Why We Are Failing White Working Class Kids

It should not have come as any great surprise to see the headline news this week, that white working class children are falling behind in the educational achievement stakes.

As everyone jumps on the bandwagon to show how concerned they are, and to lay the blame at someone else’s door, one of those interviewed suggested that the reasoning behind this is because working class families live in deprived areas, where the local schools are failing. I would argue that this is a very simplistic view of the situation.

Yes, those who are deemed to be from a higher demographic profile often have access to resources denied to their poorer neighbours. This enables them, depending on their personal priorities, to provide all the lovely extras that many families aspire to – the latest technology, educational trips abroad, music and sports lessons etc. More importantly perhaps, there is also likely to be the opportunity for more time spent supporting and supervising their children’s homework activities and other school projects.   

In many working class families, with those fortunate to be in gainful employment, both parents are often working all the hours that God sends, often in low paid jobs, to try to make ends meet, pay the bills and put food on the table. This can leave little time for the extras that can play such a large part in the continuing educational and emotional development of their children. Whilst I have respect for Michael Wilshaw, (head of OFSTED), the notion that parents who do not read to their children should be fined is outrageous. Perhaps coming from a cosy middle class background, he and others like him, have not considered that maybe the parents of these children are not able to read very well themselves.

It is curious also, that the headlines refer only to ‘white’ working class children. I lay the blame firmly the door of a long succession of meddling governments, keen to ensure that time, effort and money is spent on a raft of politically correct initiatives. Many of these fail, and take up precious resources, all in order to ensure that we pander to our ‘multi-cultural’ society. What we have been left with is a generation of children who have largely been ‘forgotten’. With a continued focus on targets and intervention, rather than a pro-active approach towards prevention, combined with a distinct lack of joined-up thinking, it is little wonder that these youngsters, many of whom are from deprived areas, are short changed; written off as failures before they’ve reached puberty. Fortunately there has been a move towards a more focused approach in pupil premium allocation to provide the extra support needed.

In the meantime, members of organisations like Rotary are keen to engage with local schools to take up the slack, particularly with reading support.

Another solution that has been put forward is to extend school hours, and provide breakfast clubs, which would gain widespread support, if we see the government taking on the role of ‘corporate parent’; but, who is going to fund it?

If we cannot seem to get the issue of having adequate funding to provide ‘free school meals’ right, what hope is there?

There are no easy answers but we must, at all costs, continue to strive to resolve the issue, urgently, as the repercussions of not doing so for our future generations hardly bears thinking about.

 

Election Winners and Losers

In the run up to this week’s European elections, locally at least, UKIP seemed to be hard at it, and hot on the heels of the Green Party, who have been vigilant in their canvassing. Those of us tuned to the TV slots allowing parties to put across their rather one-sided accounts will have noticed some pretty poor performances.

Personally I blame Heath, for leading us down a very rocky path. Just old enough to vote at the time I thought we were merely agreeing to trading terms. Instead we now find ourselves faced with the unwieldy behemoth that is the European Union, unable to put its own house in order and dragging us along with it. Do I sound like a Euro-sceptic? Certainly. However, I also believe that we are so far down the line that to throw our dollies out of the pram in a fit of pique would be a costly mistake at a time when it looks as if our economy is finally about to turn the corner.

It will be interesting to see how things pan out, as other countries are also beginning to have their doubts about the benefits of continued membership, and voicing these more publicly.

Closer to home though I am much more concerned about the tactics used by some campaigners in their bid to win at all costs, and what it says about them and their political allegiance. Over the weekend I noticed that some election boards had been damaged and removed; presumably in a bid to unsettle candidates, and influence the minority of the electorate that will actually bother to turn out to vote this week.

As in any competition, for this is what this is, when one or other party resorts to such devious and underhand actions in a bid to be the victor, I must ask what kind of person it is that may end up representing us, and who are those that support them.

Cliques and cabals exist at all levels, both in public service, and in the private and voluntary sectors; and for a while they may well be able to achieve their aims.

However, as we have seen in recent years, with the fight, still unfinished, to end the ‘old boys’ network that existed for centuries, the public will only tolerate so much if it feels that it is not getting the representation it seeks, and wants. It is when those in power have their own agendas and show a high level of disregard and a lack of willingness to speak for everyone that the proletariat revolts. The French revolution started because the peasants were dissatisfied with the way in which the government worked. Whilst we can’t all be winners, at least in the losing we deserve to feel that the fight was a fair one.

Leadership - A Priceless Asset

Brilliant leadership is a priceless asset that can have world changing consequences.

The fact is that the ability of someone to lead can transcend shortfalls in time, money or resources, and can provide the all-important sustainability that all businesses should strive to attain.

Effective leaders provide clear focused direction, ensuring that all involved are in a position to achieve their full potential, working towards the common goal. To do this however, you must have a vision, a sense of purpose, and the absolute belief that it can be achieved.

It is only then that you can develop the plan that will get you there.

Vitally, you will never be in a position to lead others until you have mastered the art of leading yourself; to do this requires discipline, determination and total commitment to the task in hand. Without it you are setting yourself up to fail, as well as those that follow you.

Much is said about leading by example, as the pace you set, and the way you go about your business will be the benchmark by which others will judge not just you, but also those that you lead. It may seem trite to say ’walk the talk’, but good leaders never allow themselves to fall short of the high standards they set for others.

But, is it enough to lead by example? Not unless you have the ability to communicate that vision to others in such a way that they feel compelled to follow. To do this those that you lead will need to see how as a result of following your lead their own lives will be improved.

Critically, strong interpersonal skills are at the core of getting your message across persuasively. Leaders need to understand the key drivers for those they seek to lead, and to be able to see things from the other person’s perspective. By doing this, as a leader, you will be in a better position to get them to ‘want’ to do it, rather than being forced into a situation not of their choosing, being coerced to go with the flow reluctantly.

Good leaders also know when to let go of the reins and allow their followers to feel sufficiently empowered to ‘go for it’.

As with many things is life, attitude is everything.

Winning Wines for Wimbledon

Until Andy Murray's triumph in Jubilee year to give us our first winner in many a decade, each year, in the run up to Wimbledon, I still think my only visit to this hallowed ground, when in the late 1990s, I went to see Virginia Wade play on No. 1 court. Her opponent was,, or indeed what the result was. I just remember the excitement of being there, the strawberries and cream, and the bubbly, of course; whether the real McCoy, or a lesser sparkling wine made in the traditional style, from outside the Champagne region.

Both the tournament and the unbeatable taste of a fresh, sun ripened, English strawberry for me sum up a perfect English summer, when even the rain can’t dampen our spirits.

Matching wine with fresh fruit is not always as easy as it might at first seem. I find that a refreshing, gently fruity style can be a good bet, and most wines with some residual sugar, rather than bone dry, will be a good match for strawberries, but do avoid going for full-on sweet wines.

