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Hello all:

Dave here--very new to the forum, new to cheesemaking. So glad I found this forum!

I've made cheese for about 8 months now (just cut into my first two cloth-bound cheddars made last May--passable results). Have since had success with a few Gouda wheels, Butterkaese, a Colby, and currently have about 3 cheddar cheeses aging in wax. The other day, I got up the courage to (cue ominous music) try a Stilton-style cheese for the first time.

I'm not hopeful for a success with this one. I've read a few posts here, and have seen a few pictures, and I'm skeptical that mine will hold together when it comes time to aerate it with a needle. I turned it at room temperature in the mold several times a day for four days. The mass is very textured, and looks as though poking it will break it apart. It's covered in a teal-blue mold, which looks like the correct(?) color, but it appears more as a loose mass of milled curds covered in mold. It does hold together, so I have hope, and will put it in the fridge in a box, but if it doesn't bind and develop properly, I'll be disappointed but not too surprised.

I've attached a photo; this is the result prior to going into the fridge after four days of aging. Any words of advice, encouragement, consolation? Much thanks in advance!