The season begins…
Last Monday night, the Philadelphia Eagles dodged a bullet in the fourth quarter as the Washington Redskins gave them all that they could handle. The Eagles received the opening kickoff and proceeded to run a “firewagon” brand of offence. They passed, they ran, they eluded tackles, and stormed down to the Redskins goal line. Michael […]
Calm before the storm
This is a perfect time to visit the vineyards and taste the difference made by vintage, varietal and terroir. Since the County has fewer guests than in July and August, there is a short window to relax and enjoy our wines in a more intimate setting. Within two to four weeks, all the wineries will […]
The second best paper
It would be disloyal of me to suggest that the Wellington Times is anything but the best weekly newspaper in town (although it is anyway). But what’s the second best? You want hints? 1. It comes on a single sheet of brown paper. 2. It’s free. 3. It’s usually found in restaurants. No, it’s not […]
Put on your big boy pants
As I’ve written before, sometimes a column is difficult to put together. This week’s is one of those columns. Mostly I try not to step too deeply into politics, but it’s all politics, isn’t it? Everything has a political side and today I’m trekking down the road I’ve avoided in the past. War. Armed conflict. […]
Just gin and bear it
Dutch physician Franciscus Sylvius is considered the first to distill gin in the early 17th century. This tasty spirit—as most early distillations—was primarily created for medicinal value, as a beverage infused with botanicals. In fact, it’s name derives from the Dutch word “jenever” which translated to English indicates its prime flavouring of juniper berries. It […]
50 years of kitten’y softness
My editor was expecting that this week I would weigh in with a piece about the size of council, and make some acerbic comments about which councillors would ‘drink the hemlock’ in order to conform with the wishes of the Citizens’ Assembly. But that’s for another time. Today’s column is all about toilet paper. And […]
What’s green and pushes itself to the curb?
Okay. Okay. You’re going to laugh, so have your laugh right now. Go on. Yuck it up. I’ve got a problem. Ya, I know I’ve got more than one problem, but this particular problem is green and my problem is a bin. I fell for the green bin hyperbole. I crawled all over the idea […]
On the last night of August
The Carrying Place bridge swings closed; a final rotation on this hot August day. Downbound in the Murray Canal the sail vessel ‘Sally’ courses out toward Indian Island and a blue moon rising. Night falls and the crickets begin their chant. At North Beach provincial park the neon sundown is swallowed by Weller’s Bay; the […]
The Wildfire Invitational 2013
Several weeks ago, I shared a note with you about a young South African who was wending his way across North America as a touring golf professional. Andrew Georgiou had earned a ticket to the Canadian Open and was moving on to the Canadian PGA circuit. Last weekend, he and his fellow professionals played in […]
Knocked back on the heels
I recently read about the national drink of Turkey called “Arak” also known as “Raki” (not to be confused with Aragh, a version of vodka that is common to Georgia, Armenia, and Iran). Well known throughout the Middle East, this alcoholic beverage is distilled from grapes, botanicals and aniseed, which gives a distinctive flavor that […]