Petes-Pix

My Books

"Pinotage: Behind the Legends of South Africa's own wine" is available on the ibookstore

Learn more about my new book telling all about Pinotage and read sample pages at
pinotagebook.weebly.com

A I Perold's
A Treatise
on Viticulture
A I Perold (1880-1941) was South Africa's first Professor of Viticulture and Oenology. He dedicated himself to improving the quality of grapes for wine, brandy and the table. He studied wine and brandy production in Europe, imported more than 60 varieties to the Cape and bred new ones. Perold said this book “is intended to serve both the student and the practical grape-grower. There are in it technical passages that will appeal more to the student, e.g. the chapters dealing with the biology of the vine, its external and internal morphology, the theory of grafting. My remarks on the practice of viticulture, such as those dealing with the propagation, manuring and pruning of the vine, the production of table grapes for export, will, it is hoped, assist the practical grape-grower as well as the student.” This is a newly typeset reprint, not a photocopy. Text on the 712 pages have been aligned to match the original pagination so any external references to pages in the Treatise will be valid in this edition
Available in paperback and hardback editions. 712 pages

A Year in Paarl
with
A I Perold

Dr Perolds report on his Paarl experiments 1915 - 1916 reprinted with glossary, introduction and brief biography. Fascinating historical document on viticulture for wine and table grapes, wine and brandy making.

27 September 2019

Bletchley Park with Dan and Krisie

Day after Groan-Ups we went with Dan and Krisie to Bletchley Park for lunch and to look around the museum, before taking D&K to Milton Keynes station for their journey home.

Lots of changes, more exhibits and atmospheric huts set with coats and hats on hangers and bags by chairs as if the staff had just popped out.

However an adult ticket costs £20, and although it is valid for a year I doubt we'll re-use it as we saw everything in one visit.

Dan in mansion entrance

Also, we didn't learn anything we didn't already know.

Bombe

26 September 2019

Groan-Ups with Dan and Krisie

To London with Dan and Krisie to see Groan-Ups -new show from team who made A Comedy About a Bank Robbery that Dan took us to last year - at the Vaudeville Theatre.

But first, dinner at Spaghetti House by exit 4 from Leicester Square station.

Dan and Krisie

Peter & Joan

Dan's cunning plan to see the show after his day at business meetings unravelled when they brought the meetings forward a day. But then we could have dinner at home with Dan and Krisie and Toby and Emma and ~~some~~ plenty of decent wine.

View from seats

Thanks for pix by Joan (Dan & Krisie) And Krisie (Peter & Joan and Seat View

24 September 2019

Emma and Toby - Wedding Pix

Toby and Emma with dog Benson on top of the cake

Photographs are in the link Toby & Emma -Wedding Pix at top of page, or click here.

Some photos courtesy of Caroline Keen and Krisie Dawn.

21 September 2019

Emma and Toby Wedding Day 21 September 2019

Emma Wright and Toby May got married at Tally Ho hotel, Bicester at 2pm Saturday 21 September 2019

The new Mr & Mrs May sign the register.

FOB (Father of Bride) Chris Wright's speech.

Toby's Speech.

Toby's Speech - Part 2

Best Man's Speech Part 1

Best Man's Speech Part 2

20 September 2019

Dan and Krisie visit St Albans Cathedral

.. and find the dressing-up cupboard

18 September 2019

Roederer Wine Writer Awards

To London and the Royal Academy of Arts for the 2019 Louis Roederer Wine Writer's Awards.

Hosted by Michel Janneau of Champagne Louis Roederer

Charles Metcalfe, Chair of Judging Panel

Generous pours of Roederer Brut and Roederer Rosé 2013 Champagne as well as sponsors wines from Domaine Faiveley, Domaines Ott*, Ramos Pinto, Pio Cesare, and Marchesi Mazzei including

served in a room of Constable & Turner paintings and a Michelangelo carved marble.

17 September 2019

Travel home from Verona

BA2597 from Verona left at the reasonable time of 11:50, so had time for an excellent breakfast at the hotel.

Verona airport wasn't much, and the lounge was outside security, but the plane left on time, Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne was good and plentiful and we landed at Gatwick early of our scheduled 12:55.