Food Review: Mount Fuji 

(Birmingham City Centre)

Mount Fuji is a little Japanese restaurant in Birmingham City Centre that I've been dying to visit for a while now but every time I've walked past it's been absolutely jam-packed with a long queue out of the door.  Not to be deterred, we tried again on a dreary Tuesday lunchtime and bingo- no queue! After standing at the door awkwardly for a while (do you seat yourself or wait to be seated?) we grabbed a seat and scanned the wine list.  I settled for the incredibly sweet Choya plum wine and Shaun ordered himself Asahi (authentic Japanese beer).   

I've always been a fan of the Tesco meal deal sushi so I thought I'd give the real deal a go- I went for the Tokyo Special which included salmon, tuna, eel and scallop rolls.  I was pretty pleased with my choice until Shaun's Ginger Pork Bento box and Chicken Teriyaki side dish arrived. It looked, smelt and tasted absolutely divine and it was with slightly less enthusiasm that I dug into my sushi rolls.  Looking around me I could see everyone else had Bento boxes and I could see why! Tender meat, crispy batter, and flavoursome sauces (definitely not from a Sharwood's jar) served in a traditional Bento box with rice, potatoes and salad- it was filling and delicious.  

What Mount Fuji lacked in atmosphere and table service, it definitely made up for with delicious food at good prices.  I'd highly recommend Mount Fuji for a tasty lunchtime meal. 

by randomdaymusings

Film Review: Suffragette

An image from the Suffragette film

I didn't vote in this year's General Election- why not?  Well, it just seemed like too much hassle.  I got back from work later than I'd have liked and I wasn't too sure where the nearest voting station was or where I'd put my voting card.  So I stayed home and soon forgot about voting between candidates promising cheaper car insurance and other mundane policies.       

Suffragettes was a poignant, heart wrenching reminder of the sacrifices that these women suffered in order for us to have the vote.  The vote, which I am now ashamed to say, I squandered.  Many of us are aware of the suffragette movement and pinnacle figures such as the Pankhurts and Emily Davison, who was trampled by the King's horse at the Derby races.   The Suffragettes film shows the stark reality of the challenges that these women faced, particularly their treatment in prisons and brutal force feedings which they endured.  The main character in the film, Maud Watts, starts off as a timid woman whose husband appears as caring and loving towards her.  Ever the romantic, I had hoped that he would be supportive of her contributions towards the suffragette movement and stand by her through the repeated unjust incarcerations.  But this was not the case.  The quick deterioration of their relationship and the lack of rights that she held as a mother was a deeply disturbing revelation.  A must-watch for every modern woman.

I will certainly never squander my vote again.    

by randomdaymusings