His Lordship responds

"Mike Tommasi"; "Ian Hoare" & "Tom S" discussed his Lordship's wellbeing..

Lord & Lady St.H have "reluctantly" returned to the antipodes having enjoyed immensly their all-too-brief visit. Thanks muchly to Mike & Kathy Tommasi and Ian & Jacquie Hoare for making the trip so very special.

Nope - but I did sneek a peek when M. Hoare was otherwise engaged - hee hee hee!!!!!

It is not a matter of *if* he will be back, but *when*!!!

The wine and food and particularly the matches were quite excellent, Ian.

In these columns, over the years, the difficulty matching soup with wine has been discussed at length - the Sercial Madiera with your Cepe consumé was a revelation, and I never thought I would admit to being "fois gras-ed out"!!!

Tom, I cannot speak for your plans, except to say that I would be proud to show you around our little piece of paradise any time you choose to venture south, but Kathryn and I *will* be returning to the States; fall next year has already been pencilled onto our travel calendar.

As to being feisty, I resemble that remark - I am just a placid, bear-like creature, who readily admits to "shooting from the lip" on the odd occasion without fearing whose feathers may be ruffled.

At all other times, I am more than happy to sit quietly anticipating the coming summer of sun and sand and fresh fish, salad and sauvignon blanc.