To Vax or Not to Vax

Tennis star Novac Djokovic’s announcement this week clarifying his stance concerning the Covid vaccine, and his reasons for not wanting to have it, has caused some controversy. This is worth mentioning as he is seen as a role model for many people who may be hesitant to accept it. Had he explained this last month, when trying to get permission to stay in Australia, he might have saved us all a lot of airtime. 

Whilst I am not anti-vaccine, I do have some sympathy with him. To be honest, I am ambivalent.  

For the last two years we have all been living through unprecedented and turbulent times. The need for swift action has meant that the ability to devise a vaccine as a matter of urgency has rightly gained much acclaim and applause. However, as has often been the case in the past, such a rapid response can have its drawbacks. We are unlikely to see any potential long-term repercussions manifest themselves for some time. 

I was prompt in having my first two Astra-Zeneca jabs, thankfully without any side effects at all. However, this was not the case with the Moderna booster jab which knocked me for six, laying me low for days and with ongoing symptoms since then. I am not at all sure that I will now be so willing to have a further booster should it be offered. 

Fearful of catching Covid, largely due to long-term respiratory problems, I am all too aware that the only person who can protect my health is myself. Hence, I have been very cautious about where I go, and who I mix with. Apart from the period when we were in full lockdown, I have largely been able to go about my business and do test regularly. 

But, having said that, I firmly believe that all businesses, entertainment venues, health providers, employers and employees do have the right to be protected where possible. If this means that in some cases freedom of movement means agreeing to succumb to the Covid vaccine, then that has to be respected. Whilst Novac has every right to refuse the vaccine, he cannot expect to then be granted the same freedoms as those of us who are willing to take the risk of being vaccinated. Yes, there may be as yet unknown long-term consequences but to protect my health in the here and now, it is a risk I am willing to take.

Kate wants to step into Linda's shoes!

In the wake of my decision to step back from public life at the beginning of the year, after almost 20 years of representing the four villages that form Neroche ward (Ashill, Broadway, Donyatt and Horton), I am delighted that Kate Wylie Carrick has stepped up to the plate and has agreed to put herself forward as a candidate in the upcoming by-election, to be held on 3rd March. 

As many people will be aware, I continue to be active within these communities and intend to be so for the foreseeable future, supporting Kate in her efforts to represent local residents, to listen to their concerns and actively ensure that their voices are heard.

The last two years have been tough for us all, but in the case of South Somerset District Council this has been exacerbated by recent revelations concerning corruption and fraud, which coupled with a number of controversial planning issues in the ward, has meant that many residents feel that they have not been well served by our local authority. I feel confident that Kate will continue my legacy of impartiality and integrity in being the true voice of all residents.

I will not be whipped

 

Amid the current furore over the behaviour of political enforcers, otherwise known as party whips, I came across the quote ‘Whoever allows himself to be whipped deserves to be whipped.’ A sentiment I thoroughly endorse.  

Despite being on the fringes of the political arena for almost 20 years, I have never allowed myself to be whipped, either physically or metaphorically. When I became political group leader for our district council some years ago, the first thing I did was to remove the whip. I strongly believe that if it is felt that a particular stance or course of action needs to be taken it is incumbent upon the leader to persuade, not force, their political bedfellows to go along with it. As a leader one should seek to achieve a level of respect, not grudging agreement. 

Whilst it is necessary for our rulers to be able to ensure compliance amongst their political allies, particularly when wishing to push legislation through parliament, it is no mere coincidence that one definition of the term ‘whip’ refers to someone who imposes their will by violence and intimidation. When what amounts to bullying and coercive tactics are used, which in my experience happens at every level of government, we are no better than the leaders of other countries that we criticise; Russia and China spring readily to mind.    

Certainly, I have seen instances of where those who do tow-the-line, regardless of their skills, knowledge and experience, tend to get offered the plum jobs. 

Personally, I would rather retain a level of integrity. 

The Olive Tree Restaurant, Bath - Review

 

Bugger the Covid booster jab. Like a good citizen it turned out to be more like a lamb being led to slaughter. I went down like a ton of bricks, was bedridden for a week and a month later I have still lost my appetite; not good for someone who eats out professionally five days a week. 

But no matter…. I have spent a good deal of time in Bath in recent years, and in the run up to Christmas, I had the pleasure of visiting the kitchen at The Olive Tree restaurant at The Queensbury Hotel to assess one of their apprentices. This was coincidentally one of the hotels on my patch as an AA Hotel & Restaurant inspector many years go, and one where I have fond memories of my inspection.

