Teena in Toronto

Sunday, 12 April 2026

Book ~ "Strangers in the Villa" (2026) Robyn Harding

From Goodreads ~ Sydney Lowe’s life in New York is shattered when her husband, Curtis, admits to a meaningless affair with a client. Begging for forgiveness and vowing to prove his devotion, Curtis suggests the couple retreat to a remote hilltop house in Spain to repair their marriage.

High above the Mediterranean, Sydney and Curtis are working on the isolated property and their relationship when a pair of Australian travelers turns up at their door in dire need of help. Lonely for companionship and desperate for free labor, Sydney and Curtis invite the attractive young couple to stay. But as the days pass, dark secrets come to light, the Lowes’ bond is tested and not everyone will leave the villa alive.

Curtis had confessed to an affair and now he and his wife, Sydney, are trying to rebuild their relationship with a fresh start in Spain. Sydney is still feeling hurt and betrayed and is trying to trust Curtis again and Curtis is committed to earning that trust back. They’ve bought a run-down villa with dreams of transforming it into a winery, though the property requires a lot of repairs. A few months into their new life, Damien and Bianca, a young Australian couple, unexpectedly arrive after their van breaks down nearby. With the replacement part delayed, Sydney offers them a place to stay in exchange for helping with the renovations.

I thought the story was interesting but was disappointed with the ending. After all the stress and tension that had been built up, it was a letdown. The story is written in third person perspective with a focus on Sydney, Curtis, Damien and Bianca, which lets us get to know them and what their motives are. The pacing could have been better as it took a long time to find out what had really happened in the past, which explained why things were happening today. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Fan and Feather Knitted Scarf

I knitted another scarf to donate using my favourite pattern, fan and feather.

I used a Caron Anniversary Cake Special Edition (the colour is Merry Maximus) and 6.5mm needles.

I cast on 24 stitches (a multiple of 18 plus 6).

Knit 3 rows of garter stitch for the border
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: K 3, P to last 3 stitches K3
Row 6: K3, *(K2 tog) 3 times, (yo, K1) 6 times, (K2 tog) 3 times, rep from * to last 3 sts K3
Row 7: Knit
Repeat Rows 4 - 7, keeping first and last 3 stitches in garter stitch, until piece measures desired length
Knit 3 more rows of garter stitch to make the bottom border
Cast off and darn in ends

Toronto Art Crawl, The Great Hall, Toronto, ON

I stopped in at the Toronto Art Crawl at the Great Hall in my ‘hood late this afternoon. Lots of fun stuff!

One Eyed Jack, Toronto, ON

I had a late lunch at One Eyed Jack on (Richmond Street W/ Peter Street) this afternoon.

I had the $16 pint and pound of wings (Buffalo sauce) special and they were both delicious! Another beer was just $6!

"Little Miss Sunshine”, TIFF Lightbox, Toronto, ON

This afternoon I saw Little Miss Sunshine at the TIFF Lightbox. I’ve seen this movie many times but never on the big screen!

A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.

It was a free ticket through TIFF’s Silver Screenings’ program.

The complimentary popcorn was a nice surprise (I love popcorn!).

Before the showing of the movie, Megan Ferris, Manager of Programs for Older Adults at Canada’s National Ballet School, led a beginner-friendly movement activity. She got us warmed up and then one of the songs was inspired by Olive’s dance in the competition.

Death and Taxes, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper at Death and Taxes (on Queen Street W at Beaconsfield Avenue). It’s been a while since we’ve been there.

Gord had a Caesar wrap and I had a burger. Both were good and we’d get them again. The bun for my burger was really soft, which I like. The lettuce on my burger was a surprise and I’m not a fan so I scraped it off.

"The Moors", The Theatre Centre, Toronto, ON

Gord and I spent the afternoon volunteering at The Theatre Centre (Queen Street W/Dovercourt Road).

A young governess arrives at a mysterious manor on the remote Moors of England after exchanging many letters with the master of the house. But when the door opens, the only residents are his spinster sisters, a maid (or is it two maids?), and a lovelorn mastiff pining for a far-flung moor-hen. But when there seems to be no child to care for, she’s left to wonder why she has been brought here. The Moors is a dark comedy about love, desperation, and the dangerous results of yearning to be seen. Drawing inspiration from classic Victorian Gothic novels by the Brontë sisters, but twisting the genre to become something weirder and wilder, The Moors is undeniably queer and unmistakably modern.

I don’t usually like period pieces but found this one entertaining. The acting was very good. It’s playing until April 19.