Fellow Wine Lovers,
As he sat on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport one evening, he knew what was expected of him. His new employers had committed a huge sum over the next few years – for the benefits of his services.
But it wasn’t just his skills that made him such a valuable commodity. He and his wife were among the world’s most recognisable faces.
Back home in the UK, they were by far the country’s biggest celebrities. The Daily Mirror proclaimed that he was on a “one-man mission” to be a “success in a country where others had failed”.
So expectations were high.
And, as the couple emerged from the plane at Los Angeles airport, they were swamped by photographers and news crews in a scene more in keeping with red-carpet showbusiness than the arrival of a ….
What do you think, pretty good opening lines?
When Jilly Cooper said she was happy to ghost write his memoirs, Harry couldn’t resist such a tantalising offer. With an oeuvre containing cleverly named masterpieces including Riders, Rivals, Polo, The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous, Appassionata, Pandora, Wicked!, Jump! and, of course, Mount!, Jilly’s texts had become must reads for any Etonian growing up south of Tetbury and the thrill of adding Harry! to this list felt AT LAST like an acknowledgement of his success…. funny that he didn’t mention it to Oprah!
Actually, this is an edited excerpt from David and Victoria Beckham: Was America won over? By Jon Kelly, BBC News Magazine, Washington DC, on 2nd December 2012. You’ve got to say, there are similarities, a young couple trying to ‘break America’ and achieve similar levels of fame that they have this side of the pond, although I don’t imagine Harry & Meghan sat on gold thrones on their wedding day!
And people, that’s all we will ever have to say in relation to the Oprah interview.
This Sunday we celebrate the fourth Sunday in Lent or Mothering Sunday as we more commonly know it. A celebration of the church where you were baptised, including a visit ideally, but also, thanks to the efforts of Anna Maria Jarvis in the early 20th century, a celebration of all Mother’s.
Anna Maria lived to hate her successful commemoration to Mother’s and as it became more and more commercialised she even tried to have it cancelled. In 1948 she died disenchanted in a sanatorium, with all her medical bills having been paid for by people from the floral and greeting card industries!
So, with that in mind, anyone want to buy some wine for their Mum?!
As it’s a celebration it really ought to be bubbles we reckon, so why don’t I give you a quick list of Champagne that we have in stock:
Non Vintage
Lété-Vautrain Brut 204 – £30.00
Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut – £36.99
Tarlant Brut Nature – £45.00
Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut NV – £48.00
Rosé
Delavenne Père et Fils Grand Cru Brut – £45.00
Vintage
Lété-Vautrain Grand Millesime 2012 – £35.00
Collet Brut 2008 – £50.00
Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale 2008 – £70.00
Bollinger La Grande Année 2012 – £112.00
Billecart Salmon Cuvée Nicolas-Francois 2002 – £150.00
Or you could buy her some nice soap….
That really rounds off our week, no mention of sport, largely because it’s just too painful to talk about. Saying that, we welcome the return of one of 2020’s finest super-spreader events next week as the Cheltenham Festival starts on Tuesday – no tips from us this year which is frankly good news for all of you given our previous form but do be on the lookout for Guinness on discount as there must be an oversupply somewhere, given the amount that is usually consumed… there you go, that’s our sort of tip!
And we leave you with a reminder that, for now, Piers Morgan is not on morning telly – happy days!