A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine: Stag’s Hollow 2022 Syrah from Beautiful British Columbia: An Affordable Canadian Côte-Rôtie????

The standard slogan, now gradually disappearing, on British Columbia license plates was “Beautiful British Columbia”. What is not disappearing on the shelves of state monopoly liquor distributor in the province of Ontario (LCBO) are the wines of British Columbia because there were so few of them anyways so not much to disappear. As American wines and spirits are no longer on LCBO shelves British Columbia wines replaced them, right? Right?

Given Trump sabre rattling (and that sword is rapidly rusting) should LCBO shelves be a bit more patriotic and give British Columbia wines some presence? Yes, based on the wines from British Columbia’s Okanagan appellation and that includes Stag’s Hollow wines.

92% Syrah and 8% Viognier. Are we talking about a Canadian version of a Côte-Rôtie from France which I recall to my horror I have a 2005 of such I paid $57 for in 2007 and noted in my cellar I should drink no later than 2012? Côte-Rôtie Syrah’s are enormously expensive and like this Stag’s Hollow Syrah have a tad of the white grape Viognier in the mix!

Why not give a try to Stag’s Hollow 2022 Syrah?

Aroma: Rich and heady blackberry is chairman of the board here. Ultra ripe black raspberry, black cherry, cassis and a delightful waft of roast marshmallows. Could the latter be result of Okanagan wildfires in 2022? Note I did not say “smoky”.

Palate: Smooth. Rich. Full bodied. Slight Kampot pepper influence. Just the right amount of acidity to discipline the rich black fruit. A whisper of coal, graphite and cocoa on the long spicy finish.

Personality: I am assertive, yet moderate tannins remove any label of a big bruiser. Consider me warm and embracing. I am built for food, a main.

Food Match: Absolutely no doubt about a match with Cambodian Beef Lok Lak.

Cellarbility: Consume by 2027-year end.

Price: $39 CDN (winery price). For shipping details contact www.stagshollowwinery.com

RKS 2025 CANADIAN Wine Rating: 94/100. Wine Align 94.

(Stag’s Hollow 2022 Syrah, VQA Okanagan Valley, Stag’s Hollow Winery, Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, 750 mL, 13%).

RKS Literature: These Undertakers Will Fix You Up Real Good (Evelyn Waugh)

“We had a loved one last month who was found drowned. He had been in the ocean a month and they only identified him by his wrist-watch. “they fixed that stiff,” said the hostess disconcertingly lapsing from the high diction she had hitherto employed, ‘so he looked like it was his wedding day. The boys up there surely know their job. Why if he’d sat on an atom bomb, they’d make him presentable.”

Evelyn Waugh, “The Loved One”, 1948.

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: (WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE I AM GOING TO?)

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE I AM GOING TO?

I am not going to say master or mistress as such words suggest a West Highland Terrier is under the control of a human. Quite frankly it just may be the other way around! Just because Westies are featured in many advertisements as cute fluffballs must never diminish our rough and tumble character. Why don’t I say Bob and Fay are my “managers”.

Bob and Fay are retired lawyers and most importantly experienced (pleasantly of course) Westie owners not just of any Westie but the legendary Dylan the Westie not only the cutest Westie ever, except perhaps for me, but a ferocious freedom fighter and successful movie actor starring alongside Nicole Kidman and Russel Crowe and hobnobber with Joe and Jill Biden, the late Gordon Lightfoot and his next door neighbour Drake, the Pope, the Ayatollah and the King of Sweden. I understand he urinated on Vladamir Putin’s leg as a thank you for the Ukrainian “situation”. What flair! What guts!

Bob has written smash screenplays for Walt Disney. You must have heard of “Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog” and its two sequels. Bob has won the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Fay manages the huge sums of money earned by Bob from his novels and screenplays and acts as executive director for several philanthropic organizations most of which are for the betterment of canines and ragdoll cats. More about my Godfather Mr. G. and ragdolls to follow.

I am heading back to my “furever home” (God I hate that hackneyed phrase) from the breeder in Denfield, Ontario to Bob and Fay’s 14 room “small cottage” on the Bridlepath area of Toronto. You know that hood where pharma king and his wife were murdered a couple of years ago.

I am overwhelmed by all the bright lights, noises and voices I am hearing up close for the first time and that Glenn Gould pounding his piano on the car radio is giving me a headache.

I should mention I am 9 weeks old. Bob and Fay did pay me a visit when I was a month old. I was told I nearly pooped on Bob’s shoe! I am so embarrassed!

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”

FOREWARD

My name is Rory Dylan Stephen. I am a West Highland Terrier. We are brave, loyal, curious, stubborn and knock you over cute.

I am a late summer pup.

If you query what is this smartass puppy doing writing his memoirs. For God’s sake he’s only a puppy! I am writing this masterpiece to impart a puppy’s perspective on life that is just beginning. Just chuck these guidebooks on puppy raising and get the skinny, the real thing from me. I am a puppy after all and you people reading this are curious humans. Yes, I can see right off the bat we are going to hit it off.

Why the title “Lost in Puppydom”?

