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[scottiesmum]

This is a sample of the huge machines that are used, as well has the hand pickers, they are all over the place at the moment.... I took these of our surrounding vines yesterday and today ....the machine shakes every grape separately off the bunches  ...any bunches that are missed at the end of the rows I go out and collect later      ...the grapes are quite sweet this year, but the quantity is down ...as long as the quality stands up thats all that matters   !

[kitz]

oooh kate... lovely.

...  and your address is? 

* kitz arranges transport so she can sample some of the local produce 

[chrissie]

Well as long as they don't use the pickers' feet for trampling the grapes eh    I love grapes, either way....off the vine or in the wine....mmm.... how lucky you are Kate to have all this on your doorstep AND the S-U-N.....oops, husha ma mouth.

[roseway]

You're making me green with envy Kate. :cry2:

[tuftedduck]

If that is what you get in the NC, how do you get there ? 

I have just finished reading "A Small Place in Italy" by Eric Newby in which he gives a detailed description of the grape harvest and wine making processes in Italy back in the 1960's, all hand picked and pressed etc.
Must be easier now with huge big machines like that.

TD is arranging a coach for the Kitizens to come and enjoy the fun. Will the weekend be ok for you ? 

[scottiesmum]

 
More and more smaller chateaux are using hand pickers ... there is a small producer where we buy from now and again, he only produces 2000 bottles a year .... and that is ALL done by hand, the picking, sorting - and yes they trample it in the vats with their feet  ...... the bottling, corking and labelling  ....   it's a rather nice little number  ...

I've organised blockades at all French ports for the weekend   

[kitz]

>> TD is arranging a coach for the Kitizens to come and enjoy the fun.

ok now lets arrange this properly.

So far

> Few of us in the Blackpool area.
> Leeds
> Sheffield
> Leicester (to pick up separate run thats done the Midlands.. and another from Norwich)
> Then M20/M25 intersection (join up with those from the SW).
> Ashford
> Dover

Any more for the list?

ooh just wait for Kates face when we all come knocking at her door.   Hope theres plenty of wine left

.

>> I've organised blockades at all French ports for the weekend   

Thats OK Kate.. we're waiting for Dave to get back.. and also want it to be a surprise..
However we will give you a couple of hours notice before we all descend so that you can get the wine glasses out and let the wine breathe for a wee while.   

[scottiesmum]

we've just  been watching them, at a polite distance  !!   .... finishing 'our vines'   .... 

  Tractor and trailer waiting  .....

   In they go  ....

    a peep into the trailer

      just a handful



that's it for another year  !!!   santé  !!      I'm  off to get the left overs for the cheese !!



Kitz,    As long as it IS a couple of hours  ......  give us time to 'escape'   

[UncleUB]

>> TD is arranging a coach for the Kitizens to come and enjoy the fun.

ok now lets arrange this properly.

So far

> Few of us in the Blackpool area.
> Leeds
> Sheffield
> Leicester (to pick up separate run thats done the Midlands.. and another from Norwich)
> Then M20/M25 intersection (join up with those from the SW).
> Ashford
> Dover

Any more for the list?

ooh just wait for Kates face when we all come knocking at her door.   Hope theres plenty of wine left

.

>> I've organised blockades at all French ports for the weekend   

Thats OK Kate.. we're waiting for Dave to get back.. and also want it to be a surprise..
However we will give you a couple of hours notice before we all descend so that you can get the wine glasses out and let the wine breathe for a wee while.   

Erm,there's a wee scottish chap you seem to have forgotten.

I retract all those remarks I made about a certain french lady  I was only kidding you know.If I mentioned the NC,what I meant was nice courtyard.

[tuftedduck]

>>>>Erm,there's a wee scottish chap you seem to have forgotten<<<<

I noticed that  :cry2:

[scottiesmum]

You'll have to fly south TD  !!

Unc ... there's no soft soaping me you know     

[oldfogy]

 

[kitz]

Excellent piccies kate.

>> itz,    As long as it IS a couple of hours  ......  give us time to 'escape'

ok - change of plan..  You'll get 5 mins notice so you cant

Erm,there's a wee scottish chap you seem to have forgotten.

I'm so sorry UB + OF    
Add in your location -

I dont know where everyone is located so I just put in the names of those I recalled.

NC for kitz. 

[roseway]

NC for kitz.

That's OK. It's currently in France anyway.

[UncleUB]

Excellent piccies kate.

>> itz,    As long as it IS a couple of hours  ......  give us time to 'escape'

ok - change of plan..  You'll get 5 mins notice so you cant

Erm,there's a wee scottish chap you seem to have forgotten.

I'm so sorry UB + OF    
Add in your location -

I dont know where everyone is located so I just put in the names of those I recalled.

NC for kitz. 

Kitz,the wee scottish chap is TD from somewhere over 'the wall'.  .Not sure about OF,but you have me down as Sheffield.  which is correct. 
Will wait for the coach at Meadowhall bus station.