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AHB and DRT found themselves caught up in an emergency in Central London at 16:00 today. We decided that the best course of action was to hide ourselves in the basement of Davy's Woolgate Exchange with a bottle of Churchill 1994 and a bottle of Offley 1977.

An old friend turned up to help with the decanting...




More to follow.

This is so selfless of you both. Especially since you can't join us on the 23rd, what with having to wash your hair, do the shopping, and drink vials of nectar in private gardens.

Taking one for the team is in my blood. It comes from my Para training.

I disagree that this was an emergency. This was about undertaking due diligence to ensure that Phil and Glenn be properly looked after in a couple of weeks.

I am extremely pleased to say that we were well and truly welcomed. A fresh bottle of Churchill 1994 was opened for us to drink by the glass - and then converted into a purchase of the bottle when we had drunk 4 glasses. When we wanted something to eat we were offered the evening bar menu (Woolgate is not an evening restaurant). Disappointment expressed at the lack of steaks elicited an offer for us to eat from the lunch menu - which is the same as the Bunghole evening menu we are used to.

I then observed that my partial deafness was making it very difficult for me to hold a conversation with Derek in the crowded and noisy area by the bar. We were promptly offered the chance to be the only guests to sit in the dining area that is not used in the evenings.

And so we can report that we have been looked after splendidly in our quest to ensure that Phil and Glenn will be made welcome when they visit in 2 weeks time.

Jo and Bea, if you read this then thank you for looking after us so well.

Bea has just told us that she will be at the Woolgate Exchange on the 23rd as Jo has asked her if she can work that evening to ensure there is someone on the team who knows the quirks and foibles of the port forum. How thoughtful is that?

DRT wrote:Taking one for the team is in my blood. It comes from my Para training.

Enough already about your Para training. I believe you lasted about 72 hours. I thought there was a code of honour where you don't go on about your Para training?
(I have a friend who was in the Paras (NI, Bosnia, Iraq 1); now he goes down to south Armagh and does Peace & Reconciliation work with the people who shot down his helicopter; should I tell him that you'd like a refresher course?)

I have been in a similar mission near Guildhall this evening. Para training is like riding a bike. Once trained, never forgotten.

It's my SAS stuff I can't talk about. And won't, no matter how much you ask.

DRT wrote:It's my SAS stuff I can't talk about.

There's a reason for that. A very good reason.

djewesbury wrote:

DRT wrote:It's my SAS stuff I can't talk about.

There's a reason for that. A very good reason.

Hush. No more dangerous talk here please. I'm going to disappear into the undergrowth, no one will know I was here.

DRT wrote:

djewesbury wrote:

DRT wrote:It's my SAS stuff I can't talk about.

There's a reason for that. A very good reason.

Hush. No more dangerous talk here please. I'm going to disappear into the undergrowth, no one will know I was here.

(Rachel's comment: "Disappear into the undergrowth? That I believe.")

DRT wrote:

djewesbury wrote:

DRT wrote:It's my SAS stuff I can't talk about.

There's a reason for that. A very good reason.

Hush. No more dangerous talk here please. I'm going to disappear into the undergrowth, no one will know I was here.

What? Who said that?

I could have sworn there was someone with me drinking some of the Offley '77 and Churchill '94.

Huh. Must have been my imagination.

Not fair using Rachel's rapier wit against a man with only 72 hours training

djewesbury wrote:

DRT wrote:Taking one for the team is in my blood. It comes from my Para training.

Enough already about your Para training.

It's simple, really. Derek meant to say "Port" but his computer auto-corrected it to "Para" instead.

AHB wrote:And so we can report that we have been looked after splendidly in our quest to ensure that Phil and Glenn will be made welcome when they visit in 2 weeks time.

Jo and Bea, if you read this then thank you for looking after us so well.

Excellent reconnoiter. Looking forward to meeting Jo and/or Bea on the 23rd.

Glenn E. wrote:

djewesbury wrote:

DRT wrote:Taking one for the team is in my blood. It comes from my Para training.

Enough already about your Para training.

It's simple, really. Derek meant to say "Port" but his computer auto-corrected it to "Para" instead.

{disappears into the undergrowth, confirm position uncompromised}

More photographs please.

Here's one of DRT... I swear he was here a moment ago...

AHB wrote:And so we can report that we have been looked after splendidly in our quest to ensure that Phil and Glenn will be made welcome when they visit in 2 weeks time.

Jo and Bea, if you read this then thank you for looking after us so well.

AHB wrote:Bea has just told us that she will be at the Woolgate Exchange on the 23rd as Jo has asked her if she can work that evening to ensure there is someone on the team who knows the quirks and foibles of the port forum. How thoughtful is that?

Sounds like excellent service, and bodes very well for the 23rd.

Will you post a TN of the 1994 Churchill and the 1977 Offley?

AW77 wrote:Will you post a TN of the 1994 Churchill and the 1977 Offley?

AHB will post real TNs. Possibly by Christmas.

The Ch94 was very pleasant. Easy drinking for a 94 - not too tannic or unapproachable like some are at the moment. Not a blockbuster, but good quality for the price.

The OBV77 was lovely, mature VP. Again, not a blockbuster, just good honest stuff that would probably have benefited greatly from a decant time of more than 30 seconds.

Links to the tasting notes on 1994 Churchill and 1977 Offley.