Again there was a bonsai exhibition at my Community Centre. Despite going to every one of the exhibitions held, I'm always very surprised to see bonsais with flowers or with autumn-coloured leaves. Walking into the gym on Sunday I at first thought it was a flower show. The mini-trees were blooming in such an array of bright Spring colours I presumed their were other plants also on show. But no, they were bonsais. The room was filled with beautiful smells and friendly old people (an unusual occurrence). Many of the bonsai owners were just chilling at the back drinking umeboshi tea (a sour plum tea). 
My tea ceremony teachers were also present in their fancy kimonos dishing out the cups of japanese tea. I proved myself to be the awful student that I am by admitting as I sat down for a cup, that I couldn't remember a single phrase said during the ceremony. Despite my intensive two month training in this art. But Sensei shrugged it off, probably knowing I only ever came to class for the free snacks.my main purpose in studying Tea Ceremony was to get the free snacks.
The winner of the Bonsai competition was the same 120 year old specimen that took gold place in the autumn exhibition. Hopefully there'll be some fresh new competition entering this year to liven things up a bit.Photos: Bonsais in flower (top), The prize-winner (the tree, not me) (middle), Some were little more than stumps with flowers (bottom).
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