God Save the Queen

Today I decided to go wine shopping, specifically sparkling wine shopping.  H is away working and I thought that wine shopping would be a good activity to take advantage of not being in the Middle East.  First off, I walked to the wine store and walking anywhere in Qatar was nearly impossible due to the lack of sidewalks, the heat, and the insane drivers, many of whom would actually speed up on the rare occasion that they saw a pedestrian or cyclist crossing the road in front of them.  Secondly, I can actually buy wine here.  In Qatar there was one liquor store which you needed a license to shop at and our license was in H's name.  Thus wine shopping was an activity I couldn't do alone.

After breakfast this morning I set out in beautiful, sunny, 70° spring winter weather for the wine store.  And what did I find?

Queen Adelaide Sparkling Wine.  I had to get it.  I've found that Australians are on occasion more nostalgic for all things British than actual British people are and this wine exemplifies that.  Google Queen Adelaide and you'll find that she is best remembered in Australia, specifically Southern Australia, which was founded during the brief reign of her husband, King William IV, and where the capital city of Adelaide is named after her.  You'll also find that once his marriage to Adelaide was arranged, the future King wrote to one of his 10 illegitimate children that, "Adelaide is doomed, poor dear innocent young creature, to be my wife."  Tell me, is this really something to toast to?