Friday 14 August, 2015 - pending emergency, London

[Glenn E.]

Less than 2 weeks to go! I'm very much looking forward to seeing everyone again, and hope that I don't fall asleep until after we're done! (Optimally after we've returned to our room in the hotel, also.)

[jdaw1]

Alex: what happened with Bangers?

[Glenn E.]

Assuming Davy's at Woolgate, here are food orders for Mr. and Mrs. Tawny:

Mr. Tawny:
no starter
Spicy Hot Burger, medium (pink preferred, but no red/blood)
side of creamed corn, chili and peppers

Mrs. Tawny:
no starter
Davy's Steak Burger, no tomato, medium (pink preferred, but no red/blood)
side of charbroiled broccoli with lemon, almonds, and chili

Dessert go/no go decision to be made at the restaurant.

[Alex Bridgeman]

We had better stick with Woolgate - work prevented me from having the chance to visit Bangers last week to inspect the facilities and speak with Ian Wright.

[idj123]

Please sir, can I possibly substitute the SW83 for a similar vintage as I find I've quaffed all bar one bottle of the aforementioned and would like to keep this back-I can offer up T83, D83 and RP83 as potential replacement(s)?

My other bottle was going to be a Quinta Santa Eufemia Old Reserve White but I'm conscious of Alex's line about ensuring that there was enough red stuff and so I could therefore bring two of the three 83s mentioned above if preferred. Thoughts please?

[idj123]

Doh-just noticed that RP83 is already coming

[jdaw1]

Same port, two sources: not disallowed for the reason you gave.

[Glenn E.]

Please sir, can I possibly substitute the SW83 for a similar vintage as I find I've quaffed all bar one bottle of the aforementioned and would like to keep this back-I can offer up T83, D83 and RP83 as potential replacement(s)?

Any would be perfectly acceptable. If asked to pick (I have not been), I would likely choose T83.

My other bottle was going to be a Quinta Santa Eufemia Old Reserve White but I'm conscious of Alex's line about ensuring that there was enough red stuff and so I could therefore bring two of the three 83s mentioned above if preferred. Thoughts please?

A quick check of the placemats says we're reasonably well-balanced if you bring 1 and 1. The Special Reserve White would be very nice!

Plus that would give us some golden sticky stuff to go with the brown sticky stuff and red sticky stuff.

[jdaw1]

Placemats updated.

Wolfgang: what will you be bringing?

[idj123]

Please sir, can I possibly substitute the SW83 for a similar vintage as I find I've quaffed all bar one bottle of the aforementioned and would like to keep this back-I can offer up T83, D83 and RP83 as potential replacement(s)?

Any would be perfectly acceptable. If asked to pick (I have not been), I would likely choose T83.

My other bottle was going to be a Quinta Santa Eufemia Old Reserve White but I'm conscious of Alex's line about ensuring that there was enough red stuff and so I could therefore bring two of the three 83s mentioned above if preferred. Thoughts please?

A quick check of the placemats says we're reasonably well-balanced if you bring 1 and 1. The Special Reserve White would be very nice!

Plus that would give us some golden sticky stuff to go with the brown sticky stuff and red sticky stuff.

Thanks Glenn- the T83 and the Old Reserve White it is then (as now reflected in the placemats). Menu choices to follow.

[WS1]

Placemats updated.

Wolfgang: what will you be bringing?

sorry should have added that ealier; ports will be Niepoort Garrefeira 1964 and a Warre 1972 Colheita Jubileum Port (Commemorative 40th anniversary botteling for Danish Royal family) from Rob who is on a cycling trip but still sending his regards to Glenn visiting London.

regards

WS1

[jdaw1]

Very kind of Rob: doff hat.

[jdaw1]

Thank you Wolfgang and Rob: placemats updated. As most of the Champagne should be saved for the women, I have defaced my Champagne circle. Others wishing likewise should say so.

Draft food order, selections being taken from the Davy’s Woolgate food menu for August 2015.

Food order updated; further updates needed.

[Glenn E.]

and a Warre 1972 Colheita Jubileum Port (Commemorative 40th anniversary botteling for Danish Royal family) from Rob who is on a cycling trip but still sending his regards to Glenn visiting London.

It appears that my ability to pick dates is even more rubbish than previously thought. Not only do I cause venues to need to be refurbished, but I also manage to drive Rob off on long cycling trips.

*sigh*

Thank you for the Warre, Rob. One of these trips we'll get to enjoy some bottles together! And thank you, Wolfgang, for the Garrafeira. The Port that even Dirk forgot they made!

