A Japanese Dinner

Tonight Cathleen and I were dinner guests of the Japanese Consul General and his wife at their residence in Murrayfield.

It was a delightful evening and the meal was extraordinary, This is just one of the courses - a persimmon which contained an oyster in coarse salt, a lime hollowed out to hold two small delicate pieces of grouse, a cape gooseberry and , masquerading as a sea urchin, a chestnut wrapped in fish and surrounded by noodles. All of it was presented in a basket with decoration that gave a homage to the season.

The conversation was just as eclectic and it was great to hear of their enthusiasm for the remarkable island of Iona in my constituency. I hope to welcome them there at some stage.