Elections - You Can't Buy My Vote

With all parties gearing themselves up for the European elections next month, I worry about the machinations of those involved. People we’ve hardly heard of, let alone met, give their pitch in a bid to win a seat on the European gravy train, to many who neither understand what they are voting for, and who won’t turn up at the ballot box on the day anyway.

The right to vote is course one of the foundations of democracy, and one that is still hard fought for in third world countries. However, apart from paying lip service to engaging with the electorate, little appears to be being done to ensure that aside from those who have their own agendas, the younger generation in particular feel inspired to get out and make their mark.

What inevitably happens is that the diehards amongst the electorate, with fairly fixed views along the lines of ‘I’ve always voted that way…’, turn out to have their say, and the rest bemoan the results for the next four years or so. Much as we might like to, we can’t have it both ways.

Our role in Europe has been high on the agenda for all parties recently. This is largely as a result of the success of minority parties in the local elections in 2013, which caught the other parties unaware. I would suggest that this is because people are fed up with policies that seem to bend to European will, and they feel that those in power, of whichever persuasion, have done little to fight for a fair deal for Britain. I don’t necessarily believe this to be the case, but the thinking behind this is almost exclusively to do with poor communication, otherwise we would not have seen so many turn out last year to vote for a parties that at a local level could play very little part, and with virtually no impact, in the big issue; that of immigration.

Hard on the heels of the European elections, all parties will be gearing themselves up for next year’s general election, and there is evidence of this already.

What many of us can expect to see is a flurry of activity, both locally and nationally, as those in charge start to play catch-up and are seen to be courting the public gallery with a number of popular vote catching initiatives. This will be in a bid to show just how much they care and are working on our behalf. We can, I am certain, expect the chequebooks, which have so far remained, to a large degree, firmly closed to be opened up to select projects to capture the public imagination in a bid to curry favour and in the hope of gaining a few votes.

To be bribed in such a way is something that we must all resist in a bid to avoid seduction. We all caution children not to accept sweets from strangers, and as adults we must see it for what it is. It was only in 2010, at the last general election, that outgoing Treasury Secretary, Liam Byrne, left a note for his successor, which said "there's no money left".

I believe that in making decisions about who should lead us we should, and must, look to their record of achievement so far, rather than succumb to empty promises, and the enticement of a few treats, which after all we are paying for anyway.

Living Without Fear

I listened with interest to an interview with Cheryl Sandberg, CEO of Facebook, earlier this week, about her strategy for engagement with smaller businesses and ways in which the company is planning to increase its focus on providing added value to its users. At the end of the interview, when asked about her own personal success she said ‘What would you do if you weren’t afraid?’

This got me thinking about many of the seemingly rash decisions I’ve made in the past, when I was considerably younger, and considerably more fearless; selling the house, giving up the job, travelling around the world on merchant ships, and losing a husband along the way; going to the USA to work for three months, with one suitcase, and returning 10 years later with a container load, and a new husband. The list is endless, and although I wouldn’t change any of my experiences, for better or worse, I fear that such exciting carefree adventures are now all in the past. The reason?  Nowadays I’m much older, if not wiser, with more responsibilities, and am, at least for some of the time, afraid of the consequences of my actions. It is not a situation that sits easily with me at all, but times, as well as I, have changed. I can well recall when a person could leave a job with a certain degree of alacrity in the certain knowledge that another one would be ready and waiting in the wings not too far around the next corner.  We really did never have it so good.

That, sadly, is not at all the case today. Many youngsters are leaving university with good degrees, and huge student loans, and still struggling to find any kind of job, let alone one that they’d like as a stepping stone onto the career ladder, or even somewhere affordable to live. The fact is that no matter what our age, our education, or where we live, life has become so much tougher, and along with that we have all become much more risk averse. Our work places are struggling to become pristine risk free environments, and we are increasingly afraid to allow our children, those of us that are fortunate to have them, to take the risks that will help them to cope later in life and take those leaps of faith that will propel them out of their comfort zone into the realm of what is possible, rather than what is safe and predictable; to live their dreams.

It is in this environment that great things can be achieved, when unfettered by rules and the caution brought about by bitter experience; to really be able to reach our full potential as individuals. There are of course exceptions and some of the greatest achievements have been made by those who were bred into an environment of fear; they may well have felt that such was their life they had nothing further to fear.

