Tuesday 26th August - A Cellar Reduction Party

[Alex Bridgeman]

DRT said that the only date he could make during the week commencing August 25th was Tuesday 26th, so this date was chosen as the date for my cellar reduction party. Then less than 24 hours later he said that he had received a better offer and would be washing his hair that night.

Despite DRT's absence, we still have a quorum! Attending will be:
1) AHB
2) Alex M
3) WS1
4) BMHR
5) JDAW
6) CMAG
7) IDJ
8) CPR
9) RLC
10) THRA

Please, no-one bring anything except where I have asked for help. This is supposed to be a cellar reduction party so I am happy to supply various bottles for us to share. A handful of people know some of what will be brought, but I'll serve all bottles blind.

Venue is confirmed as the private room at The Bung Hole - our first visit since Helen's departure . It will be useful to see whether we are still welcomed as warmly as we used to be.

Current draft of the placemats. (Placemat § added to this post by jdaw1.)

My better half is going on an educational visit without me the week of the August bank holiday. Despite the (hopefully) warm weather at that time of year, would anyone be interested in helping me to make some space in the wine fridge I have at home - I am happy to host chez moi or for us to meet in London.

The exact date during the week is open if we can put a quorum together.

[DRT]

Depending on the date I'm happy to do my duty.

[djewesbury]

Depending on the date I'm happy to do my duty.

Your invitation's in the post.

[benread]

Depending on the date I'm happy to do my duty.

I have a hip flask to return. Due to the work at London Bridge, it is very likely Nuala will not be in London that week. It looks like the planets could be aligning nicely...

Let me know what you plan - London or Chez Bridgeman could work for me - I have direct trains to either!

[DRT]

Huston, we have a problem!

I am now committed to "family stuff" from the Wednesday evening onwards. The only night I can do is the Tuesday, and probably only in London.

Sorry, I forgot all about this.

[Alex Bridgeman]

So who could make Tuesday 26th in London?

[Alex M]

I can make the 26th in London but may need to adopt a bottle.

[DRT]

Sorry, I now have a business dinner on the 26th so will have to pass.

[flash_uk]

I'm not around that week either.

[WS1]

Hi,

I would have time and be interested.

regards

WS1

[WS1]

I can make the 26th in London but may need to adopt a bottle.

I am sure a solution can be found

[Alex Bridgeman]

First post has been updated with the arrangements to date.

[Alex Bridgeman]

More updates to the first post have been made - JDAW and CMAG added to the list of attendees. Private room at the Bung Hole has been requested.

[Alex Bridgeman]

And Davy's have just confirmed that we can have the function room so we will be at Davy's of Holborn.

[jdaw1]

Placemats added to first post. (Do you need bottle stickers? (Or I could bring numbered cloth bags.)

And big hand to AHB for providing the mystery Ports.

[idj123]

I stepped out for 24hrs and there's been a rush of applicants-Alex,is there room for one more?

[Alex Bridgeman]

Placemats added to first post. (Do you need bottle stickers? (Or I could bring numbered cloth bags.)

And big hand to AHB for providing the mystery Ports.

Bottle stickers would work, but numbered cloth bags would make my life a lot simpler as it is unlikely that I will be able to collect enough anonymised bottles before the 26th.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I stepped out for 24hrs and there's been a rush of applicants-Alex,is there room for one more?

Absolutely there is. Consider yourself added to the list.

[jdaw1]

Bottle stickers would work, but numbered cloth bags would make my life a lot simpler as it is unlikely that I will be able to collect enough anonymised bottles before the 26th.

How should I get them to you? Be at TBH an hour before?

The bottle bags are sewn with Arabic numbers in Times Roman, so placemats updated to echo same, despite thread Naming blinded bottles.

[WS1]

I thought to bring my bts directly to the Bunghole (one port, one wine). Will arrange appropiate blinding.

[CPR 1]

I would love to join if there is room for 1 more

Thanks

[Alex Bridgeman]

I would love to join if there is room for 1 more

Thanks

You're in.

Just for clarity, no-one is expected to bring any port or wine. I will provide a bottle of port per person, which is about right for a school night. The point of the evening is for me to reduce the crowded state of my cellar!

The only exception is Wolfgang, who has asked to be allowed to bring a bottle of port and a bottle of wine in celebration of his adjacent birthday. Wolfgang's bottles have been factored in to the bottle per person calculation.

I would like to serve one of the blind bottles in black glasses. I have 6 black ISO tasting glasses - does anyone else have another 6 black glasses they could bring on the night?

