Movie Review: Paddington in Peru directed by Dougal Wilson

In need of a movie that made me laugh, Paddington in Peru was the perfect remedy. I’ve not seen the two previous Paddington movies, but am aware that Paddington Bear is an enduring fictional character from British children’s literature. Brown, fuzzy fur, an old blue coat and a red floppy hat, this ‘Peruvian bear’ had landed at Paddington Station in London, England, many years before this movie. (We don’t know how many years). He always carries a marmalade sandwich under his hat just in case he might need one. Adopted into the Brown family, he is just a bit silly, very sentimental and has a kind heart. He does look a bit stern when someone or something troubles him. 

Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) receives a letter from the Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman) at the Home for Retired Bears that his beloved Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton) has not been herself recently. She feels that Aunt Lucy is missing Paddington terribly and would he come to Peru. This does create a difficulty because the Brown family would have to come with him - I don’t think he travels alone - but Mr. Brown (Hugh Bonneville) is far too careful to make such a frivolous trip. With the right encouragement from his family, he reluctantly agrees, especially concerned about all the creatures in the Peruvian jungle. And, fortunately, Paddington has just received his British passport! 

When the family arrives at the Home for Retired Bears, they learn that Aunt Lucy as disappeared, leaving only her glasses and a bracelet behind. Paddington determines that they must go into the jungle to find her. He has found a map to Rumi Rock in Aunt Lucy’s room. All they needed was a boat to get them to Rumi Rock and once again, fortune smiled on them. Captain Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas) and his daughter, Gina (Carla Tous) are at the dock and with persuasion he agrees to take them. What Paddington and the Brown family don’t know is that the Captain knows the legend of Eldorado at Rumi Rock where there is gold to be found.

What follows is the river trip that starts with an almost a cruise like atmosphere, but soon devolves into rough waters, abandoning ship, and getting separated from the Captain and his daughter. Of course, once on dry land it is a long trek through the jungle to Rumi Rock. I can only tell you that the gold is not real gold, and Aunt Lucy is found safe and sound. But the details remain for you to find on your own trek. But be warned:  you will laugh at the antics of them all, and smile at the loveliness of the family that always stays together. This movie is not for the faint of heart! 

“If you ever get lost, just roar.”

~ Paddington in Peru, Aunt Lucy

Directed by: Dougal Wilson

Writing Credits:

Michael Bond

Paul King

Simon Farnaby

Mark Burton

Jon Foster

James Lamont

Abbreviated Cast (from IMDb.com) :

Ben Whishaw Paddington bear (voice)

Imelda Staunton Aunt Lucy (voice)

Madeline Harris Judy Brown

Emily Mortimer Mary Brown

Hugh Bonneville Henry Brown

Samuel Joslin Jonathan Brown

Julie Walters Mrs. Bird

Olivia Colman Reverend Mother
Antonio Banderas Hunter Cabot

Carla Tous Gina Cabot

Underneath

Underneath it all, 

those roads we’ve traveled, 

are imprints. 

Hollowed echoes 

of each footstep 

leaving memories of 

our journey through life.

“Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints!”

~ Chief Seattle

When I Pack My Bag

When I pack by bag for a journey of 

10 minutes there and back, it is for all

the things to do on my short journey. 

In my bag will be my laptop, the book 

I am presently reading, tissues, pens, 

a small notebook and in the side pocket, 

my little green thermos of water. On the 

way home there will be space for celery, 

tomatoes or maybe a box of tea 

    ~ nothing too heavy ~

  much lighter than carrying 

  the world on my shoulders. 

“Choose a subject equal to your abilities; think carefully what your 

shoulders may refuse, and what they are capable of bearing.”

