Tuesday 18th Feb 2014 - A Half-term Thirst

[DRT]

I’ve made placemats as if blind, but do we want to be sighted? I’m ambivalent.

...and I can't make my mind up.

[jdaw1]

I’ve made placemats as if blind, but do we want to be sighted? I’m ambivalent.

...and I can't make my mind up.

Mike Patrick Meehan: this momentous decision rests on your shoulders. Do not shirk it. Step forward and pronounce.

[flash_uk]

Seeing as this will be the first time we have met, why not stick with blind and allow my contribution to be a surprise! The more I read on other posts the more I think I should maybe bring two bottles.

[jdaw1]

I should maybe bring two bottles.

Two will suffice if they are both magnums.

[flash_uk]

I should maybe bring two bottles.

Two will suffice if they are both magnums.

We'll be cross-eyed at this rate...

[PhilW]

I should maybe bring two bottles.

Two will suffice if they are both magnums.

That's one each for you and DRT, but what would flash drink? Three magnums would surely be more suitable?

[DRT]

I should maybe bring two bottles.

Two will suffice if they are both magnums.

That's one each for you and DRT, but what would flash drink? Three magnums would surely be more suitable?

Phil,

You might recal this complex maths lesson from your childhood!

If Julian has half and orange, Derek has half an orange and Mike has two oranges, how many oranges are there to share amongst the group?

[jdaw1]

Three magnums would surely be more suitable?

Not disagreeing.

[PhilW]

You might recal this complex maths lesson from your childhood!

If Julian has half and orange, Derek has half an orange and Mike has two oranges, how many oranges are there to share amongst the group?

Not enough?

[DRT]

You might recal this complex maths lesson from your childhood!

If Julian has half and orange, Derek has half an orange and Mike has two oranges, how many oranges are there to share amongst the group?

Not enough?

That loses you some marks for not showing your working out

[jdaw1]

Placemats: having decided and stood what I am bringing, I also decided to assign it the Cross of Lorraine (☨). Mike is bringing two, and the natural pair are the West and East Syriac crosses (♰ ♱). Derek: do you want the Russian cross (☦), or that of Jerusalem (☩)?

[DRT]

Могу ли я иметь российскую крест, пожалуйста?

[jdaw1]

Могу ли я иметь российскую крест, пожалуйста?

Done.

Current draft of the placemats.
 

[jdaw1]

Has anybody booked the room?

Mike: the usual location is the Function Room in The Bung Hole (57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DT, tel +44 20 7831 8365, streetmap.co.uk, maps.google.co.uk).

[DRT]

Has anybody booked the room?

Oops!

Could you please book it tomorrow?

[jdaw1]

Could you please book it tomorrow?

If I remember. Do nudge me during the Bung Hole’s working hours.

I know nothing about the Syriac crosses (♰ ♱), so went to Wikipedia. That said nothing, so made a request on the talk page. My oh my, amongst the ‘experts’ there is much controversy about Syriac Christianity.

[flash_uk]

OK - need some advice from the masters...
Have bottles standing, planning to decant in the morning and bring with me to work. Never taken a decanted bottle on a journey before, so once I've double decanted, can I just put the cork back in? What happens if the cork broke on the way out? Bung the bottle with a stopper?

[flash_uk]

Could you please book it tomorrow?

If I remember. Do nudge me during the Bung Hole’s working hours.

Oh - thought I'd remind you of this also!

[RAYC]

OK - need some advice from the masters...
Have bottles standing, planning to decant in the morning and bring with me to work. Never taken a decanted bottle on a journey before, so once I've double decanted, can I just put the cork back in? What happens if the cork broke on the way out? Bung the bottle with a stopper?

Yes. Clingfilm can help as well. If you leave enough time to get to the Bunghole before work, they will happily keep the bottles in the cellar for you until the evening (though perhaps worth a call to them to check what time the first people arrive there to open up).

If you are worried about the cork breaking, it is not a bad excuse to open a bottle of red wine for dinner this evening (and save the cork....)

[PhilW]

OK - need some advice from the masters...
Have bottles standing, planning to decant in the morning and bring with me to work. Never taken a decanted bottle on a journey before, so once I've double decanted, can I just put the cork back in? What happens if the cork broke on the way out? Bung the bottle with a stopper?

I use a T-stopper from previous old (croft 04 LBV and other) bottles, and then a single wind of insulating tape around for added security to seal for transport; I have found this straightforward and never had one leak(I do still keep them mostly upright also).

[RAYC]

(I do still keep them mostly upright also).

Yes - this is also important! I often use a hessian waitrose bottle bag

[jdaw1]

Has anybody booked the room?

Mike: the usual location is the Function Room in The Bung Hole (57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DT, tel +44 20 7831 8365, streetmap.co.uk, maps.google.co.uk).

The room has just been booked.

And, better safe than sorry, I’ve added RAYC and two unnamed people to the placemats, as well as another cross (☩ ✠ Â ♰ ♱ ☦ ☨).

Current draft of the placemats.

 

[RAYC]

And, better safe than sorry, I’ve added RAYC

Fingers crossed, though i didn't want to get my own hopes up too much by signing on officially!

[RAYC]

And, better safe than sorry, I’ve added RAYC

Fingers crossed, though i didn't want to get my own hopes up too much by signing on officially!

[flash_uk]

If you are worried about the cork breaking, it is not a bad excuse to open a bottle of red wine for dinner this evening (and save the cork....)

Splendid idea!

[flash_uk]

Mission accomplished with the decanting of bottle #1 and bottle #2. One cork out 100% but with a half split near the bottom which I thought made it a little risky to put it back in. The other cork three quarters out with the remaining quarter in a million pieces.

And as I write this I realise I have left both corks wrapped in clingfilm on the kitchen table - is that a serious crime or merely a schoolboy error?

[jdaw1]

Current draft of the placemats.

 

I will print at 3pm. Changes to be requested before then.

[jdaw1]

And as I write this I realise I have left both corks wrapped in clingfilm on the kitchen table - is that a serious crime or merely a schoolboy error?

Bringing the corks and leaving the bottles would have been a serious crime. Forgetting just the corks is a schoolboy error.

[flash_uk]

And as I write this I realise I have left both corks wrapped in clingfilm on the kitchen table - is that a serious crime or merely a schoolboy error?

Bringing the corks and leaving the bottles would have been a serious crime. Forgetting just the corks is a schoolboy error.

Haha.

[PhilW]

Haha.

All you missed was the exclamation mark

[jdaw1]

☨ decanted at 10:45. Cork rather crumbled, but juice had good nose.

[flash_uk]

Haha.

All you missed was the exclamation mark

I like it! I had not thought of editing the quote to adapt the name...

[RAYC]

Decanted at 1.45, but may be late so start without me

[jdaw1]

Decanted at 1.45, but may be late so start without me

RAYC assigned ☩ Cross of Jerusalem.

Printing now (parameters by which placemats made).

[PhilW]

With you guys in spirit, with a bottle of Calem 85 - what's in your glasses tonight?

[jdaw1]

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• Graham Crusted bottled 1998, JDAW, ✠  Maltese cross;
• 1970 Graham, Oporto bottled, RAYC, ☩ Cross of Jerusalem;
• 1985 Taylor, MPM, ♰ West Syriac cross;
• 1977 Graham, MPM, ♱ East Syriac cross;
• 1977 Fonseca, JDAW, ☨ Cross of Lorraine;
• 1970 Graham, bottled by Harvey’s, DRT, ☦ Russian cross;
• 1970 Dow, AHB, off-placemat;
• Placemats (and parameters by which made);
• Planning and arrangements.