Re: Champagne. I will taste from Mrs. Tawny's glass, so do not need one of my own.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Mrs B would like the Seafood Linguine (no starter, dessert chosen on the day if needed).

Mr B would like a sirloin steak, medium rare, with skinny fries and not triple cooked chips with a béarnaise sauce.

[jdaw1]

Draft food order, selections being taken from the Davy’s Woolgate food menu for August 2015.

Food order: still missing Ian, Laura, Wolfgang.

[idj123]

Starters-

Mr J- Welsh Rarebit
Mrs J- Buffalo Mozzarella et al

Mains

MrJ -Pave rump medium rare w triple cooked chips and bernaise sauce w side order of onion rings
Mrs J-Seafood Linguine

Desserts tbd on the night

[jdaw1]

Draft food order updated. Please could somebody check it.

Clare from Woolgate called to confirm, and it seems that we have the Brasserie (big room) rather than the Boardroom. Tables 5 × 2, so as usual one table each. The start of 5pm was confirmed. Clare is the manager, and will be on duty on Friday night.

[idj123]

Food order looks fine. I am also more than happy to step aside on the champagne in the circumstances. And echo JDAW-chapeau to Rob for his contribution!

[Glenn E.]

Draft food order updated. Please could somebody check it.

The food order that I see on that link appears very old. My order is not included, for example.

[Glenn E.]

Draft food order updated. Please could somebody check it.

The food order that I see on that link appears very old. My order is not included, for example.

Very strange. It now displays correctly.

Kari would like no tomato on her burger, otherwise all is well with our order.

[jdaw1]

Glenn: husbands with wives, or boys with boys and girls with girls?

Julian	—
MaryAnne	Ian
Kari	Laura
Glenn	Elizabeth
Wolfgang	Alex

Julian	—
Glenn	Ian
Wolfgang	Alex
Kari	Laura
MaryAnne	Elizabeth

[Glenn E.]

I'd say mixed so that there's some chance that we'll actually talk about things other than Port and cricket.

[jdaw1]

talk about things other than Port and cricket.

Sure, fine idea.

But, err, what else is there?

[Alex Bridgeman]

talk about things other than Port and cricket.

Sure, fine idea.

But, err, what else is there?

Ooh goody. Can we talk about monetary policy and the UK inflation target? Or perhaps about US / UK / EU exchange rates? Or electoral systems and the benefits of first past the post compared to STV or proportional representation <<shudder>>?

At my Quinquagenary we sat wives between husband and another wife. This seemed to work well as it gave the wives the chance to talk to someone they know but also to find sympathy and understanding from another with their plight of having a port loving husband. But then we also challenged the wives with a blind (Champagne) tasting so they had their own wine-related discussions to have.

[Glenn E.]

How about monetary policy as it relates to the economics within massively multiplayer online games?

Or the social dynamics of "clans" in online games and how they can be manipulated by the game publisher using online events?

How best to straddle the line between "free to play" and "pay to win" games?

?

*crickets*

Hello? Anyone there?

[djewesbury]

Wow, I'm sorry to miss this dinner, some of those sound like my students' dissertations!

[Glenn E.]

On a (slightly) more serious note, I have a request:

Would someone be willing to receive a package that Kari would like to order from Amazon.co.uk and bring it to the tasting? If so, please PM me your shipping address so that Kari can place the order. Assuming our Amazon Prime will work to get 2-day shipping within the UK, it should arrive in plenty of time.

(I don't know what she wants to order at this late date, but she says it is small and easily portable.)

[WS1]

Draft food order, selections being taken from the Davy’s Woolgate food menu for August 2015.

Food order: still missing Ian, Laura, Wolfgang.

Apologies, Chopped Davy’s sausages with honey mustard glaze fors starters and a Davy’s cheese & bacon burger
Ogleshield cheese and streaky bacon with skinny fries and ketchup for mains; dessert decision will be made on the day

regards

WS1

[jdaw1]

Amazon US Prime doesn’t work in the UK. Send me ASIN and my wife will order it.

Address coming anyway.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I've just remembered - am I providing the bottle for Glenn to adopt?

[Glenn E.]

I've just remembered - am I providing the bottle for Glenn to adopt?

Yes, for which I am providing a QH11 and a surprise bottle in exchange.

[Glenn E.]

The Mourao 60-yr old was hand bottled. It uses a t-stopper in a plain brown Port bottle. There is no label and no capsule, just a simple "60" in white ink near the bottom of the bottle on what I now designate as the "front" since there are no other markings.