~ Horace

Book Review - Ride the Rising Wind by Barbara Kingscote: one woman's journey across Canada

In May of 1949, 20 year old Barbara Kingscote and 15 year old Zazy, her little black mare, set off from Mascoushe, Quebec for Vancouver,  British Columbia. Barbara planned a year long journey across Canada while awaiting placement at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph. They were sent off with good wishes, a map, provisions and $100.00. Along the way, Barbara would stop at small towns to renew her provisions, send and collect mail from her parents or sister. She and Zazy grew ever closer, listening to each others excitement or hesitations. 

They encountered many hardships: storms drenching them with cold rain, attacked by black flies in Ontario and other as determined insects on the prairies, the draining heat on the prairies where there was little cover, some unsavoury characters that she fended off bravely. But she loved her journey, met many Canadians who welcomed her into their families with meals and much needed rest, travellers who gave her rides or directions. Occasionally she slept on a porch, a floor or in a hay loft. On these happy visits, Zazy was stabled in a barn, sometimes with a stall. Many times they slept outdoors. Only once did they hear a cougar, but didn’t see it. She was always concerned that Zazy have oats, a farrier as often as possible to tend to her shoes and the ‘galls’ (saddle sores) that she suffered from. Because of the sores, Barbara finally sent most of her tack back to her home in Quebec and rode bareback the last 500 miles. In the winter of 1949, Barbara was able to get employment at a lumber camp as a ‘cookie’, assisting the cook with preparing and serving the meals to the men. Zazy was stabled there, not without some dissent. When the head man tried to get her stabled elsewhere, the determined little mare left to find her Barbara. Helen, the cook made sure that Zazy always had an oatmeal cookie and kiss on the nose. The men could get rowdy from time to time, with alcohol involved in stirring the pot. She described some of the difficulties there, but she was never injured and differences were resolved among the men.

Immediately after their ride, Barbara did enter Veterinary School and graduated in August of 1955. Zazy remained in B.C., with good friends for 3 years until Barbara could pay for her fare by rail to Guelph. This is a second read of this fascinating this coming of age book. Barbara Kingscote describes parts of Canada that most of us have never known. Her descriptions of the land, the wildlife, and the people they met along the way are poignant. It took me on the journey with her, a journey that ended in August of 1950.

“How did you ever take your first step out?”…….

 “I didn’t know how far it was?”

Barbara Kingscote, Ride the Rising Wind: 

one woman’s journey across Canada

Author’s note: no cell phones, no internet. Just paper maps, dial telephones in homes and towns, and the good will of strangers and intuition.  

Title: Ride the Rising Wind: one woman’s journey across Canada

Author: Barbara Kingscote

Publication Date:  2006 

Publisher:NeWest Press

Type: Memoir

Format: Paperback 

ISBN - 13: 978-1-897126-05-9

ISBN - 10: 1- 897126-05-0

From My Kitchen Window

Victoria, B.C. 2008, 10:00 a.m.

 

My favourite funny little apartment. Windows that opened onto the back yard like wings. A school yard close enough I could hear the kids playing at recess. The sun lighting up a stately old willow tree. A beautiful memory that reminds me of my forward journey.

“Memory is the diary we all carry about with us.”

~ Oscar Wilde

Chapter Two, Episode 158 - Newbies - Situationally Theirs

“What are those three talking about? They’d better pay attention to where they’re going. Oh, my goodness they’re going to walk right into the kitchen steps!”

Martha was in the mudroom at the window. She had seen Miss Em, her sister and Samuel coming in from the garden. Miss Em was hanging on his every word. Her sister was nodding, adding a comment or two. Samuel was gesturing in the direction of the orchard. They slowed their walk as they approached the kitchen steps. Martha breathed a sigh of relief. Back into the kitchen she said. “Looks like they’re fine, Elizabeth. Do you think they’ll tell us what that conversation’s about?” 

The back door opened. “You ladies, get on in there. I’ll just clean off my boots. Don’t want Elizabeth to have my hide and refuse me my sandwich.” Dez just laughed. “She wouldn’t refuse you anything, Samuel.” She and Em went into the kitchen. “Hi, you two. What’s for lunch?” Dez loved these two women like they were older sisters. “Just soup and sandwiches, Miss Dez.”

