Welcome to EDITION 733 of GRAPEVINE If you are reading GrapeVine for the first time, bear with me that it is not always about wine. There is more to life than grape juice. Most of us have heard of the Biblical story David & Goliath. It is the tale of how a young …
Read More »
Welcome to EDITION 732 of GRAPEVINE There is too much wine in wine writing. And it’s hopelessly boring. Save for a handful of writers, reading about wine is as exciting as going through what is written on a packet of cat food. At least the photograph of the cat is engaging. Originality …
Read More »
Welcome to EDITION 730 of GRAPEVINE Often times, we make discoveries as a result of a setback. So it was that returning from Yamanashi via Haneda Airport on Wednesday, the aircraft touched down about 11.30 pm. I had no check-in luggage as it was a relatively short 3-night trip. Reaching home past …
Read More »
Welcome to EDITION 729 of GRAPEVINE Greetings after landing this morning from Yangzhou/Shanghai. One of the things I consider foremost when travelling is the type of power-point socket the country or city uses. Hong Kong is the most convenient because, as a result of our shared past British connection, we use the same …
Read More »
Welcome to EDITION 728 of GRAPEVINE Greetings from back from France two days ago. Next week, there will be no postings on our websites as I am travelling to Shanghai to launch our new magazine 100 there. There is a waiting list to get into that dinner where 110 participants will congregate at …
Read More »
Welcome to EDITION 727 of GRAPEVINE Next Monday 18 to 27 February 2019, there will be no postings on our websites. Instead, I will be writing on the following social platforms: The platforms are managed for me by our Sales & Marketing Manager Ms YU Kayan, who also translates them into Chinese …
Read More »
Welcome to EDITION 725 of GRAPEVINE Last Monday 21 January 2019 in Hong Kong, before the start of dinner, 133 of us stood up to offer a toast to the memory of Gerard Basset. 133 people stood up to offer a toast to Gerard Basset. Our friend was a shining light whose …
Read More »
Welcome to EDITION 724 of GRAPEVINE The shape and size of a glass can open up or lock in the aroma and palate of a wine. Whichever glass we decide to use, its dimensions will be a constant. While the glass we use is a given, how much or little wine …
Read More »
Welcome to EDITION 723 of GRAPEVINE Nature, like a lover, is possessive. It does not like to be circumvented or cheated. When that happens Nature bites back. Last week, I bought two Spanish persimmons. They looked utterly delicious. Beautifully, lusciously shaped, I eyed them with lust and relish And was thinking about …
Read More »
Welcome to EDITION 722 of GRAPEVINE The 2019 Gregorian New Year has not gotten off to a good start for men. Put bluntly, men can be dumb beyond imagination. Why would any man – whether for a religious or social reason – ban women from a temple or a tennis, golf or recreational …
Read More »
CH’NG Poh Tiong