Anyone who knows me knows I’m partial to the odd drop of wine. Some of my friends even think I know a bit about wine but to be brutally honest that flatters me. The truth is I’m no expert on wine, but in the same way as I’m no expert in art, to use an old cliche, I know what I like. I’ve been fond of wine, or to be more accurate alcohol since I was a teenager. I would often have a bottle of cheap wine or sangria in my bedroom from whatever age it was that the off licences would serve me. Probably about 14. I read about wine and tried to cut through all the guff and nonsense but have come to the realisation that the guff and nonsense really was/is just guff and nonsense. See, the thing is, we all have different tastes. Yes, some wines are clearly better, smoother, more rounded or what ever other adjective you might like to bandy around, but something I find outstanding someone else might find bland or worse, and of course, vice versa. So what floats my boat?

I like heavy rich reds. Saint-Emilion was my first sit up and gasp moment. It was over 25 years ago. I was in a restaurant, The Saxon Mill in Warwick with my partner at the time, and friends Chris and Fiona. I ordered the Saint-Emilion with dinner and was just blown away with it. Never before had I tasted so much heavenly flavour as I had in my hand at that moment. I’ve never quite recreated that moment but I came close last year when, living away from home for work, alone, I picked up a bottle of Blackburn & James Merlot 2009

Blackburn & James

The next day, as I returned from my office back to my liveaway flat I went back into the co-op. I picked up the remaining three bottles that were on the shelf and took them to the checkout. I commented to the lady at the till what a stunning wine it was and remember her saying she didn’t like wine. I told her she didn’t know what she was missing and she assured me, in that friendly way that people from South Yorkshire do, that she’d pass my comments on to the manager because this wine was new to the store on trial and they didn’t know if they were going to order more! I made the case that they really really should, and that I’d buy it. The next day when I went back in for my supplies, she smiled and nodded to me and told me they’d decided to make it a regular order. I drank a lot of that wine over the following months!

Brown Brothers

I sometimes, though not often, order a bottle of white. It’s particularly nice on a hot sunny day when the heavy reds are too much for the weather. A pleasant bottle of voigner, or a lighter pinot can keep the thirst away, but it’s rare that I do this when there is red on offer.

The very kind @charonqc a twitter friend of mine has donated this painting to me.  The painting is titled “Let there be greed”.  A veritable thank you to M’learned, @Charonqc who has declined my offer of payment for his work.

I’ve not blogged anything for a while. I’ve been busy with work committments, weekend social committments and generally getting on with life. Last weekend we had friends around for the day on Saturday and I needed to spend family time with the family on Sunday. This week has been full on so far and I’ve a busy weekend planned.

On Saturday I’m going down to the boat with @racesail. The plan is to rig the sails which are currently off and which means one of us needs to go up the mast to put the lazyjacks back in place and then to fill up at the fuel berth before a shakedown cruise. I’m sure there will be a need to check that the fridge is keeping the beers appropriately cooled and pretty confident that We’ll end up in a pub somewhere on Saturday evening.

That said, I’m trying to work on my weight (still) so I’ll be moderating my intake. This week I’ve been eating really well and, apart from the odd finger of Whisky have avoided drinking much at all.

On Sunday, the plan is to be in the Western Solent ahead of the starting gun for the Rolex Fastnet Race. If anyone else is going to be there do take a camera and if you can get a photo of Evelyn in full sail I’ll show my appreciation in an entirely appropriate way.

This week started out really well.  I was eating sensibly, with a diet low in carbs and higher in protein than usual, and until Thursday I had no alcohol.  Thursday started out ok, but as planned I went to a curry and pint evening and the pint turned into many pints.  Friday saw a fairly impromptu visit to the local boozah where sense once again abandoned me and what should have been a couple of pints and a chat turned into a bit of a session.

Saturday saw us visit the golden arches for lunch, although I was fairly sensible for that and as it’s Mrs H’s birthday during the middle of this coming week I took her to dinner in Birmingham last night but refrained from all alcohol with the exception of a floater coffee with a splash of whisky in it and had a salad for my main course.

Bank, Brindley Place, Birmingham

Despite the regress at the back end of the week my efforts in the earlier part of the week have paid dividends and this weeks weigh in records my weight at 14st 6llb.  I’ve lost a fairly sensible 3llb in my first week.  Lets see how we go next week.

STARTING WEIGHT 14st 9llb

FIRST WEIGH IN 14st 6llb

PROGRESS SO FAR 3llb