Movie Review: Love in Whitbrooke

 I was particularly struck by this shot in the movie, Love in Whitbrooke. We've stayed in this hotel in Port Hope! [Port Hope, Ontario in 2009] My great-grandmother, Mariah Mallette and grandmother Anne lived in and ran a boarding house in Port Hope.

It's a pretty white main cast. Hallmark has been improving this, especially since they film in Canada, with newer movies. 

It's a typical romance, and one does have to suspend belief, but on a rainy day... 

The signage for this building says Port Hope Administration Building. That confirmed it.

The IMDB database says it was filmed in Hamilton. I did some research, and there were many local news reports that it was being filmed in Port Hope Oct. 26 – 30, 2020.

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We'd planned to visit and have lunch with friends in Port Hope. Then we changed our minds. We thought we'd meet in Kingston, a midway point for both of us, but look what I spotted from Kingston...

 COVID is rearing its ugly head, still. We've not many cases here, but they are worrisome. They pop up from time-to-time.  

We've achieved a lot in our Health Unit, despite the actions of our COVID-denier MPP. 

"Today, the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit remains the leader in Ontario, with 95% of eligible residents fully vaccinated, and 98 % having received one dose."

Movie Review: The Christmas Setup

 Yes, I know it's a RomCom. One of those Christmas movies many despise. This one is remarkable. It's the first Lifetime movie featuring a gay couple. It is delightful. Of course it is well beyond time. They have also produced one with a lead character in a wheelchair. In these trying times, it is progress. 

Ben Lewis, Blake Lee and Fran Drescher are the headliners. Ben Lewis and Blake Lee are married in real life. I've seen interviews with Ben (red sweater) and he is a sweetie! It is light-hearted, inclusive, and fun.

Back in the day, Drescher had to fight to make her The Nanny character Jewish. Thankfully, times are changing. Slowly, but they are changing. She can be in a Christmas movie as a loving Momma. It was fun and funny.

The other important character, a supporting role, is played by Canadian Ellen Wong, best friend of Lewis' character, Hugo. Canada has an amazing Asian influence and it's finally being reflected in the fine arts. 

What's really meaningful about this movie is that it was filmed in nearby Smiths Falls. We've taken our grandies to the Train Museum several times.

2015

 They have train cars to visit. Train Museum from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We love the hand cart!

Train Museum from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.