Den of Zin

So we had fun. Drove with Mary-Rose navigating well. Didn't take long- under half an hour. The road wasn't as busy as I feared and quite enjoyable to drive. We drove through lots of hills with the grassy verges full of daffodils. I felt like I needed a chill out soundtrack. The final leg was by a large reservoir and up a hill. Wonderfully windy roads and sharp corners that reminded me of driving at home. Good driving. There was a brief shower just before we arrived and we were welcomed to the wine tasting place with a large rainbow arcing across the valley. The vineyard looks rather old and quaint and has two peacocks roaming the grounds. The dark, wood panelled room for the tasting was buzzing with people. Mary-Rose paid her $5 for tasting and we muscled in against the counter where a man with the name tag "Smiley" was serving. His accent betrayed him as English and he soon talked Mary-Rose into joining the wine club (helped by about half a dozen red wines and two types of port, one dubbed "love juice"). An hour later, we left. Mary-Rose slightly happier and me cheered by the chat with Smiley. When asked whether he knew the vineyard owner he replied "she's the mother of my children". "So is that a yes?"

On arrival back at chezMary-Rose, we found a dead-bird in the driveway. She freaked out and wouldn't even go near it with a trowel to pick it up... I sweep in to the rescue.

Oh, I bought three bottles. Niiiice stuff. Really nice. Mary-Rose bought 13. Yikes.

Hub of inactivity

The workspace.

One day I may clear it out but it feels wrong to dispose of other people's stuff. I don't know how many generations have come and gone from this windowless room, leaving their files behind them. Currently I am the only inhabitant, Steve going off to sunnier pastures.

The clock has stopped, the chair has torn and nothing on the walls belong to me. I have only made my mark (thanks to Em) with my mousepad.

Dates

14th March leave SF.
15th March arrive in UK. Stay in Kent.
16th March beg for visa (in London).
18th/19th March go to Barry, Wales.
20th March go to Oxford.
24th March go back to Kent.
27th March go back to Oxford.
31st March back to Kent.
2nd April back to SF.

8th - 22nd April in Japan

More Japan in June.

Big PhD experiment in July.

A certain wedding to ceilidh at in August.

And at some point a good home friend should visit.

And then the big NY/Boston holiday.

(I find it is easier for my stalkers if I tell them where I will be. No one likes an unhappy stalker).