Year's End, and Beginning

A trip out to Gold Creek on New Year's Eve plunged me into the world of heritage nostalgia. There's the miniature village, the dinosaur museum, the walk-in aviary and the reptile zoo, none of which I visited. 

More in my line are the galleries, cafes, restaurants and pubs. There are also boutiques selling fashion, home-wares, old-fashioned sweets, toys, and health and well-being products for those who prefer that sort of thing. 

I don't know whom to credit for this fantastic sculpture of emaciated horses and riders, but I love their recycled pioneering spirit.

 

 

 

It was a very hot day, so I felt the need for an ice-cream. Fortunately, Stripey Sundae was there to assist. I combined the flavours of Christmas Pudding with Mojito Sorbet; surely that's the perfect combination for the end and the start of the year?

Inside the Stripey Sundae

We had a New Year's Eve party with cocktails. It was actually surprisingly civilised considering the sheer amount of booze on offer.

Fluffy Duck

Mojito

Mind bender

Calamity Sue with Pimms

Purple Lady with Fluffy Duck

  

Him Outdoors taking a break from bar-tending duties with a Manhattan

Serious discussions in the drawing room interrupted by a photo-bombing blanket boy.

 

 

And sensible cups of tea in a Winnie-the-Pooh mug.

Morning after clean-up not too bad...

An hour-long jog with Him Outdoors in Woodstock Nature Reserve.

Followed by a lovely afternoon at Four Winds Vineyard, Murrumbateman with friends.

Advent beers, acting and jogging

December brings advent, and the start of our advent beer calendar.

Beer number one: Silly Saison - a Belgian brown with Saison yeast

Beer number two: Brew Dog's Restorative Beverage for Invalids and Convalescents - hazy golden with sweet malts and plentiful citrus hops

Beer number three: Mighty XP Old World IPA - strongish, goldenish, IPA-ish beer

Beer number four: Stone Dog Meadery Loud Mouth Braggart - earthy honey tones on a seriously good ale

Beer number five: Hop Dog Abbey of the Dead - Belgian red ale with added hibiscus and marigolds

Beer number six: Woolshed Brewery Judas the Dark - coffee and chocolate on the nose and palate, also gentle spices and roasted wattleseed

Beer number seven: Bateman's Mocha Porter - liqueur chocolates; chocolate malt flavour, some coffee and hop bitterness

A visit to the shop from the sales dude at Prancing Pony

And just to prove that it's not all beer, I went for a jog around Umbabgong District Park.

Graffito at Kippax Playing Fields

Rehearsing for the play Cara Carissima, written by Geoff page and directed by Tanya Gruber.

Peter Robinson as Barry, the public servant

Bruno Galdino as the barista

Cara Irvine as Cara, the EA, and Peter as Barry

Director, Tanya Gruber, with Cara

Tanya films Cara and Nikki, the wife

Bruno having a rest with Nikki in the background

Cara (Cara) and Barry (Peter)

 

 

And another run; this one at Woodstock Nature Reserve.

Bounding up the steps! (Or not)