I have always intended to learn Spanish but somehow failed to get round to it in the past. So, because I am totally rushed off my feet with work and therefore won't have time to fret about whether I'm doing well at the language or not, I decided to begin.
I spent literally five minutes on an internet lesson, and armed with that scant knowledge, proceeded directly to a Spanish conversation practice. Glass of wine in hand, I regaled the class with my entire knowledge of the Spanish language which mostly comprised of ordering glasses of cava and thanking the person for the said glass of cava. ;)
The evening turned out to be rather a surprise for all concerned. Not least for the lady who runs it, as we discovered we had met previously, when she bought signed copies of my books at an event.
The rest of the group were equally friendly and I enjoyed my first session and even came away with several new phrases and words. For example I can now say in Spanish, "I'm sorry, I'm Scottish and my Spanish is really bad, can you speak very slowly as if to an idiot, please?"
I'm not sure if I was apologising for being Scottish or for being bad at Spanish, or for being an idiot - either way I imagine I'll get a lot of use out of that handy phrase.
So for now - Hasta Manana!
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Thursday, 31 May 2018
Monday, 20 April 2015
Micro me!
I have been meaning to tell you about this for some time, but until now I haven't managed to get around to it.
I have been making my own wine. Now before you get all impressed about me, let me tell you the reality of it. It's like balsamic vinegar mixed with battery acid - yes it really is that awful. I have made two batches so far, one pink and one white and both are as awful as each other. What this has achieved however, is a growing admiration for the people who really can make attractive, tasty beverages which are actually fit for human consumption.
And so on to this blog post. I have 'discovered' a little gem in Bromsgrove. It's a micro pub and to be truthful it is the weirdest place I have ever had a drink in. The tables are fashioned from beer barrels and the high seating was once a shelf I think [my legs dangle rather a lot from this lofty position] but there is an undeniable charm to the place.
Part of it is its simplicity I think. The ale is good [I am reliably informed] and there is a reasonable wine on sale. There is no menu and no food available other than pork pie and/or crisps and there is only one toilet. In short, it's like pubs used to be before they became all Formica and flat screen TVs.
But what it lacks in amenities, it makes up for in so many other ways. There is no loud raucous jingly-jangly music that makes you want to cut your ears off rather than listen to its foul-mouthed exhortations to 'give it to yo' woman, like she is yo' dawg' [ok I made that lyric up, but honestly it's not far off...]
Instead there is a hum of quiet, friendly conversation, punctuated every so often with easy laughter. Because that's the thing about this place - strangers talk to one another. And in this day and age where we are all so afraid to pass the time of day with each other, lest we are chatting to a suicide bomber or a rapist, it makes a pleasant change.
So give it a try why don't you? Sometimes to go forward we have to take a small step backwards. http://www.bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/2013/10/17/news-Bromsgrove-new-micro-pub-gets-campaign-for-real-ale-visit-87179.html
Carmen.
I have been making my own wine. Now before you get all impressed about me, let me tell you the reality of it. It's like balsamic vinegar mixed with battery acid - yes it really is that awful. I have made two batches so far, one pink and one white and both are as awful as each other. What this has achieved however, is a growing admiration for the people who really can make attractive, tasty beverages which are actually fit for human consumption.
And so on to this blog post. I have 'discovered' a little gem in Bromsgrove. It's a micro pub and to be truthful it is the weirdest place I have ever had a drink in. The tables are fashioned from beer barrels and the high seating was once a shelf I think [my legs dangle rather a lot from this lofty position] but there is an undeniable charm to the place.
Part of it is its simplicity I think. The ale is good [I am reliably informed] and there is a reasonable wine on sale. There is no menu and no food available other than pork pie and/or crisps and there is only one toilet. In short, it's like pubs used to be before they became all Formica and flat screen TVs.
But what it lacks in amenities, it makes up for in so many other ways. There is no loud raucous jingly-jangly music that makes you want to cut your ears off rather than listen to its foul-mouthed exhortations to 'give it to yo' woman, like she is yo' dawg' [ok I made that lyric up, but honestly it's not far off...]
Instead there is a hum of quiet, friendly conversation, punctuated every so often with easy laughter. Because that's the thing about this place - strangers talk to one another. And in this day and age where we are all so afraid to pass the time of day with each other, lest we are chatting to a suicide bomber or a rapist, it makes a pleasant change.
So give it a try why don't you? Sometimes to go forward we have to take a small step backwards. http://www.bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/2013/10/17/news-Bromsgrove-new-micro-pub-gets-campaign-for-real-ale-visit-87179.html
Carmen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)