Anything is possible, as long as we believe it to be so, but it can only happen if we are not hampered by fear; the fear of the ‘what ifs’ in life.

Despite my more cautious approach I’m still considered a risk taker by many, but when I look back on my life I really have very few regrets. Perhaps the current feelings of fear are just in my head and it’s time to shake them off.

As Franklin d Roosevelt said in his inaugural speech ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself.’

Suppressing The Press

In a democracy the freedom of the press is vital to its survival and, whilst there is plenty of recent evidence that the press do not always toe the line in quite the way we might want, I believe it is this freedom of expression that makes us stand out as a society.

I am often asked to help a range of organisations deal with the media, and from time to time I find myself in hot water, but better that than to have no voice, which is the fate of many who oppose the system in which they live, or choose to buck the status quo for fear of reprisal.

I raise the subject because increasingly organisations of all sorts, whether private enterprises or government departments, are seeking to stifle the views of potential dissenters, or those who may not have the same, usually hidden, agenda.  

We have seen ‘gagging’ orders used in relation to several government employees, where independent observers are of the opinion that such agreements should only ever be used in the public sector if it is a matter of national security, and of course this is rarely the case.

The press attend many of the same meetings that I find myself at and on occasion they will be excluded, or someone will say ‘not for the public to know’, often with a wink and a nod. This occurs mostly where someone may have inadvertently expressed an opinion that they realise may be just a little too controversial for the public palate. Mostly, certainly at a regional level, the press are pretty accommodating, in large part, I would suggest, because they want to keep everyone on side or see their information sources dry up.

Increasingly, however, we have to work in partnership with others to achieve common aims. Who then handles the PR side of things? Who decides what message is sent out, in what format, at what point in the proceedings? You can be sure that unless a mutually binding agreement is reached one party will usually try to outdo the other, to be seen to be working harder or providing more value for money. This approach is usually brought about by fear and it is precisely this attempt to hide or distort messages that makes the public so wary and untrusting of their elected representatives, or their employers. A lot of angst could easily be avoided by a more open attitude towards communication, and fewer discussions behind closed doors until one or other party is prepared to show their hand. The general public does not like to feel that information is being withheld, or that they are being misled. The huge increase in freedom of information requests demonstrates that we have not got the balance right.

I frequently submit articles, but would never dream or trying to influence anyone over their publication, and as I don’t usually have the time to read a paper, more often than not I won’t even know if something has been published, until someone else tells me.

In the wake of the Levenson enquiry the media assert that the government is suppressing official advice over the legality of new rules to regulate the press. Apparently ministers are refusing to disclose the contents of a document on the new system of regulation, which critics say risks granting politicians control over the press for the first time in 300 years, which may breach European law. That must never be allowed to happen, either covertly or overtly.

New Malden Deaths

n the wake of the tragic deaths of the three young children this week, in what was deemed to be a quiet, affluent neighbourhood, will of course have been a shock to many, and a reminder that money has no respect for feelings.

Whilst investigations continue, there is no doubt in my mind that as news is released about the particular circumstances leading up to this, that the poor mother will have been pushed to the end of her tether, just unable to continue.

Those of us living alone, when times get tough, can, if we choose, hide under the duvet for a day or so and hope it will all go away, and rely on the support of friends and family to get us over the worst.

In my own work with disabled children and adults I am well aware of the pressures that parents and other family members can be put under when having to deal with the consequences of caring for someone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is relentless and never ending; not something you can put to one side if you’re having an off-day or don’t feel too good yourself.

The family’s entire lives, including those of the older daughter, would have been dictated constantly by the needs of these wee ones.

In this case, where the children are believed to have had a life-limiting genetic condition, leaving them with little or no control over their movements, the problem would have been exacerbated by the fact that there was not just one, but three to cope with and care for, in addition to the fact that her husband was often away on business. It is little wonder then that this situation developed.

Whilst I’m not one for knocking health services unnecessarily, what I would like to know is what could have, and should have been done, to prevent this happening. With ever decreasing funding levels, and the added pressures on all of us, the increase in stress levels is a foregone conclusion, as the services that should be in place to support families in this kind of situation are woefully inadequate.

It is something we see increasingly at Samaritans and, whilst the listening service provided is life-saving and invaluable to many, there can be no substitute for early intervention and practical support from professionals.  

