The commitment to reduce weekend drinking is being hampered by my decision to start drinking through the week.
This attempt at moderation is also being sabotaged by the philosophical problem of what time is ‘too early’ to start drinking.
Obviously, 5.00 am is inappropriate, but what about 7.00 am?
On a positive note, my effort to drink more Brunello is going well.
Life is about balance.
Reading Orwell always brings you to his dystopian masterpiece, 1984. But lately I have been thinking about Huxley and Brave New world.
Orwell’s big brother has been the template for reality for a decade now, but are we really moving toward the Brave New World that Huxley foretold?
“Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn’t nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand.”
Aldous Huxley
We live in an era of comfort. Everything is easy. Happiness is a given and it is a complete banality. How can we know joy when we never know discomfort. Living life in vanilla.
John the Savage was dragged from his primitive existence and planted in utopia. Production line babies conditioned to love their station in life and the wonderful drug soma, taken by all to push away the anxiety of mere existence. John longed to return to his life as a savage, when he could not find it, he killed himself in preference to ‘comfort’.
Forget 1984, we are living in the Brave New World.
A few wines tonight, Davey and Di are visiting after travelling through Europe for a few months.
Dinner was buffalo ragù. If you are on a winner…
2014 Val Di Suga Brunello di Montalcino (Montalcino, Italy)
Everything a decent Brunello should be. Cherries, sweet spices and flowers on the nose. Dry and well balanced on the palate. Elegant but still powerful. A good wine from an average vintage.
2022 Casal Garcia Vinho Verde (Minho, Portugal)
If it isn’t broken…
2019 Bodegas Barahonda Carro (Yecla, Spain)
Monastrell through and through. Yecla is under rated. Excellent value.
