Travels to a Different Time:11July2005 Viano do Castelo/Ponte de Lima, Portugal

All of us had a good sleep and up at 09:00 a bit groggy. We could have slept more but best get acclimatized to the 6-hour time difference sooner or later. Greeted by a very elegant dining room for breakfast. There are about 15 tables and all with a view of the town below. We enjoyed a superb buffet breakfast out on the veranda. Some choices of food included fresh fruit salad, sausages, scrambled eggs, bacon, Portuguese ham, cakes, cheeses and an extensive selection of fresh bread. I had a fantastic café au lait. After breakfast we walked down the steps from the pousada to the Basilica de Santa Luiza which was completed in 1926 and is modeled after the Sacre Coeur in Paris. Immaculate and beautifully landscaped and the mobs of Portuguese tourists here on Sunday, the day we arrived, were nowhere to be seen. We had the basilica to ourselves. It is very small with only 14 pews with a large domed ceiling with a picture of Jesus on it in its centre. I think Santa Luiza is the patron saint of the sick. At one point there were several limping Portuguese walking up the steps of the basilica. The grounds are full of eucalyptus trees. Excellent view of the coast below but our rom has an even more spectacular view. We can see the coast on the Atlantic and the town below. We had four Sumols in a café outside the basilica then returned to our pousada and drove to Ponte de Lima some 40 kms distance. Ponte de Lima has a famous bridge something to do with lovers. The youngsters of the village were swimming in the river below.

There is a huge outdoor market set up along the river with countless stalls with canvas awnings for shade.  You can buy anything here. After browsing had coffee and pastries. Small streets in the town very European but here not so charming.

Returned to the pousada for dinner. I had the cabrito (baby goat). Alex and Andrew had the giant prawns. There was a dessert buffet with 9 different cheeses ranging from mild to pungent. I had no idea the Portuguese are cheese lovers. Every morning for breakfast we have a very mild goat cheese. Played some pool before retiring for the night.

“Reggie The Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: What Makes Me Happy? Chapter Fifty Six (56)

I am a happy and grateful dog. That Rottenwiler dog that bit me so badly in Cairo in some fashion probably saved my life. I do not know how much longer I could have survived in the street. I forgive that dog as he was only doing his job guarding the market and I did steal some of his food. The result is that I am safe and in Canada. CANADA MAKES ME HAPPY!

I am so very happy to have such wonderful masters. They love me. I can tell that by the way they speak to me and how they treat me. I get lots of belly rubs and if you were a dog like me I think you would say there is nothing better.

I am happy about living with Dylan the Westie. He is a brave Scot with a heart of gold. He is so wise and helped me adapt to live with Bob and Fay. I would be lonely without him. He is the BEST dog in the world!

I am happy that I have so much good food to eat. No need to beg or fight for it. I love chicken kibble and that cool and clean Canadian water. On the streets of Cairo so much of the water is contaminated with bilharzia and a few of us died of poisoned water. So if I wax repeatedly about clean Canadian water in my bowl excuse me.  These treats I get are so yummy. I love turkey so much! And the morning treat of a piece of toast or bagel with a chunk of fruit makes every day extra special. Watermelon in the summer! I love carrots raw and cooked. I love cooked cauliflower and broccoli. Why not say I love human food! Bob and Fay are very careful not to feed me onions leeks, grapes, chocolate and garlic as they would make me sick.

I love my walks especially at the off-leash dog trail at Sherwood Park and the golf course when it’s closed to golfers. I love rolling in the snow there and running around with Dylan the Westie. We don’t run too far away as both Dylan the Westie and I have seen coyotes on the golf course.

I love my fame but not in a selfish way. The money raised for Reggie’s Dogs helps rescue dogs all over the world. And the story Bob wrote about me and the movie “Reggie The Egyptian Rescue Dog” that Disney released has helped educate the world about rescue dogs and even helped repair relations with Muslims and “the West” because I am after all a Muslim dog although I think that Allah, Jesus and all other Gods are identical.

