We had a grand wine tasting Thursday past, it was sort of last minute so there were just a few of us there which actually worked for me as I hadn't given one for a while; a little less pressure and easier to adapt to the audience.

We ran through the house wines after a little lesson on how to taste ie. colour, nose, palate.  I was impressed how quickly every one picked it up.  A lot is about confidence; folk think wine is hard but it's like most things in life, once you have a basic understanding of the principles it all becomes so much easier.  I was a little disrupted because I had Martin and Gay Irons of Martins Restaurant fame in Ducks.  It was Martin's father's 90 birthday, a real treat to have them.

I was very pleased how well all the wines showed.  It's something we should maybe do a little more often.  Of the whites the South African Chenin Blanc, Cannon from the Vondeling Vineyards showed best; clean, crisp and very refreshing with great mouth feel.  The Sauvignon Blanc came last, funny because it is probably the most popular one we do by the glass.  No one knew the grape types before tasting which does allow for much more objective decision making.  Of the reds the Rioja and the Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon did well but again the Cannon Merlot from Vondeling took top place.  The Inkspot Pinotage from Cloof, South Africa, again our best seller over the bar, came last; good wine but big alcohol in comparison to the others.  Very interesting.  We also tasted three Spanish low alcohol (11%) wines from Plot Twenty Two.  The white and rose were fine but the red as you might expect lacked a little bite.  Good for drivers on a summer's day though.  We also tasted a bottle of 88 Marques De Murrietta.  Every one thought it was off when they saw it, very golden or brown golden.  It was just magnificent!!! Rich, honeyed, long on the palate; an absolute joy.  Only two bottles left!

We will be doing another tasting at the end of the month probably Thursday the 24th and a food and wine matching dinner as well probably on Friday the 25th.  If you want to come drop me an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Details will be posted on the web site.

Saturday saw a round on Gullane Two as part of Colin Sinclair's annual "The Gathering" which raised £1000 pounds for "Funding Neuro" http://www.justgiving.com/biggavs50th in aid of Parkinsons.  Well done Colin and Gavin who has just been up Kilimanjaro for the charity.  I then was very bad and scived off for the early part of the evening, well till 00.30, and attended the British Rugby Club of Paris (Scottish Section) Dinner as a guest of John Frame.  An excellent evening.  Thank you John.  I should have gone to bed when I got back but it was the Aberlady Golf Club's Burns Night so I ended up in bed a little late/ early; missed the tennis the next day!  Heyho!  Sunday was a little slow.

Back to the office this morning and greeted with a call from the Scotland on Sunday picture desk.  Mr Bath seems to have managed to sneak in with out me seeing him and reviewed Ducks. It is supposed to be in SOS on Sunday, hope he liked it.

Watch out for our Valentines deals which will be posted in the next couple of days.

Dinner this evening with Wife (Fiona) and the Ducklings (Michele and Og); Haggis Neeps and Tatties the address to the haggis by Duck and a can of iron bru..what better!  It would be wrong not to write something on the Bard's birthday!

I hope Mr A Minto and D Scott are representing Scotland's Golf Coast (East Lothian) well at the Golf Show in Orlando this evening.  I am sure Mr Haggis will be well addressed.  A couple of years ago I was with them and did the address in a restaurant for some journalists.  At the "See rustic Labour dight" I threw the small knife over my shoulder as I had a much lager one concealed about me.  It hit a guy on the table behind! Opps!  On I sailed and after apologised, I gave him a golf swing lesson using the knife as a club.  I wonder what I would have done if I had been the owner.  Remarkable how healing whisky can be!

Friday past and the impossible did happen, Tripadviser called ME, remarkable!  A very pleasant and helpful lady called in response to my e-mails and ansa machine messages, I have never heard of them calling an operator. Full marks to them! A busy day finished off with a wonderful dinner in Ducks.  Ducks by the way is back to NO1 in Tripadvisers list of restaurants in East Lothian.

Every year a very nice gentleman takes a weeks fishing in Ayrshire on a couple of wee trout lochans.  He invites friends and folk he considers might add spice to evening debate.  The accommodation is very basic and all the better for it; no electricity etc but an abundance of midges.  The entrance acts as as something of an air, or midge lock, imperative it is used correctly!  The day is spent in a small boat with a pal or two a bottle of whisky and oh, a rod.  Lunch is had on the island.  The evening is spent in the bothy with a fine dinner and excellent conversation fuelled by even more excellent wine.  Bed arrives at various stages of the next day whilst breakfast consists of yesterdays catch and champagne for those not being swapped out.  A unique occasion if lucky enough to be asked.  After twenty odd years or so it was time the recipients of such favour took himself and his good lady out for dinner.

Five couples gathered on Friday past and had an excellent occasion in Ducks restaurant.  Like the bothy there was fine food wine and conversation.  I think the girls left understanding a little of the boys Ayrshire endeavours.  A fine bottle of whisky meant a very early morning for some!  Great folk, great fun.  A very interesting discussion about post traumatic stress with the good doctor.

A busy evening in Ducks on Saturday, the new room really is working, some great comments about food, service and ambiance.  Good to see new and old friends.  Folk also seem to be enjoying the new Donald's layout.

Sunday a great round of golf at Renaissance which went to the final putt on the 18th, the course was in quite marvellous condition and the weather, though windy, was terrific.  Then back to check in at the ranch where the majority of customers were still munching after their various perambulations around East Lothian.  A happy bunch!

So on the Birth Day of the Bard!  What is Mr Slippery Salmond up to?  Very Scottish though I am, I fear he is going to provoke a lot of English hatred towards us.  I am Scottish enough to have sworn my allegiance to ER rather than to ERII when accepting my Commission in the Royal Marines.  I don't think separation is a good idea at all but to bounced into it in this economic climate is lunacy.  I don't feel much support for it in my travels.  Methinks the SNP got the vote they did simply because there wasn't any one else to vote for.  Any way perhaps the subject for a longer piece, perhaps not. 

Every best wish to Andy Murray in his semi final at 8.30am Friday morning; here's hoping!

The best of the Bard

Ae Fond Kiss, and then we sever;    I hope not!