Bob and I watched “The Poseidon Adventure” with Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine and Shelley Winters the other day on Turner Classic Movies. A passenger ship sinking!
We are in the midst of a blizzard starting last night and continuing into the afternoon. As Bob says, “A real old-fashioned Canadian blizzard!”
Oh JOYOUS SNOW!
Bob opened the sliding door to the backyard and out I ventured as I sunk like a leaking ship into the snow. For a moment I was like a submarine in “Das Boot” or a tank under the river in “Der Tiger” with my nose like a periscope! I managed to pee and rushed back in not wishing to be completely submerged and sink to the bottom. I was not blubbering in fear like Shelley Winters and Bob was no gruff and belligerent Ernest Borgnine trying to save me. WE MADE IT!
Then again plunging into a snowdrift on the front steps. I struggled avoiding the fate of so many on the Titanic. Bob picked me up and we had a jolly walk following the tread marks on the street.
I have heard there is a spring and a summer in Toronto. What are those seasons like?
I AM THE WHITE ROCKET BUT SOMETIMES SMELL LIKE AN EARTHWORM
Over and over you read and hear West Highland Terriers have a digging and a strong prey instinct.
Bob has commented I have the speed of a white rocket when I chase my prey, the black squirrel invading my backyard territory. And I have come very close not just with the “straight chase” but with the evasive squirrel zig zags. I chase squirrels because I chase squirrels. Bob has cautioned me about tangling with racoons with their sharp claws. We have rabbits in the backyard occasionally, but I have yet to encounter one. Bob told me Lulu the poodle down the street caught a rabbit a few years ago.
I also dig frantically. Why? Because I dig. In the Old Country we hunted rats, fox and badgers and dug to uncover their lair. Bob sighs when he sees my black paws and snout wishing for some freezing weather which will make digging fruitless for me. What a party pooper he can be. He remarks with all the dirt on me I smell like an earthworm!
Singapore 10October2025: Breakfast at Singapore’s Shangri-La Beyond Belief: Dazed and Confused With a Happy Gut
So much for the fantastic sleep even with the little white pill. Woke up at 02:30 and 05:30. Dealing with a 12 hour time difference.
Stumbled down to breakfast and the bright colours of the breakfast dining room Line Restaurant assisted with wakeup. Psychedelic 1962 and where is Twiggy? Minimalist and clean with windows offering a view of lush gardens. Three styles of breakfast cuisine; Chinese, Indian and “International” aka bacon, eggs, toast and beans as after all Singapore was under British rule for many years. Chicken congee with hardboiled eggs and chicken floss, dim sum and Singaporean noodles for me. Who are those turkey Brits eating beans with toast and stewed tomatoes? Mango, papaya and dragon fruit. A buffet breakfast from heaven! But small cups of tea with tea bags???? Bizarre given this is Asia. Where are the teapots with looseleaf tea? Highest quality breakfast if not memorable! What a way to start the day. Dazed and confused with a happy gut!
2025 witnessed a dearth of Douro wine in Ontario for reasons unknown but we start 2026 with a LCBO Vintages 10January release with 5 Portuguese wines 3 of which are from the Douro.
What about Perspectiva 2020 Red from the Douro? Does it offer a good perspective of a Douro red?
Aged 12 months in French oak.
Aroma: Black cherry, black raspberry, Portuguese roasted almonds, licorice root and discrete vanilla.
Palate: Moderate tannins. Clean. Vanilla bean. Pomegranate. Blueberry pie. Black cherry. Raspberry jam. Moderately long finish.
Personality: I am a solid Douro wine absolutely dependable and not flashy. Pardon the expression “excellent value” but at $14 I can live with that tired phrase.
Food Match: Douro duck salad preferably overlooking the river below on a Douro November day with woodsmoke in the air and knowing Douro pancakes are being served for dessert.
Arrived in Hong Kong from Toronto late afternoon. Beaten and bedraggled after 15 hours on Cathay Pacific. Huge airport. Boarded Cathay Pacific for a 3 ½ hour flight to Singapore. Bulkhead seats. Bizarre curry chicken over rice. Close to spoiled fruit salad and browned lettuce with processed ham slices on a bed of slimy quinoa. Cathay Pacific food this time on par (not a compliment) with Air Canada. I stick with a Betsy lager and more or less pass out opened mouthed and snoring.
Present Singapore arrival card electronically and then through customs. Our 56 year old driver Tan Eng Tiong had worked in Toronto for a real estate developer company. Gave an interesting talk about public housing in Singapore and not the public housing we have in Toronto. Generous governmental subsidies make it the predominate form of housing in Singapore. Based on a 99-year lease requiring a 5 year no disposition period. There are an incredible number of highrises. The wealthy can own their own property. Foreigners can purchase property but must pay a stamp duty (oh such a British concept) of 60%. Tan also mentioned governmental social engineering in public housing where residency based on the proportion of ethnic groups in the Singaporean population. The major ethnic groups are Chinese, Malay and Indian. Checked into the Shangri-La after being up for 30 hours. Orchid balls throughout the reception area are delightfully unusual. Exceptional room. Ready for the sleep of a lifetime!
My only impression of Singapore at this point (in late evening darkness) is relief that the journey has ended, the roads are superb and there are highrises everywhere.
Spoof News Services: 12January2026: National Guard detachments based in Buffalo and Finger Lakes, New York seized control of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake and all wineries in Niagara on Monday 12January2026.
File photo of Bill Smithbottom National Guard commander of the Buffalo National Guard
White House spokesperson Cary Leaveit stated the military action was required to protect the security of the United States given that invading troops could launch from the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Course over the Niagara River to New York State in minutes. Leaveit stressed we wanted to purchase the Niagara Region but our offer was refused so with ample warning for a reconsideration that was not heeded, “We had no choice to ensure the sovereignty of the United States. Let this be a lesson to Denmark and their igloo people in Greenland.”