Had my bank balance been healthier, I would certainly have liked to stay overnight but contented myself with a pre-Christmas treat of a meal at Bath’s only Michelin starred restaurant. On my previous visit a week or so earlier I had been impressed by the kitchen set up overseen by Head Chef Chris Cleghorn, who heads up a brigade of eight. 

I get to see a lot of kitchens, many of which are so chaotic I am left wondering how on earth they manage to pull a meal together. In this case, on my previous visit, outside of service hours, I noticed the calm, disciplined, working atmosphere generated by Chris; everyone going seamlessly about their business. He runs a tight ship.

I had been looking forward to sampling either the nine course or six course menus on offer at £120 or £95, with wine pairings to match. 

Under normal circumstances I would have been up for this, but due to my recent indisposition I opted for three starters and a dessert, along with a glass of Champagne. With a total bill of £86, including service, I felt that overall, this was good value for money.

Diners can also select à la carte options, and ‘fussy’ eaters can take advantage of menus offering vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian and dairy free options. There is even a well-priced children’s menu on offer; a practice I thoroughly approve of as I believe that all children should be introduced to fine dining as soon as possible. 

The subdued furnishings of the dining room do not detract from the dining experience but sadly as it was the restaurant is not disabled friendly. The staff however were professional and approachable, and extremely knowledgeable. Their product knowledge was good, and staff were able to describe the wine pairings on offer; I do love to cross examine them!

Pleasingly they were able to make guests feel welcome but did not cross the boundary between diner and waiter that I believe should be present in a professional establishment.  

Service was well-paced, and when it comes to grub, especially if eating alone, I eat at an Olympic pace.

As with other fine dining establishments I have been fortunate enough to experience recently, there were a number of Japanese patrons. Thankfully, in the tough times the hospitality industry has been experiencing as a result of Covid-19, this is one sector of tourist visitors that appears to be unafraid to brave our shores.

As a journalist and WSET wine tutor I was thrilled to discover the wide range of lovely wines on offer by the glass. Ordinarily, I would have taken advantage of the wine pairings on offer but settled instead for a glass of Champagne. With an eye on their income, one area of criticism was the absence of upselling to encourage me to order a second glass once I had finished.

Presentation throughout was exceptional, and a small fortune has obviously been spent on the china to enhance the appearance of dishes; one does eat with the eyes first after all. However, my main focus is always on the taste, and I was not disappointed.

One of the keys to assessing establishments in a professional capacity is the ability to be objective. There is real joy when something just hits the spot, but we all have personal preferences. It is the ability to judge competence and skill, both in terms of selecting top notch locally sourced ingredients, and then combining them in a way that enhances them is what results in a memorable meal.

The menu was pleasingly very seasonal, and changed regularly to reflect the best that is on offer, giving imaginative pairings of ingredients with a nod to the Orient.

I always love the ‘freebies’ that go with fine dining and my meal began with a single slice of smoked air-dried duck breast beautifully presented…I could have eaten much more!

I did however fully regret declining the homemade rolls on offer; rye with black treacle. The aroma from an adjoining table was irresistible.

My meal began with a single diced raw Orkney scallop, served in its shell with wasabi mayonnaise, dill, and a granny smith apple granita. This was clearly a nod to a similar dish served at the Two Michelin star restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in Dublin, one of my favourites.

Overall, this was my favourite dish of the meal. Fresh and clean, the hot kick of the wasabi providing a perfect contrast to the cool granita. If I had been preparing this, I might have cut the scallop into translucent slices rather than dice it. 

One of the elements noticeable throughout my meal, and in observing other dishes, was that several dishes are finished at the table, in this case with the granita, as well as sauces and other elements, including caviar. This might have come across as pretentious, but it merely formed part of the theatre that was being created to ensure that diners had a memorable experience. 

I had asked for tasting size portions and my next choice was smoked eel with leek and a chicken and tarragon sauce. A well thought out combination, but given the restaurant’s aspirations for two Michelin stars, I would hope that consideration would be given to smoking their own meat and fish. I also found the dish a little on the salty side for my taste.

I followed this with veal sweetbread with black garlic, Westcombe ricotta and preserved lemon. This was skilfully cooked, but I did struggle to appreciate the marriage between the two key ingredients.