In the line up of festive bubbly suggestions to keep our spirits up over the two weeks of play, these three wines are made by what is known as the 'traditional method' used for champagne, with a second fermentation in the bottle. This helps to produce a superior wine, with longer lasting bubbles.

I wouldn’t normally dream of bringing up the thorny subject of Sir Cliff’s PR stunt, when he entertained the Wimbledon crowd during a typical downpour, except that as an avid tennis fan, and with his own vineyard in Portugal, it would seem remiss of me to exclude one of his wines in my recommendations.

Of those available, the Vida Nova Espumante, £13.50, 12.5% alc., made from 100% Syrah grapes, has a bold berry fruit character, with a touch of sweetness and a crisp finish. Available from Wells Wines (contact@wells-wines.com Tel. 01903 691911).

As with almost all sporting events these days, Wimbledon is supported by a number of sponsors. On the alcohol front you can’t get a much better partner than a fine champagne house, in this case, Lanson, which has had a lengthy relationship with the tournament. Lanson NV Rosé, £38, 12.5% alc. It was one of the first rosé champagnes on the market and is made from a blend of the three approved champagne grapes, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, and is much sought-after for its characteristic freshness.

At the other end of the sponsorship scale is Jacob’s Creek winery in Australia. They seem to have cornered the market for tennis tournaments across the globe, except in the USA; this is as one would expect, given the fierce competitiveness between Aussie and American winemakers for a share of our market.

The Jacob’s Creek NV Sparkling Rosé, £10.50, 11.5% alc. Is made from a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, giving a delicate fresh strawberry and redcurrant character, and is soft on the palate.

This, like the Lanson, is readily available in most supermarkets.

If bubbly is not to your taste, then a long, thirst quenching glass of Pimm’s, and another win for Andy, might just do the trick.

At this time of year who could ask for anything more? Perfect.

Turkish Delight

'Genuine fakes, cheap as chips,' is the constant refrain at Dalyan's weekly market, closely followed by 'buy one, get me free.', which I must admit as a single woman rapidly approaching her 60^th anniversary, does have a certain amount of appeal.
I've never been one for 'labels', as in all honesty I don't really understand why anyone would pay through the nose to advertise someone else's products; but if Gucci shoes, a Louis Vuitton handbag or a Breitling watch is your thing, then Turkey is designer paradise.
Until work and finances got in the way, I was a regular traveller, having visited both Papua New Guinea, Peru and dozens of places in-between. I had not however sampled the delights of Turkey, and until now, I had not readily appreciated the desire for many Brits to return, year after year. After a week spent in Dalyan, on a cheapie last minute holiday, I can now safely say that I get it.
Providing the perfect East meets West balance, this sunny resort is sufficiently foreign to make you feel like you've been abroad, yet familiar enough to ensure that more cautious visitors do not step out of their comfort zone. Some basic English is spoken in most places, it is clean, safe, and with very little traffic. Oh, and did I mention how genuinely kind and helpful the people are? With borders shared with some of the world's most troubled spots, they seem to have got the balance here just right.
Accommodation is plentiful, whether in a traditional hotel setting or self-catering, and it is by any standards cheap, ranging from the most basic (ours), to really quite luxurious, all at prices well within even the most constrained budget. One of the joys is the complete absence of high rise buildings; nothing above two-stories high is permitted, and unlike many other resorts, visitors are not plagued by building work, as outside the main season, from May to November, all construction work is banned.
Dalyan is not a place for those seeking a vibrant nightlife, and on passing menu after menu offering English breakfast and chips with everything I did begin to despair on the foodie front, but away from the main drag, with its wall to wall tourist tat, there are some hidden treasures to be found. We got into the habit of stopping anywhere that looked as if it did little to cater for tourists, and whilst the food was not exactly gourmet some excellent 'mezes', with homemade bread, can be had for very little money.
We chose not to avail ourselves of the many tours to local attractions that were on offer, as inexpensive as they were by comparison with other destinations; much preferring to travel by the regular local co-operative buses and boats for little more than 4tl (just over £1). Lulled into a false sense of security, and the flat landscape, I even agreed to hiring a bike. Not an activity for the faint-hearted as, pleasingly, they have not quite embraced the concept of health and safety yet.
On the wine front, high taxes mean that prices can be on the steep side, but whilst Turkish wines are unlikely to win any awards, we drank wines mostly made from native (unpronounceable) grape varieties the whole week, and for that bit of extra oomph, topped up regularly with the odd shot of Raki.
They have been making wine in Turkey for thousands of years. The climate around Marmara, and along the Aegean coast, in addition to the volcanic soil of Cappadocia, provides suitable growing conditions. Nowadays, particularly for their premium wines, there has been a shift towards grape varieties that we are all much more familiar with, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot etc., with the most interesting wines being produced by small local vintners. Look out for wines from Kavaklidere and Doluca vineyards, which are reliable and not too pricy, whilst from Cappadocia, Kocabağ and Turasan are popular labels.
For an after dinner treat try Tatlisert, a fortified wine similar to port.
I won't mention the mosie bites!

D Day - Alsace Wines

With the 70^th anniversary of the D-day landings on June 6^th this year, along with the 100^th anniversary of the start of World War One, I have been looking at the impact that both wars have had on wine production in a frequently overlooked region of France, Alsace.

Like the rest of France, Alsace uses the AOC (Appelation d'Origine Controlée) system to designate grapes grown in certain areas under controlled conditions, in addition to two stricter designations, Alsace Grand Cru (applicable only to four grape varieties) and Crémant d'Alsace (a popular sparkling wine).

As a wine growing region Alsace has had a turbulent history, passing from Germany to France, as a result of conflict between the two, with alarming regularity, amid much resentment. The turmoil of World War II meant that some vineyards were so littered with unexploded weaponry it was more than 10 years before they could be cultivated again

Although Alsace is currently part of France, the local dialect is still Alsatian, a variety of German, and the grapes have German names.

The wines themselves reflect the region's mixed history. The famous whites, some of my favourite wines, are both dry and fragrant, typically becoming dryer as they age. Alsace produces only one red grape, Pinot Noir, but only four Alsatian grapes, Riesling, Muscat d'Alsace, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer -- are allowed the AOC Grand Cru designation.

Of the other grape varieties, Pinot Blanc from Alsace is sometimes considered the world's best, typically with notes of baked apple and pear. The best are balanced, sometimes smoky, with good acidity, but not harsh

Sylvaner tends to be full-bodied, dry, slightly bitter, with a metallic, ‘steely’ taste; those from the south get better reviews.

Muscat is one of the world's oldest grape varieties, but prone to mutations, the wines can be varied in colour. The resulting wine is light, fresh, peppery and fruity, with hints of mint and roses.

Riesling is a love-it-or-hate-it wine, in part due to the fact that German and Austrian Rieslings are much sweeter than French varieties. Traditional Alsace Riesling is however quite dry.

Alsatian Pinot Gris, related to the Pinot Grigio of Italy, has much more body, with a fruity aroma, hints of caramelised sugar and traces of musty, mushroomy forest-undergrowth.

