The UK wineries

Ridgeview Wine Estate

We visited the UK wineries for the first time with a Japanese wine teacher since I was keen to visit there before.  Firstly, we visited "Ridgeview Wine Estate" ( http://www.ridgeview.co.uk/ ).  They are making five kinds of sparkling wines.  Grapes mainly come from Kent and Hampshere.  Terroir is clay, and limestone seems to see at lower layer.  Grape varieties are the same with Champagne region; Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardoney.  The winery opens to the public.  Fortunately, we were guided tasting, brewery and cellar by an assistant winemaker because they are now very busy due to preparing harvest.  Next, we visited Nyetimber ( http://www.nyetimber.com/ ).  They do not open to the pubric, so we had just looked around the vineyard.  I do not know why they close to the pubric, but I hope that they contribute to the UK wine industry due to introduction the process of sparkling wine and comparing tastes as the UK sparkling wine attracts British people.  Eventually, we made a brief stop at Nutbourne Vineyards ( http://www.nutbournevineyards.com/ ) since they were very close to Nyetimber.  Despite the opening hours had already passed and they worked hard to prepare their harvest, madam welcomed and guided us to their facility.  The number of production is still less, so they do not export to Japan.  However, I could feel their challenge and heart warmed wines. 

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Nutbourne



Nyetimber

Summer opening of the state rooms

I visited the Buckingham Palace ( http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/buckinghampalace/what-to-see-and-do?language=en ) to see the inside.  During the summer, they open the palace to the public.  The palace was designed by John Nash.  We can see the royal collection such as drawings and diamonds.  In particular, A portrait of Rubens and the special exhibition, "The Queen's Williamson Diamond Brooch" designed by Cartier was absorbing for me. 

This visit reminded me the words "Kobe Co.,ltd.".  It was metaphor.  Kobe city in Japan was called "Kobe co., ltd" 2 to 3 decades ago, because the city was in success to sell the name as a brand such as Kobe beef, Mt. Rokko and beautiful night views.  Therefore, people living in Kobe tended to move to other place since they could do almost of everything such as shopping, leisure, and cafe.  The brand reduced the power gradually due to the change of generations though...  London impressed me the similar situation for London brands.  I could see many visitors having shopping bags who bought products at the Buckingham shop.   I had bought a house champagne as well....

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A Friendship Agreement

I went to a reception at the Japanese Embassy to celebrate the signing of a Friendship Agreement between St Ives ( http://www.stives-cornwall.co.uk/ ) and Mashiko ( http://www.town.mashiko.tochigi.jp/ ). Their relationship has been built since 1920 due to building and putting to use the first east asian style "Climbing kin".  Mashiko was damaged from the recent Tohoku earthquake.  Therefore, I strongly hope that this agreement can encourage Mashiko and their economy.  Their major industries are tourism, agriculture and manufacture. Their number of population is approximately 24,000.  The Mashiko pottery has been familiar with Tokyo areas since the 19th century,  because the location is close from Tokyo.  Also, Japanese sake, in name of SANRAN got a gold prize at International Wine Challenge 2012. 

I'd like to visit both cities someday!

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Hedonism Wines

The wine shop in name of Hedonism Wines ( http://hedonism.co.uk/ ) is located in Mayfair, London.  They opened the shop this year and have the best range of fine wines, roughly 1000 spirits and 3500 wines.  Presumably, it is difficult to find enormous number of wines at one shop.  It seems a amusement park for adults. 

For example, Salon which is a famous champagne domane, 1976 is sold at 1,438.70 pounds.  The bottle was put on the shelves as if it is normal.  I heard from the owner of Salon at the session before that riped Salon more than 20 years is much better to drink... The site introduces about 1976 vintage as follows, "Bud-burst took place between 6th and 21st April depending on the variety and the precocity of the terroir. The emergence of clusters was considered generous. Flowering, from around 10th-15th June, came early. Summer weather was extremely hot, the soil already exceptionally dry and drought widespread over the vineyards. The speed of the ripening period, from early August, surprised the majority of winegrowers on holiday and forced to make a hasty retreat to prepare for the harvest.

Someone who will buy it, would you mind to invite me??

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Learning and Personality styles

The induction of WBS MBA has been held this week. The purpose seem to establish network amongst students and lecturers, in particular, it will be a critical week for international students just arrived London to adjust the environment and prepare the course. We mainly discussed regarding what a senior manager is. Additionally, we conducted the personality analyses. Therefore, I am showing the tests and results here. Some sites mentioned "as a reference" are not accurate tests on this time.

