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Alex Hallatt

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Reasons to Be Cheerful - Al Fresco Dining

December 5, 2018

It’s a relief when the sun comes out. November has been the wettest month I can remember for a while and the garden has been suffering.

In Reason to Be Cheerful Tags al fresco, cartoon, directors chairs
← New Zealand Diary - A Culture Trip to Dunedin For the WeekendNew Zealand Diary and a Reason to Be Cheerful: Drinking in Dunedin →

Latest Posts

Featured
Jun 14, 2019
8 Ways to be Less Anxious
Jun 14, 2019
Jun 14, 2019
Jun 12, 2019
Arctic Circle Cartoons - Trying Out a Plant-Based Diet Though Not Being Proper Vegan
Jun 12, 2019
Jun 12, 2019
Jun 10, 2019
Living in New Zealand: The Lyttelton Timeball Drops Every Day at 1pm (Probably)
Jun 10, 2019
Jun 10, 2019
Jun 9, 2019
Reasons to Be Cheerful - Finding There Are a Lot of People Who Care
Jun 9, 2019
Jun 9, 2019
Jun 7, 2019
How to Reduce Anxiety - Hang Out With Friendly Dogs
Jun 7, 2019
Jun 7, 2019
Jun 5, 2019
Living in New Zealand: Slip Slap Slop Against the Sun's UV
Jun 5, 2019
Jun 5, 2019
May 31, 2019
Reasons to Be Cheerful - A Visit to Melbourne Doesn't Have to be Expensive (But it Was!)
May 31, 2019
May 31, 2019
May 28, 2019
Recharging the Creative Batteries in Melbourne, Australia (and Becoming Less Anxious)
May 28, 2019
May 28, 2019
May 22, 2019
Reasons to Be Cheerful - Listening to Someone Practising the Violin (Sometimes)
May 22, 2019
May 22, 2019
May 17, 2019
Living in New Zealand: You See More Kingfishers Looking Up
May 17, 2019
May 17, 2019
Blog RSS
  • June 2019
    • Jun 14, 2019 8 Ways to be Less Anxious Jun 14, 2019
    • Jun 12, 2019 Arctic Circle Cartoons - Trying Out a Plant-Based Diet Though Not Being Proper Vegan Jun 12, 2019
    • Jun 10, 2019 Living in New Zealand: The Lyttelton Timeball Drops Every Day at 1pm (Probably) Jun 10, 2019
    • Jun 9, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Finding There Are a Lot of People Who Care Jun 9, 2019
    • Jun 7, 2019 How to Reduce Anxiety - Hang Out With Friendly Dogs Jun 7, 2019
    • Jun 5, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Slip Slap Slop Against the Sun's UV Jun 5, 2019
  • May 2019
    • May 31, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - A Visit to Melbourne Doesn't Have to be Expensive (But it Was!) May 31, 2019
    • May 28, 2019 Recharging the Creative Batteries in Melbourne, Australia (and Becoming Less Anxious) May 28, 2019
    • May 22, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Listening to Someone Practising the Violin (Sometimes) May 22, 2019
    • May 17, 2019 Living in New Zealand: You See More Kingfishers Looking Up May 17, 2019
    • May 14, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Christchurch Has Fantastic Libraries and Tūranga is the Best May 14, 2019
    • May 13, 2019 It's Bullying-Free NZ Week May 13, 2019
    • May 13, 2019 Arctic Circle Cartoon - Eating Invasive Species May 13, 2019
    • May 10, 2019 New Zealand Garden Diary: The South Island Robin May 10, 2019
    • May 8, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Cycling From the Sea to the City Along the Avon, Christchurch May 8, 2019
    • May 8, 2019 Living in New Zealand: The Kleptomaniac Weka May 8, 2019
    • May 6, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Nature Reclaims Things Quickly on the West Coast May 6, 2019
    • May 3, 2019 Living in New Zealand: There Are Good Independent Breweries Here and One of Them is the West Coast Brewery in Westport May 3, 2019
    • May 2, 2019 New Zealand Garden Diary: Growing Sunflower Seeds to Feed Birds May 2, 2019
    • May 1, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Pies are an Important Fast Food and Essential on Road Trips May 1, 2019
  • April 2019