Gewurztraminer is the most famous wine of Alsace. The German "Gewurz" means "spice," and the wine reflects that, along with floral notes and a delicious whiff of mango and lychee.

The sparkling AOC Crémant wines are bottle fermented, in the same way that champagne is made, and Crémant d'Alsace is a blend of whites including Pinot Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay; the rare Crémant Rosé is 100 percent Pinot Noir

Here are some of my top picks:-

2009 Paul Blanck Pinot Noir Alsace, 11% - £14.99 - Waitrose

Worth trying, as most Alsace wines are white. It has delicious flavours of ripe cherries, blackcurrants and raspberries, with soft tannins and a slight smokiness on the finish.

2011 Muscat, Goldert, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, 13% - £26.95 - Berry Bros & Rudd

A medium dry organic wine. fragrant, with pear and pebbly notes, reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc, but finer.

2004 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile, 12.5% - £31 -Tesco

Trimbach have been making wine in Alsace since the 17th Century. This cuvée is regarded as one of their finest. Medium dry, refined and complex with superb length. Supple, spicy flavours of apricot, lemon curd, orange peel and vanilla bean, with a mineral character and good acidity.

2011 Gewürztraminer 'Les Princes Abbés' Domaines Schlumberger, 13.5% - £15.99 - Majestic

Intense nose of rose petals, oriental spice and tropical fruit. Off-dry, with a round and mellow texture, balanced by acidity and a peppery finish. Only estate-grown fruit is used and half of their vineyards are recognised as grand cru sites. Very food-friendly, good with mildly spiced dishes or pungent cheeses.

1998 Hugel et Fils Selection de Grains Nobles, 12% - £56.98 – The Drink Shop

A fabulous late harvest dessert wine; elegantly balanced, with brilliant gold highlights, a unique bouquet and the deep, concentrated aroma of oriental spices, orange blossom, marshmallow, honey and currants. Will keep for another 20 years, and goes beautifully with foie gras, Roquefort or Stilton.

Dopff Au Moulin, Cremant d'Alsace Cuvée Julian Brut NV - £21 – The Drink Shop

Fresh and elegant with subtle floral notes, dry and generous on the palate, the finesse of Pinot Blanc and Pinot Auxerrois body are enhanced by the traditional champagne method of production.

To Blend or Not to Blend

With the advent of what are termed 'new world' wines, those from such countries as Australia, the United States and South America, consumers have become used to buying by grape variety. You only have to go into any pub or wine bar to hear someone ordering a glass of wine referring to it as Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Shiraz or Merlot.
Lured by labelling into thinking that most wines are made from single grape varieties, we have to all intents and purposes become brainwashed into thinking that this is all there is on offer. No so at all. If you want to ensure quality then some of the very best wines from regions like Bordeaux, the Rhone Valley and Chianti, are made from a blend of grape varieties. This is because each grape variety has its own characteristics. Some will add colour, others depth and longevitiy, or other important assets such as tannin or acidity. These nuances will also be dependent on such factors as where ithe grapes are grown, the weather, method of harvesting and the way in which the wine is made. This means that in being blended with a suitable mate the finished wine becomes much more than each of its component parts, resulting in a more complex, balanced wine..
In short, blended wines are neither superior or inferior to varietal wines, they are just a different style of wine making. Remember too, that a blend can be anything from say 5% to 95%.
One of the best examples of blending is non-vintage champagne, where consumers will want each and every bottle they purchase from a particular champagne house to taste the same, as each will have its own house-style. This is achieved by blending all or any of the three grape varieties permitted in its production; pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay. The blend may contain wines from many different vintages and in different quantities to ensure that comforting level of comformity its fans will desire. On occasion up to 100 different wines will be used to achieve this.
It is worth noting also that in many countries the grape variety on the label is no guarantee that all of the wine in the bottle is made from that variety. For example, in the USA a wine labelled 'chardonnay' legally needs to be made from only 75% chardonnay.
To help you navigate your way through the best blended wines here are my top picks, all reds apart from one excellent sweet white wine.
Ducru Beaucaillou 2009, St. Julien, Bordeaux, France - £200 - named the world’s best 2009 Cabernet blend (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot) in a recent blind tasting, but you'd need to be fairly well-heeled to indulge. Available at Berry Bros. & Rudd and other fine wine merchants.
Domaine Font de Michelle, Cuvée Tradition, 2009, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhône Valley, France - £25 – made from a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes, there can be some inconsistencies with these wines so go for a good producer, such as this one from Waitrose and The Wine Society.
Viñedos del Contino, 2007, Rioja Alavesa, Spain - £23.50 – A blend of Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo grapes, currently on offer at Tesco.
Triade Fiano/Falanghina/Greco IGT Campania, 2012, Italy - £8.99 - a more accessible wine price-wise, try this classic refreshing white blend made from Greco, Fiano and Falanghina grapes, and available at Waitrose.
Bellingham, The Bernard Series, 2010, South Africa – £14.99 – Malbec, Merlot and Mourvèdre grapes naturally fermented separately in open barrels and blended before maturation in French oak barrels to retain the natural varietal character. Only 10 barrels produced of this vintage.
Chateau Suduiraut 2007, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France - £33 – Luscious dessert wine made from a blend of sauvignon blanc and semillon grapes. A little goes a long way. Available at Majestic and others.


A word of warning, some supermarket sites do not show which vintage a wine is from. Remember that all vintages are not the same, and should therefore not be priced the same.

Astrological Wines

Despite millions turning to their daily horoscopes, I stopped reading mine years ago; not liking the tone of the predictions. Whatever your views on traits inherited at birth, there appear to be common characteristics relating to zodiac signs.
With Pisces ruling this month, we have had a watery time, in more ways than one. So, with tongue in cheek, exploring wines and grape varieties associated with zodiac signs, seems fitting.
The zodiac can be linked to many natural objects, grape varieties being one of them, each having individual personalities. When considering the organic yearly cycle, the different vintages, and the birth of a wine, viticulture and astrology are natural partners.
Aquarius – born leaders, original thinkers, trend setters; Aquarians are also down to earth homebodies. Cool, restrained, eccentric Riesling seems perfectly matched, with good acidity, some minerality, and characteristic tar and petrol aromas. Hugel & Fils Jubilee 2007, £20, with white peach, quince and grapefruit flavours, is perfect for detached, intellectual Aquarians.
Pisces – the embodiment of water, adapting to its surroundings, moving with the tides; bringing to mind malleable Chardonnay, growing well wherever planted. I suggest Louis Jadot Meursault 2008 Burgundy £24, or notoriously difficult Pinot Noir, a sensitive red variety suited to dreamy, poetic Pisces. Louis Jadot Les Suchot 1er Cru Vosne-Romanée, 2006, £45 is worth the outlay.

