Did you all have a good Christmas Day ? I had a wonderful time, with my wife and family, all seventeen of them - it was a busman's holiday on Christmas morning, and my Godchildren running around, utterly fantastic. Thankyou everyone for all the presents, I received a goodly amount of red wine and whisky, a revised 5th edition of Andre Domine's Wine, an excellent addition to my bookshelf as my old 1st edition is missing many new trends, wineries and vintages. Young whippersnapper Chris got me a bottle of Barolo, which I enjoyed immensely with last night's roast duck and parsnip croquettes. I love my 'Big Red Boyz' t-shirt, are we dressing up in these for the flight ? I'm presuming everyone else got one ? Christmas dinner was .......... Gales Private Cuvee Blanc de Blancs Brut, Luxembourg - a little treasure found on my holidays, creamy and smooth with a fine mousse. A bottle of pink Cava (a gift from a supplier) which turned out to be badly corked. Prawn cocktail served with Montes Alpha Reserve Chardonnay '99, what s superb wine, full of rich, buttery flavour, really big for a white. Roast Turkey and Beef with cranberry stuffing, roast potatoes and parsnips, creamed potatoes, carrot and swede mash, sprouts and cauliflower cheese. The main course wines were......... Chateau Musar '91, I'm almost lost for words to describe how wonderful this was, the very archetype of smooth power and mature fruit, brilliant. Pesquera '98, my final bottle of this vintage, very nice. Grant Burge Filsell Old Vine Shiraz '99, a big, black beast of a wine. Christmas Pudding with cream, then a board og Quicke's cheddar, wensleydale, stilton and chevre with............. Royal Tokaji 5 Puttunyos '99, caramelised oranges and sunshine in a glass. Domaine de la Voute Grande Reserve Champagne Cognac, the lightest, most finely scented and flavoured cognac I have ever tasted. Followed by my annual game of terrible snooker, much running around with the toddlers and just a very good time. I'm especially glad that Grandad decided to come, at 94 he can only put away about three pints, there were times when he wouldn't have left the house for less than ten. We're all glad that Mum was well enough to attend, may we have many more family Chirstmas' together.