Niagara wineries were seized in response to Ontario’s decision to remove all American alcohol from the shelves of Ontario’s provincial liquor monopoly The Liquor Control Board of Ontario. To compensate American alcohol producers 50,000,000 casks of spirits and wines produced in the Niagara region will be diverted to the United States for the benefit of all Americans and Canadians. Leaveit stated, “We did it in Venezuela and we will do it in Ontario.” We will help ourselves to Canadian electricity as well to ensure Ontario’s threat to stop electricity exports to the United States will never happen.”
Premier Doug Ford of Ontario was last seen in Trenton, Ontario’s Canadian Air Force base being transported in a US military jet to San Quentin, California “for talks with California Governor Gavin Nudesome.”
Prime Minister of Canada Marcus Corney saw the move by the United States as “irksome” stating, “They always wanted the better view of the Falls.”
“I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers-their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions: but how I was terrified when I viewed myself in a transparent pool. At first I started back, unable to believe that it was indeed I who was reflected in the mirror: and when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification. Alas! I did not entirely know the fatal effects of this miserable deformity.”
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AFTER GERMAN SHEPPARD ATTACK
Bob and I were taking one of our many daily walks. Bob is of the view a tired dog is a happy dog. He sure has that one right.
On I trundle on a miserable winter day and I feel Bob tighten up. Like the Beach Boys I can feel both good and bad vibrations. I feel extreme hostility with an approaching enormous German Sheppard giving Bob and I a killer look. Bob is talking with a neighbour giving the monstrous dog and its owner a dirty look. Is there a song “If Looks Could Kill They Probably Will”?
I listen to Bob tell the neighbour about how he was walking Dylan the Westie a few years ago and a German Sheppard named Layla jumped over the fence and was just about ready to tear Dylan apart with saliva coated fangs. Bob had to pull Dylan aside and kicked the German Sheppard numerous times until he ran off. The nasty Sheppard is the successor to Layla and its owner proudly proclaimed to a friend of Bob’s his new dog was going to terrorize “all the little cute white dogs in the neighbourhood”. Layla had a record of six dog attacks.
And idiot owner says to his obviously problematic dog after yanking its leash, “Look ahead” instead of looking at me like an appetizer. Then a few meters away he takes the leash off this killer. Bob has been angry with me a few times but goodness he was furious with that owner of the killer Sheppard. Layla’s attack has resulted in PTSD for Bob!
THE TOUR DIRECTOR: The glue that binds the group together
Your tour will have a tour director travelling with you for your entire tour present when you arrive up to your departure and handle all administrative details in between. Part drill sergeant. Part parental figure. Part diplomat. Caregiver. Interpreter. Friend. Part object of blame. The glue that binds the group.
A typical land only day might commence with a clear directive by the tour director at what time transportation arrives. Doing headcount ensuring no one is missing, explaining the daily itinerary and who the tour guide may be who may be present or only at the locale visited. Luncheon and dinner arrangements are explained. Throughout the day the tour guide keeps a watchful eye no one from the group is straying. Rest stops are pre planned and humanely timed. In transit tour director commentary is somewhat reserved as the day progresses to avoid disturbing napping tour members.
They may assist with entry into countries and if well known by officials may result in expedited processing through customs and immigration.
Tour guides are hopefully respectful and laid back. I recall seeing a Chinese tour guide at Hong Kong airport shouting and drilling his group in an abusive manner like cattle on the way to the slaughterhouse. This made me thankful of our much gentler diplomatic tour guide!
Once off the bus they are usually accessible and may at certain periods have an office at your hotel desk.
They may perform beyond what is expected evidenced by certain personal acts. On our way to lunch at Red House Seafood Restaurant in Singapore our tour guide swiftly ducked into a small restaurant at a busy marketplace to pick up preordered (reputedly the best) Singaporean Chicken to have at our lunch drawing the ire of the restaurant manager of the Red House Seafood Restaurant but what Singaporean Chicken, a deceptively simple looking but exquisite dish!
Spicy Crab at the rather ho hum Red House Seafood Restaurant in Singapore
Tour directors may handle medical emergencies as during my visit to Siem Reap in Cambodia two tour members required hospital admission and an interpreter to deal with medical staff.
They may impart valuable tips. At one hotel in Southeast Asia our tour guide recommended sending out laundry through the concierge (she knew well) as opposed to through the front desk saving a bundle of money.
Treat your tour guide as a person not a servant. You get what you give.
Tips are not required but one senses they are expected. Tips can be given as a group tip or individually.
The tour director is an essential component of your tour making or breaking its success.
I had been listening to radio and television advertisements promoting a revival of the musical “The Sound of Music”. Bob groans in pain hearing the refrain, “….climb every mountain” and on occasion he howls like a wolf after he listens to it.
Well I find it catchy.
I have been attempting to jump on the basement sofa for the last three weeks with eager exhortations from Bob. I keep getting close to climbing that mountain as that what it appears to be for me! My godfather Mr. G gave me a little stuffed lamb for Christmas and I can’t get enough of that thing. Bob kept on putting lamby on the sofa and closer and closer I came to climbing that mountain. A few times I just about reached the peak but slowly slid backwards and onto the floor.
Mr. G and Fay went to the “Sound of Music” just after New Year’s Day and afterwards Fay started humming “…climb every mountain” and with that song I jumped up on the sofa. Courtesy of and inspired by “The Sound of Music” I climbed my mountain. That ought to stop Bob from howling!
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