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I'm very flattered. I'll check flights (etc) in the morning and confirm whether I can attend.

Flights booked. Saffron Hotel booked. See you all the 19th.

Derek, this is sad news.

I sincerely do hope that everything will be allright. Be assured that I will toast the WotN to your health.

Hope to see you soon in good condition.

Axel

Axel P wrote:Hope to see you soon in good condition.

Thanks, Axel. I am sure the knee op will go fine but I'm sorry to say that after nearly five decades I, like most vintage ports, am unlikely to see an improvement in my general condition with more age

DRT wrote:

Axel P wrote:Hope to see you soon in good condition.

Thanks, Axel. I am sure the knee op will go fine but I'm sorry to say that after nearly five decades I, like most vintage ports, am unlikely to see an improvement in my general condition with more age

Not at all. Now that your knees are being racked into new barrels, they'll have years ahead of them.

DRT wrote:Thanks, Axel. I am sure the knee op will go fine but I'm sorry to say that after nearly five decades I, like most vintage ports, am unlikely to see an improvement in my general condition with more age

This is for sure, Derek, but like all of us, the only thing we can do is trying to stop the downhill path a bit in speed since we are all past our prime.

All best

Axel

Thanks, Axel. I am sure the knee op will go fine but I'm sorry to say that after nearly five decades I, like most vintage ports, am unlikely to see an improvement in my general condition with more age

Have you considered arresting or slowing down the maturation process by living somewhere cooler, a fridge or Scandinavia perhaps?

Hope the op goes well and that you are back on your feet soon!

Magnus

edited to show Derek's text as a quote

DRT wrote:It is with great sadness that I have to announce that I will be unable to join you at The Bell as I will be confined to barracks following knee surgery.

Am sorry to hear that, especially since you also missed last year's event. Hopefully you will be making up for it in the new year; in the meantime I hope the surgery goes smoothly,and take care of yourself.

Sorry to hear that - from memory you don't seem to have much luck with the Christmas tasting (even when you do attend!).

AHB wrote: JDAW - would you mind creating some Bell Tasting stickers? I can then print a few days before the event.

I have loads of sticker sheets left-over from printing last year....if you don't, i can either send to you or print myself if helpful?

jdaw1 wrote:First draft of the paperwork.(In following diagram lilac is edge of label, green is boundary of writing zone; neither of these colours will print.)

Despite a minimal amount of waste, having 2 sets to each sticker sheet (with a blank column) means that certain people do not have to juggle two individual (and fiddly) strips of stickers during the tasting. For some reason i adopted Ray's stickers last year and had to deal with this - was not ideal. If the blank column could be the middle column, that would be perfect in terms of a quick "chop and distribute". Obviously disregard if it requires a lot of code.

Hmm. Question asked in thread about the software. For the moment, failing sudden enlightenment, please assume that it would be too much coding.

@jdaw - did you notice that something seems to have gone wrong with the names along the top of the "what is it?" page, either orientation, font size or both?

PhilW wrote:@jdaw - did you notice that something seems to have gone wrong with the names along the top of the "what is it?" page, either orientation, font size or both?

No. What’s wrong?

The code tries to save space by putting the horizontally, unless that is too much of a squeeze, when it flips to vertical. Or is the problem that the What-is-it page has an extra row?

jdaw1 wrote:

PhilW wrote:@jdaw - did you notice that something seems to have gone wrong with the names along the top of the "what is it?" page, either orientation, font size or both?

No. What’s wrong?

The code tries to save space by putting the horizontally, unless that is too much of a squeeze, when it flips to vertical. Or is the problem that the What-is-it page has an extra row?

It was (sort of) a non-problem, to do with the fact that all of the names are christian names rather than initials, but where they do not fit on the "what is it" page they have been shortened to a single initial. At first glance I saw "Rob C." which appeared to have overwritten the next column heading, but in fact it was Rob, C., as two successive column headings; just looked wrong, but strictly wasn't.

PhilW wrote:but where they do not fit on the "what is it" page they have been shortened to a single initial.

Deliberately, by me, to save space.

