Ken Gargett

[El Presidente]

22^nd July.

Alarm goes off at 5.10am – never a good thing. Worse when you've been fighting a cold/flu for a month. Not a bad one, just a really irritating and inconvenient one and I have had enough. So, yes, we didn't start well. But, up and off the airport (having just checked the original day of the Diaries, I'm beginning to see a theme).

Heading to Perth today and then down to the wonderful Margaret River for what will be one of the events of the year, the Cullen 40^th anniversary.

Now, the purpose of these files is not to "review" such events or discuss the wines or wineries and their ilk – see our 'Wine Articles' and our 'Wine Review' sections for all that. The purpose is, well, probably for not much more than to allow me an outlet for an occasional rant. Or possibly even pleasant musings and meanderings, but don't hold your breath for too many of them.

Hopped on the flight to be told strong head winds, we'd be late. No great drama as I was arriving a bit before the Melbourne and Sydney flights and we were all heading down together.

So I spend the next five and a half hours trying to read an amazing book – Michael Lewis's 'The Big Short' – but in reality, it is five hours of me coughing over anyone within ten yards, despite my genuine efforts not to. The bloke next to me is not best pleased. I think he has asked the hostess to have an ambulance waiting for our arrival to whisk him straight to intensive care.

'The Big Short' is all about what led up to the GFC and it is a must read for anyone interested in this – which should be all of us. Lewis wrote a wonderful book – 'Liar's Poker' about the '80s. This one is truly mindboggling. The brain-dead stupidity of those who were supposed to know what was happening is terrifying. That they, in most cases, walked away with millions of dollars rather than be sent to a very unpleasant prison for posterior-widening parties for the rest of their natural, is a crime in itself.

Ever wanted to know why an itinerant Mexican strawberry picker, without a word of English and an annual income of $14k, was encouraged to take out a loan for 3/4s of a mill, yes $750,000? Well here is the answer. A fabulous must-read book.

As it turned out, we got in early and the connecting flights were late. We were eventually split into various cars – I joined Philip Rich and Peter Bourne in a small Lancer. Philip gave the others directions (well, he'd been to West Australia at least once before and just because they had built a new highway in the interim, that hardly mattered). 15 minutes out, our poor little car was shaking like the shuttle attempting re-entry so we limped back and swapped (upgraded) and tried again.

After giving the others an hour's headstart, we caught them in an hour. Seems Philip's original directions may not have been GPS-approved. I rang a mate in Marg River for directions for our second go.

First night was a dinner looking at some truly spectacular old magnums and even larger formats and catching up with Vanya and lots of other friends that one sees at these things.

In retrospect, I now realise how sick I was, if I may be permitted the daily rant. Was chatting with one of the founders of Long Grain Restaurant in Sydney – Sam, who has, as he mentioned and this is relevant, just turned 42. Lovely bloke and his restaurant has gone gang-busters for a decade. Rugby fan. Now, he happened to make the comment that the Reds had done so well (non-rugby fans can skip this stuff) because they had adopted the Randwick philosophy and style of play. To non-Qlders, there is little that is more insulting. But more was to come. The skills of Lynagh and McLean were dismissed as far inferior to Ella. Hence, the relevance of age as, in hindsight, I'm not certain Sam is old enough to have seen much of McLean, if any. On the night, I think I managed a quizzical "really?"

Oh the shame of it. Had I not been near death's door, there would have been a much more robust discussion and I would have been delighted to reveal to Sam the error of his ways and shine the light on the glories of the Reds, past and present. And for anyone in any doubt, yes, Ella was a gifted rugby player but think of the comparison as more along the lines that Beaujolais is a delightful drink but it ain't, and never will be, no Romanee-Conti or La Tache.

Still, the next two days were a blur of great wines and lively debate (as I said, see the Articles and Reviews). I missed the Second evening's dinner – took an early mark to try and throw the cold, unsuccessfully. I only just managed to keep my eyes open long enough for the Wallabies to thump the South Africans. Many thanks to those who rang to check on Cadel's progress, when I was sound, very sound, asleep.

After the final bracket of those truly brilliant Diana Madeline's – surely Australia's greatest cabernet based wine and a serious contender for the most consistently great wine made here, it was back to the airport and across to Adelaide for McLaren Vale – I'm actually tapping away on the flight...

www.spitbucket.com

[riazp]

well...on the bright hes still alive...barely...Get Well already Ken!

[headstand]

well...on the bright hes still alive...barely...Get Well already Ken!

x2

Ken we need that good form on the deck.

[benjaminbbush]

Rob, did you mistakenly cut out a sentence or two that tied all of this together? Or maybe it is just late here and I am very tired from a long day and a great deal of sleep deprivation.

I seem to say this alot about Ken's writings but---I'm confused!

[NJP]

Ken whilst in SA are you able to put your ears to the ground and find out when Solomon estate will release another Alttus Shiraz. A little cracker I have missed.

Thank you mate have a good trip in the land of my favorites

Cheers Nic