[20th Anniversary]

This year marked the 20th Anniversary of the Melbourne chapter of the Urasenke Tankokai Association.

Urasenke is one of three schools of ‘Tea’ that can trace its origins to Sen Rikyu.

Endless posts could be spent explaining and describing the Japanese ‘Way of Tea’ (Chadou茶道・Chanoyu茶の湯・Tea Ceremony) but even after 5 years of study, I feel as though I’ve barely scratched the surface of this traditional art.

2011 brought to the Melbourne chapter a flurry of activities as we all readied ourselves for the 20th Anniversary Celebration events. The anniversary was made a lot more special (or stressful =) ) as we were honoured by the presence of our Oiemoto (the head of the Urasenke school), visiting from Kyoto, Japan.

The events were held over two days, starting with a lecture by the Oiemoto on 5 November, followed by our annual Chakai (茶会・Tea Gathering) on 6 November.

<NGV Clemenger Auditorium – lecture venue>

Over the course of these two days, I would ‘perform’ two demonstrations. One at the lecture and the second, at the tea gathering, serving the first bowl of tea to the Oiemoto himself.

<Pre-Lecture Demonstration>

<Tea Gathering – First session>

There could be so much to write about but, I have little idea of where to start and where to end.

It is one of those events that will always feel a little surreal, a little hazy but an experience you won’t forget.

You can read a bit more about the lecture here, from the Lesley Kehoe Galleries.

A few more pictures here by GogoMelbourne and a summary of the Tea Gathering (if you read Japanese), as well as from the Urasenke’s site here.

< Photo from GogoMelbourne>

[The eleventh of the eleventh, twenty eleven!]

<11.11.11>

There was a lot written on this day about the significance of the figure 111111.

But this date was of a different significance to me: it was his birthday…

The cake (or more specifically, the lemon tart):

I had considered briefly – very very briefly – baking the birthday cake but very quickly gave up that thought when I realised that I would not deal very well with the panic that would most definitely ensue and turned to the professionals. Le Petit Gateau is only a 5 minute walk from our offices – and we’d been eyeing their creations for a very very long time. Perfect.

I didn’t give up completely on the baking though…

This was before I destroyed (!)  them with icing and sprinkles…packed them into individual plastic sleeves with some chocolate bits and made him spell out my birthday greetings.

Despite all good intentions to celebrate this special 11.11.11 bday, a host of factors – including the ever-present ‘laziness’- turned the day into a quiet family and close friends’ affair. The two of us followed it up with a fish and chips dinner the following night after a slow start to the morning, a bit of shopping and some lazy time.

Birthdays were never high on my agenda, but I find myself rather excited about both our birthdays these days.

Until next year then….