Life Begins At.....
Issue link: http://ebook.aprs.com.au/i/40177
The idle thoughts of a bone idle wine drinker As I sit at the kitchen table finishing off a glass of a rather splendid New Zealand pinot noir – I won't bore you with the details of how it has delicacy and richness all at the same time – I was contemplating, in the immortal words of one Douglas Adams: Life, the universe and everything. Life: in the form of four rather annoying dogs hurtling round the room at a great speed of knots demanding my utmost attention because it was DINNER TIME! The Universe: how it was about to collapse around me because I hadn't fixed a leak in the bathroom, you know the one Millie had installed while she was away in America. Leaving me without a loo or shower for six weeks, boy did the lemons grow well that year! The bathroom, a spitting image of the type built for high class hotels (all chocolate and coffee coloured tiles) was having a flood of Noah proportions and I hadn't find the leak. Millie was going ballistic, but hey, the pinot was going down a treat, especially as I still had the taste of lunch's roast lamb in my mouth as well. Aaaah, for me the perfect combination: a succulent and very juicy joint with the shank (if I carve it, then it's mine), and this fruity yet firm and youthful pinot. Maybe I could have just another thin slice to go with the dregs in the bottom of the bottle? 166 THE RETIREE SPRING Rather than expanding, as the scientist on the radio was explaining, my universe was collapsing. And fast. The Niagara Falls had nothing on what was going on in my bathroom. And Everything? That's all the bits that were left over in my head, after the dogs and Millie had taken up an inordinate amount of my time after lunch. But it got me to thinking about hunting down bargains, especially with wine, in that much maligned, little understood and little used wine auction market. I'll let you into a little trade secret. But just give me a "mo", while I pour myself a little whisky…purely for medicinal and restorative purposes only mind you. It's rather sweet and fruity tasting, a single malt from Scotland, soft, gentle, malt sweet with just the right amount of sherried fruit and lively alcohol to calm my nerves after the dogs had belted around the lounge room for the 30th time. So to our little secret... Believe it nor not, a helluva lot of wine sold at auction cheaper than what it is in the shops! And not too many Aussies know about it, as Aussies just love either popping off the big stores or to their local retailer and picking up the odd bottle or two for the weekend. But let me tell you, there is a whole new and highly intriguing world of wine awaiting you at auction. Truly!