Aries – fiery and adventurous, hardy and outgoing, with a penchant for trying new things, Aries is naturally attracted to exploring spicy, ruby red wines. Concha y Toro’s ‘Gravas del Maipo’ Syrah 2007, £56, with its forward heat, spicy pepperiness, and minty character, suits this lively, demanding sign.
Taurus – this strong-willed earth sign has a grounded sensibility, craving comfort. Unlikely to move once they’ve established roots, Taureans lean towards tried and tested favourites. Try a reliable wellbalanced Bordeaux, Cháteau Domeyne, 2010, £18, or more rustic Marques de Riscal ‘Riscal 1860’ Tempranillo, £9.
Gemini – unsurprisingly, contradictory, opinionated, on the move, always gravitating towards something different. This duality conjures up Waimea Estate Pinot Gris 2012 Nelson, £13.50, a New Zealand wine blending Old World techniques with New World pioneering methods. Likewise, Sauvignon Blanc from down under, Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Marlborough, £18.50.
Cancer – hard on the outside, softies inside, forming close bonds with others; but don’t upset them. Reminiscent of...Pinot Noir! Joseph Phelps Vineyards Freestone Pinot Noir, Sonoma County 2010, £32 will suit. To bring out the softer side, botrytis affected Semillon, producing luscious sweet wines, will crack Cancer’s hard shell nicely. Try Keith Tulloch Hunter Valley Botrytis Semillon 2011, £20.
Leo – always the star of the show, embracing the finer things in life; hence, a recommendation for Cabernet Sauvignon. Trefethen Family Vineyards Napa Cabernet 2008, £50, offering great value; sure to win over Leo, with its stable reliability and persistent blackcurrant, cedar and cigar-box style.
Virgo – down to earth, rarely seeking the limelight. Hard working, organised, and friend to all, Virgo likes nothing more after a hard day than unwinding with refreshing, undemanding, and low maintenance Sauvignon Blanc. The ‘Justine Barbou’ Domaine des Corbillieres, £16 will perk up the spirits. Another Loire favourite, Cabernet Franc, adding backbone to many great Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignons, fits the bill perfectly with its restrained, smooth berry flavours; around £12.
Libra – natural leaders, requiring balanced, harmonious relationships; like Riesling, which needs a balanced combination of acid, sugar and texture. Trimbach 2011, £12 provides consistent quality. Crowd pleaser Chardonnay, so eponymous it is ordered by name, like Libra, lubricates and pleases many social situations. 2011 Errazuriz Max Reserva Chardonnay, Casablanca Valley, £10, is an undemanding New World wine, balancing fruity ripeness with steely restraint.
Scorpio – can be tricky, taking time to warm to others, like the Sangiovese grape, often bitter when young, gaining fragrance with age, as with 2001 Conti Capponi Villa Calcinaia Chianti Classico Riserva, £59. Also suiting Scorpio’s intensely complex, paradoxical nature, is deep, dark, mature Zinfandel, with high alcohol levels, aromas of dried fruit, burnt rubber and pepper.
Sagittarius – outgoing, generous and bawdy, Sagittarian’s honest, direct nature suits straightforward Ridge Geyserville Zinfandel 2010 Alexander Valley, £22, with its silky texture, dark berries and flowers. “Sangiovese” means “blood of Jove”, and as Jupiter rules Sagittarius, Brunello di Montalcino 2008 Banfi, £24, with its liquorice and chocolate is a full bodied alternative. Adventurous Sagittarians will be tempted by versatile, exuberant Viognier. The 2008 Condrieu la Doraine Domaine Etienne Guigal, £50, is rich and unctuous, yet approachable.
Capricorn – stubborn patience and perseverance mark these late bloomers attracted to scaling new heights, romantically, socially and physically. Juicy 2010 Pulenta Gran Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, £26, with its New World flair, tempered by Old World restraint, should impress. Alternatively, Nebbiolo, Italy’s pride, will suit those patiently waiting for the 2007 Barolo, Casina Bric 460, Vergne, Piedmont, £35, to reach its peak.

Rainbow Cocktails

We’ve had the rain, and plenty of it, but fortunately after the rain, comes the rainbow, and some well deserved sunshine and warmth.

Rainbows are optical illusions, symbolising peace or a new beginning; a sign of good luck and fortune on its way.

With that in mind, a ‘rainbow’ of fizzy cocktails should cheer us all up as spring begins to take hold, transforming our sodden landscape into something bright and beautiful.

I prefer my champagne unadulterated (sacrilegious to use it as a mixer), so I use a good quality brut cava or prosecco. If having a party you could provide the ingredients, all readily available in most supermarkets, allowing guests to have fun mixing their own.

The first recorded use of the word cocktail is thought to be in The Morning Post and Gazetteer in London, England on March 20, 1798, and the first publication of a bartenders' guide which included cocktail recipes was in 1862, giving 10 recipes for drinks referred to as "Cocktails".

The first "cocktail party" was allegedly given by Mrs. Julius S. Walsh Jr. of St. Louis, Missouri, in May 1917. She invited 50 guests to her home at noon on a Sunday. The party lasted an hour, until lunch was served at 1 pm.

In all cases I would recommend adding between 25cl. and 50cl. (according to taste) of each of the key ingredients listed to a champagne flute, simply topping up with sparkling wine, garnishing as you see fit.

RED – CHERRY BRANDY

The Crown Inn, Sarre, a pub in the heart of Kent cherry-growing country, launched a cocktail called 'By`George' to toast the birth of Prince George of Cambridge.

Locally, the pub is known as The Cherry Brandy House because of its secret recipe for cherry brandy brought over by the Huguenots fleeing religious persecution in France under Louis XIV. It was acquired by distiller Thomas Grant who began making liqueurs in Kent in 1774. Grant’s Morella Cherry Brandy was a favourite with Queen Victoria, holds a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales and is mentioned by Charles Dickens in The Pickwick Papers. If you have difficulty obtaining this, just use any other cherry brandy. It can also be served over ice, and garnished with a cherry.

ORANGE – BUCK'S FIZZ or MIMOSA

This cocktail is frequently on offer as part of popular Sunday brunches - part breakfast, part lunch, a good excuse for indulgence. Made by mixing 2/3 freshly squeezed orange juice to 1/3 champagne, it is named after London's Buck's Club, where it was invented as an excuse to begin drinking early, by barman Mc Garry in 1921. He also features in the works of P.G. Wodehouse as the barman of Buck's Club. and the Drones Club. The true recipe, which includes more than just champagne and orange juice, is only known by the barmen of Buck's Club. The Mimosa, invented in Paris four years later, also contains sparkling wine and orange juice, but in equal measures.

YELLOW – LIMONCELLO

Many of us who have visited Italy will have sampled Limoncello, and it should come as no surprise that a cocktail has been invented using this popular liqueur. For each serving place a strip of lemon peel in the glass and ½ tsp. fresh lemon juice, before adding the Limoncello.

GREEN – MIDORI MELON LIQUEUR

Spring is the time when the wedding season kicks off, and the bright green colour of this cocktail should help put a spring in the step of any young bride-to-be if served at a hen party.

