…isn’t all that bad – a couple of pounds, mostly of home-made stuffing. It’s been wonderfully snowy in Saddleworth which has meant that I haven’t been out each evening at all those parties that get squeezed into the Festive Fortnight. Shame on the social front, but good on the waistline. Also gives me the chance to open some decent bottles, most surprising of which has been the 200 Clos d’Yvigne Bergarac red – there are St Emilions at squillions times the price that lack the charm, complexity and drinkability of this lithe beauty. Back to cooking – have one of Alex’s picky friends here for a meal, and I’ve never seen him eating anything that isn’t based on either dough or sugar. Am trying to tempt him with roast chicken, but I ‘m not holding out much hope. On the video front, normal service will resume when I’ve shaken off the Yuletide torpor – in fact, watch out for some new developments on the vid front…

Off to do some basting now, and then open 1996 Ridge Santa Cruz Cabernet – had a Geyserville of the same vintage recently and it was a belter.