Thursday 16th December - The Unknown Shipper & His Peculiar Friends

[Alex Bridgeman]

After a hiatus last year due to you-know-what, we hope to be back to our normal routine for celebrating Christmas.

Tom has offered to once again host us at the White Horse Inn for the evening on Thursday 16th December.

As usual, the people attending and waitlisted for the last Christmas dinner will be offered first refusal. If you are offered first refusal, please respond by the end of August. If you don't want your spot (or if you don't reply by the end of August) I'll offer your seat to the next person on the waiting list.

Tom will arrange for steak and chips for everyone attending unless you request otherwise when confirming your seat (but choices are very limited so keep things simple!)

Please take a lateral flow test before travelling to the tasting and only attend if your test is negative!

First refusal seats are offered to:

1. Uncle Tom (confirmed)
2. JDAW (confirmed)
3. Alex M (confirmed)
4. GEAG (confirmed)
5. HTWH (confirmed)
6. IDJ (confirmed)
7. MPM (confirmed)
8. WS1 (confirmed)
9. CPR (confirmed)
10. PW (confirmed)

RESERVES

• Ralph
• Rich_n
• NAC (confirmed - but not until Xmas 2022)

Draft of the sticky labels and TN sheets. Two pages of 2×4 stickies; three pages of 5×13.

[Doggett]

Can I go on the reserve list please.

[hadge]

please can i be added to the reserve list, thanks

[winesecretary]

Ditto reserve list please.

[winesecretary]

Incidentally, Alex, and looking at your footer, what are your top ports of 2021 (so far)? In my own list, I am in two minds as to whether to include that astonishing Fonseca 1966, partly because it was showing so young. So at the moment I am running T45 (just beating out) Mz55, then McK55, W66, T70. Four of those five the same night, too.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Incidentally, Alex, and looking at your footer, what are your top ports of 2021 (so far)? In my own list, I am in two minds as to whether to include that astonishing Fonseca 1966, partly because it was showing so young. So at the moment I am running T45 (just beating out) Mz55, then McK55, W66, T70. Four of those five the same night, too.

Thank you for the reminder. I’ll have to update my footer. An enjoyable little job to do today in between other tasks.

[nac]

Have added this event to the Planner.

[CPR 1]

Confirming - very much looking forward to returning to the White Horse

[WS1]

Also confirming, missed this event!

regards

WS1

[flash_uk]

Thx Tom and Alex. Confirming and looking forward to it.

[PhilW]

Confirming, and hopeful.

[winesecretary]

Still available if possible

[idj123]

Reconfirming-with my fingers crossed!

[Christopher]

Confirmed
Look forward to it

[Alex Bridgeman]

I need a space for our Industry Guest, who will be Oscar Quevedo this year.

Christopher confirmed his seat last week and Axel tentatively confirmed his last night so I have used executive powers to assume that Wolfgang Giehrl will not be attending this year. Oscar is therefore taking Wolfgang’s seat.

Axel and Christopher have until the end of October to definitely confirm their attendance in this thread or I will start to offer seats to confirmed reserves.

[Christopher]

Sorry confirmed
Thanks

[Alex Bridgeman]

Axel is unable to attend on the 16th December.

Simon - as the first confirmed person on the reserves list the seat is yours if you want it.

[Doggett]

I am afraid I have missed the boat on this one and have to be at the B&B. I have failed to get to this 5 years running now, but hope to get there one year. I hope there are some fine ports enjoyed and wish you the best. Now to the next on the reserve list…

[Alex Bridgeman]

…that would be Harry.

Harry, are you able to be in Newport, Essex the evening of December 16?

(One year we’ll manage to get Simon to this tasting!)

[hadge]

Alex, yes i can be in Newport, Essex on the evening of 16th December. thanks

[Alex Bridgeman]

I thought it was worth offering a word of advice to those joining the Christmas tasting for the first time. We tend to finish around 00.30. There are a handful of Bed & Breakfast establishments operating in Newport or the Cricketer’s Arms in Rickling Green (5 minutes by taxi) but please book early!

Or, of course, you are welcome to leave before we have opened all the bottles..,

[Axel P]

Great, so my slot is in good hands...

[jdaw1]

Draft of the sticky labels and TN sheets. Two pages of 2×4 stickies; three pages of 5×13.

(Or would Roman numerals be preferred, as in the paperwork used in 2019?)

