Archive for ‘Odds & Sods’

It’s a miracle!

March 21st, 2014 | Odds & Sods

Water to wineBefore I start writing I should point out that it’s not quite April Fool’s day as yet, simply because today’s news is of a new gadget coming to the market that claims to turn water into wine! This new contraption will not come cheap with a price tag of around $499, and then of course the cost of the “ingredients” has to be added to this. By adding grape concentrate and yeast, it apparently takes three days to actually ferment the mixture into wine, at a finished cost of about $2 per bottle. The concentrates will be available as several different varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay from Napa Valley, a Pinot Noir from Oregon, a Tuscan blend from Italy, Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma, plus a red and white from Burgundy.

The technology enclosed within this condiment shaped machine is actually quite impressive,  comprising a fermentation chamber that uses electrical sensors, transducers, heaters and pumps to provide a controlled environment for the fermentation. So this really appears to be wine making in miniature…..  In addition there is also the inevitable phone App that alerts the user when the fermentation has finished and the wine is ready to drink.

The California based makers say the finished product will be up to the standard of a $20 bottle of wine, but as I always say, the proof will be in the tasting – I prefer to reserve my judgement at least until we see some consumer reviews.

 Now where did I put my loaves and fishes?

Water to wineBefore I start writing I should point out that it’s not quite April Fool’s day as yet, simply because today’s news is of a new gadget coming to the market that claims to turn water into wine! This new contraption will not come cheap with a price tag of around $499, and then of course the cost of the “ingredients” has to be added to this. By adding grape concentrate and yeast, it apparently takes three days to actually ferment the mixture into wine, at a finished cost of about $2 per bottle. The concentrates will be available as several different varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay from Napa Valley, a Pinot Noir from Oregon, a Tuscan blend from Italy, Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma, plus a red and white from Burgundy.

The technology enclosed within this condiment shaped machine is actually quite impressive,  comprising a fermentation chamber that uses electrical sensors, transducers, heaters and pumps to provide a controlled environment for the fermentation. So this really appears to be wine making in miniature…..  In addition there is also the inevitable phone App that alerts the user when the fermentation has finished and the wine is ready to drink.

The California based makers say the finished product will be up to the standard of a $20 bottle of wine, but as I always say, the proof will be in the tasting – I prefer to reserve my judgement at least until we see some consumer reviews.

 Now where did I put my loaves and fishes?

My kingdom for a course!

February 20th, 2014 | National News

CoursesOver recent years many businesses in Spain have been created on the back of subsidies, the vast majority being drawn from the coffers of the European Community. By far the biggest industry to benefit from this was construction…. but that was before the financial crisis kicked in, when not only did the subsidies dry up, but a huge number of construction companies went bust. The problem was that these businesses were simply building for the sake of building – houses, apartment blocks and even airports that were simply not required…. merely to take advantage of the seemingly boundless European wealth. It  has since transpired that many millions of Euros were illicitly syphoned off (probably now secreted in Swiss bank accounts), and so there are at least a few builders, local mayors and politicians who truly cashed in on this ‘European gravy train’.

Anyway, that was a while ago, and, as I mentioned, these subsidies have long since disappeared. So where is the next free money coming from? Where is the next opportunity to cream off a few Euros? The answer? Company training courses!

OK, so it’s not big business like construction, so there’s not to same opportunity to become rich overnight, but there is still the possibility of cashing in by inflating the odd invoice here and there – or so it is alleged (he added hastily, for legal reasons). Subsequently we are now being bombarded by e-mails, encouraging us to send our employees on every type of course you can possibly imagine. If we took advantage of even one or two of the several daily offers that we receive, then we could easily end up with some of the most highly trained employees in Europe.

