Saturday, 6 December 2014

Boithday Boy Blues: Saturday, December 6th!

Your only obligation in any lifetime is to be true to yourself. Being true to anyone else or anything else is ... impossible. -Richard Bach, writer (1936- ) 


Our expression and our words never coincide, which is why the animals don't understand    us. -Malcolm De Chazal, writer and painter (1902-1981)

Every man is the son of his own works. -Miguel de Cervantes, novelist (1547-1616)

Patrick James Dunn Hi Ginettte! What a terrific, not to mention, gargantuan, Birthday Card! Now all I need to do is figure out how to have it helicoptered to the building across the way from us. Might be easier to put it atop the Burrard Bridge so that friends could honk, (67 times!), when they pass beneath it. Thanks so much! Cheers, an older but not necessarily wiser, Patrizzio!
  • Ginette Bertrand You are but a babe compared to me...70 lurking around the corner for me next May!
  • Patrick James Dunn I might be a "babe in the woods" but you are The Babe, Babe! 
Chloe Alexis Dunn‎Patrick James DunnHappy Birthday Daddio O!!! hope the year ahead is filled with long rides, good fun and all the malt a man can fit in his cabinet!!! Love you D!!!
  • Patrick James Dunn Thanks for fab wishes! I'm hoping that the malt cabinet receives many, many replacement bottles this evening!

    Rebecca Ann‎ Patrick James Dunn
    Happy Birthday Patricio!!! Hope you have a wonderful day!!!!
    Patrick James Dunn Thanks Beckster! Looking forward to it if I can manage to run all the errands I've been assigned! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Kjell Nilsson‎Patrick James Dunn Happy Birthday, Willie!
Patrick James Dunn Thanks Karl Ove Knausgård!

   
Margareta
Margareta Maunsbach Wish I were there! Enjoy! XO

Patrick James Dunn Airplane ticket is en route! We wish you were here as well!Maunsbach
6 December at 01:07
Happy birthday Patrick!
Patrick James Dunn‎ Margareta Maunsbach Hi Dottore! Thanks for birthday wishes! Having about ten people for dinner this evening so should be fun. Fondestos to you and the boys! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Happy Birthday!
BirthdayAlarm would like to wish you a very happy birthday. Here's to another great year!

   
Jill Somer
John Graham‎Patrick James Dunn Happy Birthday Amigo. have a good one.
Patrick James Dunn Happiest of Happy Birthdays to you, Southside Johnny! Hip Hip Hooray for the Birthday Boys! Cheers, Patrizzio!

6 December at 03:20
Happy birthday!

Hi Jill! Thanks for the birthday wishes! How is life on Skopelos? Think fondly of you and lovely island often. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Sylvie Roy‎Patrick James Dunn ·Bon anniversaire Patrick! Bises de Québec xxx Happy birthday patrick! Kisses of quebec xxx
Patrick James Dunn Hi Dearest Sylvaine! Thanks for the wishes and kisses! Thanks so much. Would be even better if you were here to celebrate with friends and family as well! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Takagaki Toshiko‎Patrick James Dunn Happy Birthday, Patrick!! I wish all the best for you...Cheers!
Patrick James Dunn Hi Toshi-San! Thanks for the birthday greetings all the way from Osaka! Fond regards to both you and your Mom! Cheers, Patrizzio!
David Kessler‎Patrick James Dunn We hope the family land friends up north do a proper job of celebrating the big day with you! Hope you can safely ride and enjoy the fruits of the vine and barley until sleep settles in and another vin ordinaire day dawns after today's special reserve vintage! Hip Hip, Hooray!
  • Chloe Alexis Dunn likes this.
  • Patrick James Dunn Hi Cactus! Thanks for the birthday chorus! I do, in fact, plan to go for a longish ride today as the Rain Gods seem to be offering me a present of dry skies, at least until the afternoon. Yes, a number of "muled" special reserve California vintages will be popped this even with friends and family! Cheers, Patrizzio, aged for 67 years, like a vintage Port!
    Jordan Hamlyn‎Patrick James Dunn Happy birthday Pat! Hope it's a great one, and all is well
    Patrick James Dunn Hi Jordan! Thanks for birthday wishes. All goes very well indeed and I trust same goes for you! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Katie Maness‎Patrick James Dunn Happy Birthday Pat! I think you should celebrate tonight with a drink from your stash and Christmas Vacation. Fine scotch and fine cinema! Xoxo
  • Patrick James Dunn Hi Katie! Thanks for birthday wishes. Don't worry, I have plans for stash! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Heather MacIver Aucoin Meikle‎Patrick James Dunn Happy Birthday Patrick!
Patrick James Dunn Hi Heather! Thanks for birthday wishes, all the way from Chilliwack! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Carol Riera‎Patrick James DunnHappy birthday Paprika! Hope your day is fabulous. xoxo
Patrick James Dunn Hi Chooch! Thanks for best wishes. If rest of the day is as lovely as start, I won't be able to complain about a thing! How are your knees? Cheers, Patrizzio! Herb Roth‎ Patrick James Dunn· Happy birthday Patrick

