Japanese Fish Suppers

Though not exactly health food, I always think the take out food is marginally better balanced in Japan than the chip shop/kebab options in Scotland. Which is good, as the good old bento shop makes it easier to justify not cooking when you can't be bothered. I mean there are vegetables in there, right?

Not that I resort to that that often honest.

Which reminds me of my daughter's foot in mouth disease a while back.

Background info: In Japan, the stereotypical daughter-in-law/mother-in-law relationship is kind of one step worse than the stereotypical son-in-law/mother-in-law relationship in the UK. Culturally speaking, you join the husband's family when you get married, and are expected to "take on the colours" of your new family, as symbolised by the changing into a coloured kimono at the wedding ceremony. In other words, shut up and do it their way. And you are jolly well supposed to put their darling son first and be good wife, primarily by cooking and cleaning above all things.My mother-in-law doesn't say much directly, but you know you are being watched for failings, especially when you are a big hairy gaijin.


SO, on New Year's day when Mairi was about 3, we're sitting at the breakfast table tucking into the gorgeous Osechi food MIL has been up preparing since 6am, and Mairi, thinking she's getting me brownie points, pipes up: "There's a great bento shop near my house, and my Mummy always takes me there and gets me delicious bentos".

All the "excuse me, you don't mean always, you mean once or twice a year dear, don't you?"s I could belt out couldn't cancel out the glee in my mother-in-law's voice as she raised her eyebrows with a"Oh really??!!"