    • Apr 28, 2019 Arctic Circle Cartoon - Veganism and Plant-Based Replacements for Animal-Based Foods Apr 28, 2019
    • Apr 19, 2019 Arctic Circle Cartoons and the Environmental Cost of Cruise Ships in Lyttelton, New Zealand Apr 19, 2019
    • Apr 18, 2019 Newsletter Extract: Time management when time is running out. Apr 18, 2019
    • Apr 17, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Using Dictation to Prevent Repetitive Strain Injury Can Be Entertaining Apr 17, 2019
    • Apr 15, 2019 Living in New Zealand: An Overnight Tramp to Spurs Hut Near Fairlie in Canterbury Apr 15, 2019
    • Apr 12, 2019 New Zealand Garden Diary: Happy Trees, Including Fred the Fig Apr 12, 2019
    • Apr 11, 2019 New Zealand Garden Diary: Brassicas and Pests Apr 11, 2019
    • Apr 10, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Names of Ships That Visit Lyttelton Apr 10, 2019
    • Apr 8, 2019 Living in New Zealand: It's Not 100% Pure Like the Advertisements Say Apr 8, 2019
    • Apr 5, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Saving Seeds From a Borlotti Bean Harvest and a Recipe for Pochas Apr 5, 2019
    • Apr 4, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Seventhwave Wetsuits Are Made-to-Measure Apr 4, 2019
    • Apr 3, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Reopening of Sumner Road Over Evans Pass Apr 3, 2019
    • Apr 2, 2019 New Zealand Garden Diary: Planting Winter Vegetables Apr 2, 2019
    • Apr 1, 2019 FAB Club 2 Wins Bronze in the Wishing Shelf Awards for Books for Children 9-12 Apr 1, 2019
    • Apr 1, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Dog Borrowing Apr 1, 2019
  • March 2019
    • Mar 29, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Visiting a Cheese Factory in Barry's Bay, Banks Peninsula Mar 29, 2019
    • Mar 28, 2019 New Zealand Garden Diary: Tomato Harvest Mar 28, 2019
    • Mar 27, 2019 New Zealand Garden Diary: Mulching With a Truckload of Shredded Trees Mar 27, 2019
    • Mar 19, 2019 New Zealand Garden Diary: Making a $100 Shed From Recycled Materials With Hand Tools Mar 19, 2019
    • Mar 11, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Socca Bread is a Grain-Free Alternative to Wraps, Pancakes and Pizza Dough Mar 11, 2019
    • Mar 8, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Tuataras are Cute Mar 8, 2019
    • Mar 6, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Taking a Trip to Otamahua Hut on Quail Island Mar 6, 2019
    • Mar 6, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Fur Seals Mar 6, 2019
    • Mar 4, 2019 New Zealand Garden Diary: Composting and Bokashi Mar 4, 2019
    • Mar 1, 2019 Living in New Zealand: The Moa Mar 1, 2019
  • February 2019
    • Feb 25, 2019 Living in New Zealand: What Should Have Been a Short Tramp up to Sign of the Packhorse Feb 25, 2019
    • Feb 22, 2019 Arctic Circle Cartoon - How to Fix the Internet Feb 22, 2019
    • Feb 20, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Gordon Walters at the Christchurch Art Gallery Feb 20, 2019
    • Feb 15, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Building a Potting Shed From Recycled Materials Feb 15, 2019
    • Feb 14, 2019 New Zealand Garden Diary: Cecil's Successor - Cuthbert the Cucumber Feb 14, 2019
    • Feb 13, 2019 Newsletter Extract: A Hot and Dry New Zealand Summer Feb 13, 2019
    • Feb 8, 2019 New Zealand Garden Diary: Butternut Squash, Possums and Trapping Goodnaturedly Feb 8, 2019
    • Feb 7, 2019 New Zealand Garden Diary: Kale Grows Like a Weed Feb 7, 2019
    • Feb 6, 2019 New Zealand Garden Diary: Fiona the Feijoa Update - Growing Well Feb 6, 2019
    • Feb 5, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Things to do on Waitangi Day: Weaving Māori Baskets Feb 5, 2019
    • Feb 5, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - The Benefits of a Social Media-Free February Feb 5, 2019