RAYC wrote:Despite a minimal amount of waste, having 2 sets to each sticker sheet (with a blank column) means that certain people do not have to juggle two individual (and fiddly) strips of stickers during the tasting. For some reason i adopted Ray's stickers last year and had to deal with this - was not ideal. If the blank column could be the middle column, that would be perfect in terms of a quick "chop and distribute". Obviously disregard if it requires a lot of code.

Done, at least mostly.

Updated draft of the paperwork.
(In following diagram lilac is edge of label, green is boundary of writing zone; neither of these colours will print.)

Please could you replace DRT with Daniel and then I will print on Thursday or Friday of this week - unless anyone can print next week and bring the paperwork with them?

Thanks.

AHB wrote:Please could you replace DRT with Daniel and then I will print on Thursday or Friday of this week - unless anyone can print next week and bring the paperwork with them?

Done. Please re-check before printing.

jdaw1 wrote:Done. Please re-check

Linked PDF still shows Derek as participant, unless link/PDF still pending update.

PhilW wrote:Linked PDF still shows Derek as participant, unless link/PDF still pending update.

Sorry, my fault. I dragged from the wrong directory into my FTP client. Should be good now. Please re-check.

And I’ve just remembered to book myself a hotel room.

jdaw1 wrote:

PhilW wrote:Linked PDF still shows Derek as participant, unless link/PDF still pending update.

Sorry, my fault. I dragged from the wrong directory into my FTP client. Should be good now. Please re-check.

Names good. Are glass labels supposed to be columns of 13? (I thought 12 on label sheets?). Tasting note sheets look fine, provided they print (since they occur after distillation log, unchecked).

PhilW wrote:Are glass labels supposed to be columns of 13? (I thought 12 on label sheets?).

5×13.

PhilW wrote:Tasting note sheets look fine, provided they print (since they occur after distillation log, unchecked).

Err, tasting-note sheets are on pages 1 to 48, so the ‟after” is puzzling me.

jdaw1 wrote:

PhilW wrote:Tasting note sheets look fine, provided they print (since they occur after distillation log, unchecked).

Err, tasting-note sheets are on pages 1 to 48, so the ‟after” is puzzling me.

I was only seeing the tasting notes sheets in the "re-ordered" section, rather than ahead of voting sheets in the "in print order" section. All looks fine on re-checking; assume reviewer error.

Splendid, because Alex is printing today, after which I’ll add the parameters to the review section.

I will be arriving at Audley End around 4 pm. Who will be there then?

djewesbury wrote:I will be arriving at Audley End around 4 pm. Who will be there then?

Please could we be reminded of the name of the train station at which I should alight, if coming from London.

Clue: I used it in my previous post.

djewesbury wrote:I will be arriving at Audley End around 4 pm. Who will be there then?

Does that mean that you intend to be on the 14:43 out of Kings Cross? If so, I could meet you at Kings Cross.

jdaw1 wrote:

djewesbury wrote:I will be arriving at Audley End around 4 pm. Who will be there then?

Does that mean that you intend to be on the 14:43 out of Kings Cross? If so, I could meet you at Kings Cross.

I'm going to be getting a train from Stansted Airport at 15.27 - I don't think this originates in London. I get to Audley End at 15.40. From there, I might take a round trip in a taxi to drop my bag off at the Saffron and come back to the Bell. See you there?

jdaw1 wrote:Splendid, because Alex is printing today, after which I’ll add the parameters to the review section.

Except I didn't - having a bit of a tough time at work at present and didn't get the chance to print the labels and tasting note sheets. Can anyone else do so?

If heading direct to the Bell by train, get off at Wenden's Ambo train station but bring a torch and boots as it is a short but muddy walk.

Will anyone need a set of port tongs? The bottle I'm bringing won't need port tongs and I won't bring a set unless someone else needs them.

I'm driving out of central London on Thursday, leaving at about 15:30-16:00 so if anyone wants a lift from London then let me know. The plan (traffic dependent) is to head from London to the hotel, check-in and drive from the hotel to the pub. Next morning after a leisurely breakfast I'll catch a taxi back to the pub, pick up the car and then head back into London - early afternoon lifts back to London on Friday are also available.

And a last question - I'm bringing a bottle to the Bell to give to Wolfgang, 3 magnums to give to Rob. Am I supposed to bring any other bottles for anyone else?