“Before you get your lunch, what were you three talking about so intently?” Martha couldn’t contain herself any longer. James always kept her out of the loop about discussions with Samuel unless it involved her role as housekeeper. Elizabeth was not quite as tight lipped, so she did know that her employer was going to be working with her sister. She had mentioned that they would be working together “outside”, but nothing more. Miss Em spoke up “Samuel has become my teacher about working the land. I’m listening to everything he has to tell me.” She smiled and took a seat at the table. “I’m quite excited about this farming thing. Getting out of the house and away from meetings, possibly even growing our produce for sale.” 

“My goodness, Miss Em. You’re positively glowing. What an adventure!” Martha had known Miss Em for a very long time. Had seen her through her years with Mr. Michael and the very sad time after he passed away. She had been very pleased that she and her sister had found each other. Had done very well during and after the pandemic. But farming? Would she be strong enough? 

“Everyone thinks I’m crazy to learn about farming.” She stopped suddenly “Samuel says I need to listen to the birds, feel the wind and be gentle with the bees. That’s right, Dez?” Her sister, already eating her soup, just nodded and gestured towards Samuel. He smiled in agreement. “We’ll get Miss Em all fixed up and have her knowing the land like the back of her hand”

“Why don’t you three join us for lunch. If we’re going to make a team, we might as well start.” Dez patted the seats beside her. When James came out of his office for his lunch, he saw this little knot of friends and was pleased.

~~~~~

“You know, Matt, I really don’t think my wife is cut out for farming. She’s been a socialite for far too long. I just can’t see her hands getting all rough from a days work.” Jeremy had finally said it out loud. As long as Emelina was a ‘woman of breeding’ - that’s what his mother would have said - there was no room for the life of a farmer, orchardist or beekeeper. It was all right for his sister-in-law, but not his gentle wife. “If you want my opinion, I don’t have one. My ex didn’t like getting her hands dirty. That was our biggest argument. Never wanted to come out and help with any of the farm. I figure if Dez’s sister wants to try to do the work, why not.”

Jeremy had taken Matt up on his invitation to help him out at the orchard. He had no idea what he could do, but thought that if he could sew people back together and diagnose diseases, he’d be of some use to Matt. Now he was staring at a tractor with no idea what to do. Matt laughed in a burst. “It’s not going to blow up. It’s just a hunk of metal. All I want you to do is move it across the yard to get it out of my way.” Jeremy had been confronted with heart attacks, trauma victims, hysterical children, people dying of COVID 19 …..any thing that came in the ER doors, but this little green tractor was terrifying. “Jeremy it’s just like your car, without the bells and whistles. You turn it on, work the clutch and gas,……….” Matt saw the frozen look of panic on his friend’s face and decided to help. “Here, let me show you. Get up in the seat. The key’s in the ignition - she’s a pretty old girl - get your hands on the steering wheel.” Matt spent most of the morning getting Jeremy acquainted with his equipment. Muttering to himself, he said. “Sorry I got him out here! Wonder how Em’s ever going to manage?” 

“Did you say something, Matt? How’m I doing?” Jeremy was having the time of his life now that he sort of knew what he was doing. “Just talking to myself. Do that all the time, especially when I’m working on my own.”

“Matt, I’m beginning to see the attraction of working out here on your own. In the hospital it’s all call bells and p.a. systems and telephones. Patients and nurses asking for help - lots of times with no answers for them. Out here, it’s just the silence of the trees, the birds and butterflies.”  He had relaxed for the first time in weeks. A different sort of relaxation, he thought. “Like all the noise has been turned off and I just have to drive this tractor. Mow the grass.” He grinned. “And follow Matt around.”

