Martin D-E 🔶️FBPE

Who'd have guessed that Trump is now even affecting my Chamber Music playing ... one of our Viola players is currently in New Zealand, due to have been travelling back to the UK via Melbourne and Dubai ... now looking dicey for our next musical gathering! Trump has clearly crossed a red line now!

I've been booked in to play in 3 more delightful concerts in April and May now ... looking like 2026 will be another great musical year for me!

Months ago, Trump supporters screamed about the urgent need to end political violence. Today, many of those same people are quiet about Trump starting an illegal war while actively engaging in domestic terrorism in the U.S. The hypocrisy is astounding.

Full Moon @02:06 local time, Franschhoek, South Africa

However, while ruining the the taste of wines, TCA-contaminated wine is not harmful to human health. There are multiple sources of cork taint, but 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) is by far most prevalent, with estimated 80-85% of all cork taints being due to TCA.

TCA creates a distinct musty, damp cardboard, or wet dog aroma. TCA is highly potent and detectable by smell at extremely low concentrations (parts per trillion), ruining wines' aromas and flavour, typically by masking fruit profiles.

2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) is the primary chemical responsible for cork taint in wine. This chemical derives from the interaction of airborne moulds with chlorinated phenolic compounds, often found in natural corks, winery barrels, or wooden pallets.

Not only *did* they start this war, they have no idea how to finish it.

who made this

😘😘

+ enantiomer of cis-rose oxide (2D)

+ enantiomer of cis-rose oxide (2D)

The German name Gewürztraminer literally means 'spice Traminer' or 'perfumed Traminer', 1st established in Germany in the 16th century. This grape variety is a mutation of the Savagnin blanc (NOT Sauvignon Blanc) known in German as the Traminer, from Tramin, the name of a village in South Tyrol.

- enantiomer of cis-rose oxide (2D)

A ratio around 70:30 (favouring the − (2S,4R)-rose oxide enantiomer) is linked to the classic lychee aromas of Gewürztraminer wines. It is indeed the same chemical responsible for the predominant aroma and taste of lychees!

- enantiomer of cis-rose oxide (3D)

Gewürztraminer wines have the highest concentrations of a chemical called cis-rose oxide, often showing a higher percentage of the (−)-cis isomer, which is crucial for the characteristic lychee-like aroma of this wine varietal.

Please do it!

Definitely!

Maybe time to put this book to good use?

Soon please!

Ah well, this was a good thing to do on a wet, cold Sunday afternoon in Franschhoek!

Certainly true ...

Apparently a Hibiscus and a Calliandra ... please advise if you disagree!

Well, we do have to hope so ... !

Nice ...

An optimistic perspective ... ?
(Franschhoek, South Africa)

Forbidding ... ?
(Franschhoek, South Africa)

Should be a lot of fun playing through this (for the first ever time) in a few weeks ... ! A spot of work to be done practising when I get back home!

and also will outlive every autocracy too!

Pleasing vista ...
(Franschhoek, South Africa)

Moon and Jupiter ...

Surreal ...
(Franschhoek, South Africa, 27th February 2026, 2000hrs)

Impressive ...
(Franschhoek, South Africa)