Robert K Stephen (CSW)

RKS Literature: The Scramble for a Living in London’s Street Markets (Henry Mayhew)

“Each salesman tries his utmost to sell his wares, tempting the passers-by with his bargains. The boy with his stock of herbs offers ‘a double ‘andful of fine parsley for a penny;’ the man with a donkey cart filled with turnips has three lads to shout for him to their utmost with their ‘ Ho!Continue reading “RKS Literature: The Scramble for a Living in London’s Street Markets (Henry Mayhew)”

RKS 2026 Film: “Holy Days”: Raunchy Roman Catholic Nuns’ Road Trip?

Sister Agnes (Judy Davis), Sister Luke (Miriam Margolyes) and Sister Marie Claire (Jacki Weaver) are in1974 New Zealand the sole remaining nuns at Sister Suzanne’s currently serving a lesser purpose caring for orphans and abandoned children once undertaken 5 decades earlier. There is no remaining clientele. The new archbishop and Father Findlay (Jonny Brugh), theContinue reading “RKS 2026 Film: “Holy Days”: Raunchy Roman Catholic Nuns’ Road Trip?”

RKS 2026 ONTARIO Wine: leaning post’s Cuvée Winona from Niagara, Ontario

80% Merlot. 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. 680 cases were produced. Aroma: Plummy. Red cherry. Raspberry. Strawberry. Rhubarb. Palate: Merlotish (if such a word exists). Smoky and lush. Bring on Sammy Davis and Peter Lawford at The Sands in a smoky bar (such bars no longer exist). Loads of red cherry. Mid weight.Continue reading “RKS 2026 ONTARIO Wine: leaning post’s Cuvée Winona from Niagara, Ontario”

RKS Poetry Anthology (All We Get Are The Coffee Grinds): Will you kindly SHUT UP (COVID MEMORIES)

Will you kindly SHUT UP (COVID MEMORIES) Living the COVID imprisoned life hardly pleasant With too many thinking these bloody medicos turning statisticians are heaven sent But incessant “public service messaging” is making one’s mind bent Threatening if we do not obey we will all be deceased by Lent This public service chattering verging onContinue reading “RKS Poetry Anthology (All We Get Are The Coffee Grinds): Will you kindly SHUT UP (COVID MEMORIES)”

RKS Literature: London as Seen from a Balloon (Henry Mayhew)

“…..to grasp it in the eye-to take, as it were, an angel’s view of that huge town where, perhaps, there is more virtue and more inequity, more wealth and more want, brought together in one dense focus than in any other part of the earth-to hear the hubbub of the restless sea of life andContinue reading “RKS Literature: London as Seen from a Balloon (Henry Mayhew)”

RKS Literature: The Spice Cover Up in Street Pies! (Henry Mayhew)

“The pies in Tottenham-court-road are very highly seasoned. “I bought one there the other day, and it nearly took the skin off my mouth; it was full of pepper’ said a street pieman, with considerable bitterness, to me. The reason why so large a quantity of pepper is put in is, because persons can’t tellContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Spice Cover Up in Street Pies! (Henry Mayhew)”

RKS Literature: Meow Meow and Woof Woof in Street Pies! DENIED! (Henry Mayhew)

“The pie dealers usually make the pies themselves. The meat is bought in ‘pieces’ of the same part as sausage-makers purchase- the ‘sticklings’- at about 3d the pound. ‘People when I go into houses’ said one man ‘often begin by crying “Mee-yow” or “Bow-wow-wow! At me; but there’s nothing of that kind now. Meat youContinue reading “RKS Literature: Meow Meow and Woof Woof in Street Pies! DENIED! (Henry Mayhew)”

RKS Literature: The Itinerant Trade of Pies in Old London (Henry Mayhew)

“The itinerant trade in pies is one of the most ancient of the street callings in London. The meat pies are made of beef or mutton; the fish pies of eels; the fruit of apples, currants, gooseberries, plums, damsons, cherries, raspberries or rhubarb, according to the season-and occasionally of mincemeat. A few years ago theContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Itinerant Trade of Pies in Old London (Henry Mayhew)”

RKS 2026 ONTARIO WINE: Yes We Have Gamay in Canada! leaning post Gamay From Niagara, Ontario

There is more to Niagara Falls than water! There are many wineries in and around Niagara Falls. There are numerous historical sights. There are a plethora of dining options. What a shame the Canadian government and local tourist promotional bodies are limping behind the surge in wine tourism. One the first wineries I encounter onContinue reading “RKS 2026 ONTARIO WINE: Yes We Have Gamay in Canada! leaning post Gamay From Niagara, Ontario”

RKS Literature: The Regalness of Sperm Oil! (Herman Melville)

“But the only thing to be considered here, is this-what kind of oil is used at coronations? Certainly it cannot be olive oil, nor macassar oil, nor bear’s oil, nor train oil, nor cod liver oil. What then can it possibly be, but sperm oil in its unmanufactured, unpolluted state, the sweetest of all oils?Continue reading “RKS Literature: The Regalness of Sperm Oil! (Herman Melville)”