Author Archives: Catherine Holdsworth
Cersei is about to discover that karma’s a bitch (season 5, episode 7)
26 May 2015 by Catherine Holdsworth in Entertainment, Game of Thrones on Business
WARNING SPOILERS
You’d be forgiven for thinking that last night’s episode of Game of Thrones was more Gladiator than Westeros but the pace was picking up for the key characters. While Jon headed off to recruit the Wildlings, Samwell had a very good and very bad time, and Sansa’s situation has gone from bad to worse. Tyrion has finally come face to face with the queen across the sea and we will have to wait another week to find out whether our personal hero, Jorah will be forgiven by Daenerys.
Forgiveness is not a theme that appears often in this series and characters are more likely to get their heads chopped off before experiencing redemption. However, we are hoping that Daenerys forgives Jorah for his treachery, it would seem that though his past sins had come back to haunt him, he has more than atoned for them since.
A character not so familiar with atoning for her sins, though, is Cersei, Queen Mother and, until recently, the most powerful woman in King’s Landing. In an earlier blog post, we wrote about how her alliance with the High Sparrow was a dangerous one to make, forging alliances with those in haste for a quick fix are likely to end in disaster. With Queen Margery in jail and King Tommen powerless before the mighty High Sparrow, Cersei is beginning to regret sending her only ally, Jaime to Dorne. We ended last night’s episode with Cersei locked in a jail cell, where she now has plenty of time to think about all the cruel things she has done over the past few seasons, to name a few: lying to Westeros about the paternity of her children; sleeping with her twin brother; torturing Sansa and conspiring to have her husband killed.
Cersei has never been the most rational of women and has failed many times to put her people before her own interests. It’s tough at the top, when you’re top dog, there’s lots of pressure to remain there, rather than be usurped by those who are against you. It is undeniable that Cersei has never been the easiest character to warm to, but one has to admire the way she has handled herself in a man’s world.
There is no way out, it would seem, for the once-powerful Lannisters. Gone are the days when Tywin’s arrival at a battle saves the day, or when Jaime can get away with pushing Ned Stark’s son out of a window. As Lady Olenna learnt last night, the High Sparrow cannot be bought with jewels and riches. He does not want material things. I suspect that this series will end with the fate of King’s Landing much worse off than it was with two boy kings in succession.
This latest episode began at Castle Black in snowfall, winter is definitely coming and its arrival in imminent. With King’s Landing in turmoil, Strannis marching on Winterfell and Jon heading north of the wall, the future of Westeros is on the edge of a precipice and only one thing is certain, not everyone will make it to season six.
Madeira by Richard Mayson
22 May 2015 by Catherine Holdsworth in Classic Wine Library
New book on the wines of Madeira is essential reading for holidaymakers and wine lovers
They say that a fine wine gets better with age and of no wine is this more true than it is for madeira. Not only does madeira require cask-ageing in order to acquire its unique ‘maderised’ taste but, unlike most other wines, it retains that taste for many years, even several centuries. For heat and air, the sworn enemies of most wines and winemakers, conspire to turn Madeira into one of the most enthralling of the world’s wines as well as the most resilient. Madeira wines from the nineteenth and even the eighteenth centuries still retain an ethereal, youthful gloss. Once the cork is removed, the wine comes to no harm, even if the bottle is left open and on ullage for months on end. If ever there was a wine to take to a desert island this is it.
Award-winning wine writer Richard Mayson, the author of Madeira: the islands and their wines (published on 22 May 2015), has been exploring the world of madeira for twenty-five years and describes it as ‘one of the world’s most mystical and miraculous wines’. Madeira is indeed a much-loved fortified wine with a history that is as deeply embedded in American as European culture (for instance, did you know that it was George Washington’s favourite drink and used to toast the American Independence in 1776?) and it’s currently making a comeback. In this timeless book on an ageless wine Mayson takes the reader on a thrilling journey through the rich and turbulent history of the islands of Madeira, from its discovery by the Moors in the fourteenth century to the present day and its draw as a popular tourist destination.