As much as we may mourn the truly distressing deaths of these three toddlers, the mother, and the rest of her family, will have to live with the consequences of her actions, where the long term effects will in all likelihood be equally devastating. My heart goes out to them all.

Shakespeare - To Be Read Or Not To Be Read

I noted with interest this week, appropriately given the 450th of Shakespeare's birth, Dame Helen Mirren's assertion that children should not be permitted to read Shakespeare until they reach the age of 15. 

I would argue that it is not about age; we all develop at different stages in our lives, some of us never picking up a book voluntarily and others, like myself, turn into avid, voracious readers.

I would however agree that getting to grips with Shakespeare at a young age can be daunting, if not downright dull; much depends on just who is leading us down the literary path. I was fortunate enough to have had a truly inspiring teacher that I adored, but for many, exposure to Shakespeare is just a means to an end; gaining the required exam result.  

Getting youngsters to read any kind of book can be something of a challenge these days, unless it has the ability to capture their imagination. I believe that Shakespeare has the ability to do this, but probably not when served up in the original language. The suggestion that one way to gain interest is through the theatre is a sound one, but only if the performance comes up to scratch. As a keen theatre goer I have sat through many a dire production; nowadays I am much more likely to get up and leave.

The theatre can indeed be a magical place, and interpretations of Shakespeare can be as varied as the plots of his plays. I can recall one brilliant performance, performed on Vespa scooters, at the wonderful open air theatre, The Minack, at Porthcurno in Cornwall. With the sea as its backdrop, it was an unforgettable and riotous performance; their annual productions are a must for anyone.

Locally Taunton Thespians are performing Taming of the Shrew this summer, and there is of course The Reduced Shakespeare Company, which purists would say is a parody of the real thing, but who cares if it gets the kids interested?

Likewise, there have been a number of award winning films and adaptations based on Shakespearean themes, over 400 at the last count, and although not one of my personal favourites, ‘Shakespeare in Love’, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Judi Dench, won seven academy awards. That should at least get the girls interested.  

I can understand Dame Helen’s theory about creating desire for the forbidden by not allowing those under 15 to read Shakespeare, but it is about much more than that.  

I see that she also says that never having had the opportunity to play Juliet has broken her heart; her versatility as an actress is such that I would not be at all surprised if the offers don't come piling in, as I’d put nothing past her despite her assertion that she is now too old. Does love have to have an age barrier? 

The love of learning doesn’t, but with so many other diversions the barriers grow daily and if we value our heritage we must all do what we can to tear them down. Shakespeare is arguably the greatest playwright in history, despite rumours to the contrary, but then that is another topic altogether.

Alsace and Wine in World War Two

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.

Collecting Perfume Bottles

Until I realised they were just sitting on the dressing gathering dust, I used to love my small collection of crystal perfume bottles, which included one made by Lalique.
They are a popular collectable, and although vintage ones, particularly from the early 20^th century, are much sought after, with celebrities lending their names to the enormous range of smellies available, and with increasingly stiff competition, the range of styles, shapes and materials now used for perfume bottles is increasing by the day.
There are a number of reference books devoted to collecting perfume bottles, in addition to collectors’ clubs.
As with all collectables, where there is a such a large range available, it is best to concentrate on a particualr type, which could include atomisers, crystal ones, those with filigree decoration, or mini purse flacons or those from a particular perfume manafacturer.
If interested in collecting perfume bottles from commercial houses, pick your marque and do some research into their history.
At the top of the range many of the finest ‘art glass’ pieces, such as Lalique or Baccarat were manufactured from 1900-1930s, and the beautiful iridescent pieces from Steuben and Tiffany are scarce and highly collectable.
If you don't have much space to store or display your collection then try collecting miniatures as they don't take up too much space.
When buying, try to ensure that the bottles are in the best condition, as these will be more likely to retain their value, but if you manage to acquire a rare bottle, such as a Lalique one, a minor chip or nick shouldn't be too crucial. Also look to see if labels are present, and pay attention to any gilding. Look out for nicks along the mouth of the bottle, most likely caused by the stoppers being taken in and out over time.
Perfume in its original box will have added value and some collectors prefer to buy sealed bottles full of perfume, but bear in mind that the perfume itself may well have lost its smell.
Make sure the stopper and the base match, as sometimes stoppers will be replaced if broken; you may find numbers scratched into the base of the bottle and on the stopper, which are generally found on French crystal pieces. This is a way of showing that the stopper was ground to an exact fit for its particular bottle..
Any perfume residue can be cleaned out by using a cleaning agent such as bleach, ammonia or liquid bathroom cleansers, but be sure to keep any moisture away from the labels.
If buying online make sure that you know the size of the bottle, as some may look big on your computer screen and you could find yourself disappointed when it is delivered.
Always ask the seller about the age of the bottle, and be sure to do your research and look at any pictures carefully before buying. If in doubt, take out insurance.

