Husband and wife sit on the terrace, sipping wine ...

Wife: (turns to husband) I love you!
Husband: Is that the wine talking?
Wife: (pauses) No, it’s me talking … to the wine.

Thanks for that one, Juliana, in Italy.

And talking of Italians who make us happy, get this;

"Antonella Carraro has over the years helped me have a greater knowledge of this vast subject. She has taken the care and time to give me a personalised service which has resulted in a far more focused approach to what I buy. The benefits have been, for you, an enhanced customer satisfaction and, for me, more enjoyment from drinking wine."

That's a customer writing today to thank us. I get so much praise for the people here who do the talking for me. They do it so much better than I do.

People do say that just talking to my lot brightens their day.

Antonella is very special; a 'one-off'. (There isn't room for two personalities like Antonella!) But then there is a whole roomful of very special people of all shapes, sizes and etc. here, waiting to talk, bring cheer and help.

Me, this week, I've just been tapping away at words.

I was also at The Savoy to help launch their Green Initiative and accept the first consignment of their restaurant's corks (that's a lot of corks!) which we will grind up and recycle as mulch on our English vineyards. Great mulch.

I also attended my first lunch with fellow holders of the 'Chevalier de Merite – Agricole.' 30 of us had a noisy time with the chaps from the French Embassy at Ransome's Dock.

Not a lot else, this week, just writing. All the Buyers were away at Prowein; (the biggest wine show in Germany – hunting for new finds from all over the world) so the place has been eerily quiet.

Which is why I keep reverting to telling our history.