96 Death Plan for a Man and a Dog (Greece)
95 Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat (Belgium/Netherlands)
95 Mediha (USA)
94 Divia (Ukraine)
93 Ghosts of the Sea (Canada)
92 A Fly on the Wall (India)
92 Queer Acts of Love and Resistance (Canada)
92 Unwelcomed (Chile)
“No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself. My parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence. We felt that they were not the tyrants to rule our lot according to their caprice, but the agents and creators of all the many delights which we enjoyed. When I mingled with other families, I distinctly discerned how peculiarly fortunate my lot was, and gratitude assisted the development of filial love.
Mary Shelley, “Frankenstein”, 1818.
THE HOLY GRAIL CALLS BUT I KNOW NOT WHY
Today it is my third walk around the block. I met Remy for the first time who is three times my size but so very calm. She let me sniff her. Jump on her side. All this was exciting. I am seeing the outside world and believe you me I now know the meaning of “WALK”. Music to my ears!
The yellow fire hydrant sings in my ears like some Greek goddess. “Come” it beckons. I know not why. What is this sweet music that demands I do something to honour it? Bob says, “Go pee”. Why? I only pee outside and occasionally inside my house. What has a fire hydrant have to do with pee? Puppydom can be so confusing at times!
RORY’S REFLECTIONS ON 2025 AND RESOLUTIONS FOR 2026
Can anything be more momentous than the year of your birth?
Could anything be more disastrous than being placed with an unloving and mean family? This is not the case for me thank the stars above. I have a loving family. My bowl is full of tasty kibby and always fresh cold water and of course some accidental droppage on the floor I “manage”. I do my best to maintain a clean kitchen floor. A dedicated Westie! I have a good doctor. You know that I have a godfather Mr. G who scouted me out for Bob and Fay. What can you say about a man who swears he will put a horsehead in anyone’s bed that does me harm. Soon I will meet his cats B and N. I hope for a long friendship with them.
Do I have any New Year’s resolutions for 2026? I want to be fully potty trained. Bob has taken me on 4 walks now and tells me I am an excellent walker, in fact the best puppy walker he has seen. Bob tells me to do my business outside on my walks but aren’t I supposed to do it in the backyard? It is a bit complicated!
I want to travel particularly to Niagara-on-the-Lake as I hear Bob and Fay’s prior Westie Dylan loved it. I want to pay my respects to him as his ashes are scattered in three places there and also in Niagara Falls at his favourite spot just before the water plunges down the falls.
I hear much about Dylan BUT NEVER EVER DO I HEAR HE WAS BETTER THAN YOU. Bob is very proud of me and the neighbours in Bob’s old dog walking circle have welcomed me. Once I feel comfortable outside Bob and Fay are taking me to Don Valley Golf Course for a walk. This will be most interesting. I was told Dylan loved this location with his heart and soul. Mr. D and his King Charles Cavalier Billy will be accompanying us. Billy is a bit older than me but I like him bigtime!
RORY REFLECTS ON 2025
I will be 4 months old tomorrow.
I am blessed.
I have Bob, Fay and their son AJ to take care of me. Likewise, I take care of them….in a way.
I have a bowl full of kibby (as Bob calls kibble), a bowl full of fresh clean water, bits of human food that accidentally drop on the floor and let me tell you I love bread, pasta and cheese. I have a nice comfy crate where I nap to jazz music. I hang outside in the backyard chasing squirrels, digging up acorn shells and do my business. I am starting to go on short walks outside. Today on that walk two cars stopped and the people inside came out and patted me calling me so many nice names. They all miss Dylan the Westie now in the Land Beyond and say Bob is back in the mix on the street with all the new generation of dogs I will soon be familiar with. I have a wonderful dog doctor and although the jabs I receive hurt I trust Bob when he states they are going to keep me healthy. I play and investigate non-stop until I lie down to tired to go on and am taken to my crate for a nap three times a day.
I am chastised and praised. I am hugged and nuzzled and return those endearments.
I am aware I have done wrong but am working on not repeating that wrong.
In short 2025 has been a year of wonderment and happiness. Just watch my numerous “puppy twirls” during the day.
If this amounts to “going to the dogs” give me more!
Are you jealous?
Another red from British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.