I am happy my story and the film have delighted so many children. There is so much unhappiness in the world I know a bit of happiness can go a long way. I receive hundreds of letters a week from children asking a variety of questions including what makes me happy.

I love sleeping and a nap or two! And when I get to go under the covers with Dylan the Westie, Fay and Bob especially in the winter wowsers!

I love watching the news with Fay especially my favourite BBC News. And any show with dogs in it is so fun to watch although “Paw Patrol” is over the top.

I love car rides. Dylan the Westie does not like car rides especially when the car goes over bumps and is in reverse. The poor fellow moans.

You might sum it all up by saying I love my life and sharing some of it with you. And there are many of you. Bob’s book has been published in 32 different languages! Disney estimates close to a billion people have seen my movie!

And of course, I love my friend Bosco and his master Mr. Gordon Lightfoot whom I have got to know very well since we became neighbours. He is so kind and when he sings and plays his guitar it takes me to a peaceful place. I LOVE “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”!

Lest I forget my crew Penny, The Mookster, Ollie and Kit Kat. WE ARE THE RAT PACK.

I suppose what I should discuss next is what I don’t like.

RKS 2024 Film: “Sometimes I Think About Dying”: Triple Captivation

“Sometimes I Think About Dying” offers viewers triple captivation. Daisy Ridley as Fran captivates. The offbeat musical score captivates. The inventive and tight directing and writing captivates.

Fran is a most uncaptivating woman. Awkward, isolated, lonely and seemingly unable to make any meaningful human connection. In the midst of fellow workers at a small office she is the perpetual outsider nervously intertwining her feet when forced into any human interaction. And the incessant lip touching. She dreams of her death. Your interest begins to steamroll and Fran becomes entirely captivating as a spectator sport. What is it that causes this massive disconnect? Can she snap out of it? Like a moth to the flame, she draws you in almost obsessively. Ridley excels in the role of an introverted if not helpless character. You, like Fran, are almost fingering your lips in nervous anticipation as she meets a new office worker Robert Naser (Dave Merheje). Finally in fits and starts she transcends her alienation struggling to make a connection with Naser. Her anger is the first true emotion shown.

The musical score suits the quirky beat of the film. In fact it is captivating.

The writing and directing is equally captivating.

A beautiful and moving performance by Carol (Marcia De Bonis) as the retiring office worker simply must be flagged.

Limited theatrical run in Canada started on 9February2024.

Directed by Rachel Lambert.

RKS 2024 Film Rating: 94/100.  

RKS 2024 Wine: Bonarda A Second Fiddle to Malbec? Break Free from Malbec Hegemony!

In New Zealand Pinot Gris plays second fiddle to Sauvignon Blanc. In Argentina Bonarda plays second fiddle to Malbec. Don’t confuse volume of exports as the beacon for quality. Both Bonarda and Pinot Gris have their strong points but are they being trampled by retail stampedes (perhaps right over the cliff)?

Location of vineyard is Tupungato at a 1100 meter altitude.Vines were planted between 1977 and 1990. 15,000 bottles produced.

We try a Bonarda from Mendoza also the home of Argentinian Malbec.

Aroma: Ultra ripe raspberry complimented by blackberry, root beer, black cherry and dark chocolate.

Palate: While Malbec often exhibits lush and plush on the palate in a lazy fashion this Bonarda is more alert and sharply defined. Discrete and perky blackberry mingles with blueberry pie and raspberry tarts. Well integrated “everything” here. Moderately long finish. Full bodied with no flaws.

Personality: Strong, forceful but well behaved if not dignified.

Food Match: Grilled flank steak with chimichurri sauce with a red onion and cherry tomato salad on the side.

Cellarbility: Drink by 2026-year end.

Price: $16.95 CDN (Ontario).

RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 93/100. Jamessuckling.com 91.

