The Presence

 

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Another day where our friend Dave O'Hallaran (aka What Wave Dave) researches some of our old band photos from our misspent youth. You may have seen a blog entry about the Golden Calgarians (again researched by Dave in a 2024 FaceBook post to 1980's Punk Rockers in London, Ontario). Dave had posted a photo of another group (as at left) and asked if it was the same band. Many reply no .... But today somebody who knows, was there on stage and remembers well got back to us!

In reply to Dave's query, Rob Hayter writes on Facebook: "Dave O'Halloran that is The Presence from Calgary, a long way from home in 1981. KG Higgins on vocals, Brad Paffe on guitar, Grant Sim on bass, and myself on drums. We had a fabulous week in London, hung out with a band from NYC ‘Certain General’, and went on to Minneapolis to play a gig with our friends Husker Du. Great pic, thank you!"

Dave replies: "Hey Rob thanks for all the correct info! I remember seeing you guys at the Embassy, here in London. Still have the record and possibly a live recording from the radio…great that you got to hang out with Certain General which dates is from aug to oct 1981."

Rob replies: "Hi Dave from the U.K. Wow great to hear that you were there, I haven’t seen that pic before, thanks again. We The Presence had toured across the prairies to TO with Los Popularos (Art Bergmann etc), before ending up in London. Fond memories of our week there, great audiences in The Embassy. We got well fed and watered, and spent quality time partying and jamming all night with Certain General in their rehearsal room. I was 19 at the time. Cheers!"

And then he adds: "BTW Brad ‘Spaz’ Paffe and I played on the ‘New Desperados’ single by the Golden Calgarians (1982) and played a few gigs with them. Bruno was committed to his craft, one of a kind. Small world!"

Using the photo Dave shared I searched my Google Photos and found the collection I've shared above. They were scanned back in 2012. I still have the slides and could produce better scans if need be.

Finally, many thanks to Dave, Rob Hayter and the Facebook community that makes all this possible.

Ps. while these are clearly my photos from an event all those many years ago at the Embassy Tavern my recollections of the event itself is pretty minimal. In 1981 Kate and I were newly married, she a research assistant, we both graduate students at Western. The Embassy is long gone .... memories they can't be boughten ...

Air Fryer Potatoes

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Kate said I should pass this air fryer potato recipe on. It's not so much a recipe as a technique. The technique is simple: parboil potato spears, dry, season and air fry. But here's the details on what I do.

Use russet potatoes (really these are the baked potato recommendations), cut lengthwise to quarter into 4 spears, and parboil in salted water. The potatoes should be cooked enough to poke with a skewer/knife. Don't overcook until they fall apart. Maybe 5 minutes in boiling water. 

You might cut your spears in half for more surface area. I like to be able to pickup a spear in my hand when eating them. I like the skin on, just scrub the potatoes to clean them.

When parboiled, drain and dry the potato spears. I dry them by just returning the pot to the element with lid off for a few minutes. You don't want them wet and falling apart. You don't want them to dry out and stick to the bottom of your pot either. A bit of a shake as they dry out helps to prevent sticking.

In a large (bigger the better) salad bowl gently toss the potatoes with about a table spoon or so of garlic oil. We always have some garlic cloves blended with oil in our fridge. You could just use good oil and garlic salt in the seasoning. The idea is to get them lightly coated with the oil. Coated but not drowning.

Now gently toss the oil coated potatoes with seasoned Panko until well coated and dry. I use some finely grated parmesan, Italian seasoning, a bit of dried chilies, paprika, salt and pepper to season the Panko. The seasoning mix is up to you, but Panko and finely ground parmesan are the important elements (a ratio of about 3/4 Panko to 1/4 parmesan). If you don't have garlic oil then garlic salt in the seasoning mix would work as well. The idea is to coat things with the mix and soak up any oil. I have prepared a jar of this Panko seasoned mix and we keep it in the fridge.

