The morning of the second day in Brockville started out uneventful. Didn't really have much to do so I sat around and read my book. My sister Catherine and her husband Erik had an event they had to go Saturday night so we were on our own. Their event was a reunion of all the people that hung out at the Hilltop and Tiki clubs back in the 60s. Erik's band got back together and they were the main act. My cousin Deb Stewart also sang a few songs with them. We couldn't go to the event because it was sold out. That was okay because it wasn't our crowd, although it would have been nice to see Erik play. Catherine was all excited because she finally got to bea groupie!
Bruce and I headed out downtown to the Georgian Dragon pub for dinner and we were very surprised to see my nephew Derek and his girlfriend Heather there! They drove up from Gananoque (about 1/2 hour away from Brockville) to visit with us. This was the first time that I met Heather and she's just a wonderful. I had heard so many great things about her and they were all true. Derek is truly a lucky guy. We had a wonderful dinner at the pub. Bruce had a Guinness stew and I ate an Indian dish called Butter Chicken. Even though it was zero on the heat index I still got the hiccups. I'm famous for my hiccups LOL. When we walked outside I was pleasantly surprised to hear so much music and see so many people out on King Street. Downtown used to roll up after 6 pm but now that there are so many tready pubs downtown it's more lively.
The next day my Uncle Don was preaching at my old church, First Baptist, so we were all going
to cheer him on. Uncle Don is a United Minister (a uniquely Canadian Church) but he's retired now and only preaches when needed. The regular minister was on vacation so he was filling in. Quite a crowd showed up for him, Catherine, Erik, Bruce, Derek and his daughter Ryanne where there but the big surprise was Gord showing up. Gord is Don's son and Catherine's ex and Derek's father. It was so great to see him. I hadn't see Gord since he and Catherine divorced. Even though he's not my brother in law anymore I always liked him and I grew up with him. He looked good and very happy now that he's happily married. There weren't a lot of the regulars at the church that I reconized except for my cousins Skip and David. A lot of people don't go to church in Brockville during the summer because it used to be a factory town and that's when all the factories closed for vacation. It got into a habit not to go to church, you were spared so to speak. Except the Catholics. My girlfriend Margaret Ann had to go to church year-round. The church hadn't changed at all, even the cupboard where we put our choir gowns was in the same place. It's a beautiful church. The pews are in a semi-circle around the pulpit and baptististry. The ceiling has gold leaves painted on them and I just love the old stained glass windows. There's three huge ones and I used to stare at them during the sermon. It is a very old, stately church. Over the pulpit was a balcony where the pipe organs are. I used to sneek up there after choir practice because I loved the view. Unfortunately the old pipe organ was being repaired so we had to settle for a piano. I do love the sound of a good pipe organ. Amazingly I still remembered the songs from my choir days. I had to laugh, I looked at the program and the organist was still the same person, she must be in her 70s. Too bad she was on vacation as well.
Afterward we all went to breakfast with Aunt Verta & Uncle Don. Ryanne came back with us to the house and Derek when back to Gan to pick up Heather. We had a nice dinner of steaks and salad. Derek made them. He's a professional chef and very good IMHO. Later after they went home, Ryanne, Catherine, Bruce, Erik and I had a rousing game of Snowball. Haven't played that card games since I left Brockville. We were quite card sharks back in the day. Catherine won, as usual, and had to post the score sheet on the fridge. Sheesh! After that it was off to bed. Another rip roaring day in Brockville!
Bruce and I headed out downtown to the Georgian Dragon pub for dinner and we were very surprised to see my nephew Derek and his girlfriend Heather there! They drove up from Gananoque (about 1/2 hour away from Brockville) to visit with us. This was the first time that I met Heather and she's just a wonderful. I had heard so many great things about her and they were all true. Derek is truly a lucky guy. We had a wonderful dinner at the pub. Bruce had a Guinness stew and I ate an Indian dish called Butter Chicken. Even though it was zero on the heat index I still got the hiccups. I'm famous for my hiccups LOL. When we walked outside I was pleasantly surprised to hear so much music and see so many people out on King Street. Downtown used to roll up after 6 pm but now that there are so many tready pubs downtown it's more lively.
The next day my Uncle Don was preaching at my old church, First Baptist, so we were all going
to cheer him on. Uncle Don is a United Minister (a uniquely Canadian Church) but he's retired now and only preaches when needed. The regular minister was on vacation so he was filling in. Quite a crowd showed up for him, Catherine, Erik, Bruce, Derek and his daughter Ryanne where there but the big surprise was Gord showing up. Gord is Don's son and Catherine's ex and Derek's father. It was so great to see him. I hadn't see Gord since he and Catherine divorced. Even though he's not my brother in law anymore I always liked him and I grew up with him. He looked good and very happy now that he's happily married. There weren't a lot of the regulars at the church that I reconized except for my cousins Skip and David. A lot of people don't go to church in Brockville during the summer because it used to be a factory town and that's when all the factories closed for vacation. It got into a habit not to go to church, you were spared so to speak. Except the Catholics. My girlfriend Margaret Ann had to go to church year-round. The church hadn't changed at all, even the cupboard where we put our choir gowns was in the same place. It's a beautiful church. The pews are in a semi-circle around the pulpit and baptististry. The ceiling has gold leaves painted on them and I just love the old stained glass windows. There's three huge ones and I used to stare at them during the sermon. It is a very old, stately church. Over the pulpit was a balcony where the pipe organs are. I used to sneek up there after choir practice because I loved the view. Unfortunately the old pipe organ was being repaired so we had to settle for a piano. I do love the sound of a good pipe organ. Amazingly I still remembered the songs from my choir days. I had to laugh, I looked at the program and the organist was still the same person, she must be in her 70s. Too bad she was on vacation as well.Afterward we all went to breakfast with Aunt Verta & Uncle Don. Ryanne came back with us to the house and Derek when back to Gan to pick up Heather. We had a nice dinner of steaks and salad. Derek made them. He's a professional chef and very good IMHO. Later after they went home, Ryanne, Catherine, Bruce, Erik and I had a rousing game of Snowball. Haven't played that card games since I left Brockville. We were quite card sharks back in the day. Catherine won, as usual, and had to post the score sheet on the fridge. Sheesh! After that it was off to bed. Another rip roaring day in Brockville!
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