La vendimia ha comenzado (or The grape harvest has started)

The whole morning was spent finishing off preparations for the next pressing. This involved 'bodegal gymnastics'  which is a new sport I have invented here at Los Ruices. The various disciplines of this include:
a) long-distance siphoning
b) climbing a ladder with another ladder and inserting second ladder into a wine vat
c) barrel dis-orienteering [involves darkness, sweeping round the barrel and guessing which way you're pointing when you've finished; one is always wrong]
d) the suplhurous 10m dash [to be done when the neighbour has lit several sulphur candles to fumigate the vat and a swift exit from the bodega is required; extra points if you don't use a handkerchief)

FINALLY at about 4pm I heard the news that my neighbour (the one who is 'attached' to my house and has come down from Madrid for the vendimia) had started picking. This set in train a rapid movement of personnel (Adam, Elsie & I) and machinery ('La Carretilla')up the hill and picking commenced. Just over and hour later, we returned with approximately 100kg of grapes which are now sitting in the cool of the wine room waiting to be joined by lots more grapes over the next 2-3 days and then be pressed.

The cavalry arrives late tomorrow afternoon in the form of a certain Mr Gribble who will be a most welcome addition to the task force for Tuesday's picking.

Yours truly inside a vat

Adam thinking "If I put the lid on, noone would hear him scream"

My revenge

The grapes arrive!