The selection at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario is almost nonexistent. Unlike other provinces, in Ontario you can’t taste or buy them at local farmers’ markets. As for sales to restaurants, the provincial government imposes an extra provincial markup of approximately 40 per cent on fruit wine prices. This is in spite of the QC Quality Certified seal, which means that they have passed identical quality taste standards as VQA wines. Restaurants do not pay this higher markup on a VQA wine but do when it comes to fruit wines. Sadly, it means that it’s hard to find a fruit wine in a restaurant.

While a healthy amount of drum bleed between the close mics on various kit pieces is key to preventing the drums from sounding like a canned drum machine, too much bleed can lead to unfocused and thin-sounding kick and snare drums. Th e fi rst places to reduce excessive bleed are the tom tracks. In most arrangements, the toms are the least often played parts of the kit, so it makes no sense to have their mics always “open. Some engineers use expanders or noise gates to reduce bleed of other kit pieces into tom mics, but I never use them for that purpose. Expanders don’t provide enough attenuation for my tastes, and gates can chatter or cut off the attack and natural sustain of toms. Th e best solution is to simply erase the tom tracks along your DAW’s timeline wherever they’re not playing. Th e occurrence of tom hits in a track can be readily ascertained by slightly zooming in on the track’s waveform.

What a dream! The Legend is comprised totally of suites, 40 per cent with doors opening to a step-like balcony. This ultra-luxury, all-inclusive ship means everything from meals, beverages, and furnishings are of top quality. Food and unlimited drinks and wines are all complimentary; tips are not expected or required; and there are no port charges. Feeling pampered our worries and cares simply dissipate; we never have to think or deal with any money at all. The Legend does provide the amenities of a larger ship: library, casino, restaurants, gym, business centre, entertainment, spa and shop, albeit on a smaller scale.

A curtain divides the comfortable sitting area from the sleeping quarters. Blue, taupe and gold hues in the drapery and luxurious furnishings, light-toned wood built-ins, a large walk-in closet, an inviting queen-size bed, and a marble four-piece bathroom complete our serene suite. We are touched by the cut flowers, champagne on ice, fresh fruit and personalized stationery that also await us. Julienne, our stewardess, notes our in-suite bar requests and offers a choice of designer soaps. We look around, sigh and wonder if we’ll ever want to leave our enticing home at sea.