Bottom

Remember the good old days with the BBC series Bottom?!
Here's an hilarious fragment of a live show in Southampton. Enjoy the crazyness of the Hammersmith flatmates Richie Richard and Eddie Hitler.

My favourite European wines (at a reasonable price).

The wineshop "De Heerlyckheid" (dutch website) is my top address in Antwerp for good wines at a fair price. In the weekend of 18-20 april, the new wines will be introduced.
I got many favourites, but I want to introduce the three ones I like the most :

Soave Classico di Monteforte DOC Veneto (a white wine from Italy)
Gran Feudo Viñas Viejas Reserva 2001 (a red wine from Spain, Bodegas Julian Chivite)
Rapitala rosato (a rosé wine from Sicily)

Produced in the Navarra region from carefully selected hand-picked Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes, from our own vineyards ‘Hoya de los Lobos’, planted in 1954, ‘Clavijas’, planted in 1940, and ‘El Paso’, planted in 1960, located in Cintruénigo and Corella. These are the best and oldest local grapes for quality wines and they have been complemented with a little Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from our vineyards in Aberin.
This wine has been matured in the traditional way in French (Allier) oak barrels, with a further evolution in bottle that refines and harmonises the qualities of this wine, developing its complex bouquet.

Brand Name : GRAN FEUDO VIÑAS VIEJAS
Grape variety : Tempranillo, Garnacha, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
Style of wine : Reserva red
Alcohol volume : 12.50%
Barrel ageing : 18 months in French (Allier) oak barrels
Colour : A deep ruby, with a lighter rim, showing its age. Clear and bright.
Nose : Full ripe soft fruit nose, with hints of tobacco. Reminiscences of soft red fruits, ripe stone fruits and black fruits. Spicy with vanilla and nut notes.
Palate : The first impression is of a velvety softness, but this opens out into a full-bodied wine, filling the mouth. Complex, well-structured tannins and excellent hints of oak. Powerful finish. Alive, modern, allowing a good lay-down ageing.
Food matches : The wine's fragrance and balance make it a good partner for tender lamb roasted with rosemary.


Rapitala Rosato Sicilia IGT
http://www.rapitala.it/

Made from indigenous red grapes, nerello mascalese and perricone. Picked when they still have a good acidity and from selected parcels of vines at between 300 and 400 metres above sea level, they are vinified by the rosé method, leaving the must in contact with the skins for several hours immediately after a gentle pressing. A wine with a fresh, fruity flavour, a delicate bouquet and bright colour.

Brand Name : RAPITALA ROSATO
Grape variety : Nerello Mascalese – Perricone
Style of wine : Rosé
Alcohol volume : 12.50%
Colour : bright pink colour
Nose : a floral, fruity bouquet, and dry, full, elegant
Palate : clean flavour with a light aftertaste of fruit which lingers in the mouth
Food matches : Italian hors d’oeuvres (cured pork meats), fish, white meats, fresh cheeses


Soave Classico di Monteforte DOC Veneto

Selected parcels in the hills of Monteforte D'Alpone in the heart of the Classico zone, facing southwest. The soil is of volcanic origin and basalt-based, rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium. The vines are trained by the Pergola Veronese system , with a yield of 100 quintals of grapes per hectare.
The ripe grapes are gathered at the beginning of October, and undergo a gentle pressing. 70% is vinified by the white wine method, the rest is cold macerated for 24 hours on the skins to improve the aromas and the structure. After natural clarification, nearly all the must is fermented at a controlled temperature with selected yeasts in stainless steel tanks until the beginning of February. The wine is cold sterile bottled.

Brand Name : SOAVE CLASSICO DI MONTEFORTE
Grape variety : 85% Garganega, 15% Chardonnay
Style of wine : White
Alcohol volume : 12.50%
Colour : pale straw colour with vivid green tints
Nose : dry, savoury, balanced, very agreeable flavour, with an elegant, lingering aftertaste of white peaches and almonds
Palate : Delicate but well defined bouquet, of exceptional finesse with a fresh fragrance of elderflower and vine and cherry blossom and mellow hints of exotic fruit.
Food matches : fresh starters, fish, barbeque

Roma Theatre & the Afghan girl

Roma theatre (dutch website) near Antwerp, is a superb place for movies, theatre, all kinds of music, etc. The theatre, built in 1928, is recently renovated and today a crew of volunteer workers are still doing an amazing job. In the old days it was the biggest movie theatre of Antwerp (2000 seats) and in the 70's artists like Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and Paul Mc Cartney came. A few weekends ago, I was invited for a birthday party and took some shots from this beautiful place.

There was also the world famous "afghan girl" as a painting on the wall. I once saw that documentary on tv, an interesting story How They Found National Geographic's "Afghan Girl"
She was one of the world's most famous faces, yet no one knew who she was. Her image appeared on the front of magazines and books, posters, lapel pins, and even rugs, but she didn't know it. Now, after searching for 17 years, National Geographic has once again found the Afghan girl with the haunting green eyes.

Photoshop experiments

".old.clock.tower."(own photoshop actions & two different textured layers)


"the vintage strawberry" Thanks to Jennifer Summer for the great ideas & actions.
(Vintage Strawberry action & an extra textured layer)


"BT"
"Boerentoren Antwerpen", the first skyscraper in Europe
(four different textured layers)