H-Day

The cycle comes to completion. The new harvest started today at 6:00. As usual our contract harvest team arrived on time and efficiently took to the task. The temperatures are moderate too.
Last minute repairs on the cooling plant was successful thanks to Mr. Burke senior, Sydney's dad who came all the way from Simonstown to help, and what a fantastical job
he did! Hardly any of our workers could keep up with the old man. He is so moderate and knowledgeable and a real powerhouse when it comes to a task and working out a problem. It is a privilege for me to know him. The little video sequence shows Hendrik pushing 25Kg baskets into the crusher destorker (separates the grapes from the woody parts and cracking the skins slightly open). Although early to say but it promises to be a good quality year. The grapes look healthy.
One spanner in the wheels was Anchor Yeast's (delivers yeasts) attitude and bureaucratic handling procedures. Not only did we had to pay upfront (which we did 6 days ago) and are customers for the last 14 years they still won't deliver until a fax with proof of payment has been forwarded, never mind having our money in their account or taking a look at their bank statements. When asked at 9:00 to please immediately deliver as we need the order now today, they could not make it possible to deliver one parcel from Epping to Wellington. Poor show - maybe it would help Anchor Yeast to have more meetings - improve on their BEE score card - send more reps to make more promises - instead of getting the job done.