Adding just a dash of lime juice will take the edge off the sweetness, and garnish with a sprig of mint.

BLUE - CURACAO

The flavour of this orange liqueur derives from the dried peel of the laraha citrus fruit, and gets its name from the island of Curacao where it is grown; a descendant of the Valencia oranges brought to Curacao in the 1500s by Spanish explorers. It is too bitter to be eaten, but in making the liqueur the peel is dried, releasing its sweetly fragrant essential oils.

INDIGO – WILD BLUEBERRY
This liqueur, made from a mixture of wild and cultivated fruit, is made locally by Lyme Bay Winery and provides an interesting new take on the traditional kir, made with cassis, that is so popular, giving a lovely purple hue. Why not plonk a few fresh blueberries in the glass first?



VIOLET – PARFAIT AMOUR
Nicely finishing off our rainbow, a cocktail made from Parfait Amour, the dark purple liqueur with a complex flavour of rose and violet petals, vanilla, orange peel and almonds. Adding it to sparkling wine turns the colour a fetching shade of pale violet. It is popular served at weddings, adding a festive feel to the occasion. As an alternative you could use Crème de Violette, used to flavour drinks for centuries.

.

Wines for Entertaining Heads of State

WHAT TO SERVE WHEN ENTERTAINING ROYALTY AND HEAD OF STATE
As many of us struggle to decide what wines to serve to impress our guests, and show a bit of one upmanship at our latest dinner party, it occurred to me that being The Queen, the President of the United States, or another Head of State, the choices you make, given that it will be public knowledge, must be fraught with diplomatic danger. What becomes clear however, is that it not not always necessary to break the bank to impress.
I raise the issue as Kate and William's visit down under has attracted the expected press attention worldwide. It is of course incumbent upon those that represent their fellow citizens in the international arena to showcase the best of what is on offer, thereby raising the profile of the lucky producers, of both wine and food, that have been selected.
In the case of William and Kate, during their visit to New Zealand one key event was a trip to the Central Otago wine region on the south island, billed as 'the most important wine tasting of the century'. This was a smart move, as although New Zealand wines have become very popular here (and rightly so) most of us will only have sampled wines from Marlborough.
Pinot Noir is the leading grape variety in Central Otago, accounting for 70%, although other varieties, such as pinot gris, are also planted. They were hosted by Amisfield Winery for a tasting of over 30 wines, and although many are not available here I have located the 2007 Amisfield Pinot Gris, at £25 a bottle, from HangingDitch Wine Merchants in Manchester.

Back home William's granny, The Queen, was busy presiding over the State Banquet held in honour of the landmark visit by Irish President Mr. Michael Higgins. The wines that were served prove what canny operators the royal catering team are.

The first was the 2009 Ridgeview Cuvée Merret Grosvenor, Blanc de Blancs, a sparkling wine costing just £29.95, from this vineyard in the South Downs founded by Mike and Chris Roberts only 20 years ago. They specialise in growing classic grape varieties to make high quality, award winning, champagne style wines. The trademark MERRET is in honour of the Englishman, Christopher Merret who presented a paper in 1662 on the process of making sparkling wines by the 'traditional method' of a second fermentation in the bottle, 30 years before it was documented in champagne. Tasting notes for the wine served at the State Banquet describe it as having persistent bubbles with an exceptional mousse, a refreshing palate of citrus and white tropical fruits, and a beautifully balanced lingering finish. An excellent match for the halibut no doubt.
English wine makers are not known for their red wines, so it was unsurprising that a French wine should be chosen to follow, complementing the beef nicely. The wine chosen was the 1990 Chateau Leoville-Barton. Made from a classic caberent sauvignon and merlot blend, this 2ème Grand Cru Classé from St. Julien is certainly not cheap at around £175, but is very rich and velvety in texture, with a meaty seductive character.

What is more interesting however, is the choice of it. Someone had clearly done their homework; the Barton family can trace their roots back to 1722, when Thomas Barton left Ireland for Bordeaux, to start out as a wine merchant.

Saving the best until last, was the 1966 Quinta do Noval vintage port, hardly surprising given the long standing Brtish connection with the port industry. This complex wine, with its soft, warm and intense palate, reminiscent of liquorice and old furniture, will have been sure to impress, especially as it is around £850 a bottle, although we can be sure it was purchased sometime ago and would have come from the Royal household's cellars. The good news is that later vintages can be had for a much more affordable £30 a bottle, and under. What I was unable to establish was whether or not the port served at the State Banquet was Noval's 'nacional', wine made from a very small parcel of land in the middle of the Noval vineyard, untouched by phylloxera, giving the wine a unique and distinctive personality.

I must make more of an effort to ensure I receive an invite in future, as it just goes to show that it is the thought behind the choices, rather than the cost, that often can make or break the occasion.
Which reminds me, I fell into my own trap recently and purchased a bottle of wine because it was called 'Linda', and I have to say it was pretty dreadful. That'll teach me.

War Time Tipples

This month many will commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the D-Day landings, and also the start of World War One. Hence, I have been considering the part that the consumption of alcohol played in The Great War, along with the monumental social changes that occured in relation to women's drinking habits.

During WW1 governments of all countries involved were worried about the quantities of alcohol being consumed, as drunkenness hampered their war efforts.

The British government announced several measures, including a "No Treating Order", where any drink ordered was to be paid for by the person supplied, with a threat of six months in prison. Tax on alcohol was also increased; by 1918 a bottle of whisky cost £1, five times what it had been before the war.

On the home front, the Central Control Group was set up in 1915, playing a key part in the demise of former Victorian gin palaces, and the introduction of places where respectable middle and upper-class women could drink openly in public without being labelled as slatterns or prostitutes. Formerly a sacred male environment, women drinkers now had direct access to bar premises, and 'the snug', a small side room with a frosted glass window, where higher prices were paid for the ability to drink in private. In this war-time transition women joined the workforce, becoming a greater part of the economy with access to their own money, and with the loss of male companionship at home, they soon began patronising pubs in unprecedented numbers to seek company, or solace when bereaved.

With their husbands away at war, more women were also running pubs; and restricted opening hours, a reduction in alcohol strengths and raised prices all had an impact on the influx of women into this traditionally male domain.

Meanwhile, in the trenches, in an attempt to steady their nerves, prevent illnes and raise their spirits for the battle ahead, British soldiers were given their daily ration of a pint of porter or two ounces of rum, diluted 3 to 1 with water to make 'grog'. More than one soldier remarked: “If we hadn’t had our rum, we would have lost the war.”, and George Bell of the 1st Bn. recorded that “a good stiff ‘tot’ of rum served to buck up the spirits of those wavering.” Rum was also used to deaden the pain of those injured, as one soldier declared in his postwar memoirs: “There are not one, but numberless occasions, on which a tot of rum has saved a man from sickness, or serious illness. Many a life-long teetotaler has taken the first drink of his life on the battlefields of France, not because he wanted to, but because he had to.”

Songs such as 'Never Mind' also became popular.