Should extra precautions be taken to ensure that the t-stopper remains in the bottle during the long flight to London? If so, what sort of precautions?

[djewesbury]

Elephant tape should do it, no? Or Gaffer tape?

[jdaw1]

There is writing on that subject somewhere on TPF. Perhaps search for "clingfilm" (but not from Tapatalk).

[Glenn E.]

Elephant tape should do it, no? Or Gaffer tape?

I was thinking duct tape. Perhaps even Duck Brand duct tape.

The bottles made it home safely, but that was in a special-purpose wine suitcase. I'm not worried so much about leaking as I am the pressure causing the t-stopper to pop out. My Wine Cruzer does a great job of holding everything down so that wasn't a concern on the way home to Seattle.

[Alex Bridgeman]

When I transport precious bottles, I do the following:
(1) if label is fragile, I wrap the bottle in cling film
(2) put bottle into heavy duty plastic bag and tie bag to form a water-tight seal (in case of minor leaks)
(3) wrap packing tape vertically over the bottle under a lot of tension so the tape goes from the base, over the cork and back down to the base
(4) rotate the bottle 90 degrees and repeat
(5) wrap packing tape tightly around the neck of the bottle

It's a right royal pain to unwrap, but it means that the t-stopper / cork is held in place very firmly and if it does come out very little liquid is lost as most of it is trapped in the tiny space between the top of the tape around the neck of the bottle and the bag.

[jdaw1]

As the Wisemans hope to arrive about 4¾pm, I’ll print and bring the placemats.

Note to self: • printouts; • decanter labels; • bottles; • KEK’s Amazon delivery, delivery of which to be re-attempted on Thursday.

[Glenn E.]

This is allegedly the Port list on our ship.

Hopefully Julian is sitting down when he reads it.

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[jdaw1]

This is allegedly the Port list on our ship.

Ship? Ship!

I believe not a digit of it. Unless per measly glass.

[jdaw1]

Some links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 2000 Bollinger Grand Année Champagne;
• Quinta Santa Eufêmia Old Reserve White;
• Sandeman Cask 33;
• Quinta do Mourão 60Y tawny;
• Warre 1972 colheita;
• Niepoort 1964 Garrefeira;
• Graham 1983;
• Taylor 1983;
• Ramos Pinto 1983;
• Warre 1982 LBV;
• Warre 1984 LBV;
• Placemats (and parameters by which made);
• Food order;
• Planning and arrangements.

[jdaw1]

How about monetary policy as it relates to the economics within massively multiplayer online games?

Please come with a Doty-Cup style talk on this. It could be very interesting.

[jdaw1]

When would it be best for me to double-decant the Ramos Pinto 1983, the Warre 1982 LBV, and the Warre 1984 LBV?

[Glenn E.]

How about monetary policy as it relates to the economics within massively multiplayer online games?

Please come with a Doty-Cup style talk on this. It could be very interesting.

Having never attended a Doty Cup, I am unfamiliar with the format. Explain, please?

[Alex Bridgeman]

When would it be best for me to double-decant the Ramos Pinto 1983, the Warre 1982 LBV, and the Warre 1984 LBV?

I suggest 8-12 hours ahead of 6pm.

[Alex Bridgeman]

My three bottles are now stood up and waiting to be carried to London. Decanting of the G83 will occur late tonight.

Unfortunately I won't be able to bring the fancy box with me for Glenn to see. Not enough carrying capacity. Hey ho.

Are the Woolgate team warned to expect pre-deliveries?

[jdaw1]

Having never attended a Doty Cup, I am unfamiliar with the format. Explain, please?

A five-minute talk about something, to enliven and entertain those present.

[Alex Bridgeman]

If it's not too late, please could I request that the tasting mats for me and Mrs B are amended so that my Champagne glass is crossed out and faded and all of Mrs B's port glasses are crossed out and faded. I will share her Champagne and she will no doubt take her customary "just two sips" from each of my port glasses.

Thanks.

[jdaw1]

If it's not too late, please could I request that the tasting mats for me and Mrs B are amended so that my Champagne glass is crossed out and faded and all of Mrs B's port glasses are crossed out and faded. I will share her Champagne and she will no doubt take her customary "just two sips" from each of my port glasses.

Done.

This is done using the new parameter GlassesCirclesFadingFactor (on which depends the other new parameter GlassesCrossedOut), about which discussion has been started in the software thread.

[Glenn E.]

About to board, see you all in ~14 hours!