Glasses

Backblipped ... better large on black background.

I had an official birthday today, as I will be at choir practice on my real one. The weather was awful, but after breakfast in bed to the sound of my new Cecile McLorin Salvant CD, we braved the rain to go to les Halles in Narbonne. After a bit of essential shopping (steak, foie gras, that kind of thing ...) we sat down at the tapas bar for a glass of wine and some pan con tomate. I haven't made much progress with my glass project for A Year with my Camera, so I seized the opportunity to take some photos. Alternative colour blip here -- I liked the confusing reflections.

It was still chucking it down when we left, so back home to read by the fire all afternoon. In the evening my birthday treat involved more glasses, this time at L'Hospitalet (see extras). It's a large wine domain in La Clape, bought about a decade ago by local rugby player done good Gérard Bertrand. Starting with the modest family vineyard, he has played a large part in convincing the outside world that Corbières wines are worth drinking, and he's now at the head of a massive empire of which this hotel, restaurant, wine cellar and tasting room are only a part. All wines served were from his properties, and the food was good if not earth-shaking. Likewise the jazz was easy listening, making for a very pleasant evening. I drank most of the wine and S drove back :)