Spread coated spears in an airfryer basket, don't crowd them, the space between is important. Then air fry until crispy. Give them a shake half way through. In our oven that's about 15 mins total.

It's a bit messy — you will need to clean up any seasoning bits, oil and Panko that's fallen off in your oven when you're done.

RailRoad Week

Kate was sorting through some documents her parents had saved (they are deceased and lived in Belleville), She ran into this original ticket. It's 5inches long, 3 inches wide. We'll send it off to the museum there and keep just this scan. It's an interesting bit of historical trivia. The Ticket reads:

RAILROAD WEEK
BELLEVILLE, ONT.
JUNE 22-28, 1964

A SOUVENIR TICKET OF YOUR TRIP ON ONE OF THE LAST STEAM TRAINS COMMEMORATING THE REMOVAL OF TRACKS ON PINNACLE STREET, BELLE-VILLE. THESE TRACKS WERE LAID IN 1876 AS PART OF THE GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY AND IN RECENT YEARS HAVE BECOME A TRAFFIC BOTTLENECK. CANADIAN NATIONAL JOINS BELLEVILLE IN CELEBRATING THE BOTTLENECK'S DEMISE.

On the back it has "ANSON JCT, ONT." Odd as Anson Junction is not in Belleville. Nearby yes, but not in Belleville. Kate would have been coming up to her 15th birthday that year and may have some recollection of this event. She does remember the train on the Pinnacle Street. The tracks remained for some time.

Our friend Dave, who is a bit of a train nut, tells me:

At that time, it would probably have been 6218 as the steam engine on the train in Belleville. That was the last of the running CNR steam engines. I remember seeing it once, around 67/68 just north of Toronto. Don't know anything about the tracks in the Belleville area as I only worked this side and north of Toronto. 

On my side, by comparison, I recall my mother taking Dale, Paul (maybe?) and me on a train from Markdale to visit my sister Ellen in Toronto. She wanted us to ride one of the last passenger trains on that line as the service was being phased out. It was one of those self propelled glorified street-cars — not a steam train! I can't recall the year but it must have been around the same time. Google AI tells me the last passenger train to Owen Sound (Markdale was on that same line) was 1970 but I'm sure it was much earlier when I was about 12 (that would have been 1964). Not only are those trains gone, so to are the train tracks. What remains is a hiking/biking trail.

Wrt the "glorified street-car" Dave tells me

In your blog you mention being on a train with a glorified street car....that would have been a Budd car (that's what we call them, built by Budd) and they used to run them regularly from London to Toronto via St Marys. They did that because there were less passengers on that route.  Some of those Budd cars are still running in Northern ON, and they've gotta be at least 70 years old! 

Many thanks for the extra information!

No Kings!

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We were at the No Kings rally today, Saturday March 28, in Victoria Park, London, Ontario. There were some great signs (see pictures in photo album at left) from people who care and several very passionate speakers; I'm glad I was there (I wish the weather had been warmer!). 

A colleague/friend, who once was a cop, asked "Why do you march? We have a King; King Charles III" and I replied:

You should know, or have figured out, that the protests are about the Lyin' King, Diaper Don, the Melon Felon, Metamucillini, etc. who seems to think "L'etat c'est moi" and not about King Charles.

We are well aware and we (there were protests around the world) protest in solidarity with our friends in the USA where the democracy has slid into a kakistocracy.

I am not politically naive. Or dumb. We're not parrots. I believe there is a real catastrophe happening and, if you're not angry, then you're not paying attention.

Ps. to not protest is to assent

He went on to caution me that one should not march or protest because there are (or might be) police surveillance and nasty consequences for those identified as protesters. I replied

Holy shit! You're describing the authoritarian police state that we are protesting. The police state, the surveillance of individuals exercising their rights and intimidation of them is something you need to stand up and say — "This is not right! I protest. I will not tolerate that!" 