I conclude my meal with Islands Chocolate, yoghurt sorbet, perilla (a grassy herb with notes of anise or liquorice) Manni olive oil (gold medal winning in 2021). The textures of this dish, the soft oozing mousse contrasting with the cocoa nibs and the cool sorbet, made this a great way to finish a first-rate meal.

However, the experience was not over yet, a shiny red pair of salted caramel lips accompanied the bill!

I cannot wait to return once my appetite is fully restored.

As always I pay for my own meals, without accepting hospitality, and dining anonymously where possible, although in this case I had to pull rank to get a table as the restaurant is so popular!

KNOWING WHEN TO QUIT WHILE YOU ARE AHEAD

 

Instilled with a high level of self-confidence, thanks to my mother, I am not renowned for my humility. Having decided to step down from my involvement in local politics after almost 20 years I have been truly humbled by the enormous number of accolades I have received, both on social media, by email, and from those who have taken the trouble to write me personal messages. 

Whilst I do not regret my actions, my decision has got me thinking about those of us in a position of power and influence who cling on with their finger-tips way past their sell-by date. All too often, in both politics and in business, we are witness to those who refuse to quit because their own egos get in the way of progress and a refusal to acknowledge their own failings. 

If I have learnt anything at all in the past few weeks, it is to quit while you are ahead. If I am to personally benefit from such tributes, and bask in the resulting glow, I am delighted that they have been expressed long before I am six feet under.

THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL’S BACK

 

This is a phrase that we hear often, meaning that one in a line of unacceptable occurrences causes a seemingly sudden, strong reaction. 

Recently I announced that with effect from the new year I shall be relinquishing all of my official representative positions. This was a decision not undertaken lightly, and something I had been giving consideration to for some time. 

In many ways Covid was the catalyst for my decision. Whilst others seemed to have suffered a good deal as a result of lockdown, I was truly in my element. For a few months I felt that I had re-gained my life. No more dashing from one end of the country to the other, and despite the chore of Zoom meetings, no sitting in village halls for hour after hour, listening to people’s problems but largely being helpless in resolving the issues to their satisfaction. I swore that I would never get back on the hamster wheel.  

Six months later, I find that I am working up to 14 hours per day, every day. 

For most people, when it comes to the important decisions in life, there can be the tendency to prevaricate; worries about money, health, parental responsibilities and other personal issues we face all have an impact on our ability to make tough life-changing decisions.  For me, this has occurred perhaps half a dozen times in my life, when seemingly minor incidents just tip me over the balance. In that moment, a decision I had been putting off was made instantly, with no looking back. In all cases I can honestly say that I have had no regrets.  

This last month, the turning point for me was something that occurred during the Remembrance service in the Minster at Ilminster. It was the high-handed, arrogant, attitude of a colleague, and what I felt was unacceptable behaviour that was the final straw. I realised that I no longer wished to be associated with them or their ilk. 

I was so cross that I went home and handed in my resignation immediately, deciding at the same time to free myself from the shackles of other commitments. 

To date, I have yet to repent my actions, and am counting the days to freedom from obligation. I may even throw a party. 

IS ANYBODY LISTENING?

One of the key skills of representing others in public life is the ability to be able to listen. I have on occasion been told that I am not a particularly good listener, something that I cannot always disagree with. Whilst I am able to repeat verbatim what someone has told me, my brain is going ten to the dozen and already I am thinking of how best to respond. 

With so many diversions vying for our attention it can be difficult to focus. However, what the general public, having put us into office, want is to feel that someone, somewhere, cares enough to try to resolve whatever problems they are facing. The challenge as an elected representative is that whilst they are dependent upon us to make the necessary contacts this is becoming increasingly difficult.  

In recent years, as we have been experiencing the relentless push towards technology, which as often as not does not work effectively, it is now practically impossible to speak to a real, live, person. I yearn for the time when I could pick up the phone and, within a matter of minutes, have the problem solved. Sadly, this is no longer the case. Apart from the cumbersome completion of online forms, an immediate response can no longer be expected. Certainly, Covid aside, which to my mind, continues to be used as an excuse for poor performance and lack of proper public engagement, our town and parish councils have been complaining long and hard about the changes that are being made, all supposedly in the name of efficiency and progress.  

No longer are paper copies of planning applications made available to clerks, and on a daily basis I am contacted by local residents who cannot readily access information about what is happening in their local communities. This is unacceptable, considering that it is these very people who are paying the wages of our local authority officers and elected members. There are times, increasingly so, when it seems that it is more a case of the tail wagging the dog.