Latvian Cabernet Sauvignon?

August 15, 2010

tags: Cote D Azur, Currencies Direct, Golf in Valbonne, Living In France, Moving To France, Sunny France

It was as if the terrible weather in Yorkshire had followed me. Storms greeted my arrival in Nice, so the planned cold rose by the pool will have to wait until later today, now that it is warm and sunny again. Five days in Yorkshire and I have turned white and pasty like the locals.

Sunset over Plascassier

Last night, after the storm had cleared and left us with a fantastic sunset, see picture above, I finally found some decent red wine to drink, a magnum of 2005 St Esteph, which the WingCo and that nice lady decorator helped me demolish last night. Of course, 5 days in Yorkshire meant that there was no decent red to drink, and my hosts Rachel and John Surtees, as much as I love them, have no idea about wine. Rachel swore that the wine (I think it was a Latvian Cabernet Sauvignon?) that was on offer at Lidl (the most upmarket supermarket they have in Yorkshire, as far as I can make out) was good, but if one were in a desert with nothing to drink, one would think twice…. After she caught me gagging, she had the decency to open an average Rioja which must have been smuggled into the county, and was being kept for a very special occasion. But for all that they were very decent hosts, extra peat had been purchased for the fire to keep us warm and a special Thai curry served one evening. I assume she meant it was from Thailand, but it may have meant some kind of spicy stew made out of animals that had been “tied” up, such are the vagaries of the Yorkshire accent, but I would never mention it.

I had forgotten that Landlubbers golf this weekend was set to be at Claus Amic in Grasse, and is a golf course specifically designed for golfer that can not hit the ball far enough to lose it. The fairways are all dome-shaped, thus a proper golfer has an almost impossible task of keeping the ball in play. So upon finding out about the venue, I developed an excuse illness. I am sure that Dave the Fade will have lost every golf ball in his bag and all the others that he has a tendency to borrow at times like these.

After I had filled the Merc to the brim with fuel before I left last Tuesday the Wingco picked me up at the airport and returned my car to me. Not 100 metres from his door and the “reserve fuel” gauge lit up. I wonder which parts of Europe he visited this week? Regular reader will remember that when he last borrowed the car he asked if he could run his children up to somewhere called (I thought) Bar Sur Loup, about 10 miles away, but apparently I misheard and it was Barcelona, some 6 hours drive away. When I remonstrated with him he said it was only 4 hours away, which means he had to average 195 km’s per hour. Now I am not sure if I prefer that it took him 6 hours rather than thrashing the poor thing to within an inch of its life.

I must recommence my walking excercise this week, after 5 days of the necessarily high carbohydrate intake required to keep out the cold in the frozen and/or damp north of England, I have expanded a little too much in areas that have been spotted by that nice lady decorator. My protestations that I am still like a whippet were met with that impassive steely glare that I have come to know and if not respect, then fear.

Chris France

buying a house in France, moving money? www.currenciesdirect.net/chrisfrance

Latest local news? http://www.fr2day.com/

Best Estate Agency in Valbonne? http://www.rivierarealty.net/

Best French Riviera Property Agent?

http://www.afa-international.com/

http://frenchriviera-properties.com/

rent my house in summer? http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p412514

Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/

Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/

Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/

Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com