Naturally, I have applied for the BBC English course…

CoursesOver recent years many businesses in Spain have been created on the back of subsidies, the vast majority being drawn from the coffers of the European Community. By far the biggest industry to benefit from this was construction…. but that was before the financial crisis kicked in, when not only did the subsidies dry up, but a huge number of construction companies went bust. The problem was that these businesses were simply building for the sake of building – houses, apartment blocks and even airports that were simply not required…. merely to take advantage of the seemingly boundless European wealth. It  has since transpired that many millions of Euros were illicitly syphoned off (probably now secreted in Swiss bank accounts), and so there are at least a few builders, local mayors and politicians who truly cashed in on this ‘European gravy train’.

Anyway, that was a while ago, and, as I mentioned, these subsidies have long since disappeared. So where is the next free money coming from? Where is the next opportunity to cream off a few Euros? The answer? Company training courses!

OK, so it’s not big business like construction, so there’s not to same opportunity to become rich overnight, but there is still the possibility of cashing in by inflating the odd invoice here and there – or so it is alleged (he added hastily, for legal reasons). Subsequently we are now being bombarded by e-mails, encouraging us to send our employees on every type of course you can possibly imagine. If we took advantage of even one or two of the several daily offers that we receive, then we could easily end up with some of the most highly trained employees in Europe!

Naturally, I have applied for the BBC English course…

Valentines tipple?

February 13th, 2014 | Fiestas

ValentinesIt would be pretty frivolous of me to suggest that Albariño is the most ideal wine to buy your partner for Valentine’s Day. That distinction should probably be credited to rosé Champagne, and being completely honest, I think that I can understand the reasons why….. There’s always something a bit special about opening a good bottle of fizz on a romantic occasion, and for some reason it is often implied that rosé Champagne is especially favoured by the ladies. This notion however, is probably quite outdated, and in an age of more knowledgeable wine consumers I’m not so sure that it’s entirely true anyway. It could simply be that pink is simply considered to be a more romantic colour? Anyway, suffice to say that on February 14th Champagne will be the preferred choice of many to help woo (or perhaps impress) the woman of their dreams.

Possibly the best way to celebrate this special day is over a candlelit dinner, or failing that, perhaps delivering a nice bouquet of flowers (excluding those from your local gas station or supermarket!). Gifts can be many and varied, but in my opinion stuffed toys or novelty knickers are probably best avoided. One marketing suggestion of a Valentine’s gift that dropped into my mailbox only today was some lovely speech recognition software – just the thing to thrill the lady in your life. My guess is that this, or perhaps a new ironing board cover would be especially well received…… if you happen to be fishing for a divorce!

ValentinesIt would be pretty frivolous of me to suggest that Albariño is the most ideal wine to buy your partner for Valentine’s Day. That distinction should probably be credited to rosé Champagne, and being completely honest, I think that I can understand the reasons why….. There’s always something a bit special about opening a good bottle of fizz on a romantic occasion, and for some reason it is often implied that rosé Champagne is especially favoured by the ladies. This notion however, is probably quite outdated, and in an age of more knowledgeable wine consumers I’m not so sure that it’s entirely true anyway. It could simply be that pink is simply considered to be a more romantic colour? Anyway, suffice to say that on February 14th Champagne will be the preferred choice of many to help woo (or perhaps impress) the woman of their dreams.

Possibly the best way to celebrate this special day is over a candlelit dinner, or failing that, perhaps delivering a nice bouquet of flowers (excluding those from your local gas station or supermarket!). Gifts can be many and varied, but in my opinion stuffed toys or novelty knickers are probably best avoided. One marketing suggestion of a Valentine’s gift that dropped into my mailbox only today was some lovely speech recognition software – just the thing to thrill the lady in your life. My guess is that this, or perhaps a new ironing board cover would be especially well received…… if you happen to be fishing for a divorce!

Man Flu

February 5th, 2014 | Odds & Sods

Man FluWhen I was a wine buyer there was one thing that I was always desperate to avoid during the winter months…. catching a cold or flu. It’s pretty obvious that a blocked nose would simply render you unable to work, which is why at the first sign of any symptom I would quickly dose myself with aspirin and vitamins. An over reaction perhaps, but it seemed to work quite well for me, and over the years I don’t recall spending too many periods out of action.