[jdaw1]

I would like to serve one of the blind bottles in black glasses. I have 6 black ISO tasting glasses - does anyone else have another 6 black glasses they could bring on the night?

I have DRT’s twelve to hand. Please remind me nearer the time.

My understanding of who is bringing how many is embedded in the following (a reload perhaps being necessary).

Please agree or disagree. And of the latter, with details. (What does ARM know?)

I repeat:

And big hand to AHB for providing the mystery Ports.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I would like to serve one of the blind bottles in black glasses. I have 6 black ISO tasting glasses - does anyone else have another 6 black glasses they could bring on the night?

I have DRT’s twelve to hand. Please remind me nearer the time.

Thank you. I will attempt to remember to remind you.

My understanding of who is bringing how many is embedded in the following (a reload perhaps being necessary).

Please agree or disagree.

That looks correct to me

And of the latter, with details. (What does ARM know?)

ARM knows the identity of one of the bottles, and only one. He does not know which of the bottles it will be. I shall not share more widely the details he already knows.

I repeat:

And big hand to AHB for providing the mystery Ports.

You are all very welcome. It is a pleasure to share my port with people who enjoy and appreciate it.

[idj123]

Unless I am misreading JDAW,s latest scorecard, CPR and I have been omitted. And yes to echo JDAW, chapeau to Alex for this magnanimous gesture.

[djewesbury]

Unless I am misreading JDAW,s latest scorecard, CPR and I have been omitted. And yes to echo JDAW, chapeau to Alex for this magnanimous gesture.

You are there. Refresh.

[jdaw1]

Current draft of the placemats. (Placemat § added to this post by jdaw1.)

As Daniel almost said, reload, perhaps with ⌘R.

[idj123]

We now appear-how odd and my apologies!

[Deleted_User_1]

Add me please if there is space.

[jdaw1]

We are eight.

Add me please if there is space.

With RLC we would be nine.

If the number of people attending suddenly doubles then I might need some help, but with up to 8 of us I am fine.

Willing to help.

[Alex Bridgeman]

We are eight.

Add me please if there is space.

With RLC we would be nine.

If the number of people attending suddenly doubles then I might need some help, but with up to 8 of us I am fine.

Willing to help.

I owe Cookie a favour after our last trip to Portugal. No help is required to cover Cookie's spot at the table.

[jdaw1]

The Bung Hole, +44 20 7831 8365, should be warned of the number of glasses needed, especially given the recent change of staff. Alex: is it your reservation?

[jdaw1]

Though the current draft of the placemats goes to 12 glasses, there are only 10 bottle bags.

[Alex Bridgeman]

The Bung Hole, +44 20 7831 8365, should be warned of the number of glasses needed, especially given the recent change of staff. Alex: is it your reservation?

It is my reservation, but if you have the chance to advise them of the change in numbers and glass requirements, then please do.

And 10 bottle bags should be sufficient. I currently anticipate 9 bottles will be present.

[jdaw1]

It is my reservation, but if you have the chance to advise them of the change in numbers and glass requirements, then please do.

Spoke to Oliver; 120 glasses requested.

And 10 bottle bags should be sufficient. I currently anticipate 9 bottles will be present.

Placemats back to 10 glasses (per person).

[DRT]

I looked at my star charts this evening and it appears that I might be able to make an after-dinner contribution to the cellar reduction effort.

Is there space at the table/placemats for a leaf-eating, haven't-had-a-glass-of-port-since-the -last-tasting-I-crashed interloper to swing by for a glass or two of the good stuff?

If not I shall retire to my hotel and suck some lettuce whilst watching Dave.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I looked at my star charts this evening and it appears that I might be able to make an after-dinner contribution to the cellar reduction effort.

Is there space at the table/placemats for a leaf-eating, haven't-had-a-glass-of-port-since-the -last-tasting-I-crashed interloper to swing by for a glass or two of the good stuff?

If not I shall retire to my hotel and suck some lettuce whilst watching Dave.

Only if you're sure that your hair will be properly dry before you go out. We don't want you catching a cold.

And you might have to take pot luck on whatever is left over when you arrive...

[benread]

I shall bring the hip flask! Does that help?!

[uncle tom]

If there's still room I can now make this one - I had expected to be washing my hair in Thailand, but plans have gone back a week...

[jdaw1]

I might be able to make an after-dinner contribution to the cellar reduction effort.

Please can it be one of your stash of excellent Graham 1970s?

Current draft of the placemats.

• Back to 12 glasses;
• +THRA.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I might be able to make an after-dinner contribution to the cellar reduction effort.

Please can it be one of your stash of excellent Graham 1970s?

I think the intended contribution was one of consumption, not of a bottle.

