Wine Appreciation Group
When a recipe says “add wine” never ask “to what”?
It has been a difficult year for wine tasting. Our last meeting before lockdown was at Barry & Lesley Hackshall’s home in June.
But things are looking up! We can now meet again and I have organised a get together for the group on 12th
December to plan for next year.
It is most encouraging that all existing members of the Group, plus a couple of extras, want to continue in the new year…
The festive season is a good time to expand your wine experience. Why not try a Sparkling Shiraz with rich Christmas fare. Works a treat!
Wishing you all a Happy and safe Christmas and I look forward to your company in 2022.
Mike Staniland
Wine Quotes:
- “A woman drove me to drink and I didn’t even have the decency to thank her” – W.C. Fields
- “Age is just a number. It’s totally irrelevant unless, of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine” – Joan Collins
- “Men are like a fine wine. They all start out like grapes, and it’s our job to stomp on them and keep them in the dark until they mature into something you’d like to have dinner with” – Jill Shalvis
- “Wine offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than possibly any other purely sensory thing which may be purchased” – Ernest Hemingway
- “I’m like old wine. They don’t bring me out very often, but I’m well preserved” – Rose Kennedy
- “Men are like wine – some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age” – Pope John XXIII
- “When it came to writing about wine, I did what almost everybody does – faked it” – Art Buchwald
- “Work is the curse of the drinking classes” – Oscar Wilde
Movie Group
MOVIE OUTING:
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Where: Warriewood cinema
When: Tuesday 19th March
Time: 12:30 pm
Hastings Pawsey’s review of The Great Escaper
Every so often, one sees a movie that stands out as exceptional. On Tuesday 19th March, Liz and I, with about 20 other Probians, ventured to Warriewood to see “The Great Escaper”. I’d not heard of it and knew nothing about it, except it had the aging Michael Caine in it. Liz said something about it, being about old people. This fits us, and I’ve always enjoyed Michael Caine. So, in we went with zero expectations.
After almost 2 hours, we joined everyone in the foyer with the usual questions, “did you enjoy it”, “what did you think”, “I thought it was going to be a comedy”, etc. Yes, of course, there was a wide-ranging set of answers. I was asked whether I liked it, but you’ll have to read the end of my review to hear my answer.
Why do we want to go to the movies? Some go to leave the humdrum of their routine life, others to see their favourite actors perform, some to learn about aspects well outside their lives, some for the scenery, etc., etc. I’m quite clear about my reason. I enjoy being consumed and brought within the movie’s story and circumstances, both visual and audio.
To me, an excellent film simply draws me into and behind the physical boundaries of the screen, such that I’m no longer in a theatre looking at a flat screen (yes large) but completely involved with the people acting and revealing the joys and hates of their everyday lives – though sometimes extremely complex.
So how did the film move me. Being an English/French collaboration, I assumed the talking would be like everyday life. Not a series of continual rapid-fire conversations, with hardly time to take in what was said and with no time to contemplate the feeling of the characters – (am I simplifying many American films and their shows generally).
With some of the French sophistication and the raw humour of the English, there were a great variety of fast moving, slow and very poignant moments. The scenery was beautifully varied, such that the moment, its complexity and the sky shots, melted into a seamless sense of feeling and often high emotion. For me, I’d left my seat in the theatre and was living their lives through the sadness, happiness and uncertainty as to what would happen next.
The story was relatively simple, but one was never sure what the next scene, or talking would have on the story. We were constantly thinking (and guessing) what was going to happen next, and were often wrong. I must admit that I’ve not watched any film with so many periods of having damp eyes. Yes, I know that I’m emotional, but this film totally proved it for me.
So did I like it ? But before answering it – what does ‘like’ mean ? A reputable dictionary says it means “- to feel attraction toward or take pleasure in : ENJOY”.
I was completely drawn into their emotional lives. I experienced fear, sadness and some great humour. I saw some wonderful cinematography and very cleaver words and wonderful silences.
So did I enjoy the film – NO. But I was so impressed with the concept and its total execution. Therefore, I was enormously pleased to have witnessed it. As a film package it was one of the most impressive, I’ve ever seen. If I could, I would have given it 15 out of 10.
But what did you think of it ? Don’t give a simple quick response, but think deeply about it. I know there’ll be a wide range of ideas. The above is just the way I saw it.
I look forward to Gloria’s next film choice.
Hastings Pawsey
Any questions phone Gloria Attwooll. Let me know if you see any movies that look interesting.