I think that wraps it up

Sorry for the long silence, but I have been busy elsewhere and attempting to project a more outwardly-acceptable face.

However, it has been a good week.

On Monday, The One accompanied me to the Guildhall to attend the WSET Graduation ceremony at which I was handed a blue cardboard tube containing a letter and a waiter's friend, by non-other than Jancis Robinson, whose bottles I am unworthy to uncork.

Apparently The One has a cousin who considers JC and her husband personal friends. Small world. I didn't mention this to the great lady and limited my half of the conversation to 'thank you' & 'yes, please'. I was well brought up.

Then on Thursday I presented my first wine tasting to the Hampstead chapter of U3A. Nice bunch. They asked lots of questions to which I shouted lots of answers, in an attempt to be heard over the Portsmouth Symphonia who were rehearsing next door.

I got away with it and was rewarded with a pizza. I think that now justifies me having had some business cards bearing the optimistic title 'independent wine tutor' printed. I gave my first one away on Monday, so it is possible that the readership of my other blog (and worryingly this one) will increase to two. The other is me when I am not logged in. It will be nice to have some company, but the potential loss of anonymity is concerning especially as I may come under scrutiny, for reasons I cannot disclose, in the near future.

I am quite encouraged that this may all be leading somewhere over the course of the next decade. No hurry.

Keep in touch.

Back to the start

I have booked myself onto a 'Vine to Glass' introduction to the world of wine.

I want to recapture the fresh eyes of the novice,  so that I can accurately assess whether I could be capable of leading similar classes myself.

I will report back after the event.

Why stop here?

In an act of great cunning, the school sent not only a letter and a certificate,  but also an application form for the level 5 honours diploma.

The highest mark and most complimentary feedback I achieved during level 4 was for the unit 1 assignment.  Level 5 seems similar in nature,  just a bit bigger and with greater scope for personal preference.

Compared to level 4 it is really not  expensive.

Oh dear,  I don't think I can resist. .......

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome

The nice lady at WSET said I am now entitled to use the  post nominals AIWS.

Fantastic! I was pleased.

So I decided to look into it a little further.

Apparently it means the following:

Alice-in-Wonderland syndrome (AIWS, named after the novel written by Lewis Carroll), also known as Todd's syndrome or lilliputian hallucinations, is a disorienting neurological condition that affects human perception. Sufferers may experience micropsia, macropsia, or size distortion of other sensory modalities. A temporary condition, it is often associated with migraines, brain tumors, and the use of psychoactive drugs. It can also present as the initial sign of the Epstein-Barr Virus (see mononucleosis).Anecdotal reports suggest that the symptoms of AIWS are fairly common in childhood, with many people growing out of them in their teens. It appears that AIWS is also a common experience at sleep onset. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome can be caused by abnormal amounts of electrical activity causing abnormal blood flow in the parts of the brain that process visual perception and texture.

Cool.

Well, that's nice

Frank, I am happy to report that it has all been worthwhile.

Now what?

It's the waiting that gets to you

I am 7/12's through the waiting time.

Being stupid, I am beginning to feel optimistic.

Will I ever learn?

Snatching defeat....

.....from the jaws of victory,  in case you are unfamiliar with the expression.

500 available,  275 required.

VDP is, as a French chum has just pointed out, differs from VdP. Sigh. -20 points.

Noble One,  despite being an Aussie Semillon (what do you call an Australian with a Semillon?), does not come from the Hunter Valley,  but Riverina, ffs. How? -50, probably.

Work in a Medoc vineyard?  Not strong. -50?

What makes Sauvignon Blanc popular with consumers and producers?  Hmm. -30 at best.

Amarone and friends could net 70, so call that -30 as well

That's -180. I need 95 points from 4 paragraphs (max 20 each) and the half of Q1, which was all Entre-Duex-Mers (max 50).

Say -20 on the Bordeaux. Can only afford to drop 25 on the paragraphs.

Three 16s and one 17 needed.

Big Sigh. Just hope they let me do it again.