Patrick James Dunn Thanks very much Herberto! Best wishes to you and Jill. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Colleen Teahan Waldron‎Patrick James Dunn
Darling Patricio, Have a super fantastic marvelous day filled with good friends, good wine and good times! you XOXO
Patrick James Dunn Hi Marilyn! Nothing but good wine and great times with such good friends such as you and Big Al! Fondestos, Patrizzio!
Alastair Bird‎Patrick James Dunn Happy Birthday, Barbarossa! Hope you are staying dry.
Patrick James Dunn Hi Flash! Thanks for the birthday wishes and concern. Wet on the outside with all this rain and wet on the inside as well with all the malt and vino it takes to warm up! Dinner with Pat and David Coffaro day before Halloween! Cheers, Patrizzio! Wayne Sutherland‎ Patrick James Dunn Three reasons to remember Dec 6th. Halifax Explosion, Montreal massacre, Pat Dunn's birthday. Have a good day.
Patrick James Dunn Thanks for the remembrances, Sarge! I'll try to avoid any disasters today, hootch induce or otherwise!
Sery Ambrosio‎Patrick James Dunn Happy birthday Patrizio. Cheers Nectarina.
Patrick James Dunn Hi Nectarina! Thanks for birthday wishes. How are you? Cheers from an Older but not necessarily Wiser Patrizzio!
Nicole Marie‎Patrick James Dunn Happy birthday pat!!! Hip hip hooray
Patrick James Dunn Needed you and Marvinator to help belt out For He's a Jolly Good Fellow! Jill Roth‎Patrick James Dunn
Happy birthday and may you always keep the joy of youth and fun

Patrick James Dunn Thanks for the terrific birthday wishes. Will do my best. Malt helps! 

Chloe Alexis Dunn shared Andrea Mears's photo.
See how smart Andrea Mears is, she bought a gorgeous tree from Aunt Leah's tree lot and so should you!!! Andrea Mears and Braeda Dowden
Buying our aunt leah's tree
Hi Patrick,Well I actually looked at Facebook this morning and discovered it was your special day yesterday. So some greetings from Aus hope it was a good day Cheers from Greg and Claire

Hi d'Objet d'Art People! Thank you both for the good wishes! Sorry I've not replied sooner but it was a full day today, as I'm sure you can imagine. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi again, O Susannah and Champagne Charlie! Just showed your lovely card to Clarisse so she is going to try to emulate the cake decorations. Told her cake itself is going to need to be very large in order to be able to hold 67 candles! Thanks again. Cheers, Patrizzio!
  • Rae Tanner Happy birthday Patrick! Hugs from Rick Rae Judy Joey and Chandler XO
  • Patrick James Dunn Thanks for the birthday wishes, Simi Valley Folk! Cheers!!
Happy Birthday from the Ukiyo resort and dog spa. Sunny over here you know - perfect for riding... I wish. We are bailing the boat as I scribble. Jane is making a Tarte Tatin in honour of your aging self. We intend to preserve a piece for you. Do you prefer verathane or urathane?
 
Impedimenta seems apropos for the mulage. Hello to the Squamish contingent. Ricardo said he would lose at the card table as a one time gift to you - so don't think it was your mature play. Have a fun day. Fond regards and best wishes to you and C and the crew from across the wide Sailish Sea, W & J 

 Hi Salish Sea/Dog Spa Folk! Thanks so much for the birthday greetings! Much appreciated. Especially since you obviously have to take valuable time away from dog grooming and Tarte Tatin production! I'd like my sliver encased in the sort of stuff Caspar was trying to flog! Would make a very attractive knick-knack! Quite trying to intimidate my bidding. I may be older but I certainly wasn't born yesterday. Perhaps I'm suffering from Impedimenta! Speaking of which, I think that this applies not to muelage but to certain of one's most recent travel companions!

