See below - a dictionary definition of a ramble!

Wine of the week: 

Pepper Tree Wines Tallawanta Semillon 2013

Firstly, yes it is a white wine. However, I have decided that seeing part of this exercise is sharing what I think are good wines, I shouldn't limit my horizons to just one variety - especially as we enter the summer proper and the festive season.

The 2013 Tallawanta Semillon is still young enough to have the acidity that allows you to have it with food such as thai - which we had on Sunday. It also good enough to have it on it's own. Like most Hunter Valley semillons, given time it will develop and become more richer and perfect with that salmon steak you put on the BBQ.

That and you can never go wrong with Pepper Tree Wines either red or white. If you are venturing to the Hunter, stop by the cellar door and have a tasting. You won't get much better. http://www.peppertreewines.com.au/

So, here is the thing. I had drafted a post around my reactions to Phillip Hughes' death and the tragic accident that occurred last month at the Sydney Cricket Ground. There was such an outpouring of sympathy and sadness due to such a random and freak accident that I felt that I needed to share what I was thinking and feeling. And seeing this still is my own little piece of internet real estate, here was the place to post it.

That and as you would have all observed, it has been a while since made an effort to make a post. I thought that if the accident to Phillip Hughes wouldn’t get me out of my internet slumber, nothing will.

Not for the first time and not for the last time, I was wrong.

I drafted what I was going to say and left it. Thinking I would get around to it on Monday night.

Then of course, Monday happened.

Part of my career was working in the business continuity area and after September 11^th, it was a generally accepted view that it wasn’t a case of if an act of terror would happen on domestic soil but when. That said, when it actually does happen it still is a shock.

And yes, there is still debate as to whether it was a political statement or just an act of a mad man. What isn't in debate is that two families have lost a loved one. Other families have been changed forever after living through nearly sixteen hours of torture before their loved ones were returned to safety. 

And a general community is feeling a little less safe, a little less secure and a little fearful that this could happen again and what if it happened to them?

I am not about to debate the causes, the actions, the reactions. In fact, I am not that altogether certain what I wanted to achieve from this post. I guess it is the fact that despite what has happened, we just have to keep moving.

When I say that, it doesn’t mean we forget.

We don’t forget the two lives lost.

We don’t forget those who spent those long hours not knowing what fate would have in store for them next.

And, we don’t forget that the act of one should not tarnish the name of many.

It means we can’t stop living. We can’t stop moving forward.

I heard the Prime Minister and the Premier make statements that we need to take a ‘business as usual’ approach. Part of me says that was just a crock. The other part thinks that it makes perfect sense. All it takes is taking that first step.

For many, that has been back to Martin Place to lay flowers, sign a book or just stop and take in the enormity of it all.

For others, it has been back to Martin Place for another day’s work.

Either way, all it takes is one step. You just have to make a conscious decision to take it. 

However long it takes for you to make it.

For me, it is taking the time to do something that I have been meaning to do for ages but seemingly not having the time to do.

Albeit in an airport lounge.

And watching the cricket in the background.

When 140 characters is never enough…

Wine of the Week:

De Bortoli Estate Grown Yarra Valley Syrah 2010

One of our frustrations has been that we (Trish and I) haven’t been able to find another wine from De Bortoli that we like apart from Noble One. Every time that we have done tastings; be it at both the Hunter or Yarra nothing – that is until we had the Syrah.

The 2010 Estate Grown Syrah is one of those reds that is an above average every day wine. Generally, the Syrah is a little more subtle than the Shiraz but this one has plenty of body for those who want some strength in their reds without having to give it plenty of air to let it all out. It also has enough of that pepper taste without seeming to overpower the fruit. Definitely has the potential for getting better if you leave it for a few years but it loses nothing by having it now.

Great to have with a homemade pasta or even pizza…but a homemade or pizza shop one. You can get it from the De Bortoli online store for $25 which is one of the better value wines that I have come across in a long while.

http://shop.debortoli.com.au/yarra-valley/yarra-valley-estate-grown/yarra-valley-estate-grown-syrah-2029.html

So here we are again. It has been over a year since the last post which I must admit took me aback as I didn’t realise that it was that long. Rather than going into the reasons as to why so long, the more pertinent question is why come back?