(Ricardo Santos 2021 Tercos Bonarda, Bodega y Viñas Lunlunta, Mendoza, Argentina, 750 mL, 13.5%).

Comments from the peanut gallery: Break free, at least momentarily, of Malbec and try this delicious risk free Bonarda.

“Reggie The Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: We Are Proud of Mr. Gordon Lightfoot and Our Bosco!: Chapter Fifty Five (55)

You may recall Fay and Bob gave Bosco, my fellow Egyptian Rescue Dog, to our neighbour and very famous Canadian singer Mr. Gordon Lightfoot. We see our comrade Bosco and Mr. Gordon Lightfoot at least a couple of times a week for jasmine tea and cake from our favourite Toronto bakery “The Dessert Ladies”. Dylan the Westie and I bark for a song or two and Mr. Gordon Lightfoot knows we howl a few times with delight when we hear him sing “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”.

Bosco tells us he is so very happy living with Mr. Gordon Lightfoot. We see this great musician walking Bosco around the Bridle Path in Toronto and we often run into him there and at Sherwood Park at the off-leash dog trail. We all talk and us dogs check out all the other dogs. We are in heaven and I think Bob, Fay and Mr. Gordon Lightfoot are also in heaven seeing how happy we are. Life can be so good. I may have hobnobbed with some powerful people and even won a Nobel Peace Price but a snort or two of poop and piddle is not beyond me. I am “just a dog” after all.

One day Mr. Gordon Lightfoot appears at our door with VIP tickets to his 168th performance at Massey Hall which is opening in Toronto after three years of renovations and he will grace it with its first three performances.

We travel in Mr. Gordon Lightfoot’s limousine to Massey Hall and go backstage with him for a light sushi supper for the humans and deluxe chicken kibble and Greek spring water in our own separate bowls. Bob walks me, Bosco and Dylan the Westie before the show. Bosco sits at Mr. Gordon Lightfoot’s feet for the performance by this remarkable man in his 80’s. The crowd holds this musician in wonderment. After the last encore the crowd roars in applause and Mr. Gordon Lightfoot motions for Bob, Fay, Dylan the Westie and me Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog to join him on stage with Bosco. We dogs run around in circles and Mr. Gordon Lightfoot pets us and says to the audience that he has a special encore song for all the dogs in the world. It is “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”. This song brings down the house. We dogs can’t clap but get some good barks and howls in. Yes, life can be so good. Strangely had I not had that street dog experience in Egypt I wouldn’t have realized how good it can be. Life can be so bizarre!

We also took our recruit Poofy the Poodle for security training to the concert. Poofy is visiting us from Perth, Australia. He was with Virgil Cowala and his Gatorboys honing his skill in sea water crocodile management. We wonder if Poofy can make the grade and be welcomed into our Rat Pack? With his accent we can hardly understand Poofy.

“Travels to a Different Time” : 10July2005; Viano do Castelo, Portugal

08:30 arrival in Opporto. Climbed on a bus from the airplane to clear through immigration in the terminal building. A bit of a sour arrival as Andrew left his MP3 on the airplane. Apparently, Alex had borrowed it and returned to him when he was sleeping. Some cleaner no doubt will be listening to some good music. Took to the shuttle bus to Europcar picking up a Renault Megantic much to my chagrin as I was to have a Mercedes so we were short on trunk space so one suitcase ended up in the cabin. Damn North Americans with all their luggage.

Off for a 90-minute drive on a brand-new highway to Viano do Castelo. Portuguese at this early point in the trip drive either too slow or too fast. Total disregard for using turn signals but there are no weird or wild maniacs on the road. Up up the hill to our Pousada Santa Luz which overlooks the Atlantic and the coast below. Our pousada is a former convent on top of the mountain beside a huge monastery. Many buses full of Portuguese are visiting it. We had an hour wait for the room to be prepared. Alex and Andrew had their own room with two singles and we had a double. Very comfortable rooms with a tan colour throughout. 70 Euros a night. Alex, Andrew and I headed out in the blazing heat to the swimming pool and revived somewhat. Poor Fotini had crashed so being peckish Andrew, Alex and I headed down to a local restaurant down below called “O Pescador”. Had wine, soft drinks, fish patties, cheese, grilled seabass and seafood stew with a litre of spring water. A superb repast for 42 Euros. Returned back to Pousada for a crash out from 17:00-21:00. Groggily downed water watched television and slipped into oblivion and slept for 9 hours.

