Ray Blockley
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huck-cider.bsky.social
Ray Blockley
@huck-cider.bsky.social
Cider maker, dog owner, ex-teacher of 11-18s (30yrs). Draws, paints & designs. Likes CAD & DIY. Practical. Woke Bloke. Humanist. Old bloke. "Boomer".
No idea what it is supposed to be... But it may look summat like this?
December 5, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Dagnabbit! 😕 Last bottle until late next spring's trip to 🇪🇦. Urruzola has typical acid-up-front, refreshing, crisp-apple character. Enjoyed sipping this while watching The Life & Adventures of Nichola Nickleby (1947). Bernard Miles on top form as Newman Noggs - star of the film for me 👍
#sagardoa
December 5, 2025 at 8:55 PM
We were made-up to find our old girl Yarly has been chosen by our vets for their December Profile Picture competition. 😊 She'll be 16 yrs old in 14 days time so a fitting Wooffit birthday tribute. 🐾 ❤️
This photo was actually taken in 2012. 🌲
December 3, 2025 at 12:37 PM
ARBOR spam 4: The end ... for now?
"Panettone" festive pale ale. Check out the ingredients. Very apt to be drinking this during Whamageddon... Possibly my favourite..?😋 Reminds me of a number of Spanish craft beers in Cataluña & Castellón which use orange zest & juice, plus grape must.👌
#BskyBeer
December 2, 2025 at 9:51 PM
ARBOR spam 3:
"Jazz Hands" DIPA (Double IPA). Brewed in association with Pomona Island of Salford, using a range of hops from the more citrus-note range of hop. A sipper; resinous & aged-marmalade flavours.
#BskyBeer
December 2, 2025 at 9:27 PM
ARBOR spam 2:
"Everyday People" hazy pale ale. Refreshing & more-ish.
#BskyBeer
December 2, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Catching up so...
ARBOR spam 1: "Shangri-La" session IPA. Great easy drinking IPA.
#BskyBeer
December 2, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Staying in after 2 days & nights of hedonism, starting with a can of Arbor's "Mosaic" single-hop pale.
Fresh, floral & fruity, just as it says on the tin. Gluten Free so user friendly; given the choice I prefer GF beers (ie: compare Black Iris's "Endless Summer" draught GF & non-GF 👌)
#BskyBeer
November 29, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The final swallow of "Rock On Tommy" proper whole juice cider from Uncle Luke @mnkybridgecider.bsky.social for The Goode Wyffe. I can't (daren't) mix it...
#cider #local #proper
November 28, 2025 at 6:18 PM
A predictable birthday evening treat: out to Chung's of Mapperley, Nottingham. Excellent Oriental food washed down with excellent wine. Only thing better was the company. 🥰❤️
November 28, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Popped down to The Beer Shack to celebrate my 69th orbit around the sun. Had some great beers, accompanied by Pork Scratchings, watched with intent by the Wooffits. The scratchings - not the beers - are the objects of their intent.
November 28, 2025 at 5:21 PM
The "Space Junk" is possibly one of the better (best?) dark beers I've enjoyed for many a day. Stout - or Porter? My jury is out. Very dark-chocolate-y, very rich; maybe a touch too sweet? Compared to some "porters" it isn't sweet at all. Goode Wyffe has resorted to more Dancing Duck.
#beer
November 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Was tempted with the 'Cherry & Pineapple Cider'* labelled "Traditional Cider" (because it was in a box on the bar..?🤔) but instead settled on a pint of the rather good "Our House" Extra Pale Citra cask ale from CRB. Goode Wyffe went for a Dancing Duck pale.
[*No I fookin wasn't..]
#beer #local
November 27, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Woo-hoo! 😊 Front seats upstairs on a double-decker bus! Takes me back to my childhood... 👍
#bus #doubledecker #publictransport
November 27, 2025 at 4:27 PM
The Goode Wyffe has visited the maison de haute coiffure late this afternoon & popped into the Beer Shack on the way back... A bag of Arbor's best accompanied her on her return. 😋 Good times. 👌
#beer
November 26, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Cracked open today's pudding: a rich, mouth-filling Single Variety "Tremlett's Bitter" cider from Hancock's Meadow Farm, Herefordshire. Lovely deep colour & clarity, spicy nose, gentle sparkle. Not as tannic as expected & with some lingering residual sweetness. 😋👌
#cider #bittersweet
November 25, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Bit of disappointing news today so drowning our sorrows with a glass or two of excellent Single Variety "Black Dabinett" cider made by Uncle Luke @mnkybridgecider.bsky.social Lovely gentle sparkle from bottle conditioning - & proper DRY as it should be.😋
#cider #local #cracking 🍏🍎
November 25, 2025 at 7:42 PM
I love 'em. 😋 Need a good accompaniment though..? Wooffits love them too (fight!) but the Mrs hates them... 🙄 Far too haute cuisine for her tastes.
November 25, 2025 at 11:05 AM
On top of The Ranges 14 yrs ago today. 🐾 ❤️
Yarly will be 16 in 3 weeks time so she would have been just coming up to her 2nd birthday back then.
#dog #walking #memory #statue
November 24, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Out in Beeston last night to The Crown & Star Inn, with an excellent meal at the Lagan Indian Tapas in the middle.😋 I was at school with Rob (rear R) & his best man when he married Pam (front L). This August marked their 40th Wedding Anniversary. 👍
#goodtimes #tempusfugit #gettingold
November 23, 2025 at 11:35 AM
A nice pint of Oakham Citra & A.N.Other pale hoppy beer with a suitably festive background in The Crown at Beeston, Nottingham.
#beer
November 22, 2025 at 8:55 PM
The Wee Black Beastie showing off with a variation on the theme of weaving... End of a long session of agility so she's tired. As is the Goode Wyffe. 👍🐾
#dog #training #agility
November 21, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Now these two sound right up my street... 😋 I haven't had a bad beer from the Lenton Lane crew yet & their collaborations have been spot on. 👌
#beer #stout #mild
November 20, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Blimey. When opening the back of one of these toys to check the batteries were OK - toy still working fine - I thought I was reading the date wrong...!
24 years past Best Before date & still going strong. 👌
#duracell #batteries
November 16, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Amazed this still works 😊 [Need sound on]
Sifting & sorting through stuff to pass on. Very sad to let some of this go, though... 😕
Strewth ... 30 years ago when Toy Story was released. Gift from the Goode Wyffe for one of our first Christmas's together ❤️ Awwww.
November 16, 2025 at 5:05 PM