‘Maybe you should talk to someone,’ Cabernet Sauvignon & the necessity of structure.

The last two weeks have drifted by in a not altogether unpleasant blur. After begging for more time for the duration of the year (read: my life), the sudden arrival of unmarked time ad infinitude has somehow stumped me completely.

Perhaps, the true value of free time can only be harnessed when we know it won’t last forever? This has proved to be the most relevant story for me so far…

Educational theory makes the claim that humans are often their most creative when presented with possibility within limits.

For example, give a child a blank page and tell them they can draw anything they like. For many, this may be a daunting process. Instead, give the child an instruction like, draw an animal you like; or, draw something you saw today… The possibilities are now more accessible.

When the terms of this lock-down were presented to me, I was the kid staring at the blank page wondering what the fuck I was supposed to draw.

What do you mean I don’t have to do ANYTHING?

Now that I have permission to do nothing, I desire structure more than ever before. Apparently, the jokes on me.

At the rate at which I’m reading books, I have gratefully been turned on to the glory that is the bookswap. It is not only essential for cost cutting but also an exciting way to end up with books you may never have picked up otherwise.

It turns out ‘Maybe you Should Talk to Someone’ is the perfect read for someone busy having a tantrum about an excess of free time (yes, that’s me). Whether you like it or not, it will force you to think about what motivates your own behaviour and what you want from your life.

It will compel you to at least consider you own shit. Naturally, if you’re not up for that, you can put your shit right back on the shelf where it was before and collect it later, if and when you’re ready.

I love books that want to wade in the gloriously mucky territory of the human psyche and this book is certainly one of those.

It is written by a medically-trained writer about her professional journey as a practicing therapist and simultaneous experience of her own therapy. It begins with the author’s break-up with a long-term partner that leads her to seek solace with a therapist recommended by a colleague.

This book is unabashedly American in its commitment to the intellectual value of self-analysis and I found myself buying in hook, line and sinker. The emotional weight of these stories lend themselves well to the heavy emotional climate of our current life and times. If you are up for a good cry, this will not fail you.

This book combines the charm and complexity of human experience (and suffering) with compelling narration and characters to really sink your teeth into. Don’t be perturbed by its garish marketing, ‘Maybe you Should Talk to Someone’ is an all-American tale of the best kind that will get you in the feels and then gracefully deliver you to hope. It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year so far.

To match the intensity of this book, I poured myself a giant glass of Dormilona’s Cabernet Sauvignon. Jospehine Perry steers the ship at Dormilona Wines in Margaret River and I have harboured a distant crush on her and her wines since I first tasted Orenji sometime last year.

As I discovered in a podcast with Jo, Dormilona means ‘lazy bones’ which is a nickname she acquired during her time learning to make wine in Spain. The story goes that her Australian habit of rising early in the morning did not match well with the Spanish tradition of rising late, eating dinner late and going to be late. In the evenings, Jo would find herself falling asleep much earlier than her colleagues and thus her nickname as such.

I’m not entirely sure if I’ve got that story right but the point is, little stories like these about winemakers are part of the reason I’e fallen in love with the wine world so much.

Cute stories aside, Jo’s wines are low-intervention, high-quality and bloody good value. I ordered a little six pack online that arrived right on time to drink this weekend. I opened the Cab Sav first not really knowing what was in store and I was pleasantly surprised.

It is big and fruity as you would expect but not in that overpowering way that often steers me clear of this kind of grape. I can’t believe how much I loved it!

And having so enjoyed this wine that I anticipated I would like least, I can only imagine what’s in store as I work my way through my Dormilona wine cellar.

Lucky me: wine and reading, the structure I seek x