My Dad

For most of us, our relationships with our fathers have their ups and downs as we go through life together. My own relationships with my dad has gotten stronger as the years pass - probably because I got wiser as I got older more than anything else - and I believe our bond is stronger today than it has ever been.

For that I am truly grateful.

Not that my father hasn't changed as he got older - he's 88 now - but I think the biggest change has been in his relationship with my mom, his wife of nearly 66 years. Dad used to depend on Mom for so much, but with Mom in the not-so-early-onset stage of Alzheimer's, the tables have been turned and it is Dad who now looks after Mom.

It's been wonderful to see his nurturing side revealed. First-hand too, as I have been back home helping him since this Pandemic was declared.

It really is a beautiful thing.

In honour of my dad and Father's Day, I am sharing with you a blog I wrote
about my Pops eight years ago. Enjoy!

Sunday, 16 June 2013

Father’s Day

"A man can be a father, but not every man can be a dad."

My step-daughter Adrianne used those words to start a blog she wrote about me a few months ago. It was beautiful – made me tear up and everything – and it also made me think about my Dad.

My Dad was 24 when he became a father for the first time. I was ten years older, but I inherited three at once, so at the age of 34 we were even. The difference – and it was a big one – was that he had ten years to try to get it right. I was jumping into the deep end without a paddle, or a manual for that matter.

It wasn’t easy, I can tell you that. I had my Angry Dad moments. I had my frustrating times, my feelings of powerlessness. I wasn’t always around either, especially after Jacob was born.

I held down three or four jobs at once in his first year and I think Adrianne, who was 18 at the time, spent more time with her little brother than I did.

I love that they developed a special bond that still exists today, but I hated that I couldn’t be there for him. Especially as my Dad traveled all the time on business during my childhood.

I wished he was around more in those days, I really did. But he was there to teach me how to ride a bike, he was there to teach me about the wild, wonderful and wide world outside our cottage door, and he was there to look the principal in the eye and tell him that I did not lie. “If he said it wasn’t his beer on school property, it wasn’t his beer.” Thanks Dad.

Dad in his wild and crazy days


As time went on being a Dad got easier for both of us. No less challenging – I think we can both say the older our kids got the more demanding the job became – but easier, because by then we figured we knew what we were doing.

A little delusional on our parts, sure. But the important thing is we persevered. We learned. And we loved. We still do.

 
Among the nice things Adrianne said about me in her blog was that I am “always there” for her and her kids. I guess I am, but that’s only because I had the greatest teacher: my Dad.

 
I’ve never asked him, but I bet Dad hated being away from us when we were kids as much as we did. He must have hated it, because he has done his best to make up for lost time since then.

To this day my Dad is the one I call when I need help. It’s always been that way. During my first marriage, when my wife and I were having problems, Dad was the one who acted as the referee and smoothed things over.

 
In the years that followed, Dad was the person I turned to. Especially if I needed money, and that was often. I’ve owned two houses in my life, and neither deal would have happened without the kick-start we received from my parents.

 
Yesterday I gathered up the clan – ten of us – and we headed out to Toronto to see Mom and Dad. Also known as Grandma and Grandpa. And Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa. We ate chicken wings and salad and other goodies. And we had a good time because we were together.

 
I was sitting with my Dad on the porch after dinner watching the kids run around the lawn, playing some sort of soccer-football-dodge ball game. And I noted that it had probably been a long time since there were so many people having fun there. Dad just smiled.

 
I love you Dad. Happy Father's Day!

Local breweries shine on the national scene

It wasn't that many years ago that Durham's craft brewing footprint was minimal at best, with just a handful of breweries scattered around the region as little as two years ago.

Today there are 13 breweries in Durham and their impact is being felt far beyond our borders. All across the country, in fact.

At last month's Canadian Brewing Awards in Halifax four local breweries came home with medals, with Whitby's Brock Street leading the way with a gold medal and two silvers.

Not bad for the three year-old little brewery that always thinks big and Brock co-owner Mark Woitzek said he was feeling "blessed" after the team earned gold for its Chocolate Milk Stout and silvers for Traditional Bock and Amber Lager.

Falcon Brewery's head brewer Dave Draper was in Halifax as well and it's a good thing he made the trip as his brewery captured a gold medal in the Dry Stout category for its Salem Stout.

Brock Street Brewing and their Canadian
Brewing Awards hardware

I saw Dave the other night at the bar and forgot to personally congratulate him, so I'll guess I'll do that now: Congratulations Dave!