    • Feb 4, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Why Having Cats is Different to Owning Dogs Feb 4, 2019
    • Feb 3, 2019 Arctic Circle Cartoon - Selfies Feb 3, 2019
    • Feb 1, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Fish and Chips on the Beach Feb 1, 2019
  • January 2019
    • Jan 31, 2019 Living in New Zealand: The Dairy Jan 31, 2019
    • Jan 30, 2019 Social Media Free February: Quitting Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn Jan 30, 2019
    • Jan 30, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Fire Danger Signs and Warning Wheels Jan 30, 2019
    • Jan 29, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Our Insurance Company Paid For the Laptops That Were Fried in a Hot Room Jan 29, 2019
    • Jan 27, 2019 Television Was Better When I Was a Kid Jan 27, 2019
    • Jan 25, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Feilding - What Can I Say? Jan 25, 2019
    • Jan 24, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Herbertville, I So Wanted to Like You Jan 24, 2019
    • Jan 23, 2019 Living in New Zealand: Crossing the Cook Strait by Ferry Jan 23, 2019
    • Jan 22, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Coromandel Beaches Are Gorgeous Jan 22, 2019
    • Jan 20, 2019 Can't We All Just Get Along? Jan 20, 2019
    • Jan 18, 2019 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Sard Wonder Soap Jan 18, 2019
    • Jan 17, 2019 Illustrated Epistle Extract: Our First Classic Kiwi Christmas Holiday Jan 17, 2019
  • December 2018
    • Dec 24, 2018 Happy Holidays From Lyttelton New Zealand Dec 24, 2018
    • Dec 13, 2018 Arctic Circle Cartoons - Electric Cars Dec 13, 2018
    • Dec 12, 2018 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Restoring Old Things Dec 12, 2018
    • Dec 10, 2018 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Avenues of Trees Dec 10, 2018
    • Dec 7, 2018 Reasons to Be Cheerful - You Can Take a Bike on the Bus With Metro Christchurch Dec 7, 2018
    • Dec 6, 2018 New Zealand Diary - A Culture Trip to Dunedin For the Weekend Dec 6, 2018
    • Dec 5, 2018 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Al Fresco Dining Dec 5, 2018
    • Dec 5, 2018 New Zealand Diary and a Reason to Be Cheerful: Drinking in Dunedin Dec 5, 2018
    • Dec 1, 2018 Living in New Zealand: Summer, Camping and Caravans Dec 1, 2018
  • November 2018
    • Nov 29, 2018 Living in New Zealand: Why Do Kiwis Make So Many Things Out of Corrugated Iron? Nov 29, 2018
    • Nov 28, 2018 Living in New Zealand: What is There to Do in Oamaru? Nov 28, 2018
    • Nov 26, 2018 Living in New Zealand: Little Blue (Don't Call Them Fairy) Penguins Nov 26, 2018
    • Nov 22, 2018 Reasons to Be Cheerful - First Broad Beans of the Season Nov 22, 2018
    • Nov 19, 2018 Illustrated Epistle Extract: Things That Will Kill You in New Zealand Nov 19, 2018
    • Nov 9, 2018 Reasons to Be Cheerful - My New Work Space Nov 9, 2018
    • Nov 8, 2018 The Book of Culls is Free on amazon on Thursdays-ish in November Nov 8, 2018
    • Nov 6, 2018 New Zealand Garden Diary: Planting an Olive Tree in Hope of Olives in the Not too Distant Future Nov 6, 2018
    • Nov 5, 2018 New Zealand Garden Diary: Planting a Feijoa Tree Nov 5, 2018
    • Nov 4, 2018 Arctic Circle Comic Strip: Can Plastic in the Ocean Ever be a Good Thing? Nov 4, 2018
    • Nov 1, 2018 New Zealand Garden Diary: Planting a Fig Tree So That it Won't Grow too Much Nov 1, 2018
  • October 2018
    • Oct 29, 2018 Arctic Circle Comic Strip: Animal Yoga Oct 29, 2018
    • Oct 25, 2018 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Homemade Sauerkraut Oct 25, 2018
    • Oct 25, 2018 New Zealand Diary: First Surf of the Season Oct 25, 2018
    • Oct 23, 2018 New Zealand Garden Diary: Need to Scythe Oct 23, 2018
    • Oct 18, 2018 Reasons to Be Cheerful - Travelling Without Flying Oct 18, 2018
