The Adventures of Halfpint #4

Good Morning one and all
For the new onlookers to my blog I've laid it out so you don't have to read it all, just the parts that interest you. However it is only a short blog compared to some I have seen. By the way none of these links have been sponsored, I've not even received free cake, click on them if you wish, but I can't be held responsible if you decide to make a purchase.

ART
In the final week of the Japanese theme I am featuring a Cumbrian Artist. Up 'ere int North we have a two week long art exhibition in September that covers the whole of Cumbria from permanent Galleries to pop up galleries, small Artist galleries to open house (sometimes with cake) of the artist for all interested in the arts to come and have a look at. The event is called simply C-Art, it is that popular some Southerners (Yorkshire and down) plan their two week holidays around this event! Well I found this artist selling and exhibiting his wares at this event. Ray Ogden is not necessary a Japanese artist just that some of his paintings are that way inclined. Take a look at his website to find out more rayogden.com

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BEER
Had my first visit to the Hop merchants (Charles Faram) on Tuesday, T'was interesting however, I did get completely covered in hops and by the time I had finished smelling and selecting my hands were thick with green hops from all the rubbing that had to be done. I was almost turning into the Incredible Hulk.

Little Italian number for you this week, actually I think it's one of my favourite.
Amarcords, Ama Mora Doppio Malto.
Brewed with Coffee and Demerara Cane Sugar from Malawi. No you can't have it for breakfast drink! Straight out of the fridge it smells like Tiramisu, I was going to say fresh ground coffee waiting to be plunged but there is a sweetness to it. So I opted for Tiramisu. It coats your tongue nicely and goes down way to easy with a very slight bitterness at the end. I am defiantly drinking this 9.0% way too quickly. I've slowed down the drinking and let it have chance to breathe and warm and there is a slight change, a hint of roasted Hazelnut to the smell and taste. This small 335ml bottle didn't give me much change out of a fiver, but I did buy it in Booths (Waitrose of the North), and I have gone back for more. I reckon it would have gone well with last nights chocolate Mascarpone cheese cake (bought from the Orange coloured supermarket), may have to go get another slice of it to check.

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COVERED IN WEEDS
There's not much happening in the garden this week, could do with a tidy, which should have probably been done weeks ago. I will one day get this gardening lark right. Found a great little seed seller on line higgledygarden.com, I was impressed how quickly they dealt with my small order after reading they were extremely busy, it came wrapped for Christmas, with two extra packets of seeds (one off small business give-away) and a handwritten note Wishing me a Merry Christmas. You just can't buy service like that! Hope my Mum likes them, the freebie was Helichrysum. Strawflower or ‘Hendrix’. She is a big fan of Jimi. Must go back in the new year and purchase my own seeds.

MUSINGS
Oh my gosh I was like a kid in a candy shop at the beginning of the week. I got home to the Christmas Tree decorated and twinkling. You may say it's only a tree, but, for quite a number of years, lets say over 20, the tree started to be put up later and later into December to the point where the last few years it has been purchased and erected on Christmas Eve. This year we have reverted back to a fake looking fir tree, which does not have tinsel on it we have opted for a more creative tree that includes glass blown monsters to a felt stuffed Robin. What was so different this year was I had nothing to do with putting it up or even coaxing it down from the loft. It was like being 10year old again arriving home from school to the words 'Do not touch it!' The tinsel tree was quite old back then. But it can't be Christmas yet, not until I've heard the best Christmas tunes performed by Wizard and Slade and eat those German Biscuits that are only ever sold at Christmas, and, had some Stollen. So with this in mind I bid you farewell as I rush out to go get me such delights and have a wander through the Christmas fare at the local Reclamation yard.

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