Happy Birthday Jon.M(54) 10.8.13

[nigelb]

Happy Birthday Jon!



Nigel²

[speedbird591]

Cheers, Jon. Happy birthday. I hope the wine did the trick

Ian

[Jon.M]

Thanks Guys,

Ian it was a Barolo which is a fine wine from Piemonte if you like robust reds. My wife is Piemontese and her father used to make wine. He made Barbera and Grignolino being from the province of Asti.

Jon

[speedbird591]

Ian it was a Barolo which is a fine wine from Piemonte if you like robust reds.

I used to, Jon. Back in my flying days, I'd done a couple of advanced wine and spirit courses and took a, er, 'professional' interest in sampling a wide and regular variety. Barolo was a favourite but it's a bit rich for me now as a quaffing wine. Lovely to drink with a meal. Thank you for reminding me of it - I'll put it on the shopping list and raise a belated glass to your birthday and to your father-in-law.

I don't know Italy having only stayed in Rome a few times. I've always loved the Italian flair for life and Italian food has always been my favourite. So I'm very jealous of you living there with your Italian family and history. The nearest I get to it is my Sicilian hairdresser

We've got a superb Italian restaurant in our town and I ate there last week. Next time I must check the wine list for a Barolo and build the meal around it!

Ian

[Jon.M]

For a lighter red from Piemonte I'm a fan of Dolcetto either from Asti or Ovada.

When I first met my future father in law over twenty years ago he opened one of his best wines to accompany lunch. Obviously I had to complement him on it and said "that's very nice, and you can tell it was made without preservatives".
I only got it slightly wrong. The Italian for preservatives is 'conservanti', the word I used 'preservativi' means condoms.

Jon

[paulsl]

Congratulations Jon. I passed the same milestone earlier this year. After a few medical dramas last year, for some reason I can't explain, the ancient Italian numerals popped into my head..... LIV.

Many happy returns, Paul

[speedbird591]

I thought I'd let you know, Jon, that I'm not a man of empty words - well not as far as wine is concerned! Look what I found in my shopping basket destined for Sunday lunch



This was the better of a choice of two. I'll be raising a glass to you, your birthday and your father-in-law on Sunday afternoon - so thanks for the inspiration.

In great anticipation,

Ian

[Jon.M]

Good stuff Ian. Not that I doubted you. 2009, it should mature now and DOCG ought to guarantee that it's the real McCoy.

My father in law Domenico died last December. He was one of the good guys, and given that he was condemned to death by both the fascist authorities in northern Italy and the German army still in residence in Asti in 1944 he didn't do so badly.



This is him wondering why I would want to take pictures of an old aircraft stuck on a pedestal. This was taken in Monale, Province of Asti close to where he lived. Mind you I've no idea why this small town has a Fiat G91 displayed outside it's school.
I've just got back from visiting my mother in law as yesterday was a bank holiday.

Enjoy the wine.

Jon