I might have spent an hour yesterday afternoon lying on the sofa with a packet of chocolate shortbreads. It was an earned flake-out as I’d been up half the night trying to memorise theories of forgetting for an exam. Apparently, memories are eroded by metabolism just like mountains are by weather. There are studies on goldfish that show this is true. Yes. Goldfish. They warmed the fish up to increase their metabolic rate to see if they forgot more quickly, and they did. No squidding. Don’t ask me how you test a fish. I’m floundering on that one. Just for the halibut? OK, I think we can scale back on the fish puns now. Anyway, the exam is now done. Thank cod. [Stop it! – ed] I am back on the sofa nursing a head injury caused by smashing into the kitchen cupboard in my haste to get to the biscuit packet, and thinking about wine.
The other night a friend and I drank – and loved – this:
Hunter Valley Chardonnay 2012 Australia (12%, M&S, £9.99) Australian chardonnay has changed. The new ones are like beautiful sleek, contemporary kitchens: all clean lines with shiny stainless steel worktops and a bit of white marble thrown in. This one twangs. It is refreshing (and not fat or high in alcohol) and bright, a bit peachy, perfect for sunshine (I have looked at the weather forecast, there is going to be some), wonderful with crayfish or prawns or just on its own. It will loosen up if you pour it into a jug. It doesn’t taste like Chablis – it still has an Australian accent – but if you like Chablis and the bright feel of wines from Oz you might like this.
Next week: the completely amazing cheap Italian reds that are new into M&S and will arrive in shops over the weekend.