Food Banks Give Food for Thought

The news has been rife with reports of the increased uptake of food parcels from food banks this week, with some quoting figures as high as 1 million.
This should be no surprise to anyone with their eyes open and their ears to the ground of their local communities. We have been immersed in the middle of a long and deep recession, as have many other economies.
What needs to be dispelled however is the myth that food parcels are being handed out will nilly and grabbed by the bucket load by a bunch good for nothing free loaders. This is not the case at all. Food banks have quite strict criteria in order to prevent the abuse that is feared by the rest of us, and will usually only hand out parcels to those who have been referred by one of the many support agencies and organisations that exist. You cannot just turn up at their door and ask for food.
Whilst there is no doubt in my mind that the number of people in need has increased, for a variety of reasons, what we also need to consider is some on the underlying causes of the situations in which people find themselves, having to all intents and purposes beg for food. Although not having to resort to a food bank myself, I doubt that I would qualify, there has been the odd time when I have been very grateful indeed when a friend has either invited me out for a meal, or turned up at the door with a pile of groceries. Some years ago, when close to bankruptcy, I took the precaution, before things got really bad, of buying in a supply of all the essentials I knew I could not live without, stuff like toilet paper, washing powder and toohpaste, to tide me over.
Unlike many of those in need, I live alone and have no small children dependent on me, so I can cut back on things without the impact being felt by others. For most though, there is the inability to prepare a cheap and nutritious meal from scratch, thereby saving money that might be spent on ready meals or other prepared products. A whole chicken will always cost much less than portions, but won't be any good if you don't know how to cook it, and can't afford to turn the over on. Likewise, many people are having to either take on more than one job, so have less time to spend on carrying out a whole range of chores more cost effectively; or else they are spending much of their income on childcare, with little left to run the car they need to get to work because there is no public transport available.
With careful budgeting most of us can 'manage' but when life throws a curve ball at you, as we see at Samaritans all the time, and there is little or no leeway in coping with a financial emergency, loss of a job, reduced hours or sudden illness, it is then that support such as that provided by food banks becomes vital. For many it is only a short term measure, while they get themselves back on their feet.
There is also the question of the choices we make in how we spend what money we do have available, and the touchy subject of peer pressure. One often hears comments such as 'Why should we help them if they spend all their money on booze or fags?', which is not helpful at all.
We all make choices in our lives, some more sensible than others, and at times of stress the choices we make are much more likely to exacerbate the situation than help it.
What does help though is practical support and some empathy with the plight of others.

Tobacco Control Specialist

As a life long non-smoker, and someone who has suffered at the hands of the smokers in my family, through persistent bouts of bronchitis and related conditions since I was a child, I consider myself to be pretty intolerant of smokers. However, it is still a legal substance and I am continually dismayed at the frequent initiatives intended to reduce smoking.
The latest appears to be a smoking prevention programme for adolescents called ASSIST.
Apparently Year 8 students are to be trained as 'peer supporters' to have informal conversations about the risks of smoking and the benefits of being smoke-free.
Locally a licence has been taken out to work with 10 schools but only 7 schools in the conuty have taken up the offer.
There's a surprise! Whilst our schools are grappling to get to grips with the ever changing curriculum I would imagine that encouraging those having a sneaky fag behind the bike sheds to give it up is not high on the list of priorities.
What has prompted me to write, however, is the absurd title of the job holder - Tobacco Control Specialist in Public Health.
If we really do believe that smoking is bad for your health, the solution would be quite simple, ban it; but it is unlikely that any government would so; because of the tax revenue it generates.

Collecting Egg Cups

With Easter on the horizon my thoughts turned naturally to eggs, but the collecting of birds’ eggs (oology) although once a popular hobby has been illegal since 1954.

However, if you happen to have an unlimited budget you could always consider the fabulously desirable and valuable Fabergé eggs. The most expensive of these was the 1913 Winter Egg, now said to be worth almost £2 million.  

