bread and water

I don't think I have ever had so much trouble finding a bread shop as I have around here.

No, wait.

I have found SEVERAL bread shops, all literally within 5 mins walk (different directions, though, of course!) I just cannot for the life of me work out how to get bread from them!!!!

It really all started with J's comment that he wanted to try the butter her brought back from France with a baguette or french stick. I almost bought one yesterday at the bakery in Ito-yokado, but they were 320yen, which I figured would be over the top for a probably dissapointing bread. So I thought of the other shops around:

"Baby Leaf", heading towards the next train station, seems to have erradic opening hours. I still can't work out when they are open. Yesterday as driving past on way home from the supermarket (in the pouring rain) I saw them open so dropped in, at about 11:38am, thinking I could pick something up for lunch. There was about 4 different types of bread available. ONLY. Bought a tuna roll for me (it was yummy, haven't had one for ages) and a custard bread for K, in the shape of a rabbit, which obviously went down well! I asked if they make french sticks, and they said they would be ready after 12noon. So I made a point to go there today, only to find the store closed. Doh!

So I headed instead to "Forest" the bread shop at the bottom of the hill, near the primary school, which was recommended by our neighbour, who was kind enough to let me know that they are closed Sun and Mon. They also don't open until, well, not sure when, but it is definately after 10am as I have been past several times and never seen it open. i thought I would take a chance, and was pleasantly surprised to find it open (and a 6-7space car park facility there!!) So I was obviously excited when I walked in the door.....but was quickly brought down with a thud - there was about 3 different types of bread left (all the others had sold out already!! wtf?? at noon??) Bought a curry-pan for myself as was starving by this time and needed something, and a plain custard bread for K, as well as a mini-sausage in a roll bread for K. I asked them if they make french bread (I am craving it something crazy!!) and they said "yes! at 1pm on Saturday." Once a freakin' week????????? You have got to be kidding me?

On the way home, I detoured via "Rascal" the bread shop on the main road heading towards Gyomu Supa and Sotetsu Rosen supermarkets. There was no where to park, and it was the first time I had seen it open, and, well, it didn't look that inviting (read: clean)

I was almost going to try the other bread shop I tried last week (can't remember the name), which is down past the 100yen Lawson, but decided it was time to give up for today.

How hard is it to get bread? Obviously very high on the too-hard-for-me scale at the moment.

I soooooooo can't wait till I get my home breadmaker!