RKS 2024 Film: “The Great Salish Heist”: Of Rezy Indians, Well Meaning White Folks and Russian Mobsters

If you enjoy a good heist movie with tension, action, humour, sarcasm and more than a few double crosses you will enjoy the Canadian feature film “The Great Salish Heist”. No state secrets, secret and revealing information on a disc, gold or diamonds are the object of the heist.

Steve Joe (Darrell Dennis) is a traditional archeologist for the Moquahat peoples. In a tragic motor vehicle accident a drunk driver collides with his truck killing his son Daniel. Steve had previously dug up an ancient Moquahat mask and sold it for personal gain. He is convinced the ancestors have cursed him for the misappropriation of sacred property creating a cascade of misfortune. Can he placate the ancestors?

On the rez sits the Royal Western Canadian Museum which is shipping out a First Nations artifact exhibition for a European tour and for Steve removing the artifacts will cause ancestors to wreak havoc on the rez. The answer would be to “remove” them and replace them with replicas prior to their shipment to Europe. Steve assembles a far less than a crack heist team of rezy Indians. They may have the right spirit but as for skills they are seemingly inept.

Numerous complications arise to the extent that the planned heist appears in all respects doomed to failure. The viewer will enjoy all the twists and turns.

I can’t reveal the result but it is enjoyable entertainment with a well written screenplay. Aside from the sheer entertainment value there are juicy jibes at the Canadian Government and well-meaning white folks in the museum crowd. What is most refreshing is despite the many stereotypes portrayed here the Indigenous peoples are portrayed positively as savvy instead of in the oft miserable gloom and doom documentaries on Canadian Indigenous peoples. I am witnessing a series of emerging positive television series and films such as this one that don’t dwell on the misery and tragedy. Accordingly I appreciate the political statement made by “The Great Salish Heist” although it may be solely in my imagination.

“The Great Salish Heist” showed at the Victoria Film Festival and begins a limited Canadian theatrical release on 9March2024.

Directed and co-written by Darrell Dennis.

RKS 2024 Film Rating 88/100. 

“Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: Why Do (some) Humans Hate Dogs? Chapter Fifty Four (54)

In Egypt I was cursed, kicked, spat on and shot at. In many human eyes I am but a simple beast. Why was I thrown out in the street like an old rag? Why did animal control try to shoot and poison me? I can say you are mean you know whats. You are lowlife scum.

I mean as a dog we are companions to humans and in Egypt guardians of the tombs of the pharaohs! I have the blood of the ancient pharaohs in me but I was treated as some low life cockroach. You know all we dogs want is to be cared for and if I can be sappy, to be loved.

When I must go out and pee at 5 in the morning and bark to wake up Bob to take me out that is care and love. And to be taken up in the cold winter to snuggle under the covers that is love. And belly rubs!! So simple. So very simple but ignored all over the world not only in Egypt but in Canada and the United States.

What have we dogs done to deserve such abusive treatment? We are in your control and you hold our destiny in your hands. We are needing your love and compassion so why do some of you treat us so very badly? By doing so you show us and other caring humans you are not above the animal kingdom. You are scavengers and scum. Sorry but my anger is showing. I AM VERY ANGRY!

So why do you hate us you humans? Is it because we are animals you think are stupid? Excuse me humans. Those of you who abuse us are stupid and cruel. May the curse of the pharaohs visit your house! Those who abuse us are weak and seeking to exhibit power over us dogs.