We should all be like the Tank Man [1989,Tiananmen Square]. Do not accept, do not bend, do not bow. This is not Nazi Germany, China or N Korea. We will not be intimidated, we will not be quiet. No Kings, No Tyrants

Ps remember the poem ... Then they came for me, And there was no one left To speak out for me

I understand there were similar protests, some big, some small, some huge all over the free world. Look for the hashtag #NoKings on Facebook. 

Remember UA

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February 24, 2022: Russia invades Ukraine. It's 4 years on and we are mindful of the date. Today, just before noon, we write to our friend Igor in Kharkiv:

Hi Igor, on this the anniversary of Putin's invasion I wanted to let you know that we remember. Many remember. And we, and Canada, will do what we can. It's been a cruel criminal injustice. We remember; on Feb 28, 2022 you first let us know:

"Today, residential areas of my hometown Kharkiv (Ukraine) have been barbarously bombarded with banned cluster munitions. The world needs to know about this terrible war crime of Putin's army. This Hitler of the 21st century must be stopped before he unleashes the Third World War.

I ask you to distribute links to these shocking shots among your friends as much as possible.

Rocket attacks and bombing of residential areas began tonight and continue till now!"

I'm sure it's been a long cold winter, as it has been here, but the sun will shine again.

Praying for EU and NATO solidarity, praying for you. Slava Ukraini; Heroyam Slava!

With affection and respect. Kate & Reg

Igor responds not 30 minutes later:

Dear Kate and Reg!

So nice to hear from you again!

The thought that even across the oceans there are people who remember us warms my heart.

Yes, today we are again remembering the beginning of this terrible war.

Many people thought that we wouldn't last even three days but we have been resisting aggression for 4 years.

And, I am sure, we will win!

Sincerely yours,

Igor

And I reply to Igor:

I am sure you will win; we are just so saddened by the senseless lost lives. Wishing we could do so much more than just "warm your heart".

Ps. we see UA was able to have an Olympic team in spite of it all. Well done!

And he replies

In our situation, "warming the heart" is a very important deal :)

Thank you! 

Feedback From Faraway Friends

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This week's Austin Chronicle (February 13, 2026) has a letter from us in the "Feedback" section. It reads:

Feedback From Faraway Friends

Dear Editor,

A year ago, we wrote a “Letter From a Friend” that you posted online and in your print edition (letter received Feb 10, 2025). We were alarmed by the first few weeks of the 47th administration and saddened every day during our long stay as things went from bad to worse. Much has happened since then and none of it is good – what we see from this side of the world’s longest unprotected border is appalling. How can the country we have loved so much sink so low?

We would love to return to Austin this winter, but we are boycotting the U.S. – not because of the tariffs but rather to show our disapproval of the current autocratic regime. Besides, ICE and CBP would undoubtedly not like “our kind” and might well “lock us up.” We see the cruelty and injustice that continues in Minneapolis and across your country. We are fearful what might befall we longtime Canadian visitors.

Your president has unleashed the chaos we warned you about and it’s worse than expected. International laws, rules, conventions, treaties and alliances carry no weight. Kindness and empathy are seen as weaknesses; belligerence and bullying are seen as strength. Canada will never be a 51st state, nor will Greenland, Panama, or Venezuela. And NATO will not bow to the Lyin’ King. The recent Davos meeting of the WEF showed the world who the adults are in the room. Much shame on your babbling 47th president. Isn’t it about time to impeach and convict?

You are rapidly losing your democracy and the rule of law. It will be hard to get that back. Repairing the damage done to your education, health care, environment, justice, infrastructure, international relations, etc. will not be easy – even with the expected changes in the coming midterms. But, you put a man on the moon, so surely getting rid of a dangerously demented president cannot be that difficult! You need to do it, and you need to do it soon. People all over the world will support you – but only Americans can solve this American problem.

We want to return to Austin. We miss our friends. We miss the music! But only you can stop Donald Trump. Until you do, we’re staying away.

Reg Quinton & Kate Graham

See also our Letter From a Friend of February 13, 2025.

