Not a review. Just a statement of intent...

The entirely fabulous @KnackeredMutha's book, 'The Knackered Mother's Wine Club', is out today.  I was lucky enough to receive a review copy and am currently working my way through it, but will be featuring how the book stands up to the challenge of Moscow wine shopping before too long.

I would have done this sooner but - entirely uncharacteristically - I haven't needed to buy much wine recently.  Sacrilege to say, I know, but since I have a husband who travels through Duty Free every week and the foresight to throw a recent lunch party for 11 lovely ladies, a good number of whom were kind enough to bring bottles with them (some of which didn't get consumed, due to it's being a school day and the subsequent brakes that put on alcohol consumption), wine hasn't been on my shopping list since I received my copy.  (And believe me, given the prices here, you don't tend to buy wine 'just because...')

However.  The cupboard is now practically bare, so after we get back from half term, I will be putting the book through it's paces with the offerings available in a couple of Moscow supermarkets.  In the meantime, I can tell you the book is engagingly written, entertaining, and informative, and that the beauty of having been sent an electronic copy means it's coming on holiday with me.  I will be eagerly looking for entries on Austrian wine in the very near future.

If you can't wait though, and want to buy online now, click here for the link...

As Helen says on her blog: 'Peace out, winos'.

British Mummy Blogger of the Week

It's all very well, this learning Russian business, but it doesn't help with the latest language dilemma I'm coming up against, which is; in all your conversations about That Volcano in Iceland (and I'm betting you'll have had at least a couple over the last day or so) have you ever actually heard anyone call it by name? It's FULL name?

I haven't. So I've looked it up, and here it is, just in case you missed it:

Eyjafjallajokull

Now, try and pronounce it. And then try and pronounce nonchalantly, as you might in a conversation.

'Ayafjalalalalallskul'

See what I mean?

'Eyejaphjalolokil...'

No, I still can't get it right...

Moving swiftly on... This week's Mummy Blogger of the Week concerns herself with something close, I'm sure, to many bloggers hearts. No, not chocolate (for a change). If you're anything like me I'm sure when you reach the BWS aisle in the supermarket (that's Beers, Wines and Spirits for those of you who have never had a job as a shelf-stacker), you probably do one of the following.

Option 1: Reach for the wine you know and love and which has never let you down. You'ld quite like to try something new but where on earth would you start?

Option 2: Look around for the latest BOGOFF (buy one get one free offer), 3 for 2 offer (speaks for itself), or whatever you saw recommended by that chirpy chap on BBC's Saturday Kitchen to go with the nice curry that James cooked this week.

Option 3: Simply pick up whatever looks most palatable in your price range.

Well, fear not, help is at hand. This week's Mummy Blogger, Knackered Mother, writes of herself:

'Love my three children and love my wine. Used to be a professional wine buyer for a big supermarket. Spent best part of a decade travelling the globe sniffing out wines for a living. Spent most of the last half-decade pregnant. Now work for a rather brilliant wine company. Want to share wine knowledge in the hope that other knackered mothers are interested in what's in my glass at the end of the day. Strictly no insipid wines allowed. Unless too tired to care.'

At the end of each short and entertaining post she gives us her opinions on (mostly) reasonably priced wine - and occasionally, on the must-have accessories for a lady to take to Venice with her for her 10th wedding anniversary trip...

'Eyjafjalladjojokull'

Nope. Still not right...

For the British Mummy Bloggers Ning, click here. (Note: It's called 'Mummy', but Dads can be members too).