Last night was a ‘Vineyard Work Party’ night. Barbara and her friend Cherry own a vineyard together in Wyfold, currently growing the Champagne varieties. It’s a gorgeous plot, planted on land belonging to a beautiful farm house with horses, ducks and free range chickens. All staff here at HQ are invited along to help out with the various jobs that are carried out throughout the year, such as pruning and harvesting.
Last night, ‘tucking in the vines and a general tidy up’ was needed. All volunteers would be rewarded with a fish and chip supper after the work was done, washed down with beer and/or wine (usually we are treated to a BBQ à la Tony but he and Barbara are in France at the moment). So Ian and I went along for another experience of working life in a vineyard… and of course, the fish and chip supper.
We were off to a good start; secateurs in hand, partnered up, snipping away at lateral growths and leaves shading the grapes. There were about 20 of us in total. But then, about half an hour in… how the heavens opened! Admittedly, it had been a grey day, but never did we expect such a downpour. After 2 minutes of it bucketing down we realised in turn that it was not going to let up and a disaster movie-style scene began to unfold as we all raced through the vines, in torrential rain, towards shelter.
After about 10 mins gathered under a tree, shivering and dripping wet, we all agreed it was time to go home and that we’d try again next week. So off we went, tails between our legs, drenched and without fish & chips.
Still, at least the sun was shining gloriously this morning so I decided that it would be a good idea to make the most of the last month of summer and don some shorts… (looks out of window)… Ah, perhaps not.
Have a good weekend, all!
Jo from the Events Team
P.S Our events are now listed on Facebook: look out for them. We’ll be coming to a town near you soon!
Visit laithwaites.co.uk/events
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