Mayson describes the physical character of the archipelago, the state of the vines and vineyards and the way in which the wines are made. A guide to current producers follows along with a detailed appraisal of their range of wines. There is also a chapter for collectors of older wines, many from shippers that no longer exist but whose names live on in bottles of wine that are still found in cellars all over the world. Wines dating as far back as the eighteenth century are featured in the book, along with quality appraisals. There is a short section on the language of tasting madeira as well as information on buying, keeping and serving the wines. The book closes with a travel guide for anyone visiting the islands.
This is the latest book in Infinite Ideas’ highly popular Classic Wine Library and is an essential addition to the shelf of any wine lover.
Madeira: the islands and their wines is available now, if you wish to order from Infinite Ideas, call +44 (0)1865 514888 or email info@infideas.com
Sansa’s luck is running out (season 5, episode 6)
19 May 2015 by Catherine Holdsworth in Business and finance, Entertainment, Game of Thrones on Business
WARNING, SPOILERS
Last night’s episode of Game of Thrones season 5 could have been the most disturbing yet. I am currently in mourning thinking of the fate of my future husband Jorah and his current sidekick Tyrion, who is heading for sale by cock-merchant. The only light relief in episode 6 was Bronn and Jaime’s bromance which looks likely to end very soon.
However, it is Sansa’s fate that is the cruellest of all. It is clear that Lord Baelish never had her best interests at heart when he sold her to Roose Bolton as a daughter-in law. Her engagement to Ramsay Bolton (/Snow) is the third in the series and the worst yet. The only redeeming quality that Ramsay has is to make King Joffrey look desirable. So she is now married to the most sadistic man in Westeros and her luck is running out. As she remarked to her new husband, though she did not want to marry Tyrion, he was at least kind and did not touch her. The same cannot be said for Ramsay, who raped her in front of her sort-of brother Theon/Reek. It was then, more than ever, that Theon should have remembered himself and finally avenged the hurt that Ramsay had caused him.
Though living in King’s Landing was incredibly unpleasant for Sansa, Rebecca Clare, co-author of Game of Thrones on Business suggests that, “In the vicious world of Westeros, where professional development is scarce, the King’s Landing mentoring programme may be [Sansa’s] best chance of survival”. Under Cersei’s guidance, Sansa was being prepared for a marriage of convenience and learnt how to live as a woman in a man’s world.
Of course, arranged marriages are nothing new, you only have to look at a history of the British Royal Family to see that marriage was another tool in their arsenal to ensure political harmony, financial gain and an excellent line of succession. Sansa has been a victim several times over. Now that she is back in her home of Winterfell, she is more vulnerable than ever. Sure, her marriage to Ramsay should, in theory, keep her safe, but it was clear from this episode that Lord Baelish has no qualms about selling her out for his own gain. Little Finger is playing the long game, he is in this for all he can get and has perfectly manoeuvred his pawn Sansa into the Bolton’s hands. What choice did she have but to walk down that aisle?
Only Theon knows that the younger Stark boys are still alive and given that Bran has not appeared in this series yet, I think it’s safe to say that he is not really a threat to taking back Winterfell. Sansa’s other brother, the illegitimate Jon Snow is too preoccupied at The Wall to help out his sister, that is if he even knows she’s alive. Perhaps it would have been better for Sansa if Jon had accepted Stannis’ offer of legitimacy and marched on Winterfell. Only time will tell how Sansa’s story will end, but if the fate of her other family members is anything to go by, she doesn’t have long.
