So, I've had a nightmare this half term. The washing machine broke. Honestly, it was terrifying. Piles of washing everywhere. On top of that, there's Saturday's Trickle Treat (as Youngest Girl calls it) outing to think about. Our kids usually bring home enough sweets to open a shop, thanks to us being one of only a few families with young children in the neighbourhood. Eldest Boy isn't dressing up this year ('Mum, I'm eleven', was his response). But Middle Boy and Youngest Girl are going all out. I showed them this picture of me in full Halloween get up, the only time I've ever won a prize in a fancy dress competition. It was actually the middle of summer, but no matter. Behind me is my lovely friend Claudia, dressed, fantastically, as Mickey Mouse (and she says we swept the board). The other thing we'll be doing on Saturday is making spooky food for a post-t&t tea. The Crumbs website alerted me to the icing pen - why did I not know about these? Perfect for making fairy cakes look like mummies. Egyptian ones, obviously.
Current white in the fridge: Graham Norton's Own Sauvignon Blanc 2015, £8.99*, Majestic
I love watching Graham Norton on a Friday night, not least because he always has a HUGE glass of white wine alongside his A-listers on the sofa. I do worry, though, that under all those studio lights the wine never looks cold enough. And the wine he's drinking definitely needs to be nicely chilled. I know that, because it's this one. Made by New Zealand producer Invivo, Norton helped put the blend together, apparently. Nice job: it combines fruit from the Wairau and Awatere Valley regions in Marlborough. It's more ripe tropical fruit than overpoweringly grassy in style. Making it very, very easy to drink.
*It's £8.99 if you buy six bottles (Majestic now sell single bottles, but you'll have to pay £3 more for this one if you do).
Current red in the rack: Extra Special Pinot Noir 2013, £8, Asda
It's a New Zealand South Island double whammy this week. This second one's from Marlborough but this time, it's red. Made from the Pinot Noir grape, which seems to love this region's warm days and cool nights. Most of Marlborough is covered with Sauvignon Blanc vines, but plantings of Pinot Noir are on the rise. Hurrah to that, because the quality is getting better all the time. Think spicy raspberry fruit, not too heavy but with enough oomph to be taken seriously. Fantastic value.
Chin chin xLabels: 2013, 2015, Asda, Crumbs, Graham Norton, Halloween, Majestic, marlborough, New Zealand, Pinot Noir, red wine, Sauvignon Blanc, white wine