For those of us with slimmer pockets, there is however nothing to stop us collecting egg cups, the term for which is pocillovy, deriving from the Latin pocillum for small cup, and ovi for eggs.

Whereas in the UK an egg cup is a common item to be found in our kitchens; not surprising given our liking for boiled eggs, on my travels abroad I have noticed that they are few and far between.

Egg cups are a popular collectable item, with even a dedicated newsletter ‘Eggcup Collectors’ Corner’, in addition to conventions held for collectors.

They can be made of a wide variety of substances such as porcelain, pottery, wood, plastic, glass, metal or even a combination of materials.

Unsurprisingly egg cups have been around almost as long as eggs, with evidence that their use dates back as far as pre-historic times; an early silver egg cup from 74BC was found in the ruins at Pompeii.

For collectors they can prove to be an inexpensive hobby; it is easy to pick up cheap and cheerful ones in charity shops and car boot sales, whilst for more serious collectors auction houses and antique dealers can be the source of rare and valuable finds. It all depends on your budget.  

Collecting egg cups is a fairly recent pursuit so finding many that pre-date the 20^th century can be something of a challenge.

The design of egg cups covers a wide range, from the common single egg cup to double egg cups, those that can hold up to five eggs and ones that also serve as holders for your soldiers and salt...

Because of the large variety of egg cups available you may want to specialise in a particular style or design, decorated with flowers for example, or those that have a brand name or advert on them.

My personal favourite is one made for me in a pottery class at school .... not quite a collector’s item but treasured nonetheless.  

 

What wine to serve when entertaining Heads of State and Royalty

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.

Any Questions in Chard!

As featured in Yeovil Press:

http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2014/04/15/south-somerset-news-any-questions-in-chard/

Dunces and Muppets - Do Politicans Live in the Real World?

From time to time when I’m out and about, and usually when there has been yet another negative news item affecting the local population, I will hear someone say ‘Do councillors and politicians live in the real world?’
My immediate, and perhaps rather trite response, is usually ‘No, of course they don’t.’
What I really mean though is what do we understand by ‘the real world’?
We are all living daily with our own sense of reality, which will naturally be different for each and every one of us.
For many single parents their reality is how to make ends meet, juggling the finely balanced line between the need to work and finding affordable, reliable childcare.
For someone facing the loss of a loved one it is waking up each morning to face the day, acknowledging the awful realisation that their daughter, son, mother, father, spouse or partner is no longer there, and never will be except in their thoughts and memories.
In the case of youngsters, who for whatever reason are struggling at school, or trying to find a job, it is meeting the challenge of gaining academic qualifications or handling the consequences of unwanted peer pressure. Their reality may be coping with feelings of inferiority, not being able to live up to the expectations of others, or failing to meet the seemingly impossible high standards they have set for themselves.
There are many other examples, but what I think is really meant by the original comment is ‘to what extent do our elected representatives, at local or national level, have a ‘real understanding’ of the daily difficulties the man on the street faces in coming to terms with the increasingly complex society in which we now find ourselves?’.
Should our politicians, many of whom come from privileged backgrounds, know the price of a pint of milk or a loaf of bread; the standard white sliced variety consumed by the majority of the population, rather than the expensive ‘designer loaves’ at 10 times the price (not that I’m knocking such scrumptious hand crafter edibles)? I believe they should know what we're up against. It is when those that represent us become out of touch with what is going on in our lives it must surely result in key decisions being taken without due regard for the ‘real’ impact.
The cynic in me suspects, as we witness the entirely unsavoury spectacle of the leaders of our two main parties name calling each other like spoilt brats in the school playground, that many headline grabbing decisions are taken with the London centric ballot box in mind.
Given that less than half of those eligible to vote choose to do so, one can quite reasonably ask ‘Do our poiticians live in the real world’, or do they choose to be selective in their appreciation of another’s position?
One would hope not, but I fear this is certainly the case, so I stand by my original statement.
Sadly I believe that many who are elected to represent us do not live in the real world – as the rest of us know it.