However, Sansa is not naive. In the past four and a half seasons, she has survived some pretty dire situations. She has been mentored by the ultimate matriarch, Cersei Lannister, and is incredibly strong. From the first season, she has been separated from her family, she has had to think for herself. She is a singular unit, a city-state. By all accounts, she should be dead already, but she isn’t. She has a price on her head and is wanted for killing King Joffrey, but yet still she endures. Though her wedding night to her new husband was difficult to watch, we haven’t seen the end of Sansa yet. But, then again, all men must die, so perhaps her end is nigh…
Will Prince Charles be an authentic leader?
13 May 2015 by Catherine Holdsworth in Authentic leadership, Current events
After a decade-long battle with the Guardian, Prince Charles’ ‘spider memos’ are finally going to be published today. They reveal correspondences between the prince and members of Parliament between 2004 and 2005, when Tony Blair was in power. There were many controversial things that happened during Blair’s tenure, not least of which the war in Iraq.
So what’s the big deal? Well, it’s well known that the royal family are not allowed to vote and the queen in particular must demonstrate political neutrality. It is tradition, however, for the newly elected Prime Minister to have an audience with the queen where she will ask him or her to form a new government. She meets with the Prime Minister frequently, as you’ll know if you saw The Queen or the critically acclaimed The Audience in the West End. For over sixty years, Elizabeth II has been Britain’s head of state and seen many changes over the years. Nevertheless, her position of neutrality, coupled with many years of democratic experience, gives the queen the unique position of being able to offer sound advice to the current Prime Minister.
Charles, it is well known, has been second in line to the throne for an unbearably long time. His road to monarch has not been easy but he has, in the past few years, improved his public image (after the post-Diana years) and taken on more duties as the queen gets older. The revelation that he had a hand in government, was able to influence politicians, is a little alarming. The modern monarchy are certainly different to their forebears, and the queen now even has Twitter. However, at the beginning of David Cameron’s second term as Prime Minister, and not to mention the timely addition of another baby in line to the throne, Prince Charles must demonstrate that he is above the crowd and able to rule (should the opportunity arise) with humility and indifference to the changing British political landscape.
Everyone has opinions, and it is most likely that Prince Charles, at the right hand of his mother, is more clued-up on what goes on in government than most. But to lead, he must be authentic. There is no doubt that the queen possesses the qualities of an authentic leader; I doubt there are many other people who could go about their duties and live under as much scrutiny as she has endured for over half a century. Charles, with his son and grandson set to follow in his footsteps, must set an example for them to follow. The monarchy will always be at the pinnacle of British society, but to endure, they most not upset the apple-cart.
Is David Cameron an authentic leader?
8 May 2015 by Catherine Holdsworth in Authentic leadership, Business and finance, Current events
All across Britain this morning, we woke to the sounds not of ‘hung parliament’, but of ‘overwhelming majority’. Who would have thought it only a week ago that the Conservative party would not only win the election but do so in such a convincing fashion? Only a few days ago, Nick Clegg was telling anyone that would listen that David Cameron did not believe his party would win outright.
Today’s result marks a startling contrast to the kerfuffle of the 2010 election, where parties were at a stalemate and desperately scrambling to make friends and form a coalition, today Cameron stands tall and accepts his victory with (hardly any) grace. It was a dirty election. To be honest, I could not tell you what any of the main parties’ policies were since the campaign trail dissolved so quickly into character-bashing and grandiose attempts to make the other leaders look worse than each other.
Once again, ladies and gentlemen, this country is going to be run by the upper echelons of society. Those people who schmoozed each other at Eton and enjoy the comfort of not having to pay bedroom tax are now more secure than ever in a position of power. Do we really want George Osborne as Chancellor? The man has never had to budget in his life. No Tesco’s basics beans for him, oh no. But then we come to David Cameron, a man who made Margaret Thatcher look charismatic. Has he ever had to choose between going on holiday or fixing his house? Has he ever had to save every penny he’s earned to afford a mortgage? This is the man that the UK has for the next five years. A party so out of touch with the people seemed to win this election.