Not to undermine my credibility but quite frankly I was lost. I barely remember my mother and well father was a flash in the pan….what were those lyrics, “Papa was a rolling stone. Wherever he went was his home.”

One minute I am cuddling with mother and my siblings, the next moment I am in a car with humans I think are strangers hurtling at great speeds to my destiny. There are colours, bright lights and voices overwhelming me. I am lost in space. I don’t understand what these humans are saying to me. No one was there to translate. And as I make strange sounds like whimpering and whining I am not sad or distressed but they think I am. They are lost in translation like me.

Poor Mr. Bill Murray in the movie, “Lost in Translation” as a man uncertain of his past, present and future. Quite like me in an automobile listening to classical music and traffic reports that are never encouraging travelling into and out of Toronto. Genn Gould pounding on his piano is making me nervous.

Press Release: New Serialized Novel to be Published: “Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom

5November2025: Toronto, Ontario

A Little Birdie Told Me will be publishing on a serialized basis Robert K. Stephen’s “Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”. This represents a progression of canine centric novels previously published by Robert K. Stephen including “Memoirs of Dylan the Westie”, “Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog” and “Andrij the Orphaned Ukrainian Dog”.

The novel will be an autobiography of Rory Dylan Stephen, a West Highland Terrier, as pertains to his new life replete with joy, curiosity and fears. Expect true puppy insights.

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version)

GROUP TOUR: PERSONALITIES IN THE MIX

Some group tours are for specific groups, members some of which are known by each other but most are an assemblage of strangers. For example I went to Southeast Asia with university alumnae the majority on this trip from Canadian universities.

I did not know any of the 16 other travellers.

You may be forced to meet and interact with strangers. And again, like Forrest Gump stated, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you may get.” Guaranteed you will like some chocolates more than others and you may dislike others.

I developed an instant connection with some and with others that connection took longer to gel. I can’t say any dislikes although came close to that when I made some “neutral remark” about a Yank tour member’s President I was told a tongue was stuck out in my direction.

Nothing requires you to socialize but best put on a friendly face and who knows you may enjoy hanging out with them. Remember signing up for a group tour means signing up for a Band of Brothers. You don’t have to like them, only live with them.

Next: The Extrovert

RKS 2025 Film: “Time Travel is Dangerous”: 99% Silly and Perhaps 1% Deserving Thought

Ruth (Ruth Syratt) and Megan (Megan Stevenson) are proprietors of a vintage shop “Cha Cha Cha” in the Muswell Hill suburb of London. Some of the older customers refer to it as a “charity shop” and given the rag tag merchandise they “source” from garbage bins that may be a more accurate description of their shop.

Be prepared for a quasi “Spinal Tap” mockumentary brimming with ripping British satire of pompous nerds, scientists, vegan vintage enthusiasts and dinosaur egg snatchers.

On a foraging expedition a strange find is made by Ruth and Megan believed to be an abandoned school project. It can be best described as a jazzed up bumper car from some travelling carnival. A far cry from the Bricklin in “Back to the Future” but as basic as the time travel machine in the 1960 movie “The Time Machine” based on H.G. Wells novel of the same name.

Ruth and Megan, crass commercialists struggling to keep their head above choppy financial waters, activate the time machine travelling to various time periods sourcing their vintage merchandise and how much more authentic vintage can you get! They are exploiting the time machine for profit! No intellectual machinations on their part. Hilarious moments while in the Wild West or a medieval fair resembling awkward Brit tourists like those on a cruise ship wandering the streets of Dubrovnik fanny packs and melting gelato in hand.

Ruth and Megan are raking in the dough and really dear viewer it is too good to be true! The Muswell Technology, Engineering, Scientific Thought and Innovation Society get wind of the time machine an abandoned project of one of its members Ralph (Ralph Sheldrake) who warns the entire fabric of the universe could be jeopardized by time travelling not to mention his imprisonment for three years in a time portal with monstrous creatures. Ruth and Megan are warned about the dangers to the universe possibly caused by excessive time travel and despite agreeing to the cessation with the Society being desperate for cash and lacking a sense of social morals they continue their travels with an incident happening to Megan transforming her into an unruly and self-absorbed teenager.

Misfortune escalates as Megan disappears into The Unreason playing some absurd game with a bunch of kooky characters and of note a Jim Hensoneque card dealer. The silliness continues at The Unreason perhaps to excess.

And do you think Megan and Ruth abandon their time travel?

Enjoy the journey into the satirical, whimsical, humorous and irreverent.

Director Chris Reading.

In theatres and on demand 21November2025.

You can watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guhjvS2YhQQ

RKS 2025 Film Rating 84/100.

RKS Literature: The Brutality of the Hun and Trench Warfare (Pat Barker)

“The other expression was the trench expression. It looks quite daunting if you don’t know what it is. Any one of my platoon could have posed for a propaganda poster of the Brutal Hun, but it wasn’t brutality or anything like that It was sort of a morose disgust and it came from living in trenches that had bits of human bone sticking out of the walls, in freezing weather corpses propped up on the fire step, flooded latrines.

Whatever happens to us it can’t be as bad as that.”

Pat Barker, “Ghost Road”, 1995