    • Oct 18, 2018 Illustrated Epistle Extract: What Makes a Place Home? Oct 18, 2018
    • Oct 17, 2018 Reasons to Be Cheerful: Fingerposts Oct 17, 2018
    • Oct 12, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Hasta Luego: Agur! Oct 12, 2018
    • Oct 12, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Salud y Seguridad Oct 12, 2018
    • Oct 11, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Festivo de Hondarribia: Kutxa Oct 11, 2018
    • Oct 10, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Pinchos de Hondarribia: Gilda Oct 10, 2018
    • Oct 9, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Restaurante de Hondarribia: Txantxangorri Oct 9, 2018
    • Oct 8, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Tienda de Hondarribia: Lendabisco Echea Oct 8, 2018
    • Oct 7, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia desde Hendaya: Caseríos Oct 7, 2018
    • Oct 6, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: La Playa de Hondarribia Oct 6, 2018
    • Oct 5, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Parte Vieja: La Tienda Baratze Oct 5, 2018
    • Oct 4, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Muralla: Búho Confudido Oct 4, 2018
    • Oct 3, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Marina: Rotonda Oct 3, 2018
    • Oct 2, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Huertas Oct 2, 2018
    • Oct 1, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Marina Oct 1, 2018
    • Oct 1, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Cuadrillas Oct 1, 2018
  • September 2018
    • Sep 30, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Marina: Escaleras Sep 30, 2018
    • Sep 30, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Parte Vieja: Hotel Palacete Sep 30, 2018
    • Sep 29, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Hendaya: El Barco Sep 29, 2018
    • Sep 29, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Cafe: Amona Margarita Sep 29, 2018
    • Sep 29, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Remeros Sep 29, 2018
    • Sep 28, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Donostia-San Sebastian: Zurriola Sep 28, 2018
    • Sep 27, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Parte Vieja: Torre Sep 27, 2018
    • Sep 27, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Hondarribia: Cubos y Perrito Sep 27, 2018
    • Sep 26, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: El Soldado: Hatxeroa Sep 26, 2018
    • Sep 25, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: El Barco Sep 25, 2018
    • Sep 24, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: Cantina de Guadalupe Sep 24, 2018
    • Sep 23, 2018 Mi Diario en el Pais Vasco: El Mercado: The Market Sep 23, 2018
    • Sep 21, 2018 It's Good to Be Back in Hondarribia Sep 21, 2018
    • Sep 17, 2018 Illustrated Epistle Plus: Things to do in London when you don't like big cities very much Sep 17, 2018
    • Sep 16, 2018 Reasons to Be Cheerful: History Sep 16, 2018
    • Sep 9, 2018 Eastbourne and Eric Ravilious Sep 9, 2018
    • Sep 3, 2018 Finding Great Children's Books Online With Toppsta Sep 3, 2018
  • August 2018
    • Aug 27, 2018 FAB Indoor and Outdoor Games For Kids Aug 27, 2018
    • Aug 14, 2018 Billie Was the Best Dog Ever Aug 14, 2018
    • Aug 10, 2018 Herne Bay Cartoon Festival 2018 Aug 10, 2018
    • Aug 3, 2018 Heading to the Herne Bay Cartoon Festival Aug 3, 2018
  • July 2018
    • Jul 24, 2018 A First Look at the Print Version of FAB Club 2 - Friends Against Cyberbullying Jul 24, 2018
    • Jul 18, 2018 Illustrated Epistle Extract: Crook Crockery Jul 18, 2018
    • Jul 16, 2018 Comic Strip Cartooning Workshop for Kids at Lyttelton Library Jul 16, 2018
    • Jul 12, 2018 My New Middle Grade Book About Cyberbullying: FAB Club 2 Jul 12, 2018
    • Jul 3, 2018 It's Winter in New Zealand and Time For Mulled Wine Jul 3, 2018