Little Beasts Brewing, which has been in business less than a year, also came away from Halifax with a medal, earning a bronze in the Flavoured Stout category for Hey Jupiter!

Considering Little Beasts is one of my favourite breweries - local or otherwise - because they make great beer AND because owners Erin and John are two of the best people in the industry - I'd say this award was well deserved.

"I'm not going to lie, winning a Canadian Brewing Awards is fairly satisfying," Erin said, tongue placed firmly in cheek. "Today is an okay day!"

And it wasn't just the newbies being honoured in Halifax. Old Flame got in on the action as well, taking a pair of bronzes for Dirty Blonde and Brunette in the Kellerbier and North American Dark Lager categories, respectively.

Old Flame has been brewing great beer in Port Perry for four whole years, which definitely makes them an OG in Durham Region.

Rouge River Brewing had a pretty good night as well, winning not one but two gold medals at the ceremony.

Erin and John at Little Beasts

Rouge River, located in Markham, is not technically a Durham brewery but they are just across the border in York Region and they are also a big favourite at my local in Oshawa, especially after their wildly successful tap takeover at Buster Rhino's last summer.

Rouge River  earned top honours for their Black IPA (American Black Ale), as well as a gold for their Apricot & Citra dry-hopped Sour - a big fan favourite out here.

B.C. breweries took home the lion's share of the prizes in Halifax this year, but Ontario breweries won a bunch as well, with gold medals for personal favourites Nickel Brook, Collective Arts, Rainhard and Beau's. Other Ontario winners included New Limburg, Woodhouse, Grand River, The Exchange (twice!), High Park, Walkerville, Tooth and Nail, Publican House, Floral Hall, Henderson and Anderson Craft Ales.

Congratulations to all the medallists.

Welcome Ben Gorry

While I'm on a congratulatory kick, I should give props to Chronicle Brewmaster Jim Gorry, who welcomed his baby son Ben into the world last week.

His best girl, the lovely Molly, helped with this accomplishment as well.

Molly & Jim

Jim popped in to Buster Rhino's on the blessed day and as I rose to give him a bro hug, he surprised me with a full-on bear hug instead. I, of course, was still blissfully unaware that he just became a dad - because I'm slow that way - until I got up to head home 15 minutes or so later.

I did remember that Molly was due any time so I asked Jim about the due date. "Today," he says. "That's why I'm here. I got restless at the hospital and I needed a beer."

For the record, Ben weighed in at eight pounds-something and measured 30 inches. At last report Mom, Dad and baby Ben are doing fine, unless you count lack of sleep.

You get used to it Jim. Eventually.

Cheers!

Goodbye Matt & Jess Part Two - The Parties

It's really not surprising that for two people as popular as Jessica Billingham and Matt Chellew one going-away party would not be enough.

So they had two.

If the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa wasn't booked they probably could have filled that too, though the slippery ice would have proven to be problematic for the patrons after a few pints. Too much broken glass, I'm thinking.

But of course Matt & Jess wouldn't have held the party in a hockey arena; not when two bars filled with people who love them and are going to miss them are more than willing to host a party or two to send them on to their next adventure in an appropriate fashion.

I'm thinking I had a good time at the Friday
night party for Matt & Jess at Buster Rhino's

Though that would have been a helluva party on the ice at the TCC. But plastic cups people, because safety first.

Matt, the former owner of Brewer's Pantry and long-time bar man at the Village Inn in Bowmanville, has taken a job as a brewer at just opened Wave Maker Brewery & Distillery in Cambridge and he has taken Jess, the long-time manager at Buster Rhino's in Oshawa, with him.

So party #1 was at Buster's on the Friday night and when I walked in at ten after my work shift the place was filled and it seemed I knew every single person.

Not much cooler than seeing most of your friends in one place, especially when they're all there to tell Jess how much they're going to miss her.

Matt & Jess

I only stayed for a couple or three beers (and to have a slice of cake) because I had to work bright and early the next morning but it was plenty of time to make the evening unforgettable.

The Saturday night, though, that was a different story.

There was a crowd of us that met at Buster's after dinner for a pint and to arrange transportation to Bowmanville as this was going to a serious drinking night. Half of the group piled into Nick's car while Shannon, Adam, Brian and I took an Uber to the event.

My first Uber. Just like a taxi except ... no, exactly like a taxi. But in stealth mode.

The Village Inn is a classic pub in design, with two floors and an awesome patio that overlooks downtown Bowmanville. The bar was crowded so we headed upstairs to stretch our legs and out-wait the drizzle that had been falling since our arrival.

