Third newsletter (I nearly forgot) :-)

Hello!

So I have a confession to make. I got so busy with work, I forgot that I had a newsletter to write. Takeaway ordered (Wagamama to the rescue) and here I am reporting for duty.

It's been a good, productive and very busy week. I've been mainly researching cheese and wine for a few festive features that will be published in the coming days. (I LOVE my job.)

How are you planning for the festive season? I feel it's OK to mention Christmas now, we're firmly in December so it's all fair game. :-)

I wanted to mention how a business encounter can remain latent for years, then all of sudden be the best thing ever.

Let me explain. I get my brandy from a wine merchant in Nottingham called Weavers. When I first moved to Derby to live my partner, we visited Weavers, got chatting to a nice man called Peter and he quickly became my contact there, because he knew what brandy I liked and he was very knowledgeable.

Over the years, six in total, I've probably met him three times, and emailed him around seven times.

I happened to call him yesterday to pick his brains about cheese and wine pairing (more on this exciting feature next week). He mentioned two things; one that there was a novelty cheese at nearby deli Delilah that I just had to try and two, he'd had a cocktail some time ago at the World Service Restaurant in Nottingham where cheese was used as ingredient. (I tell you, my job writing about food and drink doesn't half make me feel hungry ALL the time.) :-)

A 10 minute telecon with Peter resulted in me planning three new features.

I just had to say, that you don't necessarily have to meet people in person. You just have to keep in touch and boom, you never know when something comes up. I plan on visiting Weavers Nottingham before Christmas for a brandy restock, so I will thank him for all his nous then.

So yes, it pays to keep in touch.

I hope we keep in touch too. I would love to know more about you and your plans, if any over the festive period.

Stay safe, keep in touch and keep smiling,

All the best,

Ria :-)