2010 vendage report

Well, the 2010 vendage (grape harvest) is drawing to a close so I thought you might all like an update on this year's vintage potential. They normally start picking in early September but the vendage is a few weeks late this year as all of the grapes, despite being fully ripe, were very small due to the fact that we had had no rain for the previous six weeks or so. So the harvest was held back hoping we would get some rain to plump up the grapes - we did (a bit ) and they did (a bit!).



Now those of you who remember last year's blog on my attempt at a one dog vendage will realise that I am somewhat partial to the odd grape. Personally I see no harm at all in consuming the occassional bunch but it appears that that grapes, or, to be more specific, the pips in them, are toxic to us dogs. This has resulted in a blanket ban being imposed on my grape consumption.



When the verbal instructions went unheeded I found myself suddenly enclosed (whilst in the vineyards) in a Hannibal Lecter style mask which physically prevents me eating them. I admit that if I eat too many I get a bit sick, but I find it a bit degrading and unfair.



After all, the famous bottle stuff that all the humans love comes, I understand, from grapes, and yet I never see any of them with such unpleasant appendages on, and plenty of them get sick after too much of that. Actually, come to think of it, I think I did once see one being worn in a darkened bedroom, but that was a different story!

However, I digress from my report. The grapes actually harvested this year never did get fully up to normal size but are very sweet. The resulting 2010 wine should therefore, according to my vigneron friend Francois, be of very good quality but with less of it being produced, so therefore a bit more expensive. So some good news and some bad news for all you fans of the bottle stuff.

As for me, I will just be glad when it is all over and all the grapes have been picked. Then I can get back to running around the vines unincumbered by that horrible contraption on my head. I might even find the odd grape or two that the pickers missed!

Uncle Django!

I'm soooooo excited!!!!!



When I was born I had four brothers and a sister but since leaving Bouisse I am afraid I have rather lost touch with them. However, due to the wonders of the internet, my mum has just found out that on Sunday my lovely sister, Dedicas, gave birth to her first litter of pups and that I am now the proud uncle to three nephews and two nieces. Just imagine that. Me - an uncle.



Oh, and I think I forgot to mention that dad, mum, and I now go off to the pub one afternoon each week for a bit of "family bonding". Mum and dad have a couple of beers and the landlord brings me my own special bowl of "eau de Couiza" to which I am quite partial.

The Great Fire of Montazels

Now I would be the first to admit that normally the contents of my blogs, whilst amusing, entertaining, and informative, are never normally newsworthy in a national sense. That cannot be said about this one, so standby for some serious journalism.

It all started about 3 in the afternoon when dad and I were cleaning the pool. All of a sudden sirens from all the surrounding fire stations were sounding. We guessed a big accident or something but then mum came round to say that there was some serious smoke appearing from over the hill. As we watched, the sound of lots of fire engines could be heard tearing off to somewhere.



I think we realised the situation was somewhat serious when two fire fighting planes appeared and started making passes over the smoke. Curiosity got the better of us so we all piled in the car and drove up the dirt road towards Antugnac, in the general direction of the smoke. There were already a number of cars and voyeurs up there and we soon saw that there was a major bush/forest fire developing on the large hill opposite. Some 12 or so special fire appliances used for forest fires were already there and a mobile command post had been set up.


As we watched the fires grew at an amazing speed fanned by the increasing wind. In addition to sweeping up the hill, the fires were also being driven towards the actual village of Montazels. Still more fire fighting planes appeared with seven aircraft taking it in turns to dump their loads of fire retardant chemicals and water on the worst of the fires. I even did my bit by peeing on everything in sight! Another plane constantly circled over the area, presumably relaying info on the fires’ spread to control. A fire service helicopter joined in, and the skies above our house were busier than Farnborough during the flying displays (or so dad said).



With the fire now heading dangerously in the direction of Montazels, some of the appliances were despatched to protect properties in the path of the fire and some of the planes dropped their loads between the fires and the properties. My good friends, Uncle Martin and Aunty Val, were told to pack some things and be prepared to be evacuated if necessary. Fortunately the wind changed a bit so this was not necessary, but then the fires were heading towards Domaine St Jaques, the winery owned by my good mates Daniel and Francois.



The next morning dad and I had our usual promenade up amongst the vineyards to find only small areas still smoking. Being nosey, we took a drive down to St Jaques to find that the fire had come right down the hill to within about 300m. No wonder the planes were focussing hard on that point towards the end of the day.

At the end of it all, despite being one of the biggest fires in the region this year, nobody was injured and no major properties were damaged. Our thanks go out to the more than 100 pompiers (firemen) and the brave pilots for their sterling efforts in thwarting what could have been a serious situation for our area.

Phew – this journalistic work fair knackers one so I’m off for my usual well earned kip. Speak to you all again soon.