The reason I mention this now is because I am just recovering from a nasty bout of “man flu” (and yes, it apparently does exist). A new study suggests that men may actually suffer more when they are struck down with flu – because high levels of testosterone can weaken their immune response! The study was carried out by the Stanford University School of Medicine – and that’s good enough for me. The reality is however, that apart from a few flu tablets and a day or two in bed, there’s not really too much that you can do…. apart perhaps from one small discovery that I made recently – the Neti Pot.

When I get a cold it usually goes straight to my head and fills my sinuses, and the neti pot is a way of offering some relief. It is otherwise known as nasal irrigation, which might sound disgusting, but does appear to work. I would recommend giving it a try, but only on the proviso that you follow the instructions carefully – using the correct saline solution made from distilled or boiled water (to get rid of possible impurities).

By the way, I did feel bad, but that’s not me in the photo!

Man FluWhen I was a wine buyer there was one thing that I was always desperate to avoid during the winter months…. catching a cold or flu. It’s pretty obvious that a blocked nose would simply render you unable to work, which is why at the first sign of any symptom I would quickly dose myself with aspirin and vitamins. An over reaction perhaps, but it seemed to work quite well for me, and over the years I don’t recall spending too many periods out of action.

The reason I mention this now is because I am just recovering from a nasty bout of “man flu” (and yes, it apparently does exist). A new study suggests that men may actually suffer more when they are struck down with flu – because high levels of testosterone can weaken their immune response! The study was carried out by the Stanford University School of Medicine – and that’s good enough for me. The reality is however, that apart from a few flu tablets and a day or two in bed, there’s not really too much that you can do…. apart perhaps from one small discovery that I made recently – the Neti Pot.

When I get a cold it usually goes straight to my head and fills my sinuses, and the neti pot is a way of offering some relief. It is otherwise known as nasal irrigation, which might sound disgusting, but does appear to work. I would recommend giving it a try, but only on the proviso that you follow the instructions carefully – using the correct saline solution made from distilled or boiled water (to get rid of possible impurities).

By the way, I did feel bad, but that’s not me in the photo!

What’s in a name?

January 15th, 2014 | Odds & Sods

BUMI know that I have written before, about the value of checking out a name (or in this case an acronym) before setting up a company, or naming a product, but this new example at least made me smile on a very bleak winter’s day here in Galicia.

I received an e-mail from a Swiss company who specialise in selling second-hand equipment (and there is a lot  of that on the market at the moment). They have called the company Best Used Machines, today offering a complete set of bakery equipment. OK, you’ve already worked it out…. their abbreviated name in BUM.

BUMI know that I have written before, about the value of checking out a name (or in this case an acronym) before setting up a company, or naming a product, but this new example at least made me smile on a very bleak winter’s day here in Galicia.

I received an e-mail from a Swiss company who specialise in selling second-hand equipment (and there is a lot of that on the market at the moment). They have called the company Best Used Machines, today offering a complete set of bakery equipment. OK, you’ve already worked it out…. their abbreviated name in BUM.

My last bottle….

January 2nd, 2014 | Odds & Sods

My last bottleOpening the last bottle of a wine that you cherish is always a very sad occasion, whether it be the last of a particular vintage or simply something that is no longer available. What ever the reason there is always a certain reluctance to pull that final cork.

I make no secret of the fact that I am a great Champagne lover, and more especially those with a bit of bottle age. Of course it would be easy to select only Grande Marque Champagnes, although in truth, they might not necessarily be the best available and almost certainly won’t represent the best value for money. For me the answer is to source a Champagne made by one of the multitude of smaller Champagne houses, often as good, if not better than some of the Grande Marque brands. The downside is the time and effort that it takes to determine which are the best – as with all wine, it simply comes down to trial and error.