[Alex Bridgeman]

If there's still room I can now make this one - I had expected to be washing my hair in Thailand, but plans have gone back a week...

There is absolutely still room, it would be good to see you - I want to hear what you thought of Plymouth last weekend.

Could I ask two favours though please:
(1) Would you mind bringing a bottle with you? I had set aside enough bottles to cope with 8 people but now we are 11 we will be a touch short with what I'm bringing; and
(2) Could you drop CMAG a note to let him know that you are coming. I believe that he is hoping to collect a couple of bottles from you in the near future and you might be able to bring them down with you.

First post updated.

[jdaw1]

I might be able to make an after-dinner contribution to the cellar reduction effort.

Please can it be one of your stash of excellent Graham 1970s?

I think the intended contribution was one of consumption, not of a bottle.

Perhaps Derek could explain the meaning of my comment. He knows. And he probably isn’t liking it.

[DRT]

I might be able to make an after-dinner contribution to the cellar reduction effort.

Please can it be one of your stash of excellent Graham 1970s?

I think the intended contribution was one of consumption, not of a bottle.

Perhaps Derek could explain the meaning of my comment. He knows. And he probably isn’t liking it.

• On Sun 25 May 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 17st 10lb, with the penalty for failure being a bottle of excellent Port, ≤1970, donated to the Wisemans, for consumption without DRT.

• On Sun 01 Jun 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 17st 8lb, with the penalty for failure being a bottle of excellent Port, ≤1970, donated to ThePortForum team for consumption without DRT at The Bung Hole.

• On Sun 08 Jun 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 17st 6lb, with the penalty for failure being £100 paid electronically to account of DRT’s ex wife.

• On Sun 15 Jun 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 17st 4lb, with the penalty for failure being a bottle of excellent Port, ≤1970, donated to the Wisemans, for consumption without DRT.

• On Sun 22 Jun 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 17st 2lb, with the penalty for failure being a bottle of excellent Port, ≤1970, donated to ThePortForum team for consumption without DRT at The Bung Hole.

• On Sun 29 Jun 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 17st 2lb, with the penalty for failure being £100 paid electronically to account of DRT’s ex wife.

• On Sun 06 Jul 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 17st 0lb, with the penalty for failure being a bottle of excellent Port, ≤1970, donated to the Wisemans, for consumption without DRT.

• On Sun 13 Jul 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 16st 12lb, with the penalty for failure being a bottle of excellent Port, ≤1970, donated to ThePortForum team for consumption without DRT at The Bung Hole.

• On Sun 20 Jul 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 16st 10lb, with the penalty for failure being £100 paid electronically to account of DRT’s ex wife.

• On Sun 27 Jul 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 16st 8lb, with the penalty for failure being a bottle of excellent Port, ≤1970, donated to the Wisemans, for consumption without DRT.

• On Sun 03 Aug 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 16st 6lb, with the penalty for failure being a bottle of excellent Port, ≤1970, donated to ThePortForum team for consumption without DRT at The Bung Hole.

• On Sun 10 Aug 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 16st 4lb, with the penalty for failure being £100 paid electronically to account of DRT’s ex wife.

• On Sun 17 Aug 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 16st 2lb, with the penalty for failure being a bottle of excellent Port, ≤1970, donated to the Wisemans, for consumption without DRT.

• On Sun 24 Aug 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 16st 0lb, with the penalty for failure being a bottle of excellent Port, ≤1970, donated to ThePortForum team for consumption without DRT at The Bung Hole.

• On Sun 31 Aug 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 15st 12lb, with the penalty for failure being £100 paid electronically to account of DRT’s ex wife.

• On Sun 07 Sep 2014 DRT will weigh, at most, 15st 10lb, with the penalty for failure being a bottle of excellent Port, ≤1970, donated to the Wisemans, for consumption without DRT.

I managed to negotiate my way out of the ex wife payments but the other fines are real. I have not yet been fined.

[jdaw1]

I have not yet been fined.

How much slack have you in hand? At your most recent weigh-in, how far below the penalty threshold were you?

[jdaw1]

now we are 11

I’m nudging that towards being only 10.

[DRT]

There is a distinct possibility I will be washing my hair on 26th August.

[jdaw1]

There is a distinct possibility I will be washing my hair on 26th August.

Which explains why I did only

• +THRA.

[WS1]

my bts arrived safely in the cool cellar of the Bunghole

Will decant them probably ~ 5:00PM on Tuesday. Maybe DRT can pop by before he is washing his hair

regards

WS1

[uncle tom]

Would you mind bringing a bottle with you?

Not at all, although a magnum comes to mind..