29 July 2018
24 July 2018
Vin de Francois Vertical
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| La Capelle Entrance |
Tuesday 24th -- François Naudé hosts a tasting of all ten vintages of Vin de François at La Chapelle in Spital Square in the City with organiser Paul Plant and François Naudé Junior.
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| Menu |
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| I had Tomato Salad as first course |
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| Lovely Beef, but needed roasties |
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| Paul Plant and Francois Naude |
Details of the wines here.
17 July 2018
Great Yarmouth
Back to The Imperial at Great Yarmouth. This time for three nights Sat 14 - Tuesday 17th July, staying in the Ruinart Room, to visit some museums for research.
The weather was gloriously warm with clear skies.
Super steak in Cafe Cru restaurant with a glass of house Champagne and a bottle of wonderful Rhebokskloof 2015 Pinotage.
Sunday morning at the Museum of Norfolk Broads at Stalham.
Then a short drive to East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens (which we failed to find several times: note to use instruction and map on website rather than sat-nav or sign posts) for home made scones in the garden.
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| Alan Gray and Graham Robeson's House |
There are lines of sight from the gardens; one to Happisburgh lighthouse, 1.5 miles away.
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| This pillbox is between the lighthouse and sea |
So we went to Happisburg for sea air before heading back to the Imperial.
Monday we spent the morning at the Time and Tide Museum in Gt Yarmouth which has a terrific cafe where we had lunch before joining a guided tour to the ruins of Greyfriars Cloisters.
We finished in the Elizabethan House, built in 1596.
Unfortunately the Tolhouse Gaol was closed, so we will have to return...
On the walk back I saw for the very first time punnets of red gooseberries on sale. These are sweet dessert gooseberries.
Our last night we enjoyed battered Haddock and Chips in Cafe Cru with a bottle of Ruinart NV Champagne.
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26 June 2018
Madeira
To Madeira for a week 18-25 June. As BA flight left early from Gatwick we stayed at the Gatwick Hilton, where joy-of-joys we were upgraded to the exective floor. Free drinks and snacks in the evening and free breakfast in the executive room next morning.
First sight of Madeira was of its mountains rising above cloud cover as the plane descended.
We stayed in Funchal at the Vida Mar Hotel on a fully inclusive basis.
Rooms were large with a seating area, balcony and full sea view. We were on the 8th floor.
Included house wines were Fonseca JMF.
We had red with dinner and white with lunch.
Lunch was at the sea-level restaurant. There were also a sushi, Italian and Madeira restaurant we could dine at.
We went to the Madeira restaurant on Thursday when they had folk singing and dancing. We ate espetata, chicken skewers cooked over charcoal.
A visit to Blandy's Madeira Lodge, a 30 minute walk from the hotel, was a must. We took two guided tours each followed by a tasting.
Me with a large barrel of 1948 Bual.
Near Blandy's is this castle by the sea
We took a trip around the island which stopped at the second highest cliff in the world with a glass bottomed viewing platform jutting out at the top.
Beautiful island, lovely wines, wecoming people, a super holiday.
Shame Thameslink cancelled all trains northbound from Gatwick after 21.40 so we had to get a taxi when we arrived home.
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First sight of Madeira was of its mountains rising above cloud cover as the plane descended.
We stayed in Funchal at the Vida Mar Hotel on a fully inclusive basis.
Rooms were large with a seating area, balcony and full sea view. We were on the 8th floor.
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| View from balcony, restaurant at left |
Included house wines were Fonseca JMF.
We had red with dinner and white with lunch.
Lunch was at the sea-level restaurant. There were also a sushi, Italian and Madeira restaurant we could dine at.
We went to the Madeira restaurant on Thursday when they had folk singing and dancing. We ate espetata, chicken skewers cooked over charcoal.
A visit to Blandy's Madeira Lodge, a 30 minute walk from the hotel, was a must. We took two guided tours each followed by a tasting.
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| L>R - Rainwater (3yo), Verdelho (5yo) Malmsey (2010 vintage) |
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| Barrels aging in heat of roof space |
Me with a large barrel of 1948 Bual.
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| Old Satinwood vats |
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| The Madeira flag |
We took a trip around the island which stopped at the second highest cliff in the world with a glass bottomed viewing platform jutting out at the top.
Beautiful island, lovely wines, wecoming people, a super holiday.
Shame Thameslink cancelled all trains northbound from Gatwick after 21.40 so we had to get a taxi when we arrived home.
.
10 June 2018
Toby Runs St Albans Half Marathon
To Verulamium Park to see Toby sprint to the finish line of the annual St Albans Half-Marathon.
Toby cools down with his finisher's icelolly.
The 2018 finisher's medal.
28 May 2018
Seeing St Albans with Eleanor
Taking Eleanor Cosman on a walking tour of St Albans, we stopped for lunch at Britain's oldest pub.
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| Joan and Peter at Ye Olde Fighting Cocks - Picture by Eleanor Cosman |
20 May 2018
Seven Sisters and Seaford
After checking out of Cavendish Hotel we headed west to the Seven Sisters Country Park. It was overcast , windy and cool.
After reaching the beach we tried to follow the footpath back but issed a turning and took a much longer route, but the sun came out and it grew pleasantly warm.
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| The Seven Sisters |
Lunch in park cafe, then a quick visit to Seaford before heading home.
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| Seaford Martello Tower |
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| Inside Seaford Martello Tower |
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