It is a Hester Creek 2022 Old Vine Cabernet Franc. Aged 18 months in French and American oak.
Aroma: Both black and red cherry offer initial welcoming notes with a deep blackberry and mocha riff. Although comparisons are often odious it reminds one of a Niagara Cabernet Franc on steroids.
Palate: Brisk tannins. Ginja D’Obidos, black licorice and raspberry both clean and beguiling. Peppery and long finish with a flash of sweetness.
Personality: I am yet another dependable high-class Okanagan red. Not surprising given some of the grapes were from the Holy Grail of Osoyoos.
Food Match: Steak au Poivre.
Cellarbility: Drink now or hold until 2028.
Price: $ 40 CDN
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine Rating: 94/100. Winesniagara.com 93.
(Hester Creek 2022 Old Vine Cabernet Franc, Okanagan Valley BC VQA, Hester Creek Estate Winery, Oliver, British Columbia, 14.3%, 750 mL).
“For if leisure and security were enjoyed by all alike, the great mass of human beings who are normally stupefied by poverty would become literate and would learn to think for themselves, and when once they had done this, they would sooner or later realize that the privileged minority had no function, and they would sweep it away. In the long run, a hierarchal society was only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance.”
George Orwell, “1984”, 1949.
ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS HAS RORY BECOME A SMASH AND GRAB ARTIST? IS RORY HEADING TO PUPPY REFORM SCHOOL?
On the eighth day of Christmas our dishwasher failed to drain despite valiant and creative attempts to make it by Bob.
Matthew the repairman arrived on the eighth day of Christmas and while bending down and not looking I grabbed a small screwdriver from his toolbox and ran but was immediately apprehended by Bob with an exasperated statement emanating from his lips. Matthew had a good chuckle. Thinking all was forgiven I grabbed Matthew’s running shoe when no one was looking. It is always so much fun doing “creative puppy things” when no one is looking!
Bob said to me, “Rory, you are a smash and grab artist and if you aren’t careful some of your puppydom may be spent in puppy reform school. You are very lucky there is a huge waiting list of puppies to enter that school and good luck on ever having treats there!”
I am uncertain as to the meaning of Bob’s statement, but I believe it means less than a compliment!
“Throughout recorded time, and probably since the end of the Neolithic stage, there have been three kinds of people in the world, the High, the Middle and the Low. They have been subdivided in many ways, they have borne countless different names, and their relative different numbers, as well as their attitude towards another, have varied from age to age, but the essential structure of society has never altered. Even after enormous upheavals and seemingly irrevocable changes, the same pattern has always re-asserted itself, just as a gyroscope will always return to equilibrium, however far it is pushed one way or the other.
The aims of these groups are entirely irreconcilable.”
George Orwell, “1984”, 1949.
RORY’S FIRST CHRISTMAS: A PERFECT DAY IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
There has been a buzz of activity in the past few days before Christmas. Lots of chopping of vegetables and delicious baking smells. This must be related to the big tree in the living room from which I have grabbed a few dangling shiny things when no one was looking…such much of my fun when no one is looking!
Then an enormous bird is placed in the oven early in the morning and Bob, Fay and their son A all say “Merry Christmas” to each other and eat a $50 freshly baked panettone A has been talking about for days. I think it is yellow bread? I am given a piece and oooooh weeee it is fantastic. Far better than the chicken treats I receive when I do my business outside or do my tricks. Yes…I can SHAKE A PAW NOW!
I am told this big bird is a turkey and I WILL GET SOME TURKEY LIKE EVERYONE ELSE! The smell is driving me nuts. Hurry up turkey! I want a piece.
When I am up from my nap Bob and Fay’s grandchildren J and J, close to pups themselves, are in the living room along with their parents. I am the star of the show. When pups like me are not naughty puppies we can be centre stage. Why?
Everyone exchanges presents with paper acrackling and I get to tear open a few of my own presents. CHEW TOYS! How does everyone know chewing is my forte?
Then food, food and more food. The fireplace crackling. I receive a small piece of turkey and a spoonful of mashed potatoes. The turkey and heat of the fire make me close my eyes and Bob takes me to my home, my crate and I fall asleep dreaming of chasing a squirrel, eating more turkey and opening presents. Can Christmas be every day?
And it was the perfect day. This is my first accident-free day in my life.
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