Why We SHOULD Discriminate

For some time now, in large part due to the continued rise of the politically correct brigade, we have been told that to discriminate is wrong. I disagree.
When as individuals, or as a nation, we no longer feel comfortable in exercising our ability to discriminate, we lose much of what we used to value, that we as a nation once had a long standing reputation for - quality.
Yes, of course we should be accepting of others, their values, beliefs, colour, gender and the multitude of other specifically protected characteristics relating to showing negative or positive preference, but does that mean that we should then turn a blind eye towards other factors regardless?
It is when we lose the ability to be able to discriminate, to recognise and differentiate quality, taste and value, that we open ourselves up to abuse of a different kind.
For example, when money becomes the sole arbiter, the barometer by which we set our standards, we fall into the trap of no longer being able to discriminate and make those important judgements about whether or not we are really getting what we pay for. This is as true in politics as in anything else.
As a result of enforced efficiencies we continue to pay the same in council tax, and much is made of this, but we are increasingly getting less and less for our money. Companies placing advertisements for job vacancies will more often than not give no indication of the salary offered, in an effort to get labour at the cheapest possible rate, without always having due regard for the value of someone who by their experience and skills may well warrant a higher salary and produce better results.
Every time we succumb to buying cheap ready meals we are subjecting ourselves to the subterfuge of the power wielded by the big supermarket chains, enabling them to force the prices paid to their own suppliers down to a level where survival is on a knife edge, all the while reducing the quality of the ingredients used, and substituting them with dubious additives in a clear effort to deceive.
Cheap meals offered by some of the major pub chains are often nothing more than re-heated processed pap, and the beer and wine on tap is so cheap because it has been bought in bulk as it nears the end of its useful life. Our failure to discriminate leaves us constantly open to being conned.
I am not immune to the temptations myself. A pair of knock down bargain basement shoes, recently purchased, lasted no more than a couple of weeks before they disintegrated, and the cheap summer dress that looked the height of fashion lasted just a few washes before it started to literally fall apart at the seams. I'v found that you usually get what you pay for. Other clothes, purchased at a time when I was able to afford it, have lasted 20 years or more. The same goes for good old solid wood furniture when compared with cheaper more modern fabricated items. This is why nowadays almost everything I buy is second hand, stuff that may not be new, but has stood the test of time, and does provide good value for money.
Most of us now need to think seriously about guarding our precious pennies each week, balancing the decisions we make about what we purchase against what we’d like the freedom to do, but unless we retain the ability to be able to discriminate, and weigh up the choices available to us, we will continue to fall prey to those who do not have our best interests at heart.
We open ourselves up to becoming the victims, and they the victors at our expense.

WHY SIZE REALLY MATTERS

When it comes to size, I believe we are to all intents and purposes being conned
It has come to my attention recently that we are increasingly being short changed, particularly by large companies, and getting less and less than we are paying for.
I have noticed that this applies to chocolate in particular, one of my favourite things, as my expanding waistline shows. Where so called special offers or bumper packs are concerned; once you open them, they now reveal not quite the contents we might have expected to receive. I find this extremely irritating when there are no longer enough sweets to go around.
Take Quality Street as an example; a popular and relatively inexpensive present to give one’s colleagues at the office. The price has stayed pretty much the same but the size has sneakily decreased downwards from 1kg. to 750 grams, with little difference evident in the dimensions of the container, except if you are planning to re-use it as a cake tin, where nowadays it is just that little bit too shallow to transport a decent sized Victoria sandwich cake. There is also the issue of the purple ones, my preference, with the hazelnut in the centre; as one of the more expensive ingredients used in the mix they offer, I have noticed that there are fewer of them these days. Mars bars and other similar snack bars have gone the same way. Where once they were keen to ensure we were all buying super sized packs, the size, but not the price, has begun to shrink. The same goes for boxes of cereal and similar foodstuffs, in addition to cosmetics and many other items; the list is endless.
There is of course the argument that too much chocolate is not good for us, but these canny and deceptive operators have been able to establish that there is a price point beyond which, especially for impulse buys, many of us will not go, especially when we have limited funds available.
When it comes to local government and the NHS the situation is pretty much the same. In an effort to ensure that council tax does not increase (a mistake to my mind) something has had to give, and in this case the result is an ever-shrinking service provision and stretched and stressed staff; those that haven’t yet been made redundant. That’s all well and good, and there has to be a general acceptance that we are reaping the results of spending and borrowing beyond our means.
However we were not all irresponsible although we are all suffering as a result; the price we pay for democracy and the concept of shared responsibility.
It is however those without a voice that are likely to suffer the most as the public sector faces increasing pressure from central government to down size. There is a certain point at which the level of cuts can no longer be sustained without irreparable harm to our long-term future.
Whilst it is encouraging to see that the economy appears to be on the up, with house prices showing a slight rise, where will first time buyers find the money to be able to afford to own their home, once the dream of us all?
This, along with the aim for a college or university education, where graduates are unable to find work and get left with huge student loans to pay off, will only serve to foster an increasing sense of disillusionment, and the realisation that when it comes to looking forward to the future, size really does matter when we no longer have the resources or finances to enable our hopes and aspirations to be realised.

