Best in show

Had a fun family morning during half term at a local dog show held in the grounds of an ice-cream parlour. It's hard to say whether it was the idea of ice creams on a hot sunny day or the chance to see cute puppies which attracted the follies most.

There was a list of possible categories Bess could be entered into and we managed to find 4 vaguely suitable so that each of the girls could take her for one event.  We started with waggiest tail which is hilarious considering Bess had her tail docked, but Folly 1 did the best she could to encourage the stump to wag. The dog next door did get a rosette so we felt pleased by association.  However, it was downhill from then on with the prizes (even for the dog next door). Each of the Follies took Bess into the ring (fenced area of grass) and led her round beautifully, they instructed her to sit and stay, and they answered questions from the judge but our dog was not up to the grade.  I just don't think we found the event most suited to a dog that puts up with this.

Weddings

After a lull of many years we find ourselves with invitations to a few weddings this spring and summer.  Of course just like the personalities of our friends and family they are very different in formality and occasion.  Today as a friend takes her vows and we are unable to join in their celebration I find myself thinking about these rites.  There is something extremely powerful about the moment in which two people willingly marry together.  I see such a sign of optimisim and hope whether in the pomp of a royal wedding, the intimacy of a family gathering, or in wedding photographs of those that we do not personally know.  I remember at my own wedding the strange feeling that everyone gathered at the church and reception was there sending love and good wishes to us. I think back to all those times we have attended weddings and feel so privileged to share in such a special moment. And so tonight as my friend and her new husband dance, eat and drink in celebration I send out my love to wish them a special future together.

Summer at the follies

The lack of rain and relatively warm temperatures here in the South indicated that summer was here and today we got the sunshine as well. It was gorgeous weather here in Hampshire and with the girls of the house currently home for half term holidays we were able to enjoy.  All friends from the previous days (and nights) sleepovers had left and all our appointments done, so today had a real holiday feel.

We put the splash pool up early in May thinking that we might have a repeat of last years hot weather.  There had been sporadic use especially from Folly 3 who loves the water, but today the girls were in and out all day.  We had synchronised swimming shows, handstand competitions and mermaid games.

   All our meals were outside today and after a full day of activity what better way to head into the evening than with a game of cards.

Yes or no?

I am embarrassed to admit that I always thought it would be a little thrilling to vote in a referendum.  I think it was the romantic in me thinking that there would be forceful debate about an issue we all cared about. Instead we find ourselves voting on whether to make a change about voting, and even the politicians are finding it hard to instigate intense debate.  I'm not sure that the 1975 referendum about staying in Europe faired any better in getting people motivated.

In respect to all the work of the suffragettes I always exercise my bitterly fought right to vote. Also, since we live next to the polling station excuses are somewhat limited. I do like to wait until 9.58pm though, just to make it seem worthwhile to keep the booths open until 10pm. 

So my excitable notions about a referendum have faded and I think the polling pole sums up the follies jaded feelings about politics just now.

Country mice visit the city

Mr Folly suggested the outing having himself watched that Fairytale wedding from a spot outside Buckingham Palace.  However, it was only in the last week that we convinced folly 4 that she would not actually have a prime seat in the abbey itself and would not be able to throw confetti on the bride.

Flags purchased, faces painted and picnic made we set off on the train from Winchester. We met other families on the train and the party atmosphere started here.  We are indebted to the family who lent us blue facepaint enabling the red stars on faces to be turned into union flags.

Organisation of trains and tube was amazing with instructions being put out over speakers and plenty of staff around to ask questions.  Mr F took charge as leader of the group and navigated us towards Pall Mall and we found ourselves outside Clarence House gates.  Here the follies discovered the magical properties of periscopes and managed to see Princes William and Harry leaving for the Abbey.  Follies 1 & 2 wriggled their way to a good spot and reported back to the crowd on the colour of the Queens outfit and details of the first glimpse of THE DRESS.

We ate our picnic during the marriage service, interrupting sandwich chewing for the big cheer as William and Kate were pronounced husband and wife.  Jerusalem was accompanied by not only flag waving but also crisp crunching, though more decorum was shown by us all for the national anthem.

By this point we had secured a length of railing running along the edge of St James Park behind the crowds at the edge of the Mall and all 4 Follies could stand on this railing holding onto Mr & Mrs Folly shoulders.  A perfect view for them but sadly it did mean that Mr & Mrs had to rely solely on the things they thought worthy of report. They really enjoyed seeing the little bridesmaids chattering and waving.

Once the procession was over the surge up the Mall began and this is where the country mice began to feel a little overwhelmed as confident older 2 follies strode into the throng while the younger 2 clung to parental trouser pockets. Pressing closer and closer to strangers did not feel comfortable to those girls used to wide open personal spaces and eventually we decided to give up on the chance to see the balcony scene and return home to try and catch glimpses of ourselves on tv.

Once home we immediately watched the tv coverage and so with camera images mingling into those watched for real we all began to believe we had that seat in the abbey - if only we had remembered to bring the confetti.

The portuguese inventor

The first morning there was excitement in the air as Mario was keen for us to see his new invention for the mass turning of 600 bottles of wine and we were equally interested to see how this would be done.

 

Mario has created a beautiful sculpture like piece of equipment which enables him to turn a cage of 600 bottles in one go rather than having to pick each bottle up individually to turn.

We were not as quite as confident as Mario and thought perhaps experimenting with 600 bottles initially might be a little precipitous, but we needn’t have worried as everything worked perfectly.

Mario explained how he is always thinking of ways which might improve the wine or provide an interesting story for those who buy and drink Negreiros wine.  The marketing of wine from a small producer needs to be innovative and the stories Mario relates through blogs, pictures and video invite the wine drinker to take that initial taste. 

http://negreiros-vinho.blogspot.com

Later in the day we learnt about  Mario’s impending trial of storing bottles under water to maintain a constant temperature. In order to do this the corks in all the wine bottles need to be sealed to protect them from the water.  This is done by dipping the neck of the bottle into wax and Mario encouraged us to take part in the dipping process.

It will be great to taste this wine in years to come and compare the flavour - who knows it could be the very bottles we sealed.

Portuguese chronicles

Mario Negreiros, our host for the weekend drove the car over the brow of the hill and
announced ‘Quinta das Amendoeiras’. From the hilltop we looked out across the valley to the Negreiros family vineyard and winery.

Through the darkening sky of dusk we could see miles of terraces cut into the hillside and the spiky silhouettes of the four vine varieties used in the Negreiros wines - Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz .

It then took some time for the car to descend the hill, follow
the curve of the land and turn into the roadway to la quinta. Eager to get some sense of the land in which we were staying, we walked to an area of olive groves, but with the light rapidly disappearing we were unable to appreciate the landscape surrounding us.

Having been shown our room it was time for something to eat and our first taste of a wine grown and produced on the very soil we were standing.



This was a perfect start to our weekend of tasting, particularly when eaten with our bacalhau (codfish). Here we also had the first taste of Mario’s wonderful storytelling.

He related heroic and funny tales of the expeditions taken long ago by Portuguese fishermen. He moved on to the history of the Douro region and finally his own family story. Mario explained how grapes grown by his grandfather were sold to make Port for the company Cockburns, how the winery became almost a ruin and how Mario made the decision to rebuild fusing old and new winemaking techniques.