“Travels to a Different Time” : 28June1975: Stockholm, Sweden: Seeing the King of Sweden and the Arguing Gay Boys

Up at 9:30 in my slum which at least has hot water in their showers. On my way to the supermarket to buy some breakfast supplies approached by yet another drunk of which there are many in Stockholm. I bought some bread, cheap meat and a litre of milk. The price was so outrageous IContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 28June1975: Stockholm, Sweden: Seeing the King of Sweden and the Arguing Gay Boys”

RKS Film: “Road Trip”: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Panah Panahi has crafted a clever film in the Iranian film “Road Trip”. It is a wonderful film and does not hand feed you. It is delightfully vague and I believe perhaps intentionally so or has Iranian autocracy hardwired Panahi as a matter of survival to be discrete? If you know the repression of IranianContinue reading “RKS Film: “Road Trip”: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”

RKS Wine: Inexpensive French Wine: Pays d’Oc

Generally speaking Southern France, particularly Pays d’Oc, can be a good region for inexpensive wine with quality a bit of a hit and miss but isn’t that the case for just about all wine regions? The Gayda Syrah 2020 retails for $14.95 in Ontario. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s description in its April 16,Continue reading “RKS Wine: Inexpensive French Wine: Pays d’Oc”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 27June1975: Finally in Stockholm: This Country is Too Expensive!

Up early for a barely edible breakfast and hit the highway after yet another gruelling walk. Got a lift quickly with a fat and jolly truck driver from Germany who was driving in Sweden making good money at $120 a day. Finally a series of lifts to get me into Stockholm and found a diveContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 27June1975: Finally in Stockholm: This Country is Too Expensive!”

“Travels to a Different Time: 26June1975: Almhütt, Sweden: The Home of IKEA!

A wasp buzzed into my tent at 08:30 and that certainly is more effective than an alarm clock. I whipped out to a nearby store for some bread, sliced meat and milk. I ate, packed up and split. A gruelling walk took me to the highway heading to Stockholm. In a moment a lift fromContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time: 26June1975: Almhütt, Sweden: The Home of IKEA!”

RKS Real Life: Bizarre Night at the Opera

Sometimes by default I find myself at the opera as I did last night. It was La Traviata staged by the Canadian Opera Company at the Four Seasons Center in Toronto. It is a beautiful venue. We meet my former doctor in the lobby prior to the performance. I knew that he occasionally acts asContinue reading “RKS Real Life: Bizarre Night at the Opera”

“Travels to a Different Time” :25June1975: Ystad, Sweden: Burgers with The Boppers

Up at 07:30 for a hot shower. So good! I needed to ask someone how to use it. You set the temperature and press a button and water shoots out of the shower head for about 40 seconds and stops. You keep pressing the button until you are done. It gives you time to soapContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” :25June1975: Ystad, Sweden: Burgers with The Boppers”

“Travels to a Different Time ” : 23June1975: Gdansk and Swinoujście, Poland  

The radio alarm clock blasted me out of bed a 04:00 with some good jazz! I ended up running all the way to the local train station arriving in a sweat just making my train. I slept for a couple of hours on the train and by the time I arrived in Szczecin I wasContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time ” : 23June1975: Gdansk and Swinoujście, Poland  “

RKS Wine: Entirely Consistent and Reliable: Trius Red

Year after year Trius Red maintains its consistency and remains an enjoyable quaff. Can it continue on a roll with its 2019? It is Cabernet Franc with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. While Ontario Cabernet Franc is just about a winner every time Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot can be problematic. Aged 12 months in French oak.Continue reading “RKS Wine: Entirely Consistent and Reliable: Trius Red”

RKS Wine: The Great Ontario Pinot Noir Hope

I think it was 15 years ago I received my first invitation to a media wine tasting and it was for Clos Jordanne Pinot Noirs. It was at a snazzy bar in Toronto’s Manulife Centre way up at the top. Their Pinot Noirs won me over but my interest began to fade as they changedContinue reading “RKS Wine: The Great Ontario Pinot Noir Hope”