Pulse.

Been a bit manic confirming the rest of this year and the first half of 2012.Away from my diary, this Monday sees the release of Astrid Williamson’s new album Pulse out on One Little Indian/Incarnation. Astrid has a beautiful voice and listen to Pour.

On the weekend of 10th-11th September, there are two really good foodie events taking place in Chipping Nortonshire, with Juliet Harbutt’s Cheeses on the Green in the lovely village of Churchill. On Saturday 10th, you can taste a stack of cheeses in the day followed by Cheeses under the Stars. Also, Churchill has a good pub called The Chequers, serving well kept Hook Norton and some decent wines by the glass including Santa Digna Torres Rose.

A few miles away in Kingham, Alex James’ Harvest Food and Music Festival runs from the 9th-12th September, with the main action on the Saturday and Sunday. This festival has a strong cast of chefs including: Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Richard Corrigan, Valentine Warner and the excellent Franceco Mazzei. On Sunday don’t miss out on what Jay Rayner has to say. Away from all the exciting foodie stuff, you will be able to enjoy the not very exciting KT Tunstall and The Feeling.

We are just off to a winter barbecue, taking some Musks Newmarket sausages and De Grendel Merlot 2008, South Africa, £10.99-£11.99 available from Henderson Wines, Peter Green & Co and oldbutcherswinecellar.co.uk. De Grendel’s Merlot is one of my favourite wines of 2011; medium bodied, balanced, with minerality, complexity, herbacious character and stand out berry fruit.