Life...is a beach!

 Life is a beach but someone must do it!  We have been truly blessed here in Melbourne this summer with beautiful warm days, azure blue and mostly cloudless skies and I have tried to take full advantage of all this summer has to offer. A favourite haunt of mine on these beautiful days is the bay side beach at Black Rock; a mere 20 minute drive from my house. Melbourne beaches are often maligned by those who live on the surf beaches in the more northern climes of Australia or those on the western and southern coasts of Victoria, and very rarely do they feature in the Melbourne tourist brochures, but Black Rock has much to offer even the most discerning of beach goers.

Surrounded by cliffs and native vegetation, Black Rock has the peace, tranquillity and gin-clear water so often absent at other beaches so close to the city. Never crowded but always interesting, it is well worth a visit next time you are in the vicinity.

The Black Rock/Sandringham area is also host to some of the more serious of Melbourne's yacht clubs, offering those old salts among you, world class sailing opportunities, and land lubbers like me, some excellent drinking and dining opportunities.

This evening however, I have eschewed yacht clubs and the like to join my good friends Kittie France and Ewushka for tonight's tipple. Comfortably ensconced on Kittie's terrace we have decided on an ice-cold trilogy of Australian sparkling wines: a Domaine Chandon Brut from the Coldstream district of Victoria, a Grant Burge NV Blanc de Noirs from South Australia's Barossa Valley and finally, a Devil's Corner Pinot Noir Chardonnay NV from Tasmania's Tamar region.

In such wonderful and convivial surrounds and feeling well settled in such good company, one can't help but enjoy! Bottoms up!