Is the train station called Wendens Ambo or Audley End?

How early is early on Friday morning? I'm returning from Stansted on the first Belfast flight but I can easily get a taxi (I'm guessing I should book it the night before).

djewesbury wrote:Is the train station called Wendens Ambo or Audley End?

Audley End - then you'll either have to walk the 5 minutes to the Bell or get a taxi to pick you up and take you to the hotel.

djewsbury wrote:How early is early on Friday morning? I'm returning from Stansted on the first Belfast flight but I can easily get a taxi (I'm guessing I should book it the night before).

I'm offering a lift to London early afternoon. I don't expect to be getting up early! I'll make it down to breakfast just before breakfast closes about 9:30.

Ha. Yes, sorry.

AHB wrote:I'm driving out of central London on Thursday, leaving at about 15:30-16:00 so if anyone wants a lift from London

Yes please.

In which I’ll get labels and print.

jdaw1 wrote:

AHB wrote:I'm driving out of central London on Thursday, leaving at about 15:30-16:00 so if anyone wants a lift from London

Yes please.

In which I’ll get labels and print.

Plan to be at Bell Wharf Lane (just by the junction of Queen Street and Upper Thames Street) NCP at 4pm. If I can leave earlier, I will give you as much warning as possible (which might be as little as 20 minutes).

AHB wrote:

djewesbury wrote:Is the train station called Wendens Ambo or Audley End?

Audley End - then you'll either have to walk the 5 minutes to the Bell or get a taxi to pick you up and take you to the hotel.

or if the are no taxis as happened to me one time, there is a fairly frequent (every 15mins?) bus direct from the station to Saffron Walden town centre which is quick and easy for getting to the hotel.

I am available for taxi work at Stansted or Audley End from around 5.00pm if required...still hoping for last minute drop outs.

Steak order confirmed - new spuds will be the default, but chips available if preferred.

Due to table space limitations, there will be six ISO glasses per person, to use or re-use as desired..

Updated draft of the paperwork.
(In following diagram lilac is edge of label, green is boundary of writing zone; neither of these colours will print.)

What time are we booted out of the Bell? On return to the hotel, is there anywhere civilised to smoke? And if so, how many of us would be smoking? (I can transport up to four sticks.)

If nowhere civilised, then not bringing any.

If memory serves correctly there is an outdoor smoking area/beer garden at the back of the main bar/restaurant of the hotel.

DRT wrote:If memory serves correctly there is an outdoor smoking area/beer garden at the back of the main bar/restaurant of the hotel.

Hmm. BBC Weather says ‟2°C”. Would I be alone?

jdaw1 wrote:

DRT wrote:If memory serves correctly there is an outdoor smoking area/beer garden at the back of the main bar/restaurant of the hotel.

Hmm. BBC Weather says ‟2°C”. Would I be alone?

I don't know, but you would certainly be the only one wearing just a t-shirt.

Slight change of plan for the stickies. Last year or was it the year before? some people were using a number for one bottle, whilst others were using it for a different bottle. So I’m allowing partial pre-declaration. E.g., cool-initialled person XYZ can pre-declare ‟XYZ#1” and ‟XYZ#2”, lessening the likelihood of confusion.

I’m predeclaring:
• JDAW;
• Sandeman Vau 1999 (from a double magnum); and
• Sandeman Vau 2000 (also from a double magnum).

Updated draft of the paperwork.
(In following diagram lilac is edge of label, green is boundary of writing zone; neither of these colours will print.)

I opt to smoke. But if raining I may decline.

jdaw1 wrote:Slight change of plan for the stickies. Last year or was it the year before? some people were using a number for one bottle, whilst others were using it for a different bottle. So I’m allowing partial pre-declaration. E.g., cool-initialled person XYZ can pre-declare ‟XYZ#1” and ‟XYZ#2”, lessening the likelihood of confusion.

Updated draft of the paperwork. See pictures two posts back.

Re-updated draft of the paperwork. See pictures three posts back.

Re-re-re-updated draft of the paperwork.
(In following diagram lilac is edge of label, green is boundary of writing zone; neither of these colours will print.)

Printing now.

jdaw1 wrote:Printing now.

Beginning to sulk now