He looked at his watch when he felt his stomach stir. “Let me take you for lunch, Matt. I have been more trouble than a help this morning and want to do something for you.” On his forklift, Matt wanted to keep working, finishing up stacking the empty pallets but he was hungry and an offer of lunch sounded good. If he’d been on his own he would have just kept on working. There wasn’t anything much in his fridge anyway. Parking and turning off the forklift, he jumped down and knocked the dust off his pants. “Let me go in the house to change first.” Only gone minutes, Jeremy had time to look around the yard and see what he could see. New and old equipment, some he had never seen before. For the first time, he had a better understanding of what Em might be looking for. What he might be looking for.

“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something.”

~ J.R.R.Tolkein, The Hobbit

Where Gratitude Lies

Never-never land is 

everywhere and nowhere

magic or too sharply real

Never-never land is 

the journey in-between with

a smidge of magic or lump of coal

Never-never land is 

where gratitude lies

waiting for a flash of faith.

“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.”

~ J.M.Barrie, Peter Pan

Book Review - Crossroads - My Story of Tragedy and Resilience as a Humboldt Bronco by Kaleb Dahlgren

When he was two and a half, Kaleb got his first pair of skates. At age five, Kaleb Dahlgren was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. Then he began his journey from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan towards the Humbolt Bronco’s hockey tragedy in 2018 and finally to Toronto and the York Lions. When I opened this fascinating read, I expected the tragedy to take front and centre. However, Kaleb Dahlgren painted a picture of much more.  His parents, both nurses in long term care, provided him with the stability that would carry him through everything that occurred in the next many years. They supported him in his goals and his dream of playing hockey. They were a hockey family in a hockey province. 

I was away from Saskatchewan for over thirty years and had gotten away from this great prairie tradition. Kaleb Dahlgren described hockey games like a play by play from the games. It took me back to going to hockey games in my home town as a teenager. Feeling the cold on my face, the tips of my fingers tingling with cold, and best of all, the cutting scrape of skate blades on the ice. The bang and slash of sticks reaching for the speeding puck. Hockey players slamming against the boards. 

He delved, with pride and affection, into the team building and community activities he and his teammates were engaged in as hockey teams. While creating these lasting bonds, he also began a program he dubbed Diabeauties for kids with diabetes, to provide them with the support and education he had wanted in his young years. He listened to and honoured his coaches, his trainer and his doctors. By his own admission, his memory of the accident in 2018 that killed sixteen of his close friends and team mates is spotty at best. He still lives with severe brain trauma that has stumped his physicians. He has gone on to University at York University in Toronto and was a member of the York Lions. He has relied on his parents, his many friends and the help of author, Dan Robson to write his story. He has had accolades from several in the hockey world including Wayne Gretzky and Hayley Wickenheiser.

This book will stay my book shelf, my attempt at culling my books, sidelined. 

“Writing this memoir was challenging, emotional, 

cathartic and enlightening. I was able to reflect on all 

the various crossroads in my life, the people who helped 

me navigate them, and those who have 

shaped me in to the person I am today.”

~ Kahleb Dahlgren, Crossroads

Sunset on 2020

A long road behind us,

rounding a bend

on our unasked for journey,

the sun edges to the horizon,

only time and distance ahead.

We will keep on walking and living.

“Time is the longest distance between two places.”

~ Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie

Wind

 

Blustering and bossy.

Ripping leaves from the trees, scattering them on lawns and sidewalks.

Speckling windows of cars and homes with rain,

Swirling down streets and around office buildings,

Knocking over patio umbrellas and storefront awnings,

Pushing it’s way through mountainous clouds.

Racing off over the prairies

Leaving the sun to set in clouds thinning and frayed

“A great wind is blowing, and that gives you 

either imagination or a headache.”

~ Catherine the Great

For my Friend

 

From the great blue sky

an eagle feather fell

to softly pass spirit from 

loving heart to deserving heart.

Congratulations, Deb!

“Fear cannot capture us, criticism cannot harm us, 

and pride cannot make us fall”

~ Donna Goddard, The Love of Devotion