[Christopher]

Unfortunately CMAG and RGO from the reserve list need to drop out. Hope you have a great evening

[Alex Bridgeman]

Unfortunately CMAG and RGO from the reserve list need to drop out. Hope you have a great evening

Thank you for letting me know.

George, you are the next confirmed reserve. Would you like the vacant seat?

[winesecretary]

Yes please! I shall this weekend find something interesting in the cellar to bring along.

[nac]

If anyone else drops out I might be interested.

[jdaw1]

Small cuteness which might entertain Tom: the What3Words address of The White Horse is twee.jingles.shepherdess.

[nac]

If anyone else drops out I might be interested.

…and please add me to reserve list for next year.

[winesecretary]

I am likely to duck out early, at 2300, and get the last train back to Liverpool Street, rather than stay over. What time I should turn up, bottle in hand?

[Alex Bridgeman]

I am likely to duck out early, at 2300, and get the last train back to Liverpool Street, rather than stay over. What time I should turn up, bottle in hand?

We’ll start around 18.30-19.00 but people tend to get there earlier and we tend to start as soon as someone thirsty arrives.

[PhilW]

I usually aim to be there by 6pm, but have also often been first. Most are there by 6:30pm with one or two stragglers sometimes later; we have the tongs warmed up and are trying to decipher capsules/corks by 7pm.

[winesecretary]

Splendid, thank you. I shall be there by 1830.

[Alex Bridgeman]

With Oscar no longer travelling to the UK this month, we have a seat free at the Xmas tasting. Neil is not available, and neither Ralph nor Rich confirmed they would like to remain on the reserves list - so please post here if you'd like to attend!

[jdaw1]

If accommodation can be sorted — closer the better — then I will join. Final decision by noon Fri 10th Dec.

[winesecretary]

Julian, I am going to get the last train back to town, so feel free to join me on that if no accommodation available.

[uncle tom]

I need to put the steak order in tomorrow - if anyone does not want a 14oz fillet, please let me know by 1pm Monday 13th

[PhilW]

I need to put the steak order in tomorrow - if anyone does not want a 14oz fillet, please let me know by 1pm Monday 13th

Am very much looking forward to it!

[jdaw1]

Accommodation seemingly arranged. Thunderbirds are go.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Accommodation seemingly arranged. Thunderbirds are go.

Attendees updated.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Draft of the sticky labels and TN sheets. Two pages of 2×4 stickies; three pages of 5×13.

(Or would Roman numerals be preferred, as in the paperwork used in 2019?)

English numerals would be ideal please. Very mundane, but also very easy to tie in to the decanter labels Tom puts over the decanters when they are used.

[winesecretary]

@ jdaw1 - and, of course, the names of those attending need to be updated, not least, delightfully, to include your good self.

[Alex Bridgeman]

A small request to those attending on Thursday evening. Please could you take a lateral flow test at some point on Thursday and attend the tasting only if you are negative.

That way we will put our family Christmases at the least risk possible. Thank you everyone.

[jdaw1]

@ jdaw1 - and, of course, the names of those attending need to be updated, not least, delightfully, to include your good self.

Done. Who can print onto sticky labels?

[Alex Bridgeman]

@ jdaw1 - and, of course, the names of those attending need to be updated, not least, delightfully, to include your good self.

Done. Who can print onto sticky labels?

I can print labels using an inkjet - which means that the ink will run if it gets wet.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I’d like to minimise the amount of printing and carting of paper I need to do so plan to print only the sticky labels and cork sheets.

I’m happy to also print tasting note sheets for any who want them. If you do want your TN sheets, please say so.

[uncle tom]

Steaks ordered!

[Alex Bridgeman]

Steaks ordered!

Excellent. Thank you Tom.

That’s lunch on Friday also sorted!

[PhilW]

A small request to those attending on Thursday evening. Please could you take a lateral flow test at some point on Thursday and attend the tasting only if you are negative.

That way we will put our family Christmases at the least risk possible. Thank you everyone.

Agreed - while politely worded, this should (imo) be mandatory for attendance, not just a request.
Suggest adding to first post also, as reminder to anyone checking arrangements there.
I believe from Wed (and hence applying on Thu), venues including this one will be mandatory by law to ask for proof of covid vaccination (unless medically exempt) or recent negative lateral flow for entry, so we should expect this also; but even if vaccinated, I agree we should all lateral flow earlier in the day as well anyway.

[Alex M]

If anyone cannot make it at the last minute please let me know - happy to take the space.