Two or three years ago, in a Spanish supermarket, I decided to try one of these lesser known brands, a Louis Barthélémy Cuvée Améthyste Brut NV. It ended up providing me with a very pleasant surprise indeed – a ripe, fruity, well-balanced Champagne, it’s richness coming from a blend dominated by the two pinot grapes of the appellation. The full bodied flavour was further enhanced by the price – a good few Euros less than any of the well-known brands on offer. Over time this Champagne became a staple in my cellar, and a good stock was always maintained in order that I could store them for a while to enhance their bottle age. Indeed, after 12-18 months of additional ageing they were quite delicious (or at least for my own personal taste).

Then suddenly, several months ago, the stock in my local supermarket started to dry up, and as it appeared that this was my only source in the whole of Spain, I immediately hurried out to buy all the bottles that I could find. Sadly, over the holidays I arrived at the very last bottle, but at least I am happy to tell you that  it tasted just as delicious as the very first….. I guess that now I will just have to revert back to the Krug Clos de Mesnil.

My last bottleOpening the last bottle of a wine that you cherish is always a very sad occasion, whether it be the last of a particular vintage or simply something that is no longer available. What ever the reason there is always a certain reluctance to pull that final cork.

I make no secret of the fact that I am a great Champagne lover, and more especially those with a bit of bottle age. Of course it would be easy to select only Grande Marque Champagnes, although in truth, they might not necessarily be the best available and almost certainly won’t represent the best value for money. For me the answer is to source a Champagne made by one of the multitude of smaller Champagne houses, often as good, if not better than some of the Grande Marque brands. The downside is the time and effort that it takes to determine which are the best – as with all wine, it simply comes down to trial and error.

Two or three years ago, in a Spanish supermarket, I decided to try one of these lesser known brands, a Louis Barthélémy Cuvée Améthyste Brut NV. It ended up providing me with a very pleasant surprise indeed – a ripe, fruity, well-balanced Champagne, it’s richness coming from a blend dominated by the two pinot grapes of the appellation. The full bodied flavour was further enhanced by the price – a good few Euros less than any of the well-known brands on offer. Over time this Champagne became a staple in my cellar, and a good stock was always maintained in order that I could store them for a while to enhance their bottle age. Indeed, after 12-18 months of additional ageing they were quite delicious (or at least for my own personal taste).

Then suddenly, several months ago, the stock in my local supermarket started to dry up, and as it appeared that this was my only source in the whole of Spain, I immediately hurried out to buy all the bottles that I could find. Sadly, over the holidays I arrived at the very last bottle, but at least I am happy to tell you that  it tasted just as delicious as the very first….. I guess that now I will just have to revert back to the Krug Clos de Mesnil.

The 12 sips of albariño

January 1st, 2014 | Fiestas

Puerta-del-SolOne of the greatest ever marketing coups in Spanish history has to be the “tradition” of eating grapes for good luck at New Year. The idea is that at midnight on 31st December as the clock strikes midnight Spaniards eat a grape with each chime of the clock – 12 per person (which is actually not as easy as it might sound). With a population of 47 million, this equates to some 564 million grapes, or a good few kilos!

And the origin of this “tradition”?  Alicante. Started in 1909 when  grape farmers needed a way to dispose profitably of the surplus grapes from that year’s unexpectedly large harvest. Since then the 12-grape custom is now observed by almost everyone in Spain, not to mention several other South American countries. Being brutally honest, this means that the whole custom is probably no more than a bit of a scam and the claim of bringing luck has no real foundation whatsoever!

This being the case I have decided to create an alternative New Year’s tradition. In future it should be considered extremely lucky to take a sip of albariño with each of the 12 chimes of midnight. The difference is that this is completely true – it’s going to be extremely lucky……. for all albariño producers!

Oh, and by the way, a very happy New Year to one and all.

Puerta-del-SolOne of the greatest ever marketing coups in Spanish history has to be the “tradition” of eating grapes for good luck at New Year. The idea is that at midnight on 31st December as the clock strikes midnight Spaniards eat a grape with each chime of the clock – 12 per person (which is actually not as easy as it might sound). With a population of 47 million, this equates to some 564 million grapes, or a good few kilos!

