Not far from the idyllic suburb of Hampstead in Montreal one can find the ageing Queen Fairy Hospital for Veterans. Those Quebec soldiers severely injured in conflicts where Canada was fighting were “housed” in the Queen Fairy. Conditions were rather grim with lack of comprehensive physical and psychiatric care. For the past year patients hadContinue reading ““The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous” : Chapter 52: Revolt at the Queen Fairy Hospital for Veterans in Montreal”
Tag Archives: Robert K. Stephen
RKS 2023 Films: “The Worst Ones” (Les Pires) A French “Bad News Bears” ?
We’ve seen this genre previously. A band of perceived “misfits” somehow transforms into a power to be reckoned with whether it be “Bad News Bears” or even “The Dirty Dozen”. In this case it is a group of poor youth from the “Picasso Neighbourhood” in Northern France’s Boulogne Sur Mer who are recruited to participateContinue reading “RKS 2023 Films: “The Worst Ones” (Les Pires) A French “Bad News Bears” ?”
RKS Literature: Opinions vs Duty
“I was paying attention you see, but none of it was clear, instead, the more they talked the more confused I got. That’s how it always is. When people talk and about opinions, the result is always confusion. I’m telling you, it doesn’t matter what sort of opinions a man has, but whether he isContinue reading “RKS Literature: Opinions vs Duty”
RKS Literature: Snow Being More Than One Can Stand!
“And all the guests declared they could not stand to see any more snow, it disgusted them, summer alone had more than satisfied them in that regard, nothing but masses of snow, day in, day out, mounds of snow, whole slopes of snow-it was more than any human being could stand, deadly to both mindContinue reading “RKS Literature: Snow Being More Than One Can Stand!”
RKS 2023 Wine: Washington State Syrah from Chateau Ste Michelle
Aroma: Rich blasts of black fruit predominate especially blackberry. Palate: Rich on the nose rich on the palate. Again blackberry plays the leading role. The finish is of moderate length. Tannins are just above smooth. Personality: Simply being “rich” and full bodied is not enough. I have identifiable black fruit. In other words I notContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Washington State Syrah from Chateau Ste Michelle”
“The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous” : Chapter 51: Revolt at the Mugless Mental Hospital in Montreal
Squid whisked me away from Dorval International Airport in Montreal to downtown Montreal in his silver Studebaker. I took my usual suite at the Ritz-Carlton on Sherbrooke Street. After unpacking we went to Thursdays on Crescent Street for a quick Martini and then to an old favourite Greek restaurant of mine on Park Avenue calledContinue reading ““The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous” : Chapter 51: Revolt at the Mugless Mental Hospital in Montreal”
RKS 2023 Wine: Terras de Lava from Pico Island in the Portuguese Azores
Less than two weeks ago I was sitting in the tasting room of the Cooperativa Vitivinicola da Ilha do Pico in Madalena on Pico Island in the Portuguese Azores. There were 10 of us in the group all participating in Wine and Travel Week based in Porto. 8 were tour operators and two of usContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Terras de Lava from Pico Island in the Portuguese Azores”
RKS 2023 Film: “All the World is Sleeping”
Haven’t we all watched the plot before? Drug addiction and the destruction it causes whether it be on film, countless documentaries or even television series was it called “Intervention”. Like the DEA in the United States the genre is somewhat over exposed if not tiresome. Perhaps faced with massive drug addiction problems in North AmericaContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “All the World is Sleeping””
RKS 2023 Film: “Kubrick by Kubrick”: Kubrick Speaks
The documentary “Kubrick by Kubrick” through interview narrative lets American director Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999) discuss his films and reflect on life. Perhaps the most important observation made by Kubrick is that if you present life other than what you make of it then that is entertainment and that sums up many of the 13 filmsContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “Kubrick by Kubrick”: Kubrick Speaks”
RKS 2023 Wine: Porto Memories: Sagrado Reserva
I have a boatload of Porto memories all good and many lighthearted. I have been somewhat of a regular visitor there since 2014. One very pleasant memory is attending Port Wine Day in Porto pre COVID and having a memorable lunch with José Maria Cálem proprietor of Quinta Sagrado in the Douro region of Portugal.Continue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Porto Memories: Sagrado Reserva”
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