'Tis the Season

Two Christmas parties. Both for my two-year-old daughter's friends in the hood.

The first, financed by the government. Perhaps in exchange for the enormous taxes levied on English citizens. Despite political backing, the celebration was decidedly not PC. First of all, the party was officially called a "Christmas Party…" not a holiday gathering or a festive celebration… or even a winter warmer.

Also, about one-third of goers were Muslim, BTW. The role of the so-called pagan symbol of Christian authority, Santa, was in fact, played by a Hindu woman. (Zeena did OK, but should Father Christmas really be wearing high heels?)

Who cares? Let's party.

The second party was at the Palace. The Palace is a place where children with learning disabilities can go… to be themselves. And, their parents can feel normal. Having a chid that isn’t 'normal' (the mildest Palace cases are Down's syndrome, Autism -- the worst are, well, the worst) can be hard on a parent. So a little party to blow off some steam, for parent and child, is worth its weight in wiseman gold.

My daughter is 'normal' by said standards, no disabilities, but my production company, Crescent City, donates to the Palace. So we are always welcome. At any rate, it's one of the neatest places on earth.

At the Palace, no one feels special. And that's the point. There are no rules, yet children wait in line, they don’t push or bite. Everything is sorted, by itself. Having no rules at the Palace has made it, strangely, an oasis of playful order.

No wonder its going broke.

But the raffle was fun, even though the kids with OCD ate all the fried shrimp.

I paid £1 for a raffle ticket. There were about ten prizes and some were way flash. The first winner got to choose their prize. A stuffed lion that came in its own suitcase. Easily the pick of the litter.

Other winners came and went. The 'Electroglobe 3000,' was snatched up quickly, followed by a life-sized Galileo thermostat.

Finally, with no hope of winning, yours truly decided to take a seat. A winner was called with two prizes left. She chose the 'Pingu' season two DVD. The gift secretly wanted for my little girl.

One gift left. The last number called.

Bingo!

Went to collect my prize, the one no one else wanted: a bottle of 2005 Italian Job Sangiovese Zinfandel. Yes, a bottle of wine as a raffle prize at a kids party. Obviously meant for me. Even the raffle caller said, "the wine writer won the bottle of wine?"

Italian Job is a grapey table wine from anywhere in Italy. It is bold and expressive, with a touch of tar, but lacks finesse. Drink this table wine now, as it will spoil hours after opening. If won in a raffle, it represents the best value for a wine one could ever hope to have. 'The Italian Job,' £1, 8.0.

Irony, priceless.

Also, 2004 Bonterra Merlot, Mendocino County for £8. Ripe red cherry, with a flair of cherry coke. Maybe too much French oak. Very aromatic, and a stunner for the price. Highly recommended and extremely classy for California at this price range. 8.8