If the sergeant drinks your rum, never mind
And your face may lose its smile, never mind
He's entitled to a tot but not the bleeding lot
If the sergeant drinks your rum, never mind


As we cast our minds back, here are three cocktails invented around the time of WW1 to help us raise a glass to those who fought for our freedom 100 years ago......
'The Sidecar'
(reportedly created in Paris during WWI)
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes, put three parts Cognac to two parts cointreau or triple sec, add a squeeze of lemon juice, shake well and strain into the glass, garnishing with a lemon twist.

'French 75'
(Named after the 75mm M1897 field gun used extensively by the French in WW1)
Make with two parts champagne to one part gin, with the addition of a dash of sugar syrup and a squeeze of lemon juice. Combine all the ingredients, except the champagne, in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake vigorously and strain into a champagne flute, topping up with the champagne.
'The Hemingway'
Author Ernest Hemingway, served as an ambulance driver in Italy towards the end of WW1, and was known to like his booze, once saying “Honey, drinking is war”. He created this cocktail, also known as 'Death in the Afternoon', shortly after the end of WW1.
Simply add one part absinthe to three parts chilled champagne in a champagne glass.

England Team - Booze for Our Boys

At the time of writing England manager Roy Hodgson has yet to finalise his World Cup team. To be perfectly honest this is not something that has grabbed my attention very much since 1966.
However, what has piqued my interest is the news that Sir Alex Ferguson is auctioning off part of his wine collection to accommodate more purchases. Green with envy (moi?), maybe just a bit; if only I could find that rich man....
Apparently Sir Alex not only has the ability to pick the best players, but also the best wines.
His interest in wine began during trips to France scouting for players, and he says it has provided welcome distraction from the day job. I couldn’t agree more.
Described as having "exceptional taste in fine wine“, and with rare bottles of 1999 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru on offer, the £3m. the wines are expected to make should provide sufficient fodder for future indulgence.
Until now I have given little thought to the association between kicking a ball about and the more cultured side of footballers' private lives.
Of the potential players that will make up our national team, there is much scope to match them with suitable beverages, and even a dedicated website, www.footballerswines.co.uk. Here are a few suggestions. If all goes well, and we remain in with a fighting chance, there should be sufficient choice to try something different each day

Leighton Baines – aside from taking a good corner, this player is said to prefer a quieter, ‘coffee shop culture’ lifestyle. Given his salary, he’ll be able to run to a cup of Kopi Luwak coffee from Indonesia, the most expensive in the world, at around £700 a lb; just don’t ask how it’s processed.
Gary Cahill - at Chelsea it is traditional for new players to sing in front of the squad. Gary sang ‘Sexy and I know It’. A Gangnam style rap song with this title has as its next line ‘Clap your hands, drink some Moët’, so a bottle of this popular bubbly would help get him in the mood for an encore.
Steven Gerrard – his wild ways are long since gone, and as wife Alex likes eating Italian, they might like to share a bottle of chardonnay based Astoria Lounge Prosecco, from Veneto, Italy.
Joe Hart – seen topless with team mates partying in Ibiza after Euro 2012, on a return visit he could try the VIP lounge at top bar Amnesia, for another sangria to help him forget.
Phil Jagielka – with a Polish grandfather he is eligible to play for Poland, so he could celebrate another great header with a shot of Vestal Podlasie vodka; made in small batches using potatoes grown in NE Poland.
Glen Johnson – clearly someone in a bit of a hurry, with a six month driving ban for speeding. As the bubbles in champagne make alcohol go to the head more quickly this would seem a perfact match, or he might down a pint of ‘snakebite’, a mix of cider and lager, it makes you drunk quicker, so the theory goes.
Frank Lampard – getting a bit long in the tooth now; apparently he does not drink before a match, and is more of a beer man. England team sponsors, Danish brewer's Carlsberg, billed as ‘probably the best beer in the world’, should be right up his street.

Wayne Rooney – Forget the Powerade adverts; lambasted for drinking a £2,000 bottle of Petrus whilst scoffing his birthday cake last year. Perhaps giving it another go, he’d like to try a more refined approach. He’d be in good company, as it was served at the Queen's wedding in 1947.
Luke Shaw – this youngster could possibly be excused for eating burgers from a well know chain, which just happens to have started serving beer in some outlets, so Budweiser should go down well with a little snack on the way home.
Jack Wilshere – last seen holding a pint of lager at an 02 rap concert recently, having progressed from declaring that he didn’t imbibe, one must that hope he progresses to something more upmarket as he matures.
David Beckham – although no longer part of the England team, I’d have to bring back my favourite footballer, David Beckham. He has recently launched a new whisky, ‘Haig Club Single Grain Scotch Whisky’. Sold in fetching blue glass bottles, it combines grain whisky from three casks, and is described as smooth, fresh and clean with butterscotch and toffee notes; just like Beckham?
Of course the national drink of Brazil is Caipirinha, made from cachaça (distilled cane sugar), sugar and lime juice, which can be quite refreshing or a strong cocktail that might leave you flat on your back. Let’s hope they won’t need it.

Fruity Summer Tipples

Writing this with the promise of hot and sunny days ahead, it doesn’t take much for me to yearn for the long cool drinks that can be enjoyed outside in the garden, on picnics in the park or by the beach, without it going straight to our heads.

English fruit and flower wines have long since shrugged off the bad press they suffered in the 70s and 80s, before we all became sophisticated wine lovers. On the domestic front there are a number of local ‘wine clubs’ who take their wine making very seriously indeed.
The revival of this British tradition has caught on with professional producers, who have cornered the commercial ‘country wine’ market, and branched into producing an increasing range of liqueurs. These versions are ideal for something to satisfy a sweet tooth after dinner, or to pour over ice cream to turn a pud into something special. I find they also make interesting and inexpensive gifts for overseas visitors.
Thought to have been developed as fruit-flavoured versions of mead before sugar came onto the scene, 'country wines' are usually disdained by more sophisticated wine drinkers.
Getting the balance between acidity and sweetness right is the key to quality, as most tend to be off-dry or medium sweet. In the past these wines were fairly high in alcohol at 14%, but makers are now moving towards lighter, less cloying versions. The still varieties are usually served at room temperature, and not for quaffing in any quantity but they do provide the ideal base for refreshing spritzers; great served in long tall glasses with plenty of ice, topped up with lemonade or sparkling water, with a sprig of mint or a twist of lemon to finish it off.
The liqueur versions make a perfect after dinner tipple, or yummy additions to turn simple puddings into something more refined and grown-up.
There are a number of companies now offering these ‘country wines’, but to keep it local both Avalon Vineyard and Lyme Bay Winery produce a wide range, including some new additions for this season. They are available in good independent shops from around £7.50 a bottle.
Here are some of my favourite summery ones.

Apricot – medium sweet and a beautiful golden colour; this would be a good match for poached apricots with crème fraiche, or poured over apricot sorbet, but it is best served instead of dessert, and also good with goat’s cheese. 