Well, a couple of reasons I suppose. One very good reason is that since the last epistle, Trish and I have visited a number of wineries; both here and overseas. As such, there are many new wines that we have tasted and subsequently stocked up on.

That and I am constantly reminded of the great power of wine. Not only can it taste brilliant, but it also can provide a background for some enjoyable times which in turn create some great memories; all of which can be brought back to life with a single smell or taste.

The other main reason seems to be a collision of factors. I enjoy writing but lately it has been limited to snippets via Twitter. Which has been fine for the most part but I don’t know whether it is because there are some things that have been happening in the world which have caught my attention or whether my ‘whinging old man’ gene has kicked in as soon as I turned 40, but there are some instances where 140 characters is not enough to convey what I am thinking.

Thus to kick this little side project off again, I thought I would just touch on a number of topics that are top of mind at the moment; some may be explored in depth in future posts, others may be replaced by new things that get me to drag out my virtual soapbox again.

1. Quite a few years ago, nearly every IT vendor was proclaiming that access to the internet would be like water or electricity in that we would expect it to just be there. Just turn on your device and you are connected. I think we have reached that point; a point where having an infrastructure that can deliver that now and be able to accommodate growth in the future is so important. Then why isn’t the National Broadband Network treated as being such a key investment in our nation’s infrastructure rather than a political football to score short term points with…by both sides of the house?

2. There seems to be an ever increasing percentage of the driving population that has forgotten what those ruler length, cylindrical things that stick out either the right or left hand side of the steering wheel in their cars are for. For the record, they are indicators which set off a signal visible to other drivers when intending to turn or merge the vehicle. Please take the time to remind others to use them.

3. I remember from my studies that Australian history shows that typically (and I stress typically) when it comes to our economic health, Labor have had a history of running things into the ground and the Coalition look to rebuild. The key thing that no one mentioned was who looked after what I call the ‘social fabric’ of the country. More to the point, why isn’t it as important as our economic health?

There are some trends that are quietly and subtly happening which are disturbing to me. Some of these include proposed changes to Medicare so it is no longer the safety net for all, accusing the ABC to be “un-Australian” for having the audacity to criticise and question the Government and the fact that we are developing a track record of imposing our strong regional position on smaller neighbouring nations as part of our solution to the issue of people trafficking and those seeking asylum. Whatever your position is on any or all of these issues, they need to be discussed and debated far more than they are – not accepting the justification that they all fall under a supposed ‘mandate’ from the last election.

4. Growing up in Sydney, I have followed the game of rugby league since I was very young hence like a lot of people I know, we all have a lot of emotional investment in the game. Especially as the game looks to compete with other sports for not just that emotional investment but of course our financial one. So when will rugby league realise that you can’t look to build the game for the future while still thinking that it needs to stay in the 1980’s to survive? That and you have to have played the game at a high level to have a valid opinion about it?

5. Last night saw the end of the professional career of Harry Kewell; arguably Australia’s best football player. Certainly the best of my generation. I am the first to admit that I am not a football aficionado but whenever you spoke about how Australia and Australian players were progressing in the world game, Kewell’s name was just about the first that was mentioned. Like most of our significant sporting champions, Kewell first represented Australia at a young age – eighteen. From there, he had a stellar career not just with Australia but with Leeds United, Liverpool and Galatasaray. 

In my opinion, when we (we being the sporting nation) needed him and I mean really needed him, he delivered. Namely against Uruguay in 2005 and against Croatia in 2006. I am sure that true devotees of the game can name more examples for both club and country. To me, he has been one of the country’s greatest sportsmen, not just one of our greatest footballers. So why hasn’t his departure been given the same gravitas as a Steve Waugh, a Robert Harvey or a Darren Lockyer?

Something to ponder anyway…welcome back!