Happy New Year

Tower English has closed for the New Year holidays, we'll see you again in 2009 from January Monday 5th. Until then, have a relaxing time and here is a little video of the kids (and adults) of Tower English doing the 12 Days of Christmas to entertain you. Happy New Year! 

Waiting for Santa...

Yesterday, 35 of the Tower English kids performed their own play, Waiting for Santa, in the Abisuta hall, and did a great job. The whole play was in English and just about everyone remembered their lines. More pictures and video will follow soon... many thanks to Tatsuya Yasuda who kindly took these great pictures. Merry Christmas all, and a Happy New Year.

35人の子供達によるクリスマスショーが無事に終了した。最後の最後まで台詞の練習をしている子供たちを見て、随分英語に馴染んで来たとホントに嬉しくなった。よくやった！年に２回はステージの上で本格的にショーを作って行きたい。とっても良い経験になるはず。来年も楽しみにしています。

Christmas trifle

We had a great time making a Christmas trifle during the Mums' English Club this month (but I did put too much alcohol in and forgot the cornflour for the custard!) What is a Christmas trifle? It's a good British treat at Christmas. Here's the recipe from my Dad, with demonstrations of how to make it thanks to the mums and their little helpers (who also made bread to keep them busy, while Mr Sherriff was muddling up all the ingredients).

To serve six people, you need:

3 egg yolks

600ml double cream

25g sugar

1 level teaspoon of cornflour

1 sponge cake base

50g flaked almonds (lightly toasted)

40ml sherry

200g raspberries (or two frozen bags)

3 bananas

drop or two of vanilla essence

1. Make some custard. Mix 3 egg yolks in a bowl with the cornflour (don't forget!) sugar and vanilla essence
2. Bring 300ml of double cream to boiling point. Pour it over the eggs, whisking it with a fork or whisk to blend evenly

3. Return the custard to the saucepan and over a gentle heat, whisk until sauce has thickened. Leave to cool down (the custard, and you)

4. Break up the sponge cake with your fingers. Put in large glass bowl, add sherry (not too much if kids or a wife are around) and raspberries, stir into a paste

5. Slice bananas into thin slices and cover the paste
6. Pour custard over

7. Whip up the remaining 300ml of cream and spread this over the custard.
8. Decorate the top with toasted almonds
9. Cover and chill in the fridge for two or three hours
10. Eat and have a Merry Christmas!

  

Ho, ho, ho! Santa came to town

マンションのコミュニティールームでクリスマス会がありました。ゲストにTower Englishが呼ばれ、サンタ姿でバスに乗り、駅を渡り会場へ。75人の素敵な子供達に囲まれ、とても楽しい一日でした。お世話になったスタッフの皆様、ありがとうございました。

Tower English was lucky to join Santa at two Christmas parties at an Abiko mansion this morning. Here - Mr and Mrs Claus entertain 15 babies and 60 toddlers. For more pictures, click here, Merry Christmas!