Birch – This delicate, crisp, light-bodied dry white wine is lovely with simple seafood dishes or as an aperitif.
Cherry – Full flavoured and sweet, this would be great to go with cherries Jubilee, and could easily replace cherry brandy in any recipe.
Elderflower – A classic ‘country wine’ with a fresh perfumed floral bouquet; it is crisp and dry and goes well with oriental dishes, or even elderflower fritters for a posh pud.
Gooseberry – Off-dry and light-bodied, its ripe fruit flavour makes it a fine accompaniment to strongly flavoured foods (mackerel with gooseberries is a classic dish) or spicy dishes, such as Indian or Chinese.
Peach – Medium sweet and full of soft fruit flavour; I’m thinking Peach Melba here.
Strawberry – What would an English summer be without strawberries? This wine is medium sweet, and a spritzer made with this would provide a less alcoholic alternative to Pimm’s; while you sit back and watch the tennis perhaps?
 

Don't Knock Scholarships for Poor Kids

I could not help but be interested in all the hoo ha this last week about the issue of public schools, such as Wellington College, and whether or not they should offer scholarships, or if in doing so this is seen to continue to buy into the perpetuating 'elitist' theory that surrounds such institutions.
Speaking from a position of experience, I disagree with the nay sayers entirely. At the tender age of 11, I was plucked from a London council flat, where I lived with my single-parent mother, and sent, as a scholarship boarder, to Westonbirt School in Gloucestershire. Put forward by my primary school teacher, Mrs. Elizabeth Sharpe, it proved to be the turning point that was to shape my future life.
Being away from home for the first time, I cried incessantly, ran away twice, and eventually, having written to the Minster for Education at the time, left to go to grammar school. Having said all that, I still believe that the experience I gained at public school provided the best five terms education of my life, for a number of reasons. Although those of us who were 'scholarship girls', knew who we were I never felt a 'lesser person' for it. The disadvantages I faced were more of a practical nature. My mother did not drive and she could certainly not afford to run a car, so only ever managed to come to visit me once a term. This meant, however, that the families of friends would often invite me home with them for long weekends, or for days out, not always with very successful results; I well recall the 'cider' incident at The Manor House Hotel at Castle Combe.
I started out as a kid with a broad London accent, and ended up speaking with a plumb in my mouth; very useful later in life when the ability to articulate one's views can enable one to mix with all sorts, from whatever background. I also learnt to swear like a trooper too, perhaps not a skill that one should necessarily be proud of!
However, probably the most important aspect of the experience was what it taught me about life skills; being able to sit at a table with others and to eat anything put in front of me, that respect is earnt and not a virtue bestowed on those with titles, to take responsibility for my own actions, to have the confidence go anywhere and do anything without fear, and sadly, a lifelong hatred of all sporting activity, borne out of miserable, cold, wet, mornings spent playing lacrosse!
It is these life skills that we used to learn within our family environment, before it became so disjointed, and from a time when schools had the capacity to consider these intangible elements that go to make up the people that we become.
More importantly though, without the opportunity to attend public school, I would never have met the girl who remains my best friend, almost 50 years on. It is at this stage in life that we make the connections that can see us through thick and thin, no matter what. Whilst public school may not suit everyone, I believe it would be morally wrong to deny anyone this opportunity.

Baroness Rawlings Living Frugally

I read with interest this week an article about Baroness Rawlings, and the idiosyncractic frugality of the upper classes. There is a school of thought that says that one of the reasons that the high born of our society can enjoy the high life is their ability to be thrifty; following the old maxim, 'take care of the pennies and the pounds will take of themselves'.

Given the quantity of 'freebies' available to many of those, who because of their standing in life are often invited to events and provided with 'perks' not necessarily available to the man on the street, it is not quite as difficult as one might think to save the odd bob or two.
I know this myself, as on occasion I am the recipient, by virtue of some of the work I'm involved in, of invitations to award ceremonies, private viewings etc., often saving me a fair bit on food.
Having spent the best part of ten years in domestic service, working for a number of titled families over the years, I saw first hand this approach, for better of worse. Certainly during my time as chef to HM Ambassador to the UN in New York, I received preferential rates on trans-Atlantic travel on boad the QEII, and upgrades on BA flights home. Very nice thank you. One employer, a child of the war years, was always thrifty, and after a day off from my cooking duties, I would find small pieces of cheese carefully wrapped in greaseproof paper kept for a later date; and re-heated left overs were a regular feature on the menu when she and her husband were dining alone, without official guests to entertain and impress. The habit was so well ingrained it spilled over to her immediate family, and is something I have never forgotten, particularly when I read news reports on the amount of food the average household wastes per year. At the other end of the scale, in a household where staff were not permitted to walk on the carpet, once the pile had been brushed in a certain direction, for fear of spoiling its appearance, are those indulge in their own costly extravagances but who can be extremely stingy when it comes to others, particularly where their domestic staff are concerned. Fillet steak for dinner, and unfinished by the hostess, would be sent back to the kitchen with the strict instruction that it was to be served the following evening to their own house guests, whilst the msitress of the house dined elsewhere. I noted that Baroness Rawlings keeps used bars of soap for her own use, which to any reasonable person would make sense; I have never understood the need for B&Bs in particular to provide new bars of soap for every guest; this is pure nonsense, as I can't see us doing the same for visitors to our own homes whenever they arrive.
What we must be careful of, in our haste to save money and in our efforts to live more cheaply, is that we do not adopt 'double standards' with those in our employ, where some companies are in the habit of funding tea, coffee and other refreshments for managers, whilst other staff, who are less able to afford it, are required to pay out of their own pockets. It is this approach that creates a 'them and us' feeling, and has in the past brought down governments; this 'Let them eat cake' attitude, is a point of view, that were she still alive, is something that Marie Antoinette would regret expressing.

Why Rod Still Rocks My Boat

I’m not much of a fan of pop or rock concerts, in part because I’m not great at being surrounded by hoards of people, and I don’t much care for all the hanging around waiting for the ‘main act’ to appear. Until this week, I think the last one I attended was about 20 years ago.

On hearing that Rod was to appear in Taunton I did give it some thought, and then immediately dismissed the idea, in part due to the cost of the tickets. Then, quite suddenly, two things happened that changed my mind and caused me to shell out, shock horror, a whopping great £300 for a VIP ticket. Firstly, an unexpected tax rebate found its way into my bank account, and then a long standing friend of almost 40 years, who I’d not seen for some time, contacted me to ask if I was up for going. Spurred on by the thought that it was all for a good cause, St. Margaret's Hospice,  and in an increasingly common moment of rash behaviour, which I put down to my rapidly advancing years, I am delighted that I decided to take the plunge, and we managed to obtain the last two tickets left. 

We all tend to like the music we grew up with, and ‘Maggie May’ will forever remind me of the discos of my youth, back in the 70s, but I was apprehensive that at his advanced age Rod might not be quite up to it. I’ve also not been keen on the ‘crooner’ style he seems to have adopted lately. I’d geared myself up for the same level of disappointment I’d had when I saw Frank Sinatra perform towards the end of his career. Would Rod just turn out to be a has-been who doesn’t know when to quit? How wrong could I have been?!