1. Learning Styles Questionnaire
       (As a reference: http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/styles/honey_mumford.html )
            Activist: B Strong Preference (12 scores)
            Reflector: C Moderate Preference (14 scores)
            Theorist: B Strong Preference (14 scores
            Pragmatist: B Strong Preference (15 scores)

2. The Belbin Test
        ( http://www.belbin.com/ )
            Sharper(SH): 0
            Coordinator(CO): 22
            Plant(PL): 11
            Resource Investigator(RI): 17
　　　　 Monitor Evaluator(ME): 7
            Implementer(IMP): 0
           Team Worker(TW): 2
           Complete Finisher(CF): 11 

3. BIG5
       ( As a reference: http://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/ )
           Openness: 15
           Conscientiousness: 16
           Extroversion: 14
           Agreeableness: 17
           Emotionality: 13

4. Type A & B Personality
        ( As a reference: http://changingminds.org/explanations/preferences/typea_typeb.htm )
            Score: 74

5. Communications Style Inventory
        ( http://occonline.occ.cccd.edu/online/klee/CommunicationsStyleInventory.pdf )
           O: 3
           G: 6 Controller/DIRECTOR
           D: 6
           I: 3

6. VAK Learning Styles
              ( http://www.businessballs.com/vaklearningstylestest.htm )
           Visual: 9
           Auditory: 4
           Kinesthetic /Physical: 17

7. Colour Inventory
       ( As a reference: http://www.online-distance-learning-education.com/personality-test.html )
           ORANGE (Guardian ) : 7 / 15
           BLUE ( Idealist ) : 5 / 15
           GOLD ( Artisan) : 7 / 15
           GREEN (Rational ): 9 / 15

We would often take these tests at enrolment or initiation of compcy.   I suppose that these tests are consistent measurement but a divination technique, because some questions are depended on personal condition such as physical, feeling, environment and background.   For instance, a person analyse as a open-minded by self, but surroundings may judge him/her as a seeking.  I do not therefore like so much...  However, these tools would be useful to communicate with others. Probably, these my opinion would be judged by the tests.........

If you have a time, please try them!

Thank you for your reading to the end.

Kensington Gardens

 

Kensington gardens ( http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington-gardens ) is located next to the Hyde park, and very close to central London.  If you visit there, you can probably watch many kinds of birds and listen their singing!  At the same time, people living here take their dogs here, so we can feel having many dogs.  Currently, sweet chestnut trees produce plenty of nuts, so squirrels are eager to eat them.  Here is a lovely place to do a workout!  By the way, this is a first time for me to see the swan legs.  Their webbed feet are so manly...

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Umu

The Umu restaurant ( http://www.umurestaurant.com/umu.htm ) is a luxury Japanese restaurant receiving one Michelin star from 2005 to 2010.  I was eager to go since before, but did not have an opportunity in some reasons.  However, a chance came suddenly since I heard that my friend who was a head chef decided to leave the restaurant and move to the Hong Kong.  Therefore, I went there to see him without appointment because he would leave there 2days after!  The dishes were wonderful and customised a little for the UK market.  The time was really luxurious.

Best wishes to him from all of your associates in the UK for continued success in HK!

 

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MBA Program

Consequently, I decided to study MBA at University of Westminster.  To be honest, I had considered for a long time about the meaning of MBA and the university value.  However, everything depends on me how much I study hard.  Despite of recognition in my head, my mind could not be made up.  I should do what I can!  I don't know the results of completion, but I will be able to aim something due to pains.  I suppose that there is no correct answer regarding my decision after examining.  Eventually, I ought to enjoy the school days!  Some classmates from Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, the US...seem to be matured, so we can probably have constructive discussion.  Anyway, I had not written this blog for a while due to busyness (excuse...), I also decided to start writing backdated them again..hopefully... 

 

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The IWC Awards dinner

The International Wine Challenge ( http://www.internationalwinechallenge.com/ ) held the awards dinner at the London Hilton on Park lane dated 11th, September 2012.  Fortunately, I could join the party and enjoyed the atmosphere.  They set some section such as not only wine but also merchants, wine education and Japanese Sake.  In 2012, the Judgement of Japanese Sake was held in Japan due to the latest earthquake in Tohoku.  That's why many kinds of Sake brands are gathered in comparison with previous years.  The Japanese sake section has organised by Sake Samurai ( http://www.sakesamurai.jp/ ).  I believe that Sake can attract the UK people and promote in the UK market as a Japanese industry further, because it can be seen that a purchasing price of wine in the UK has risen in recent days.

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Harvesting rice

"The boughs that bear most hang lowest."　
This is a haiku expressed a Japanese mind, whilst a famous Japanese business manager, "MATSUSHITA, Konosuke" who is a founder of Panasonic Corp. used to quote this phrase.  The haiku means in my understanding that higher educated and /or status person behave modestly and appreciate for others.  Almost of Japanese children learn this phrase in a primary school, but I suppose that I did not understand in depth at that time.  At present, I can meet various people, and feel the difference meaning from my childhood.  Although the subject changes, I heard that quoting idiom or maxim recognises nonacademic and immaturity in the UK, whereas the UK recognise that eastern Asia such as Japan and China tend to refer it in some cases.  That was interesting to know the difference of writing style.   

 

The scenery was in northern Kyoto, Japan.

Thank you for your reading to the end.