Looking forward to 'A New Vintage'

I think I should explain my lack of activity in the bloggersphere, if that is how it is spelled.

My most recent-but-one post was at the start of October since when a great deal of building work has been done at O'File Towers. This has been a major drain on mental capacity and I have unfortunately allowed this to constrain my output. Mdme O'File has borne the brunt of decision making, for which I am grateful, but it is she who has the most exacting requirements. My aesthetic judgement isn't up to the task of designing the thing that will make her happy, so I am probably viewed as being less than useful in one more capacity. Caveat emptor, Love.

The other focus has been on Unit 2 of the WSET Diploma. This is the first unit in which candidates are examined, by means of a 100 question multiple choice paper, and I was keen to pass. Truthfully, I was keen to maintain my record of gaining 'pass with distinction' in all exams but did not feel I would manage to do so. I left the exam thinking I had probably picked the second best answer on too many occasions and so I was delighted to get a letter just before Christmas advising me that my record is still intact. This gives me the encouragement to learn about fortified wines well in advance of the next paper, which is a combination of theory and tasting, to be sat in March.

I have also applied to the International Wine and Spirit Competition in the hope that I may be allowed to take the part of an 'Associate Judge'. As I understand it this could be a great learning opportunity for me and I hope I can take part. My votes will not be counted towards the allocation of awards and so I can cause no damage,  but it would both help my education and also, I admit a little too honestly, give me a bit of kudos amongst my more easily impressed acquaintances.

I hope you are all well, and I look forward to sharing my tasting notes alongside thoughts on my educational development.

If I do win the lottery, keep your eyes open for a new wine / chocolate / coffee / jewellery and art shop-cum-gallery-cum-tasting centre near the High Street soon.

pip pip.

Gewurztraminer

So, Frank, it's been too long, but I am happy to say that we are still on track.

Had a nice Chablis on Christmas day, a Vouvray on Boxing Day and now a very good Gewurztraminer from Turckheim.

Keep in touch.

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The rewards of study

So, Frank, I decided to check my progress. I managed 47%, which is 7% less than my first attempt. At this rate I should know absolutely nothing by the time the first exam comes into view. This is now only nine weeks away.
I am still happy that this is the right thing to be doing, but I still can't really explain why.

On other matters I am happy to report I have visited the first independent home of any of our progeny, celebrated an octogenarian birthday, investigated building components and am looking forward to my first visit to  a meeting of the village history society. Oh, and been to the cinema twice in three days.

The One can often be heard counselling that life has to be squeezed until it offers up all it has. I hope she is proud.

The real life job is proving to be almost genuinely full time, which is both reassuring and disappointing simultaneously. I am supposed to conduct mid-year reviews; presumably after completing the full year variety from six months ago.

Ho hum.

Another big step

Today I may well take another bold move. The One and I are about to commission some significant building work at home. I had hoped that the quote from the builder would have given us enough slack that the addition of a spiral cellar would have been the obvious thing to do. However, this is not really the case. The cellar its a great idea, but I don't think I would be able to afford to stock it, and that would make it pointless. I live in hope.

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The technical stuff

So, I am sitting in the classroom waiting to learn about the human and natural factors that affect production. there's a pile of notes in front of me that suggests this is where the real work starts. I am tired. Partly through work and partly through having caught up with some old chums last night. My wife is lovely and saved me from a bad decision. I put the error of judgement down to the lamb dhansak.

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So, Ian, what's it all about?

Well, Frank, that is a good question.

I ask myself. This isn't cheap, isn't easy, and is going to take up lots of my time. And what will it do for me?

I have a good job, and that has nothing to do with wine. I am very happily married. There are not enough hours in the day to do what I already need to do, not enough days leave to go all the places I want to go and not enough brain power to think clearly about all the other important things in my life.

Is it a mid-life crisis? Is it a vanity: 'I know lots of stuff'? Is it escapism? Do I need to prove something to myself? Am I worried that I am too boring? (judging by this blog, Frank, the last one is a candidate.)

I have, or have had, other interests. I have been in bands. With that one I find that one's musical tastes are rarely well matched with those of the people I love (and whom I suspect I would like to impress) such that they remark, 'your band is really good; you should play songs I like, then you'd be even better'. I have tried long distance running but that takes up far more time than it should and is not conducive to spending time with anyone else. People I know either run too quickly or not at all.

This journey started as a gift from The One and so I feel I have been given permission to indulge. Maybe that's it?

Short answer is it's probably all of the above and more. But whatever the truth I am going to give it a good shot and see where it takes me. Glad you have chosen to keep me company.

First hurdle

So I decided to attempt the mock exam. 54% which is I think a fail by one point. This isn't too bad considering that I haven't even read the book yet!

We were told that only for or five students read each year pass with distinction. That's a challenge!

Had some Barbera tonight with a pizza. Not bad. The pizza delivery man told me that I could have improved on the directions I supplied to get him to or house. I thanked him and promised not to buy any more of his pizzas.

Must collect the lawn mower from the menders tomorrow, configure a young lady's laptop and feed up the bees. Oh, and chase the building plans. Busy.

Good.

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A Bold Move

So. I have signed up, turned up and started. There are 28 of us on day one. It will be interesting to see how the group develops. I must take trouble take to avoid type-casting. I think there are some interesting motives in play.

I staggered home via tube, train and car, weighed down with huge volumes of reading and reference material. All quite daunting but also quite pleasing as it boosts my credibility as a serious student.

I tried to get ahead of the game this morning. Apparently it's cool below 16 degrees. Well, that's a start.