"Big Cheese"

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Thursday evening, January 22, the local Stonetown Beefsteak and Burgundy wine club held it's regular January dinner and tasting event at the Flour Mill here in St Marys. The picture at left shows Derek, our wine tasting champ (the "Big Cheese" for 2026), along with our wine steward Jere and member Dwayne joining in on the laughs. I shared the table with them.

The January tasting has become a regular yearly event for our club -- we call it the "Wine Tasting Challenge". This year Derek (who hosted our summer event on his Thamesview Farm) was the "Big Cheese" winner of the challenge. I seem to recall that it was Mark who started the "Big Cheese" designation. Richard, who was at the table with me, is excellent at identifying white wines and has sometimes won the challenge. For me? Meh! I always lose.

Jere, who picked the wines for the challenge, had us try to identify wines in two tasting flights — first four whites, then four reds. To make it easier (it's never easy, trust me) he had prepared a tasting sheet which listed out the characteristics of about 8 different wines which might appear in each tasting. You know the kind of wine descriptions: flinty, floral, robust, long finish, chocolate and pencil shavings, a wine for laying down and avoiding, bouquet like an aborigine's armpit, etc. (See Monty Python skit). Over the years I've been to lots of tastings at BS&B wine clubs here and in Australia. It's very difficult for me and most people to identify wines with any accuracy. I'm pretty good at being able to say, that's a red or that's a white but only if I can see the wine and beyond that I do very poorly; as do most people. I'm luckily one of those guys who likes all wines that are put in front of me.

For our apertif, while getting settled in and greeting one another, we shared a sparkling wine, Wolfberger Brut Crémant d'Alsace (a pleasant blend of several whites) from France. 

The whites, in the tasting challenge, were in the $20-$25 range. If correctly identified:

• Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio (2019) from Italy;
• Reif Reserve Gewürztraminer (2023) from Ontario  
• Tawse Quarry Road Organic Riesling (NV) from Ontario
• Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc (NV) from New Zealand

The reds, in the tasting challenge, were in the $16-$25 range. If correctly identified:

• Clos Baltasar Granacha (2021) from Spain 
• Boccantino Primitivo/Susumaniello (NV) from Italy
• Viña Tarapacá Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (NV) from Chile
• Quarisa Mrs Q McLaren Vale Shiraz (NV) from Australia

For the dinner we shared a Michele Chiarlo Palas Barolo (Nebbiolo) from Italy. That's a very big wine in the $40 range. All of the wines Jere selected, apart from the Sauvignon Blanc and the Barolo, were recent "Vintages Listings" from the Ontario LCBO. I was especially fond of the Sauvignon Blanc, the Primitivo and (of course) the Barolo.

Ps. I've written NV for the vintage not because the wine didn't have a vintage, more that it wasn't recorded by me or in Jere's notes.

The Flour Mill catered this event last year. Unfortunately, we were travelling and missed it. However, Kate and I sometimes go there for the Sunday brunch and we had them cater our wedding anniversary last summer. Their food is really excellent, chef quality. The dinner tonight was to die for:

• Foccacia and Marinated Olives
• Organic Greens with Fennel and Citrus
• Pasta Rotolo with Prosciutto, Cheese and Spinach in Bechamel and Sugo
• Torta Caprese — Italian Flourless Cake with Cream

Many thanks to Claire and the BS&B executive for arranging this event, thanks to Jere for the wine selection and tasting challenge, and many thanks to the Flour Mill. They are kind and patient souls to put up with this rowdy bunch. I look forward to dining here again — with Kate at Sunday brunch and hopefully next January when this event is repeated.

I understand the "Big Cheese" will be responsible for the wine selections at next year's January dinner and tasting event. If nothing else, this blog documents that fact for those who will surely forget.

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I have been a member of this BS&B wine club for many years — actually too many to recall. I have made some good friends, had some fun and tasted a lot of wine. I was also the president for a couple of years around 2016/17 (after Dwayne, before Harald).