#9 It's not safe till I've tried it!

ART
Keeping in the theme of last week (Abstract Art) I bring you...
Piet Mondrian
Piet was born in 1872 Amersfoort, (Netherlands) and died 1944 in New York, (USA). He was a Dutch pioneer of Abstract Art, developing from early Landscape pictures to Geometric Abstract works. He moved to Paris in 1912, to gain further knowledge of the Avante grand style of work. The move took place after he saw exhibits which featured works from Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, but when World War 1 broke out whilst he was visiting his family in the Netherlands he had to stay home for a short period of time. After a few years of living in Paris he then moved to London and then just as World War 2 broke out he moved to America.
Piet's striking geometric shapes were used in fashion, especially back in the 1960’s and his work is an influence to this day. Piet Mondrian paintings are amongst the best selling prints, posters and canvases gracing living rooms, bedrooms and offices the world over. Check out the film link below - a happy coincidence to prove a point.
Click to learn more.

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COVERED IN WEEDS
I love Bonsai and I do attempt it, nowhere near the heady heights or the masterpieces I've seen. Not even close to my Brother, who's a novice. I've waited and waited and waited and now I'm itching to cut those 1, 2 & 3year old trees into a shape, but I'm not sure they are ready just yet, definitely my Conker trees, they need a few more years I reckon. But then again, can a Horse Chestnut be turned into a Bonsai, it has massive leaves? I will be trying. The trees have either grown from seed or I've rescued from a wall. My Brother has given me his Lime Tree which I'm hoping I haven't killed. I stupidly watered the tree from the top on a day which became hot unexpectedly and the leaves withered, browned and fell off! It's already got a good shape so nurture I think is in order this year. Shhh please don't tell him.

In the mean time I have two Elephant Succulent plants both of which I purchased. However the third one is a cutting from my first purchase! So excited when I realised after potting it up I'd not killed it. I have now trimmed them and placed the cuttings in water. That's how I grew the last one. So over the year you can see how many I manage to keep alive. Bets are on!
Do you have a Bonsai? Any hints and tips, please leave a comment.

BEER
WIPER & TRUE in collaboration with Extract Coffee Roasters.
IPA Dr Strangelove 6.8%
Strange smell, but, that's not a bad thing in my book. May need to sniff more, quick sniff I get the stewed fruit, slightly harder sniff it was malt, and the very last really big sniff I got a hint of hops. Now that's just the bottle smell.
Stick it in a glass, carefully, do it gently, it's alive. And there it is the Dr Strangelove Espresso. Wow to the first sip – that one is different. Definitely a bitter mouth watering taste at the end of the sip inviting me to take another sip. I can't be certain and I'm learning all the time, but I think the pine pokes you near the end of your sip. If that's not pine could someone tell me what it is. This IPA is unique and has lots of different flavours, I like that, I'm busy sipping and discovering and before I know it I've had half a glass. This beer is for just sitting back and enjoying the flavours that tantalise your taste buds. Go to their Website to learn more.

I've found a few more of their beers sat waiting for me to purchase on a shelf at Rheged and no doubt Tebay services too. The beer buyer there is doing a great of buying Micro Brewery beers for the traveling population visiting Cumbria.

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MUSINGS
I had a good old start to the week. The Safety Knives you can't possibly cut yourself with, (the blade is in cased in a plastic handle) I ended up slicing the top of my finger, only a small cut, not like I sliced the entire lot off. This was how my week was going to pan out I could tell. That was number one on Monday, number Two appeared on Thursday! The kettle – not a domestic one, I'm talking a big massive one used for boiling beer (should I say creating beer), the type a tall adult needs step ladders for, made me nearly topple off the ladder!! Ow wait that's not it. I know how to actually see if it's a rolling boil (the time I put the Hops in) I climb to the top of the ladder and lift the lid (my chest is on line with the lid) and I peer in. Well I knew it wouldn't be a rolling boil but figured it was nearly there. Stupidly I didn't climb to the top and opened the lid slightly and angled at face height! Stupid Numpty is what I hear you say and you'd be right I even called it myself, after I'd had a 100 degree steam blast on the upper part of my face. My eyelids and brows still are red, not flaming and you'd only notice now if I blinked. Things for me and no doubt everyone else comes in three's. The question is, this afternoon or even Sunday do I have a go at Lino Cutting with those funny looking knives? Do I risk it, I mean the week isn't fully over till midnight on Sunday, shall I wait till next week and what stupid disasters that brings?

Well enjoy your weekend and the week ahead, today I shall leave you with...

The Doors 'People are Strange'. Echo and the Bunnymen did a good version of this track and it was that version that featured in the Cult film Lost Boys. I couldn't have been anymore on point about Piet Mondrain being everywhere, and I don't think I could do it again!  This was a pure coincidence, check out Corey's dressing gown 0.57secs in.

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