Week #6 It's Christmas!

Hello.
Hope you had a grand Christmas and there was no arguments over the remote or a board game rule. As ever for the new viewers, my blog is in sections so you can read the bits that interest you. Please share if you think someone else might enjoy. Feel free to comment.

ART
In my attempt to search the net to find a Linocut artist that stood out to me and wasn't from Cumbria it wasn't long before I discovered Rachel Newling. Wow was my first reaction when I clicked on her Home page and as I randomly clicked onto the Linocuts button what I saw was just fantastic. OK, Rachel is living in Sidney, but, is originally from England. Check out her website, she has an array of different Linocuts, Engravings and Drawings. Lino cutting is what I want to have a go at when the two paintings in my head have been drawn and painted. This is something to aspire too.

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BEER

Samichlaus Classic Bier 14% - The Worlds Most Extraordinary Beer
In the bottle all I could smell was malt, but when it hit the glass oh my word, boy did I get an inhale of alcohol, not sure what else I could smell I sniffed that hard my eyes were starting to water (better let it breathe). The back label states it's brewed once a year on the 6th December, then aged 10months before the bottling. Well the front label says it was bottled in 2013. Still well within it's best before date of 2019, I wonder what it would taste like in four years? Too late now! Taken a while to get the flavours it's almost like a dark rum after taste, lots of Molasses and Dates, maybe be a bit of stewed Plum? This Austrian number is actually a Lager beer a Bavarian Doppelbock (learning all the time) which will have been fermented and conditioned at low temperatures. I will defiantly be staggering (Yep I drank it way to quick again!) back to the bar I purchased it from to get another bottle of this rare number – if it is still in stock. Hic!

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COVERED IN WEEDS
Mistletoe – Poo on a stick. Romantic isn't it when you find out the Anglo Saxon word Misteltan (Mistletoe) is actually - Dung (Mistle) Stick/Twig (Tan). Even though it's poisonous to us the birds love it. They poo out the seeds and the seeds then germinate (when it lands on a branch) sending out a shallow root which then pretty much sucks the life out of the tree (if it's not harvested). Some trees eventually die, others have stunted growth. However in Norse Mythology it is the symbol of Love and Affection. The Druids thought it to be magical and the sperm of the Gods which is probably why it is banned from the Christmas flower arrangements in Church. Most Churches still ban it to this day. Through the Medieval time Mistletoe was hung over door ways as it was believed it had mystical powers and could ward off evil spirits, bringing luck to the family during December. It was then often burnt when Christmas was over.

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MUSINGS
Well 2014 is nearly over, it's been a hectic year for me. Complete career change (sports coach for 5 – 13year olds to brewing beer), got myself into a permanent space in a gallery at Brougham Hall, designed this website and created a blog that according to my statistics people keep coming back to read. I Thank You all for taking time to read it. I also grew veg and kept some plants alive!!
TRAVELLING HOME/AWAY FOR NEW YEARS.
Some of you may be travelling around the country over the next few days to be with friends and families for the New Year celebrations. If this is you and you happen to be travelling through Cumbria on the M6 stop at Tebay Services. It's car driver, trucker and coach party friendly. If you've forgotten a small present you are bound to find something made locally there too. If the recipient is into their beer, there is lots on offer including stuff I will have probably brewed (Eden Brewery Ltd). Lots of other delights from 'Made In Cumbria' food to eat on site and food to be enjoyed at home. It's an amazing service station and you won't find another one like it. Oh wait, you will now, if you are on the M5 Gloucester way the guys who own Tebay Services now own a service stop down there! Check out the website before you go and plan a stop there even if it is to the feed the ducks.

If you aren't up this way make sure you plan a rest stop somewhere. Now that's my Public Safety Announcement for this year (1960's American car safety advert). If you aren't going anywhere and celebrating at home this year take full advantage of the free firework displays courtesy of all the celebrating countries and your neighbours.
For the bikers, wannabe be bikers, adventurers and anyone Born to be Wild click to hear this weeks musical interlude.
Enjoy, have fun, bottoms up and here's to the coming year (glass of milk and left over Mince pie in hand).

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