Fine wine and a Sunday roast...

This evening we had our last roast chicken here, accompanied by our last bottle of red wine, a 1983 Cos d'Estournel which I had purchased in 1988 and kept for all these years. The cork had almost pulverised but with a judicious bit of sieving I managed to rescue the wine. It was a fabulous claret still lively with fruit and unaffordable at today's prices; it was rated by Robert Parker at 98. Altogether, it has been a fitting meal to celebrate this fabulous house and the years we have spent here.


Last night we had our last meal with good friends...and when Judy and I thought about it we reckon we have enjoyed company here almost twice a month for seven years. 

I played the piano for the last time here too... an hour before it was packed off to Brighton. 


Its really hitting us now, as the house becomes leaner and leaner and as the last notes echo into memory.


Nicholas

This beautiful photo was taken in a B&B overlooking Trinidad Bay in northern California. The play of reflected light from the bright blue glass and deep red wine were glorious to behold during the sunset on our first night.

With our years of entertaining here in England now drawn to an end, there is a lingering sense of wonder at the depth of the experiences we have shared gathered round our table, listening to stories, sharing memories, dreams and disappointments, opening our hearts and our spirits to one another each time we gathered.

We have been blessed...deeply blessed...by the friends who have met us here, they have sustained us and nurtured us through so many formative moments in our marriage and in our unfolding creative journeys.

Thank you...all of you...for nourishing us so utterly. What a feast it has been!

Judy