This was a tremendous performance, which had the audience of 18,000, mainly couples over 40, bopping in the aisles; providing a far better workout than anything the NHS could ever prescribe to tone up our sagging thighs and flabby arms. What impressed me most however, apart from his signature raspy voice, was the way in which he was able to really connect with his audience and to read its mood; one could easily feel that he was singing to each of us as individuals. This was not some slick, carefully choreographed, performance, with a set that was all bells and whistles. Apart from his great backing singers and musicians, it was all about the music, which has clearly stood the test of time. There also appeared to be a total lack of the self-conscious ego one gets with younger performers. He displayed the confidence of someone who knows that he has long since earned his place in our affections.

He was on stage for almost two hours and it was hard to tell who was enjoying the performance more, him or us. In his tribute to the events surrounding D-Day he had the crowd with him, and by the time he had run though many of his old favourites, we were eating out his hand. This was one true pro who still knows how to deliver a good gig; and at 69, is he still sexy? You betcha he is. 

Devon County Show cancellation - lessons to be learnt

It has been upsetting to see that once again our temperamental weather has had a devastating effect within the county. Will it never end?
As someone who in general steers well clear of such things as county shows, last Friday morning, as I sat in traffic for what seemed like hours and then watched as cars were being towed out of the quagmire that the car park had become, I really wanted to turn back.
However, in my enthusiasm for the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, and as a member and governor of the hospital, I had promised to attend. Having battled my way to the stand, and then on touring the site before I left, I found that my opinion swiftly did an about turn.
Food and wine are my particular passions and what a treat it turned out to be to sample some of the West Country's finest; from wild boar sausages to game pies, wine, cheese and excellent puds, all at reasonable prices from local suppliers.
Not quite so pleasing, however, were the prices charged by some vendors who, with a captive audience, marked their prices up accordingly. Despite the inclement weather, those who had braved the elements did not allow the odd shower to dampen their enthusiasm and it was a great day out.
As sad as it has been to see the last day cancelled this year, I shall definitely put it in my calendar for 2015.
More importantly, though, is the impact this will have on, not only the organisers, but also the exhibitors, many of whom rely on shows like this for their business leads; for some it could mean the difference between going under or survival.
Let us hope that lessons have been learned and that, in future, plans will be put in place to deal with incidents such as this.

D Day Humbling experience over the Channel

Heads of state and dignitaries will gather from across the globe this week, together with those few veterans left, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, the start of Operation Overload.
On speaking with a friend about this he commented on how inappropriate it might be to use the word "celebrate", and on reflection, I find that I am inclined to agree.
While there must surely be a sense of relief, pride, and a good deal of satisfaction in having conquered the enemy, whatever one's views, and I'm a bit of a battler myself, there must be time for reflection at the futility and consequences of conflict; and whether or not it is realistic for any of us to expect that there will ever be peace.
While conflict over oil supplies has dominated much of our time and energy in recent years, in third world countries flood and famine have been the key triggers for uprisings.
In considering this, I am aware that democracies rarely go to war with one another; perhaps this is a key feature of what we understand to be a democracy in the national sense; nations in which everyone is treated equally and has equal rights.
It is in this context that the justification for war must be seen, when our own values and moral standards are threatened, from outside, or from within.
Under those circumstances it must surely be right to fight to uphold what we know to be worth fighting for. Yet, we must also consider the personal toll that such actions take on the individuals, and their families.
I wasn't alive in the Second World War, but to arrive in Caen this week, to see the "Welcome to our Liberators" banners, and to be approached by strangers asking to shake my hand and say "Thank you", brought tears to my eyes. Awesome and humbling.

Council has made right choice for post

Now that the announcement is official, and everyone knows that Pat Flaherty is to take over as the new chief executive officer at Somerset County Council, where he has been acting CEO for the last six months, it was particularly heartening to see and hear the collective sigh of relief and the expressions of support for his appointment.
The mood was buoyant on hearing the news at this week's council meeting, where it would appear he will receive the high level of co-operation he deserves, from both officers and members. This is especially encouraging given the turbulence of recent times.
As a member of one of the interview panels, and an experienced recruiter myself, I was pleased to observe the rigorous and inclusive approach taken by the council to ensure it got the decision right.

Weightwatchers is not the answer to obesity

I CONFESS to not being much of a newspaper reader but I do try to keep up with current affairs in whatever form whenever I can.

One particular topic recently came to my attention sufficient to make me want to pass comment. This was the announcement by NICE in relation to concerns over increased obesity amongst the general population.

Apparently, in yet another move by the nanny state to steer us in the right direction, overweight people are to be offered the opportunity to take advantage, if one can call it that, of 12 weeks free membership of Weightwatchers.

A nice little earner for them no doubt. I feel that this is wrong for a number of reasons.

Firstly, should the NHS be funding membership of a commercial organisation, where no doubt some kind of deal, with our tax payers’ money, has been done? Secondly, and more importantly from the point of view of those who may choose to take advantage of the offer, what happens after the first 12 weeks?

Are they expected to stick with Weightwatchers at their own expense thereafter, and to be encouraged to buy their expensive range of products, or will they go back to doing what they’ve always done? I appreciate the argument for a change in lifestyle but extensive research has shown that it takes much longer than a few weeks to change what may be habits developed over a life time.

The real issue is that whilst the NHS continues to buy into such short term, ill thought out, solutions, we will never be able to fully address the real challenges that people are struggling to cope with every day, where in the case of obesity it is very often the physical manifestation of something else altogether.

I believe that the time, effort and money would be much better spent on shoring up our severely depleted mental health services.

On a daily basis Samaritans receive calls from those in despair where sometimes reaching for that comforting extra bar of chocolate or packet of biscuits seems to be the only remedy when all sense of hope has been abandoned.

Business pays cost of road closures

I WAS interested to see the article on the front page of the Crewkerne edition (Western Gazette March 27) in relation to the plight of Crewkerne businesses as a result of road closures.

Jonathan Edgington is quite right in that where this type of work is carried out at the very least the local community should be consulted in relation to the impact.

A similar situation occurred in Ilminster recently and it shows a complete disregard for how much the business community is affected.

In the case of Crewkerne, a sign saying that the road ahead was closed was positioned in Chard, some eight miles away, where motorists were led to believe that the road was closed for the entire length.

Fortunately, locals are not so easily deterred. However, there should be no need to claim compensation, it should be negotiated up front from the start. Why should businesses have to beg for it?

Refurbished wing opened at care home

As featured in Yeovil Press:

http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2014/06/13/south-somerset-news-refurbished-wing-opened-at-care-home/

D-Day exhibition at Chard Museum

As featured in Yeovil Press:

http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2014/06/03/south-somerset-news-d-day-exhibition-at-chard-museum/