And the origin of this “tradition”?  Alicante. Started in 1909 when  grape farmers needed a way to dispose profitably of the surplus grapes from that year’s unexpectedly large harvest. Since then the 12-grape custom is now observed by almost everyone in Spain, not to mention several other South American countries. Being brutally honest, this means that the whole custom is probably no more than a bit of a scam and the claim of bringing luck has no real foundation whatsoever!

This being the case I have decided to create an alternative New Year’s tradition. In future it should be considered extremely lucky to take a sip of albariño with each of the 12 chimes of midnight. The difference is that this is completely true – it’s going to be extremely lucky……. for all albariño producers!

Oh, and by the way, a very happy New Year to one and all.

The Castro Martin delivery drone

December 10th, 2013 | Odds & Sods

Bike rackA day or two ago I wrote about the Amazon ‘Prime Air’ delivery service. Unfortunately this very original idea is probably going to be a bit of a non-starter, as for the time being at least, it is grounded by simply having too many drawbacks to be practical. In the meantime I have been working on my own alternative for making deliveries – a system that thoughtfully takes into account our carbon footprint, whilst also cutting down dramatically on expenses. You can see the first prototype of my proposed solution in today’s photo, which not only has the advantage of offering a very personalised service, but also helps to burn off a few extra calories at the same time. However, like the Prime Air, this idea also comes with it’s own drawbacks, as it now requires 12 single journeys to deliver one full case of wine….. OK, so it’s back to the drawing board!

Bike rackA day or two ago I wrote about the Amazon ‘Prime Air’ delivery service. Unfortunately this very original idea is probably going to be a bit of a non-starter, as for the time being at least, it is grounded by simply having too many drawbacks to be practical. In the meantime I have been working on my own alternative for making deliveries – a system that thoughtfully takes into account our carbon footprint, whilst also cutting down dramatically on expenses. You can see the first prototype of my proposed solution in today’s photo, which not only has the advantage of offering a very personalised service, but also helps to burn off a few extra calories at the same time. However, like the Prime Air, this idea also comes with it’s own drawbacks, as it now requires 12 single journeys to deliver one full case of wine….. OK, so it’s back to the drawing board!

Anything Amazon can do….

December 8th, 2013 | Odds & Sods

This undated handout photo released by AChristmas deliveries can always be a bit of a nightmare, especially if you have to sit at home waiting for a delivery driver, not knowing exactly when he or she is going to turn up (or indeed, IF they’re going to turn up). Of course one possible answer is to have packages delivered to your work address, assuming that your employer is amenable to this idea. My guess is however, that if you work for a very large organisation, then this is probably not a very practical solution and would probably cause all sorts of problems for the company mail room.

Amazon’s latest answer to this predicament is their ‘Prime Air’ drone. Unfortunately, as practical solutions go, this has to be one of the most impractical ever and is absolutely fraught with pitfalls – possibly too numerous to mention. Don’t get me wrong, I love technology, but this idea, even for me, is just a bit too incredulous….. or at least for now. Apart from the obvious perils of civil aviation, apparently these drones would also be severely restricted by weather, weight and physical distance from the warehouse. On top of all this, not only would the recipient have to be at home to receive the parcel, but the sender would also have to be in contact to advise of the exact ‘landing’ time (assuming that you don’t live in an apartment and have somewhere for the drone to set down your box). Shooting at drones would also provide a great new sport for the opportunists!

Suffice to say that owing to the many drawbacks, your Castro Martin won’t be arriving by drone this Christmas, or probably any time soon for that matter.

This undated handout photo released by AChristmas deliveries can always be a bit of a nightmare, especially if you have to sit at home waiting for a delivery driver, not knowing exactly when he or she is going to turn up (or indeed, IF they’re going to turn up). Of course one possible answer is to have packages delivered to your work address, assuming that your employer is amenable to this idea. My guess is however, that if you work for a very large organisation, then this is probably not a very practical solution and would probably cause all sorts of problems for the company mail room.