That kick-ass patio would be our eventual destination but first our group had to get our drinks in, put in a few food orders and get acquainted.

I had met Adam's friend's Brian and Ryan before but it was my first time meeting Aly - Ryan's wife - and she turned out to be a totally engaging and intelligent young lady. Good company all round.

And if the crowd at Buster's the night before was familiar to me and definitely all about Jess, this was all about Matt and his friends. The "best barman I have ever seen" was a refrain I heard several times and it was clear that Mr. Chellew was going to be sorely missed.

Our crowd eventually left the upstairs hangout and wandered about a bit - the Doozies put on a great show - before finding our spot for the night on the patio, where we chilled until last call before wandering back into the bar to say our final goodbyes to Matt & Jess and see if there was any more beer to be had.

Matt had arranged for six local breweries - Town, Little Beasts, 5 Paddles, Chronicle, Manantler and Old Flame - to provide kegs for the party and he also ensured that all six beers clocked in under five per cent.

Manantler's Matt Allot and semi-sober me

Smart man, our Matt.

After trying a few pints from Town and 5 Paddles, I settled on Hasheeshian, a Hop Hash Hefewizen that was a collaboration between Chronicle and Wave Maker.

Super delicious beer and it got me through to 2 a.m. still wanting more.

But last call is last call and what was left of us piled into root beer sprite-drinking Nick's car and headed back to Oshawa, where we ended up at Shannon's place, not wanting the night to end.

I raided Shannon's stash and drank a bottle of Raspberry Milkshark from Bellwoods, which I found out later was supposed to be a gift for mutual friend Jeff. As Jeff was scarfing down lobster rolls by the dozen on a east coast holiday at the time I didn't think he'd mind.

And then someone came up with the suggestion to go to McDonald's for breakfast and watch the sun come up and I stopped snoring for a second, looked at the time (it was 4:30) and said no thanks. "Take me home please."

Sometimes you just gotta know when to call it a night. And it was a night. A great night with great people.

It's just too bad two of them are leaving town.

But it's not goodbye, but just 'till we meet again.' And that will be this summer. when we take a carload or two to Cambridge to take over Wave Maker Brewery.

See you soon kids.

Heady Topper worth all the hype

I had just one more item left on my weekend to-do list: meet up with my pal Don at Bryden's in Toronto's Bloor West Village for lunch and a beer share.

My first Heady Topper

My usual routine when I know I'm seeing Don in a couple weeks is to set aside one bottle from each local brewery I visit for his care package. And as we now have 11 breweries in Durham you can see how this can get out of hand.

And then Don complains I bring him too many beers. No pleasing some people, you know?

So this time he had a special beer for me - and I knew what it was - and told me not to bring him anything.

Yeah, right.

I brought him just four.

Anyway, this is the morning after I got happy shit-faced at Matt & Jess' farewell party (part two) at the Village Inn in Bowmanville and I was seriously feeling it.

No bad headache to speak of, but I had no energy and was almost literally dragging my ass as I climbed out of bed long before noon and set my auto pilot for Toronto's west end.

The beer I was getting? That was worth the hangover for sure. Don got his hands on a four-pack of Heady Topper, the Imperial IPA from The Alchemist Brewery in Vermont that is possibly the world's most sought after IPA.

Don, in his favourite home-away-
from-home, Las Vegas

Don, being the swell guy that he is, drank one of the beers and gave the rest away to a few poor souls he knew who hadn't had the pleasure of a Heady.

Like me.

But first lunch at Brydens and a pint, both of which I nursed very slowly. I didn't really have much of an appetite and the hair of the dog hangover method wasn't really working too well.

But I soldiered on and eventually we headed to the Green 'P' lot around the corner from the restaurant to do the swap.

Don got beers from Town, Little Beasts and Bellwoods, while I got a Liquid Arts Milkshake IPA from Collective Arts ("juicy, a little tart and sooo good"), a handful of Cameron's excellent Dark and Sticky IBA (they were on sale) and one beautiful can of Heady Topper, perhaps the world's first New England-style IPA.

That was my treat that night and I was really curious to see if it lived up to its reputation. Especially since I have been wowed this spring by a couple of local Imperial IPAs: Planet Caravan (Town) and the new and improved Strange Aeons (Little Beasts).

It did. It really did live up to the hoopla. Heady Topper was big and bold, with a ripe orange and tropical fruit aroma. More orange, pine, caramel malt and delicious bitterness followed. Really, really tasty stuff.

I'd say it was worth the hype.

Thanks #DonnyVegas!

Cheers!