Lip Service

Back at work, but my lunchtime spot is still delightful.

 

Watching the Women's 20/20 as part of the Ashes series, England v Australia - Australia won on the Duckworth Lewis system by 6 runs. With just five balls left to bowl, the players were forced to leave the field - there was lightning and a downpour and each side wanted to come back on at different stages of the evening. The weather definitely played its part and if it weren't for the rain, England might have been leaving Manuka Oval with their first points of the series. In the end, despite a great run chase and some well-timed wickets, it was all a bit of an anti-climax - but that's cricket!

Down at TAMF for Friday beers, I told the boys squeezed into the booth opposite that they looked like the three wise monkeys, so they obliged with this pose. 

At Champagne Sunday, Calamity Sue had a lip plumper that she wanted to try - everyone had a go, with limited success in terms of fuller lips, but fun was had in the experimentation. 

After photos: not much difference to be seen, but everyone looks lovely anyway. 

A Very Merry Christmas

Heading towards the end of the Blackhurst Advent Cocoktail calendar, we had a Mai Tai for Day 23.

The real cats don't know why we're bothering with these puzzle imposters.

Blackhurst Advent Cocktail Calendar Day 24 was a Gin-gle Bells. How pretty is that? It's gin (obviously), pomegrante juice (supposed to be cranberry but we didn't have any), lime juice, caster sugar, sparkling wine (supposed to be Prosecco but we didn't have any), with green sugar crystals for rimming (steady...).

The cat advent calendar jigsaw puzzle is now completed, and so too is the cocktail one. I made a photo collage of the second half. We did it! Our livers may not thank us, but we were dedicated to the cause. Thanks to all who played along, with love and festive spirits. 

Our Blackhurst traditional Christmas Day morning breakfast: bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon (prosciutto for Him Outdoors) with glasses of Bucks Fizz.

 A walk up Mt Painter and a sh*t selfie.

Roast dinner (pork) with fresh greens and summer salads. 

I'm well aware that I'm no influencer or anything, but here is the 'unboxing' of my Christmas present from Weevil - a wonderful selection of teas and a beautiful cup from which to drink them.

A Christmas Day visitor to the brewery. We relocated them to a more appropriate tree. 

On Boxing Day I went to the Hyatt Hotel to drink champagne with Calamity Sue, and we spent the Chrimbo Limbo period eating and drinking with friends, and walking in the hills. 

Making and Sharing Memories

The bedside book pile continues to evolve. Him Outdoors is constantly remarking on the potential hazards of such a pile, but I think he's just not seeing things from the correct perspective. 

Sky patterns above the lake keep me company in my lunch breaks at work. 

After booking in for a routine mammogram, I treated myself to breakfast at a local cafe, and then brought armfuls of flowers indoors from the garden and plonked them in vases. I may have mentioned that I have no skill in the flower arranging department, although I love the colours and natural shapes and smells. The cats, obviously, had to judge them. 

We had a gala night for the Canberra Repertory Society to feast and raise funds. Our cast and crew table for Dead Man's Cell Food were too busy with the frivolity and lacking in funds to be too much financial assistance, but we had a good time, and at least we raised some money by attending in the first place.

Chipz came round for afternoon tea and, although I have no photos of them or the cucumber sandwiches we ate in the garden, I do have images of the Pimms glasses full of fruity goodness.

Calamity Sue gathered some friends and family and we had a memorial service for General Philosopher, where we hired a boat and went out on the water to toast his memory and walk on Springbank Island. It was a beautiful thing to do and very emotional. Tears, laughter, and stories were shared.