Amazon’s latest answer to this predicament is their ‘Prime Air’ drone. Unfortunately, as practical solutions go, this has to be one of the most impractical ever and is absolutely fraught with pitfalls – possibly too numerous to mention. Don’t get me wrong, I love technology, but this idea, even for me, is just a bit too incredulous….. or at least for now. Apart from the obvious perils of civil aviation, apparently these drones would also be severely restricted by weather, weight and physical distance from the warehouse. On top of all this, not only would the recipient have to be at home to receive the parcel, but the sender would also have to be in contact to advise of the exact ‘landing’ time (assuming that you don’t live in an apartment and have somewhere for the drone to set down your box). Shooting at drones would also provide a great new sport for the opportunists!

Suffice to say that owing to the many drawbacks, your Castro Martin won’t be arriving by drone this Christmas, or probably any time soon for that matter.

A tip for Christmas

December 4th, 2013 | Odds & Sods

TipsGiving a ‘Christmas Box’ is a tradition that dates back more than a century. As with normal tipping this ‘box’ is intended as a way of showing appreciation for work done or services provided during the preceding year. In the UK  we are never really comfortable with the concept of giving gratuities as the lack of any structured tipping system can leave us with a multitude of dilemmas. For example, exactly who should we tip and how much should we give? Meanwhile, in the United States it is not only more commonplace, but it is also more systematic, whereby there is more or less a structure in place for the acceptable rates – food service 15-20%, taxis 15-20%, delivery person 10-15% and so on. Much easier to work out and also helping to eliminate possible anxieties.

But has tipping become an obligation rather than an optional sign of gratitude for a job well done? The question of who we should tip, or possibly whether we should tip at all, is actually perfectly valid. I sometimes wonder, when we are already paying a fortune for our designer coffees, why they would have a tip jar at the checkout – after all, the process is self-service! Has the truth now become that the server or barista is so badly paid that we are merely subsidising their employer – surely better to have all of the service charge integrated into the initial selling price? The other anomaly is of course that not all jobs attract tips….. so why do we tip the taxi driver but not the bus driver? In London a taxi driver will very rarely leave his cab to help you lift your heavy suitcase, so why do we feel obliged to give an additional tip on top of the premium fare that we are already paying? 

Don’t get me wrong, I think I am super generous when it come to tipping, and Angela is always telling me off for leaving too much, but I just think that life would be a whole lot less complicated if tipping was just scrapped altogether and people were simply content to receive a salary for their work. My own philosophy has always been ‘a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay’.

TipsGiving a ‘Christmas Box’ is a tradition that dates back more than a century. As with normal tipping this ‘box’ is intended as a way of showing appreciation for work done or services provided during the preceding year. In the UK  we are never really comfortable with the concept of giving gratuities as the lack of any structured tipping system can leave us with a multitude of dilemmas. For example, exactly who should we tip and how much should we give? Meanwhile, in the United States it is not only more commonplace, but it is also more systematic, whereby there is more or less a structure in place for the acceptable rates – food service 15-20%, taxis 15-20%, delivery person 10-15% and so on. Much easier to work out and also helping to eliminate possible anxieties.

But has tipping become an obligation rather than an optional sign of gratitude for a job well done? The question of who we should tip, or possibly whether we should tip at all, is actually perfectly valid. I sometimes wonder, when we are already paying a fortune for our designer coffees, why they would have a tip jar at the checkout – after all, the process is self-service! Has the truth now become that the server or barista is so badly paid that we are merely subsidising their employer – surely better to have all of the service charge integrated into the initial selling price? The other anomaly is of course that not all jobs attract tips….. so why do we tip the taxi driver but not the bus driver? In London a taxi driver will very rarely leave his cab to help you lift your heavy suitcase, so why do we feel obliged to give an additional tip on top of the premium fare that we are already paying? 

Don’t get me wrong, I think I am super generous when it come to tipping, and Angela is always telling me off for leaving too much, but I just think that life would be a whole lot less complicated if tipping was just scrapped altogether and people were simply content to receive a salary for their work. My own philosophy has always been ‘a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay’.

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