Being Given Enough Rope to Hang Yourself

It was only after I had scaled 100ft. down ‘C’ Block of County Hall, along with many other willing volunteers, in support of fund raising efforts on behalf of the victims of the recent flooding, and the SCC Chairman’s two chosen charities for the year, the National Autistic Society and the Somerset Trust For Arts & Recreation, that I began to think about the importance of the length of rope down which we had all abseiled.

There are those who would consider such activities as being quite a risky undertaking, but I felt absolutely safe, knowing that the team of handsome firemen up on the roof would have done all the necessary checks to ensure my safety. They did after all have their own jobs and reputations at stake.
That same morning I had been speaking to the boss of one of the companies I work for, and for whom I have high regard, about the concept of being ‘given enough rope to hang myself’; literally having sufficient freedom in carrying out my duties to enable me to eventually, on a fairly regular basis, get into enough trouble for me to have to be literally ‘hauled back up’ into line.
During my lengthy and varied career I have had many different jobs, and have worked for many different people; some, like Sir David Hannay, who to my mind is an exemplar in every sense of the word, and others where I couldn’t wait to leave and put their appalling behaviour firmly behind me before moving on.
At a time when things are tough for many businesses, whether it be in the commercial, public or charitable sector, and with staffing levels down to the bone, I believe that there has been an increased tendency for ‘micro managing’, as ever fearful of their own position, poor managers are constantly on the lookout for someone to blame when things go wrong, as they are very likely to do eventually. It is then of course expected that heads will roll as a consequence, but frequently it is not the perpetrator who ends up in the firing line.
My point is, and yes, it has taken me some time to get there, that if we all become too risk averse, as I know I have in recent years, we will be too afraid to push the boundaries that restrain us, often imposed by others, and miss out on discovering new and exciting ways to develop, both personally and professionally. Rather like standing back to allow your child to make mistakes when they take their first wobbly steps
I know that my own preference for being managed is to have clear boundaries and expectations and then being left pretty much on my own to produce the goods, which by and large I always manage to achieve. That is not to say that my career path has not had its ups and downs, but it is in being given the freedom to push the boundaries and make mistakes that I have been able to learn just how far I can go.
One thing that innovators and discoverers throughout history have shown is their ability to challenge established thinking; without Columbus we may all still believe that the earth is flat.
Like the rope used during our abseiling efforts, sometimes you just have to be allowed to go for it, hoping and trusting that there will be someone there to provide that all important safety net should it be needed.

Daring abseilers raise cash for charity

As featured in Yeovil Press:

http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2014/04/08/somerset-news-daring-abseilers-raise-cash-for-charity/

Wines for your wedding

Planning a wedding can be a minefield, as I know only too well, having experienced two of my own, so far. It doesn’t matter how much planning and preparation goes into making it your own very special day, you should always be prepared for the unexpected, and sometimes it is the unexpected that brings a smile to your face long after the event.

One thing you can control however, as long as your guests aren’t responsible for bringing their own booze, is what you serve your guests to help you celebrate the nuptials, and just how much.

Couples now often hold two separate parties, inviting close family and friends to the wedding itself, with work colleagues and more distant relatives invited to a shindig later in the day.

You can opt for a full bar, as wine might not to everyone’s taste. Quite the modern thing to do nowadays is to go down the sausage and mash route (a la Kate Winslet) with a pint of local brew, or cider to wash it down. It can be fun, and certainly you couldn’t get better bangers than at local butcher Bonner’s, who incidentally also does a fine hog roast. 

For most of us though, no wedding would be complete without a decent bottle or two to go with a sit down meal, and some bubbly for the toast; although I have heard that some couples now opt for a ‘dry wedding’, quite unimaginable for a wine lover like me.

With a decent budget I’d go for champagne every time, or course. Do also remember that most venues will allow you to bring in your own beverages, and charge you corkage, which can still be cost effective if you wish to serve quality wines, without the usual mark up.