But listen to me! There are those humans that love us dearly and treat us as a best friend and a precious soul. There are some of those in Egypt that are dedicated and caring so please I am not singling out Egyptians as canine killers. This sub strata of humanity lives throughout the world. For goodness sake in China, Vietnam, Korea and the Philippines we are treated as meat.

Travels to a Different Time: 9July2005 Departing Toronto for Lisbon: Airline Food and Its Contempt for Passengers: The Infernal Vacuum WC Flushes

Again always seem to be ready to depart at the very last minute before the airport taxi arrives. Managed to down a quick Martini but with no time to enjoy it. Lesson one is that Martinis are meant to be savoured although not so long they warm up.

Four people in the car with too much luggage so the driver had to fasten the trunk with a bungee cord. Arrived at Toronto Pearson Airport three hours prior to the flight departure. Sat waiting for some two hours eating a bag of cherries and reading the newspaper. Boarded the plane and my knees jammed up against the seat ahead of me. And what a treat 3 rows from the WC so I can hear each vacuum flush.

Dinner, if you wish to glorify pig slop by that name, was “sort of a beef stew”. What an insult airline food is to steerage class passengers. Pure contempt.

RKS 2024 Film: “Orah”: Omnipresent Corruption and Raw Justice: Mommy Vengeance!

“Orah” is a stellar Canadian-Nigerian co-production where Nigerian corruption meets Canadian-Nigerian raw justice.

Orah (Oyin Oladejo), a 15-year-old Nigerian, starts off the film by blasting vengeance style an older man sitting in a Lagos barber’s chair with a home-made shotgun. Considering who her victim was poetic justice is dished up in Lagos, Nigeria.

Teenage Orah is lured to Toronto, Canada by “an uncle” promising a career in fashion. Instead she is served up as fodder for a Russian mobster running a sex cartel. Orah is used as a mule to deposit criminal cash into her Canadian bank account. Upon fleeing Nigeria she abandoned her newborn son Lucky with her mother. The Canadian launderers offer to reunite Lucky with his mother in Toronto if he agrees to transport a suitcase full of dirty cash into Toronto from Lagos. Lucky learns at the last-minute drugs are to be transported not cash so he gets cold feet and the “big boss” and his “tribal woman” conspire to give Lucky cement shoes to clad his cold feet.

The “big boss” Hami Bazar (Lucky Ejim) launders money for corrupt Nigerian politicians. Through Orah’s digging she rightly determines Hami is responsible for the murder of Lucky. The Financial Crimes Recovery Agency of Nigeria (FCRA) strikes a deal with Orah that if she agrees to testify against Hami in Nigeria, Hami will spend the rest of his days in a Nigerian prison. If Hami is arrested the FCRA offers a $300,000 reward.

Hami is kidnapped from Toronto to Lagos, Nigeria by FCRA agents and through FCRA torture of his son Tariq spills the beans detailing all his assets so he is destined, by the deal between the FCRA and Orah, to spend the rest of his years in prison. But don’t you find it odd Orah receives her reward money from the FCRA in cash? Perhaps it is the money laundering training I have received which tags this as highly suspicious. The FCRA fails, not surprisingly, to deliver on its promise to imprison Hami.

As the movie started it ends with poetic justice but is it really justice when Orah muses that any eye for an eye is never enough.

A taught and gritty thriller professionally produced and directed deserving of international exposure. Oyin Oladejo delivers a brilliant performance supported by the brutal and bulky Ejim. Just watch Oladejo’s final scene and you may agree this lady is destined for further starring roles. Nigerian footage and music inject realism. There are some gaps and weak points in the screenplay.

Food for thought. Poetic justice may not always be legal justice! Orah is a soiled protagonist?

An exploration of Nigerian corruption, money laundering, family values and justice. The grit and realism permeating the film makes it a winner. Currently playing in Canadian theatres.

A film by Lonzo Nzekwe.

RKS 2024 Film Rating 93/100.