drink there. The cocktails were full of alcohol, but not what should be in the one you ordered. My Japanese Slipper was a sickly sweet cordial that packed a wallop - it just tasted revolting. So I switched to tequila shots (my favourite) and was delighted to find them charging only $6 for Ceurvo Especial - keeping in mind I was getting two shots for this price!

I caught up with some lovely people and made some new friends. We sent the bride home when she could no longer put a sentence together. Our last drink was a shared flaming lambourgini - but as they were out of the ‘flame’ the barman used Absinthe instead to light it. I swear I drank three quarters of it, but Ilka reckons she did. We’ll never know. We were both pretty smashed.

Saturday was recovery. I woke up ok, until I got up. Had to use the bathroom about 50 times (no, I wasn’t sick). I don’t know whether it was the food or the alcohol - but I certainly don’t feel as young as I used to. I’ll count this as my second hangover ever.

Sunday was the wedding and it was spectacular. A small group of family and friends in the Edinburgh Gardens - a nervous groom looking at his watch, a radiant bride in a cream bodice with blaze red skirt with beautiful red embroidery and orchids in her hair. No bride has every looked more stunning.

Barefoot lawn bowls and plenty of dancing, drink and food for an emotional reception capped off a beautiful day.

So we now have an apartment to stay in while in Tokyo. Three weeks living in the burbs like everyone else. Can’t wait!