Studio Cat

He's ready for his close-up.

 

For all Occasions

Beer is not just for breakfast - it is for all occasions. Here it seen paired with my latest reading material in what I refer to as the books and booze series.

And wine in the form of a red biddy is apparently the perfect accompaniment to celebrate Burnley staying up. Claret is so hot right now.

Four Winds and a Prayer

This was the first free weekend we all had as a gang to pop out to Four Winds Vineyard for our annual 'New Year's' do. The colours and crisp autumn weather were delightful; the pizzas were plentiful; the wine was superb; the company was excellent: what a way to spend a day.

 

 

Four Winds Winery Lunch

Mr & Mrs Lovely Bonkers

 

I played about with the above picture on my phone photo app to make the following images.

 

 

 

And when we got home we were met by this fellow at the front door.

Reasons to be cheerful: 1, 2, 3

Happy Anniversary to Him Outdoors and Me. It is our 15th year of marriage, and that is traditionally celebrated with crystal. Hence I got a cut crystal sugar bowl from the Salvation Army shop, filled it with crystallised ginger and made a card featuring a picture of Crystal Tipps and Alistair. 

Happy Crystal Anniversary

The yeast was plopping away merrily in the beer on Easter Sunday, which seems appropriate. 

He is Risen

And the sky was blue and the weather pleasant for my morning jog.

Drake Brockman Drive

Endolphin Rush

I may have mentioned before that I don't particularly like Disney. But the Lovely Bonkers' First Born does and it was her 18th birthday, so she had a cake made for her in the style of that from Sleeping Beauty, apparently. The creator of this masterpiece (Emma Cake) is incredibly talented, so it tasted sensational as well as looking so outstanding. 

Cake with a cartoon filter 

 

The next day when I went for a jog, I found this little fellow on the pathway like a fish out of water. (Yes, I know a dolphin isn't technically a fish, but I thought it was funny.)

Stray dolphin

Autumn arrives

Here is some graffiti encountered in an underpass on one of my bike rides. I like it.

And here is me being pinned to the bed by Chester - we call this the possessive paw pose.

Suddenly it has gone from being hot and sunny to damp and misty. I guess that means Autumn is here.

But in the words of Hemingway, 'the sun also rises', and in the words of Him Outdoors, 'there's always beer'.

High Country Hops Festival

I embarked upon some further practice with the wide-angle-lens camera and who should be the supreme model but Chester - apparently when you're a silver seal Burmese, you look good from any angle. 

I have had a cold for a few weeks and have been struggling for breath, so it was nice to get out and see the trees - I feel their branches imitate my bronchioles and their discarded oxygen helps me fill my lungs.

Him Outdoors has been away with work and I went to pick him up from the airport, but with an hour to kill after finishing work, I filled it with a swift half at The Durham.

We spent our weekend at Beechworth, which we love anyway, but this weekend it was home to the High Country Hop Festival, which gave it added appeal. When we arrived we went for a bike ride along the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail under ominous skies. 

We repaired to Bridge Road where we drank plenty of good beer and met some of the brewers for the festival. The next day it was overcast and damp, with several showers, but we bravely attended the festival where we ate, drank and were merry. It's a lovely low-key festival with lots of families and a relaxed vibe. A band played and people didn't seem to mind the weather. 

 

Apparently Him Outdoors has a secret superhero identity which emerges when he has had beer - he blossoms into the Hop Fairy!

 

And then the sun came out and the band carried on playing and the children jumped in puddles and there was cheese as well as beer and everyone was happy.

Slightly dodgy balloon animal to the right of the picture

 
 

It was dusk as we walked back to our accommodation, and the historic buildings of Beechworth were lit up to perfection.

Beechworth Court House

Beechworth Gold Office and Sub Treasury Building

The next morning we went for a cobweb-clearing bicycle ride around Beechworth Historic Park with its reminders of gold rush heritage and scenic vistas.

And then we had a hearty breakfast before walking around town and stocking up on Beechworth honey so that Him Outdoors can make some more mead.

Where the mead begins

We finished the experience by calling in to The Cellar Door Wine Store, where a range of wines are on offer for tasting, and a pleasant little courtyard features an eclectic collection of chair and sofas to sip and relax beneath the trees. I had a crisp Riesling and found the colours and shapes reminded me of a David Hockney print, so I sort of made one happen.

The Cellar Door Wine Store

Tribute to David Hockney