The Royal Oath
One of my late mother’s mandatory Christmas rituals was to park herself three feet in front of the television and lap up the Queen’s Christmas message. She did so against a barrage of derision. She took her standing as one of Her Majesty’s loyal subjects very seriously. So she would have been horrified to contemplate […]
CWC and a ukelele
Ever wonder what some people, who live in Prince Edward County, do to “get away from it all”? Well, LOML and I went to the cottage in Haliburton for the weekend, because it was neither rainy nor cold enough here. And because we are seasoned travellers, LOML and I are able to anticipate all manner […]
Rogers Cup highlights
Most tennis observers were not completely surprised when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga emerged as the singles champion at the Rogers Cup tennis championships in Toronto last Sunday. Many factors contributed to his success. From his opening match against a fellow Frenchman, he clawed his way through the competition. He eliminated Edouard Roger- Vasselin in straight sets: a […]
Subtelties and nuances
Over the last few years, I have discussed varied topics on the subject of wine. But it recently struck me that I have never addressed the art of detecting subtleties and nuances while wine tasting. Using this art, some dedicated aficionados can identify wines down to the region and vineyard— a devoted few can even […]
A vineyard with a difference
You’ve probably seen that new building going up off County Road 33 just north of Carrying Place and just south of Hillier. I’ve wondered what it is myself, so I stopped and asked. I should have guessed. It’s a vineyard. The tall building right at the centre of it will be the Chateau. The estate […]
Coupon, schmoupon
I won’t ask, because of course, you’ve been to the grocery store recently. Everyone has to eat, right? Well, I admit to the need for food. As shopping goes, I prefer grocery shopping to any other kind of shopping, and if you know me—and some of you might—you know how much I hate shopping. At least […]
Bump, bump, kill
I am quite certain that I do not differ greatly from other scribes when I say that I am gratified when a story just falls onto the pages. I have been motivated, in the past week or so, to write about the following: The Rogers Cup, and the success of Vasek Pospisil and Milos Raonic […]
Weathering the storm
Last winter epitomized the challenges that crop husbandry can face in North America and, more locally, the deep impact weather can have on the potential grape harvest in Ontario. Niagara crops of Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot are almost completely destroyed this year. Vines on Lake Erie’s north shore are also drastically reduced—if not wiped out. […]
Dismal indeed
Economics has been called “the dismal science,” a reputation it keeps working hard to earn. For instance, the New York Times recently reported that because European countries are under the gun to reduce their debt, they are equally under the gun to produce rosier numbers for their national GDP, or gross domestic product, thereby lowering […]
Real time
All of our children are grown and have left the nest. We are empty nesters. It wasn’t an easy job, raising our kids. I can’t imagine how difficult it was for my parents, raising seven kids and one young-adult auntie. So, on the subject of raising kids, LOML and I weren’t experts. We didn’t follow […]