The Late Post

I posted a couple of days ago, a brief note about my brother Tim who died eight years before to that day. It was a few sentences on how still-bearded husband and I would mark the date by having fish and chips that night, together with a bottle of Champagne (it really is a brilliant, if not obvious, match) and that was about it. I hit 'publish', gave the baby her bottle and spent the next twenty minutes frying about the post. Too exposing, too morbid, too cheap, too much. The baby finished her bottle and I went back to the laptop and hit 'delete'. I then felt worse.

This late post is to make it better. Tim was a life-force. He was 26 years old. I love him still.

xx

Skinny legs and all...

One of the tips for new year, new you is to clear out your wardrobe, throwing away anything unworn over the past year. Whoever wrote that clearly doesn't realise that there are clothes that I haven't worn for five years BUT I AM DEFINITELY GOING TO WEAR THEM AGAIN. I just need to lose a couple of, er, pounds. Actually, I did go for a swim today, my first for a very long time. What spurned me on was not a new year lifestyle tip but a pair of skinny 'biker' jeans ordered online last week. These jeans were to transform my wardrobe, my look, my life. Unfortunately, this slightly knackered thirty-something mother of three carrying a little too much post-baby weight really did look ridiculous. But they forced me to go for a swim and I do feel better for it.

This week's white in the fridge:
Maurel Vedeau Sauvignon Blanc/Grenache 2008, £8.99 down to £4.49, Tesco
Made by a family-owned company from grapes grown in the Languedoc region in Southern France. Delicious, lemon-crisp with white peach and lime flavours. 

This week's red on the side:
Rawnsley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2008, £9.99 down to £4.99, Tesco
Big, bold and beautiful, this is an Australian blend of Bordeaux favourites Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with a shot of Petit Verdot to top it off. Gorgeous blackcurrant and raspberry fruits with a hint of chocolate.  

Derrieres aloft xx

Look away now...

In my old life - the one with travel, no children and a flatish tummy - I spent lots of time on courses learning how to negotiate. I was a supermarket wine buyer and this was seen as an essential skill. I was never very good, always blinked first. However, I now realise these courses were hopeless. What we should have done was spend time with young children getting them out of bed and into school uniform in the mornings. Since becoming a mother I have become expert in the art of hard-core negotiation. Unless you count a promise to go to the village sweet shop after school as blinking first. Not sure I would have got away with that on the course.

This week I've donated our weekly wine monies to the following:

http://www.justgiving.com/Bloggers-For-Haiti

Hoping this helps the million newly-orphaned in some small way.

xx

Dirty Hairy

I was described as 'organic' the other day. By a hairdresser. It didn't really register at the time but I think I've realised what he meant. Call me shallow - you wouldn't be the first - but I used to have much better hair/eyebrows/clothes/shoes. Now, I wouldn't say I've completely let myself go but I've definitely had to get in line. With three small children ahead of me in the queue. In fact, in the hairdressers on Saturday morning, the prospect of an hour without interruptions clearly left me a little delirious. When asked what haircut I wanted I said I didn't mind.

That is something the old me would never have said. But I prefer being in line, even if it means having organic hair.

This week's white in the fridge:
Nederburg Chardonnay/Viognier 2009, £5.99 down to £3.99, Waitrose
From the South African Cape region, this is a lovely ripe, pineapple and citrus-flavoured white which even my mother (who doesn't like Chardonnay but loves Chablis) will imbibe heartily. The Viognier gives it a spicy, alcoholic kick, taking the chill off 'dem bones.

Current red on the side:
Nederburg Shiraz/Pinotage 2009, £5.99 down to £3.99, Waitrose
This is the spicy, bramble-fruit loaded red partner to the white above, and both are part of this week's Waitrose meal deal. I love these deals: no-brainer supermarket shopping. I dont have to go beyond aisle 3. Or I wouldn't if I didn't need nappies too. For the babies, not me. Not yet.  

Your health xx

Party pooped...

A few days ago, a friend and I talked about how much we were loving the holidays: everyone at home, no school runs, even relative lie-ins thanks to later-than-usual bedtimes for the children. The holidays are too short! I said. I wish we had another week of this! I said. I must have been tipsy, or showing off. Probably both. Truth is, I am really looking forward to resuming our version of normal family life, starting tomorrow. It was fun for a while but I need a break from mass catering and lunchtime drinking.

And I won't have to wipe anyone's nose or bottom at work tomorrow. At least I hope not.   

This week's white in the fridge:
Tesco Finest Premier Cru Champagne, currently on offer at £14.23 per bottle, http://www.tesco.com/
Sounds extravagant but just finishing off our NYE stocks. This is a gorgeous, biscuity Champagne with fantastic balance and long flavours. 

Not drunk red since the delicious Cairanne 2003 supped on New Year's Eve with 24-hour roasted aromatic shoulder of pork. Need to top up supplies, will report back.

Bottoms up xx