The Great Migration

Once October rolls around and the leaves start to change, I begin packing up to head south. As a child I travelled to Florida every year, usually for a month, when my father, who was a sports photographer, covered the spring training camp of the Toronto baseball team, the Maple Leafs, as they were called […]

Viva Italia Part 3

Saturday morning cappuccinos, croissants, and eggs in the funky restaurant at the Palazzo Vittoria in Verona, and we are ready to depart for Florence. Car brought around, we load up and head off for our two and a half hour journey. En route Charles is trying to get us to make a diversion to Modena […]

Viva Italia Part 2

After a magnificent breakfast on the terrace in the sun at Palazzo Aminta Hotel where I amazingly bumped into a friend from my golf club in Toronto, we hit the road for Verona. A decision was made, as it was sunny and warm to drive along the lake-Lago Maggiore as far as the road would […]

Viva Italia Part 1

I was careful not to step on a scale while we were traveling in Italy recently, but my very tight pants mid journey, indicated that I was enjoying the food and drink way too much. This was not my first time in this beautiful country. I studied in Rome many years ago with a brilliant […]

In Italy

Back soon with so much to report. Lago Maggiore Ciao! Riki

Camaraderie

During my performing years I spent a great deal of time learning repertoire, performing operas and concerts, travelling to engagements, and bringing up a child. I would meet other performers for brief sojourns and keep in touch, but I never experienced the fun and camaraderie of girlfriend time. My sister has always been my best […]

Vancouver weekend

Vancouver has always been a healing city for me. After my divorce in the Yukon, I moved to Vancouver and started a career as an opera singer. (See my book Aria: Song of Life for details of my adventures). After a few years, I moved back to Toronto and went to the university there. Then in […]

More Oh Canada

After our marvellous east coast visit to Newfoundland last summer, (see Oh Canada) we decided to give equal time to the glorious west coast of British Columbia, namely Vancouver Island. One of my fondest memories of Victoria was years ago, when my daughter Carrie was alive, and a boisterous 3-year-old. I was singing with the […]

Invasion of the Body Parts

When I buy a new car I expect it to run for a few years before I have to fix anything major. It is the same for household appliances, bikes, computers, roofs, grass. You name it. Everything has a design life or so it seems; even us. The list of parts and repairs that we […]

Generation Gap ?

This being a senior (Yikes! see first blog) does have its pluses. One, is being a grandparent. The ‘I love you Nana’ from Rose 9 years, and June 6, naturally fills my heart with joy, but there is nothing as delightful as watching the girls entranced at a play. Well not just any play, but The Lion,The Witch and the […]