There ought to be a wise adage: ‘If invited to do good works, always procrastinate. A better offer is bound to turn up.’
About a month ago, the phone rang. Would I attend the Oxford vs Cambridge wine tasting, sponsored by Pol Roger, which would also include a wine hacks vs wine trade contest? Festivities were to continue over lunch. The likelihood of a wooden spoon did not deter me. I was joyously accepting, when a horrible thought occurred. I checked the diary. My forebodings were justified. I was already engaged, to speak at the King’s School, Bruton.
There was one possible solution: do both. Get thee behind me, Satan. There could be worse embarrassments than finishing last in a tasting. I had no wish to emulate Gussie Fink-Nottle’s oration to the Market Snodsbury Grammar School.
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