Thanks to modern technology we have been able, like many, to keep in touch using video calls with our daughter who lives just over 100 miles away in South Wales. It's been so lovely to be able to see and chat over the last few months as life here hit a strange path ... even stranger on 6th May when I fell in the garden and broke my right upper arm !
Life is different for everyone just now, both personally and professionally. I feel for us all, employees and employers but especially for the small businesses. Hubby and I have visited many vineyards, farm shops, and local producers who all make such great produce and rely on tourism, local markets and food fairs.
Earlier this week we received a surprise parcel from Philippa and Michael - a box of Welsh cheese from The Welsh Cheese Company. All the cheeses were from small producers highlighting the amazing variety available, such a great idea especially just now.
This was the first time we'd had a cheese delivery, to be honest we did not know about it at all, but what a super idea.
The Welsh Cheese Company was founded by Tom Pinder in 2017 when he decided to share his passion for cheese. The cheeses are from all regions of Wales, they came beautifully packed in a unique printed box detailing the various locations. The four cheeses were nestled in packaging from Woolcool made from sheep wool.... how amazing is that!
Hubby and I love all the cheeses; the four in our selection have such variety of flavour, super smokiness, soft cream, smooth blue and rich butterness - Perle Las has long been a favourite of mine so I was delighted it was in our box.
It was a super surprise gift, thank you Philippa and Michael.
Michael is responsible for the second highlight of the week ... rugby is my favourite sport, especially Welsh rugby but I have been a Leicester Tiger's fan for many years and since Wasps moved to the Midlands we have enjoyed many games at the Ricoh Stadium.
With my walking being up and down the garden path due to being at home, I have been listening to podcasts on my bluetooth headphones. I love Scrum V and have had to stop myself chuckling out loud when listening to the episodes from Dan Biggar, Jamie Roberts and Rhys Webb.
BBC Radio 5 Live have Rugby Union Weekly and to my amazement at the end of the 18th May edition my name was mentioned! Oh my goodness, a national shout out wishing me well as I recover.... the request was put forward by Michael ... what a super surprise!
The third highlight of the week was on Friday when Sumilier Tasting hosted a live chat with Laurent Paré. Laurent is the wine maker from Cellier des Dauphins, our favourite French wine producer. Hubby and I have visited this beautiful area of France so it was lovely to see Laurent in 30 degree blue skied Cotes du Rhone region.
The tasting included Cellier des Dauphins white, rosé and red Cotes du Rhone, their Villages red, Plan de Dieu and a new rosé Val Soléu.
I'm fascinated by all aspects of wine growing and during the live chat Laurent shared information about the soil, the climate, the geographical area, the cultivation of the grapes as well as the various picking methods. Laurent also gave some great history and insight about Cellier des Dauphins unique bottle shape. So much to learn, every grape, every vineyard, every wine different.
Thank you Sumi, Laurent and Cellier des Dauphins for a great hour learning more about rhe wondeful Cotes du Rhone.
Hubby and I have a few bottles of Cellier des Dauphins in our collection and after seeing France's blue sky we decided the best thing to do was to open a bottle of white .... cheers!
Our life continues with our staycation at home, we have no idea how long as once my arm is stable my chemotherapy and radiotherapy will start ... 2020 has certainly been a year of trials and tribulations, thank goodness for highlights ..... I wonder what this week brings!