Seven years since the 2008 recession and the country is still feeling the pinch. Inflation and VAT is at an all time high with house prices rising at an exponential rate. With the everyday person now not predicted to own a house until they’re in their late thirties, what is David Cameron going to do to help the country back to being ‘Great’? Has anybody forgotten what stellar ethics he possesses by keeping Rebekah Brooks in his pocket? Or lauding it about in the countryside with his incredibly polite and pleasant pal, Jeremy Clarkson? Does anybody remember when Cameron employed now-convicted criminal Andy Coulson? I’m sure these were all oversights.
Only time will tell as to how much of a danger the landslide victory for the SNP will be in Scotland. It would seem that Cameron’s grovelling to keep the UK together is far from over. With five more years under this government, Cameron needs to emerge as a leader that we all have confidence in, not just those who will benefit from the cut in inheritance tax. Cameron now has a majority win, he no longer needs propping up with a deputy Prime Minister. He is desperate for power, that’s for certain, but can he prove himself to be authentic? If the past five years have anything to prove, it’s that Cameron doesn’t like to upset the Fat Cats, those with influence, he will defend his friends rather than speak up for what is right and moral. The next five years may well be even more trying for this government than the last five years. David Cameron must learn to put his ego aside and lead for all the people, not just those with power and influence.
If it all goes to hell, we’re planning on moving across the pond to vote for Hillary!
Cersei’s alliance with the High Sparrow is at a tipping point (Game of Thrones season 5, episode 4)
5 May 2015 by Catherine Holdsworth in Business and finance, Entertainment, Game of Thrones on Business
WARNING SPOILERS
Last night’s episode of Game of Thrones was a rollercoaster of action and plot developments. The series is finally picking up momentum with uprisings in King’s Landing and across the sea in Meereen. While Daenerys’ servant leadership style worked well in the beginning, those who disagree with her management style have finally begun to rise up. The episode had a religious-extremism quality to it, with the Sons of the Harpy avenging the toppling of their idol in Essos and the High Sparrow commanding his followers to begin to stir up the status quo in Westeros. It was an emotional finale, finally confirming that this series has divorced itself from the books and killing off two important characters. Poor Grey Worm. Daenerys is going to be left with little leverage to refuse Jorah when he returns. The unsullied are dwindling in numbers. (Sidenote: we really liked Jorah’s skirt; it takes a real man to pull off such an outfit when at sea!)
So back to King’s Landing where Cersei seems to have sold her soul, quite literally, to religious extremists. It’s one thing to want to take revenge against the daughter-in-law from hell, but it’s quite another to make a deal with the devil (ahem, the High Sparrow) in an effort to assert one’s superiority over the King’s Court. Now that the numbers of the Small Council have fallen to just two (and what influence does doddering Grand Maester Pycelle really have?) Cersei is running the Court of the King with an iron fist. Now that Sir Loras has been imprisoned, Margery is compromised and Cersei has the upper hand.
However, the danger of making a deal with one as powerful as the High Sparrow is that alliances of convenience can turn on you just as quickly. Unless you hold the power, you are at the mercy of your alliance. The followers of the High Sparrow, weird monk-like extremists, are the unsullied of Westeros, willing to maim themselves for their master. Even the King is powerless before them. Though the alliance was convenient for Cersei in the beginning, this is a dangerous coalition as Cersei is now alone in the court. With Jaime gone and her father dead, her list of allies is very small indeed. What would the High Sparrow make of the (true) rumours about her and Jaime? Will Cersei survive this season? With only a week left of the Tory/Lib Dem coalition of 2010, and the political parties of the UK gearing up for polling day, it would seem that coalitions are forming everywhere. David Cameron was outed as having confessed that he did not believe that his party would again win the election outright. If we’ve learnt anything from the last coalition, it’s that it was a marriage of convenience, much like Cersei and Robert Baratheon. Eventually cracks will begin to show if you cannot work alongside your ally. Cersei’s latest partnership could prove to be more destructive than the last.
Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Cersei is about to pay for having too much power for far too long.