Room with a View

View from my "granny annexe" of the garden of "Walnut House" where I'm staying, complete with walnut tree... Works very well: I have my own entrance for late returns, not under my hosts' feet, etc... I pay them in wine!
Enjoyed watching the football with Ady - he seems happy and healthy, and coping well with his Dad's passing and associated admin and organising funeral etc... He might buy some bits and bobs for Christmas, but couldn't organise it yesterday as I had to rush off for tastings. Two tastings were successful - long term customers who bought a bit more than usual, with Christmas approaching... and two couples who were / are Pieroth customers, had a great time, bought £800, and bonded over stories of the host's step-dad who preceded me as Pieroth rep in this area - Pieroth treated him appallingly when he got cancer, despite 20-odd years' service. They say they have more friends who'd love it who they'll invite next time...
Then did tasting with hosts till midnight, not so successful - the ones I thought they might like, they didn't love. I'm sending them a free mixed box (as payment for my stay) and hoping they find some they'd like to buy in for Christmas. They have a regular favourite, but they've just bought a case of that...
Was supposed to have tasting in Birmingham today, but host's wife has got covid... he says he'll buy a few cases on the phone, but isn't answering now... Who knows what the scenario is??
So I'm left with my tasting near Banbury at 7.30pm... a very long drive there and back for one tasting, which will "only" be 18-24 bottles, but it was booked in months ago, after months of trying, so couldn't rearrange it...