Massive stars, massive close binaries, Massive stars, massive close binaries, Wolf-Rayet stars, stellar winds, mass loss Wolf-Rayet stars, stellar winds, mass loss in hot stars, stellar wind theories were in hot stars, stellar wind theories were hot topics during the eighties and many hot topics during the eighties and many symposia were devoted to this types of symposia were devoted to this types of researchresearch

Theories -sometimes controversial- were Theories -sometimes controversial- were developed and defended with enthusiasmdeveloped and defended with enthusiasm

Ed:Ed: X-rays will appear near the end of close binary evolution X-rays will appear near the end of close binary evolution when the initial secondary approaches its Roche lobewhen the initial secondary approaches its Roche lobe

He strongly argued that given the time scales there ought to be He strongly argued that given the time scales there ought to be many more OB- stars with NS (or BH) companions which had many more OB- stars with NS (or BH) companions which had not yet begun to to produce X-raysnot yet begun to to produce X-rays

PeterPeter ContiConti felt that this could not be right felt that this could not be right

As we know now, the X-ray production As we know now, the X-ray production starts pretty early in the process after the starts pretty early in the process after the

production of the NS (BH) production of the NS (BH)

And the (initial secondary) wind is already And the (initial secondary) wind is already blowing and feeding the collapsed object,blowing and feeding the collapsed object,

We went for an excursion on a boat. During that excursion We went for an excursion on a boat. During that excursion Peter and Ed had a vivid discussion on this particular Peter and Ed had a vivid discussion on this particular point, and this led to a bet: point, and this led to a bet:

Ed’s statement: There are at least 10 (maybe 5) OB stars in Ed’s statement: There are at least 10 (maybe 5) OB stars in the Bright Star Catalogue (brighter than V=6,5) that have the Bright Star Catalogue (brighter than V=6,5) that have NS (BH) companions, but no X-raysNS (BH) companions, but no X-rays

Peter did not agreePeter did not agree The bet was to check this within two years (1985) the loser The bet was to check this within two years (1985) the loser

should offer a bottle of Romanéeshould offer a bottle of Romanée-Conti-Conti I should be refereeI should be referee We thought, simple minds as we are, that the price was We thought, simple minds as we are, that the price was

something like 50 $ something like 50 $

The rest of the story occurs in Boulder

Ed buys a bottle of Romanée-Conti....

So, Ed asked AnneMike, when she went to the grocers to get her purchases for the kitchen, to add a case of Romanée-Conti. In the shop she was sent over to a wine store. She was greeted with consternation over her request for a case, but she managed to get a single bottle for a few hundred $.When Peter and Carolyn were both in Holland Ed gave them the bottle and they brought it home.It rested a year or two and was opened when Ed, myself and my spouse were in Boulder for a conference at the university.Carolyn had cooked for the five of us. Only the poor AnneMike was lacking at the party.

lucky referee

happy winnersad loser

apploading spouse

Now, Peter and I feel a little bit guilty: Now, Peter and I feel a little bit guilty: the poor guy Ed had to take a mortgage the poor guy Ed had to take a mortgage on his house to pay off the price of a on his house to pay off the price of a RomanRomanée-Conti (at this moment it is ée-Conti (at this moment it is approximately 3750 € or 5000 $)approximately 3750 € or 5000 $)

So we offer him a new bottle of wine ... So we offer him a new bottle of wine ...

Of a special year from a special chateauOf a special year from a special chateau