|
Monday, 23 August 2010 09:07 |
I have just been and fed four rather gloomy Alpacas round at Dave and Beccas. They are funny animals, like Llamas but shorter, so when they look down their noses at you they are looking straight at the zip on your flies which is a little disconcerting. It also rather spoils the effect of pretending to be superior by looking down their noses when all they can see is, well a zip. They have a wonderful stable to sleep in but, being a bit superior they probably thought Phaaa, mrrr (that is the sort of noise they make) only a bit of rain. Phhh, mrrrr we don’t care. However, incredible as it must seem, the weather forecasters got last nights prediction for torrential rain correct and four hours later the Chobham four were soaked. At this point they did care and went into the stable but were already rather limp, damp looking large wool balls. Still, they ate and drunk well this morning so I expect they will chear up.
Bob the electrician was the next on my list today as he is tidying up the wiring in the hall so Alan can install a wall mounted unit to make life more organized and efficient. When I tell him that we had all the wiring and portable appliances tested last week and it was all ok he seems surprised and very pleased. Bob is, like me, someone who likes to be up and atem early if he can. In fact even earlier these days because apparently he goes swimming at Camberley Leisure Centre three times a week at 6am. It all started when he fell off a ladder and broke his collarbone last year and he found he really enjoyed it as a great start to his day. Anyway, the electrical tests are part of a new ‘elf and safety compulsory scheme which is probably a very good idea but it does sometimes feel like a sledgehammer to crack a nut and puts the onus firmly on us, so that we can be sued if something goes wrong. No pressure then! Equally it means that if there is a fire, gas explosion, electrocution or such like, I can point firmly at Alianz and say, go talk to them, I’ll just fill in the insurance claim, thanks.
I am looking forward to the wine tasting supper next Sunday evening as we have some interesting wines on show. I am particularly pleased that we will have some Chateau Musar wines again as they seemed not to want to sell to us about four years ago. I was sent a letter telling me that in future I would have to buy through an agent, another wine merchant, which would have cost more and I would undoubtedly have been plagued by them to buy other wines. It became such a pain that I just stopped selling Musar wines, as happened with the English sparkling wine, Nyetimber. Anyway, Musar and I are trading again and we have found a new English sparkling wine to try called Gusbourne Estate, from Kent. The marketing department haven’t done the best of jobs as the name makes me think of something more to do with knickers than grapes but if the product is good enough, well it will probably invoke pictures of picnics and romance by the river Gus or something. I will report back after the tasting.
On this damp Monday morning I am trying to get all my chores out of the way early as four of us are going to an international tax symposium at a restaurant in Sunninghill. It will be an opportunity for much networking and discussion about pressing matters in these troubled times. It will be interesting to see what Mike ‘fancy a cucumber?’ Mandeville, Alan ‘need a joint fixed’ Short and Barry ‘Those figures don’t seem to add up’ Zarach bring to such an important meeting but I am sure the business review will be better for it.
So, with time being of the essence I shall bid you farewell for now and look forward to catching up with you soon.
Gerry
|
