The Olympics and Petrol Mowers.

Thank you London 2012 for your brilliant organisation at Eton Dorney for the Canoe Sprinting on Wednesday. The morning competition was superb viewing, aided by seats near to the finishing line. However my memory of the Olympics 2012 will be sitting in the grandstand with loads of other punters from so many different countries and everyone standing for the national anthems. A fantastic experience.

In contrast to the smooth running of the Olympics I have been battling with my first petrol mower purchase.  For the first three rounds I failed to qualify and returned with the mower to the very helpful Jim Reeve from J.P. Garden Machinery, who patiently reminded me what I should be doing.

Problem now solved but in the meantime I have fitted in plenty of Olympic viewing whilst enjoying some Sancerre Rosé 2010, £16.50, Pascal Jolivet, Loire, France. Stockist: Soho Wine Supply, Slurp.co.uk. Staying in the Loire, the dry, appley, complex, 12.5% abv Chinon Blanc 2010, £10.99, Domaine de l’ Abbaye, Loire, France is a relatively unknown high quality white from this region known for Pouilly Fume and Muscadet. Stockist: Soho Wine Supply. Later today whilst cheering  Mo Farah during his 5,000 metres gold medal attempt The Wine Tipster will have a glass of delicious, dry sherry from  Bodegas Hidalgo, La Gitane Manzanilla, £8.89,  Sanlúcar de Barrameda , Spain as my baton. Stockist: Waitrose.   Come on Mo!