NZ beer trip - South Island 1, Christchurch

Sunday 14 November, Christchurch

Up early yet again to get the ferry across to Picton (with me hiding in the caff), then train down the coast to Christchurch. Amazing the rail tracks have all been put back together after the recent earthquake. Hotel was close to the Twisted Hop Brewery, so made off there and sat down with a pint of their old black ale, Twisted Ankle (5.9%) - as I put the beer on the table, there was a big aftershock, the room and everything moved - turned out to have been a grade 5 shock, the real thing was 8 - phew. This beer is strong stuff...... Score: Trip days 10 Beers drunk 14

Monday 15 November, Christchurch

After a walk in the hills, off to another brewpub, the famed Dux-de-Lux for dinner and a pint of Nor'Wester, their excellent old English ale (6.5%). The cycling starts tomorrow! Score: Trip days 11 Beers drunk 15

NZ beer trip - North Island

Wednesday 10th November, Auckland

Began with a bit of a disappointment - had arranged to meet at Mac's Northern Steamship brewbar on the quayside for our first New Zeadlandish pint, when we arrived were turned away by a couple of heavies who jeered that the bar was shut for a private party, a load of accountants! This place does resemble the City of London (as we found, it is not like anywhere else in NZ, tho they do seem to enjoy their private parties here). Anyway, explored elsewhere in Auckland to find (from S Island) a fab Monteith's Black - I am a fan of these dark beers - and a Tui. Score: Trip days 6 Beers drunk 9

Thursday 11 November, National Park

Up first thing to take the Overlander train down to National Park, next to the volcanoes (Lord of the Rings country - like everywhere here!) for a couple of days. Great place to stay, had a Mac Black (at last!) in our log cabin-like hotel, then a tremendous Monteith's Winter Ale (6.00%, the beer of the trip) at the excellent station restaurant. Score: Trip days 7 Beers drunk 11

Friday 12 November, National Park

Walked in Tongariro National Park today, between the volcanoes - not the great crossing walk, but still ace for views (and probably Hobbits....). Earned my beers, another Mac Black, and a Mac White, a wheat beer. Score: Trip days 8 Beers drunk 12

Saturday 13 November, Wellington

Back on the Overlander, heading for Wellington where we arrived early evening and headed to quayside, lovely fish restaurant where I drank yet another Mac Black and a Monteith's Golden Lager. Shame not to be here longer. Score: Trip days 9 Beers drunk 13

NZ beer trip - Hong Kong

Monday 8th November, Hong Kong

Hong Kong, or rather Kowloon - across the water from HK Island, and thus giving us a splendid view of the high-rise blocks - is totally new to me, and so was my first beer, Blue Girl lager. This is a bottled 5% lager, imported from Germany into HK since 1906 by Jebsen & Co. So nice I had a couple. Score: Trip days 4 Beers drunk 5

Tuesday 9th November, Hong Kong

Off to the airport, but time for a Tsingtao and an Asahi Dry before taking off for Auckland. Both 5%, not up to Blue Girl standards! Score: Trip days 5 Beers drunk 7

New Zealand beer trip 2010

Had to leave Razzle behind - in fact he loves his kennels at Home from Home in Heddon - when we went to New Zealand for nearly a month in November-December 2010. Beforehand, I was told their microbreweries were fantastic, and found out that was absolutely right. Here's my drinking diary of the trip.

Friday 5th November, London
Have to start somewhere, and as I've a conference in London tomorrow and we're not flying until Sunday evening, my first beer of the trip will be a local London brew. A pint of Fuller's ESB, enjoyed in the pub opposite the British Library. Score: Trip days 1 Beers drunk 1

Saturday 6th November, London

After the excellent Ecclesiology and Empire symposium (a word which apparently also means a drinking party) organised by the Victorian Society, it was off to St Pancras and the Betjeman Arms for a pint of Adnams Bitter (the first beer I ever tasted) and a swift half of Sharp's Betjeman Bitter. The latter was a fine drink, and it seems is actually their Cornish Coaster in London disguise. Score: Trip days 2 Beers drunk 3

Sunday 7th November, London

Evening at Heathrow, and time for a pint of - what else - but Fuller's London Pride before taking off for Hong Kong. Score: Trip days 3 Beers drunk 4

Christmas 2008

Just back from down south, had a lovely Christmas in Marlow where I stayed with my chum Daisy the springer spaniel, who took me for walks out on the hills. I had time to catch up on my reading (very important, the RAE), and take in the sights of Stratford and the fab new theatre building before those swans made me feel a tad unwelcome. I slept for ages when I got home - then I was sick (must have been the chocolates....)

Another Razzle!

It has come to my notice that there is another Razzle! Not of course a border terrier, but some black and white spotted affair, who apparently can work a camera and indeed is aspiring to be the next HMV dog. Can't quite see where the fun is in staring down a gramophone (whatever that is) all day - unless they are edible? If so, other Razzle, perhaps you could get in touch? Not that I mind having a canine chum in Razzle World, us Razzles have to stick together, and apparently other Razzle has been on holiday in Northumberland. He - or maybe he's a she - should have dropped in, we could have had a roll on the Moor together, licked a few bones, generally hung out. Personally, HMV aside, my aspirations are more food and cat orientated. I really upset my owners last night by disappearing to chase cats in the dark - well, they are always telling me how dull I am compared with the Amazing Former Patterdale Benson, so serve them right. They found me sat outside Asbo Archie's house (he's a smaller terrier chum of mine ) watching the traffic go by. Anyway, I'm told I'm going on holiday soon, to the lands of the south where marrow bones flow like milk and honey - I'll believe it when I eat it.

New book and cool dog

Since I last saw you all I've had my winter trim. Well, hand-stripping to be precise, us border terriers are special. But you knew that. Anyway, this is me out on the Moor today, looking very cool, a real calendar boy (though the mud does get between my toes). And here I am trying to extract a treat from someone's pocket - caught in the act. Lynn's been very busy on a new book she wants me to tell you about - apparently you click on this link (how does she expect me to do that with my paws) www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/480847 and you can buy a print-on-demand book. It's called A Field Guide to Postwar Murals and is published by Blue House Books. Come to think of it, I've just walked past the Blue House roundabout - wonder if there's any connection? Time for my carrot.