Seven days into the school holidays and already it feels twice that. But, loving that we can have breakfast in pyjamas and I don’t have to shout say ‘Coat! Book bag!’ seventy billion times in the space of five minutes every morning before embarking on the school run. Now we’ve got a tent up in the garden, the children’s bikes have properly pumped up tyres and there’s a stash of Fab ice lollies in the freezer. Basically, I’m re-living my own childhood. I remember it being hot at all times (I’m sure it wasn’t) and loving camping in the garden. Or fishing, as I am here with my friend Claude, in 1976:
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| Gone fishing. |
Anyway, happy holidays however you plan to spend it. I’ll be mostly here, with wine. And Fab ice lollies, obviously.
Current white in the fridge: Cardeto Orvieto 2012, £5.99 on offer, Waitrose
Although it looks rather unremarkable, with a simple white label, the flavours in this Italian white are just lovely. Made in the Orvieto region in Umbria from the Grechetto grape, this is lemon fresh but with a gentle nuttiness to it. Properly good food wine this is, perking up even the most slovenly supper (pate on toast included). This would make a brilliant crowd-pleasing wine too, as not as polarising as Sauvignon or Chardonnay can be. The Radio 2 of white wines, as it were.
Current red in the rack: Tesco Finest Côtes Catalanes Carignan 2012, £5.49 on offer, Tesco
I know I’ve done this one before but a) it was ages ago and b) it’s currently on offer. Made from a blend of Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre grapes in the Languedoc Roussillon region in Southern France, this is a big, bold red that will take on barbecued food and greet it like an old friend. There’s a kind of herbal thing going on too, giving it a slightly rustic edge.
Peace out, winos x
We also have a freezer stacked with Fabs, although I am more partial to the wine 🙂
Both essential!
Came back from a festival this week and had a rather drinkable wine box red from Aldi's. Not a great sales pitch that, but anyway it wasn't too bad. Looking forward to trying the Tesco red wine this week but I won't be drinking it surreptitiously from my husband's manbag like we have the Aldi boxed red. Have a good week x
A bag-in-box-in-bag…love it!
I love Fab lolli-ices, yum. The Orvieto sounds yum too.
Claude? The dog or the boy?
Can't remember the dog's name…let me ask Claude (she) x
My apologies to Claude. (Claudette?) When I click on the picture it is obvious that your fishing buddy is a girl.
Ha ha…Claudia. In fact, when my sister saw the pic she pointed out that we seem to be fishing for poo, given that we are next to a sewage outlet.
Is there such a thing as wine ice lollies? Or is that just wrong? x
What an idea! Will google! x
Right, I'm back in England now so will have to start taking proper advantage of your wine suggestions!
This time last week I was in Napa Valley….
Hurrah, hurrah! Welcome home….but am sure was hard to leave Napa 🙁
Fishing is high up my to do list with the kids, one of my big passions as a child (and adult). Is that your Springer in the photo too? He/she looks just like my boy 🙂
We always have a freezer full of ice lollies which half the children in our street seem to eat as well! Love your book btw. I have 4 children and a passion for wine so can relate to so much of it (typing while trying to stop a 14mth old from falling of the couch) x