    • Jul 1, 2018 Planting Day at Living Springs Jul 1, 2018
  • June 2018
    • Jun 27, 2018 Living in New Zealand: I Wish Lyttelton Had a Fishmonger Jun 27, 2018
    • Jun 25, 2018 It's a Good Day to Be Inside the Studio Jun 25, 2018
    • Jun 19, 2018 Illustrated Epistle: Predator Free New Zealand Though Not Yet At Our House Jun 19, 2018
    • Jun 17, 2018 Happy Father's Day From Arctic Circle Jun 17, 2018
    • Jun 7, 2018 Lincoln: It's Much Nicer Than I Expected Jun 7, 2018
  • May 2018
    • May 31, 2018 I Love New Brighton. It Has Many Reasons to Be Cheerful May 31, 2018
    • May 19, 2018 Illustrated Epistle: Learning to Cartoon May 19, 2018
    • May 15, 2018 Cartooning Workshop for Older Kids May 15, 2018
    • May 11, 2018 Reasons to Be Cheerful: I'm on Cartoonstock May 11, 2018
    • May 6, 2018 Stand Up Paddle Boarding to Quail Island May 6, 2018
  • April 2018
    • Apr 30, 2018 Bullying is Still a Big Problem in NZ Schools Apr 30, 2018
    • Apr 24, 2018 Cartooning Workshop in Lyttelton Library for 7-12 Year Olds Apr 24, 2018
    • Apr 17, 2018 New Zealand Diary: Rat Trapping in Lyttelton Apr 17, 2018
    • Apr 12, 2018 Illustrated Epistle: Tramping in New Zealand Apr 12, 2018
    • Apr 11, 2018 Reasons to Be Cheerful: Fermenting Apr 11, 2018
    • Apr 9, 2018 Living in New Zealand: Dog-Friendly Oxford Forest Walk to Ryde Falls Apr 9, 2018
  • March 2018
    • Mar 27, 2018 Living in New Zealand: Christchurch Rebuild Post Earthquake Mar 27, 2018
    • Mar 19, 2018 Illustrated Epistle: Living in New Zealand With a Dog Mar 19, 2018
    • Mar 12, 2018 Arctic Circle Cartoon: The End of Free Range Childhoods Mar 12, 2018
    • Mar 11, 2018 New Zealand: Seed Collecting Mar 11, 2018
    • Mar 7, 2018 Living in New Zealand: The Wilson Plastic Postbox Mar 7, 2018
    • Mar 6, 2018 Constellation Charts in Double Helix Magazine Mar 6, 2018
    • Mar 5, 2018 Back on the Paddle Board Mar 5, 2018

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Head to the blog on alexhallatt.com to see more (link in bio). But yes, social media makes me anxious and I am aware that this is social media (though it makes me a lot less anxious than Facebook).⠀ #HowNotToBeAnxious #anxiety #illustratorsofinstagram #illustratorsoninstagram #cartoon
It's a happy day when new books arrive. I bought these because this is the first book on bread that actually helped me make a decent plain white loaf and I have zero classical education and need to fix that.
Gardening is therapy. #MiddleAgedAndProudofIt #garden #HowNotToBeAnxious #anxiety #illustratorsofinstagram #illustratorsoninstagram #cartoon
I like forests, rivers and mountains (if I'm not cold and my life isn't in danger), but there is nothing as good as a walk by the sea. #HowNotToBeAnxious #anxiety #illustratorsofinstagram #illustratorsoninstagram #cartoon
If anyone knows of a chilled out Jack Russell in New Zealand in need of a good home, let me know. Apparently, this is a hard ask. #HowNotToBeAnxious #anxiety #illustratorsofinstagram #illustratorsoninstagram #cartoon
The wine seems to help too. ⠀ #HowNotToBeAnxious #anxiety #wine #shiraz #illustratorsofinstagram #illustratorsoninstagram #cartoon
Nice to see the sun again. #Lyttelton #Whakaraupo
Though I am getting slightly anxious because of the length of my to do list.⠀ #HowNotToBeAnxious #anxiety #illustratorsofinstagram #illustratorsoninstagram #cartoon
  • Alex Hallatt
    8 Ways to be Less Anxious https://t.co/yraIovgjiG
    about a day ago
  • Alex Hallatt
    I hope I'm still creating good work at 93. This from Pablo Casals, cellist, via @brainpickings… https://t.co/CGpjlt7tuV
    about 2 days ago
  • Alex Hallatt
    Arctic Circle Cartoons - Trying Out a Plant-Based Diet Though Not Being Proper Vegan https://t.co/WCXErZsrFS
    about 3 days ago

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