If providing your own alcohol there will be a fine balance between having enough, and yet not so much you’ll still be swimming in it by the first anniversary. Good wine suppliers will usually allow you to have wines on a sale or return basis, and will often include free glass hire too.

I would recommend having wait staff no matter what type of wedding you plan to have, even if you just hire the offspring of friends. They will be glad of a bit of pocket money, and you can then relax, just looking your radiant best.  Having drinks served on trays by waiters will also cut down consumption considerably.

It helps to have an idea of serving sizes when buying your wine. A standard bottle will provide 4 x 175ml. glasses, which is plenty large enough. For spirits, you should aim for about 18 servings per bottle. If having a full bar, plan on a ratio of 20% spirits, 15% beer and 65% wine.

Unless your guests are binge drinkers or alcoholics in training, work on one drink per hour on average. Some will drink more and some will drink less, or have the misfortune to be the designated driver.

For an evening wedding reception lasting 5 hours, and with 100 guests allow:- 30 bottles each of champagne, white and red wine, and 100 beers.

The time of year you are planning to hold your wedding will also determine not just what your guests’ preferences will be, but also the quantity they imbibe. White is of course more popular in the warmer summer months, as is beer, whilst people drink more red in winter. Guests tend also to drink less red wine at lunchtime, and more of anything going if it's really hot, they don’t have to go to work the next day, or have flown out to witness the event at some exotic foreign location.

If you feel your budget can’t run to a decent champagne, you are almost always better off serving a good cava or Prosecco, or even to offer a champagne cocktail. It really just boils down to knowing your guests.

If you want to impress go for champagne, a decent Bordeaux or premium new world red, and a good white burgundy, but to make it truly memorable just please yourself and choose a wine or other beverage that means something to you. It is your wedding after all.

Failing Adult Literacy

A recent study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed how in England 16 to 24-year-olds scored among the lowest results in the industrialised world in literacy and numeracy tests, coming 22nd for literacy and 21st for numeracy out of 24 countries.

What this demonstrated, sadly, is that when weighted with other factors, such as the socio-economic background of those taking the test, England is the only country in the survey where results are going backwards. Shockingly this means that one in six adults in the country is functionally illiterate.

In recent decades we have nurtured a society where gaining qualifications is seen as important, but is not linked to an increased level of ability or basic skill attainment.

There remains an enormous stigma, especially amongst illiterate adults, in being able to admit the absence of these key skills and then to seek the help they need.

As an adult education functional skills tutor I was keen to witness the commons debate, in which MPs took part in a Select Committee focusing on literacy and numeracy.

The overwhelming feeling I had as representatives of no less than 12 different agencies made their pitch, was that they were all keen to ply their trade, in competition with one another. On several occasions, in response to committee questions, there would be cries of ‘We want to help, but we still have to sell our materials.’ Too many fingers in the pot.

I have long been well aware of the extent to which government funding is available to supposedly raise standards in these key basic skills, but what has happened, as organisations across the country bid for a share of the multi-million pound cake, is that companies keen to be seen to support workers will sign up their employees for courses but with little thought as to the real value; and certainly no allowance made during working hours to enable them to partake in a meaningful way.

I believe, from my own experience, that one of the key barriers to this is the rigid set piece of the requirement to jump through hoops to qualify for funding, which to all intents and purposes results in a tick box exercise. This is not real learning.

In order to learn anything the learner must be motivated to do it; to understand and appreciate the personal benefits the additional skills will bring. It has been proven that good literacy and numeracy is the best protection against low wages, and contributes towards to emotional health and well-being. The connection between this failure and the increasing demand for increased skills in the workplace is a serious problem. As a country our economic future development is inextricably linked to ensuring our work force has the necessary skill base.

Personally, I think that the advance of technology is largely to blame. I have long refused to use a satnav on my travels, as I believe that map reading is a key skill, and one we will quickly lose. In using computers, where once pen and paper would do, the easy option is to resort to the spell checker, which does not take into account the context in which the word is used, and calculators are now the norm for even the most basic sums.

At a local level we can all help to improve standards, without necessarily resorting to official involvement; one example of this is the Rotary Club of Ilminster’s engagement with local schools to assist in reading. Learning should have a practical purpose, and like life, it should be fun. Why read a ‘set book’ if your interest lies elsewhere?  Reading anything must be better than not reading at all.