Robbie Romu‎Patrick James Dunn Patricio! I adore you! Happy B-Day!
Fondestos from Cora Lee to you both. You, (not your prodigious capacity to guzzle expensive liquor), will be sorely missed this even. Cheers, Patrizzio, Yule Log Hewer and Mulled Wine Expert, sometimes stooping to porch stoop cleaner and bike chain climber! Or is it the other way around? Not enough maltage to think clearly, obviously! 
Bella M. Mercado‎Patrick James Dunn Happy birthday to the the most happy go lucky guy that I know. Bert and I wish good health, love and happiness always.
  • Patrick James Dunn Hi Bella Bellissimo and Alberto! Thanks for the wonderful birthday wishes! Only happy go lucky after I eat some of your fabulous Spring Rolls! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Tarts Tartin Dunn Per verathane    Hi Tarts Tartine People! Your dessert looks fabulous. Was picture taken before or after first coat of Varathane? I assume you are drinking home-made beer of just sniffing the Urethane! Sorry I've not replied sooner but it has been a full day. Not sure if you knew that Glasgow had his bike stolen this past Saturday. He thinks he found it on Craigslist! Not sure what will happen next! Gather he is looking for a replacement. Buona Fortuna with Tartine franchise. Cheers from an Older but not necessarily Wiser Patrizzio!
Beverley Wittwer‎Patrick James Dunn Happy Birthday Patrick, we are always thinking of you. Enjoy your day, hope you get spoiled. Lots of cuddles and kisses
Patrick James Dunn Hi Bev! Thanks for warm greetings from Perth! For our part, we both think fondly of you and Kev in your tropical paradise! Cheers!

Christmas Train Here is Corben's birthday gift that he bought in June�� Hi Ariane! Great train set! Reminds me of the Lionel Electric Train set I had when I was about Corben's age! Looks like nobody will be able to cross the tracks to get to their presents! Cheers, Patrizzio!
 
Hello Patrick You must have read my mind as I was going to send you news from London and a Xmas ecard. Will fill you in with what's happening here next week as having pow wow with girls on sun . Mike and I are coming to Vancouver next September - nothing booked yet but likely to be around 21st for 5 or 6 days - do you think we could stay at the island inn? To be continued.... P and M xxx

Hello P & M! Almost sounds like a steamship line from the '60's and '70's! Mme Coriandre is absolutely delighted that you two will be visiting, as am I of course. Was wracking my brain as to how to get Laphroaig over here! Last time June was the mule, if I remember correctly. September is great and you can ensconce yourselves in The Annexe. Have already entered you in the Reservation Book! 

Fondestos to you and all your children/grandchildren from a still slumbering Cora Lee! Ayn and Los Horridos will be up on December 20th so should be quite a family Christmas gathering. Lads were here for the night on November 17th. They flew to Everett as a surprise for Melvin's 50th birthday and then drove up to Vancouver for a whirlwind visit. Love and Cheers, Patrizzio, Innkeeper and Scullion!

Pics: Los Horridos and Incredible Shrinking Nana! Malt/Bourbon tasting; Where's the Laphroaig? Alejandro with Clarisse; Chloë with Pierre; Long Legged Lads! 

Thought I should mention that we're going to Calgary and Banff area first so not sure laphroaig will last the distance - we may have to toast you a few times before we leave London! Xx
 
Hi Laphroaig People! You can toast me as many times as you'd like, but with Bombay Sapphire if you don't mind! Just a quick note to make a few suggestions about your coming trip to Calgary, Banff and then Vancouver. I assume you will be flying to Calgary. From London or are you stopping in Toronto first? At any rate, will you be driving to Banff or taking the train? Either way, I was wondering if you might be interested in spending a few days in the Okanagan, wine-tasting. It is a lovely time of year there and I know you'd enjoy the scenery, let alone the company and hootch! 

If you'd like to do this we could meet you in Kamloops, for example, where you could return your car or else leave train, depending on how you are/will be travelling. We could even spend a night at Little Shushwap at Ruth's/Rick's cabin on the lake there, then drive to Naramata. We have close friends there and I'm sure we would be welcome to stay with them for a night or two. They have a gorgeous home and you would enjoy their company. Lynne and Peter are the couple we plan to travel to India with, later in the Fall, late October, early November. The we'd drive back to Vancouver. Anyway, let me know what you think and we'll plan accordingly. Cheers from an Older but not necessarily Wiser Patrizzio!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!  Dear Patrick, Greetings from Chabeuil. Arrived last night from Dublin and heading off to Frankfurt on Tuesday so working hard before our Caribbean holiday over Christmas and New Year. Hope all is well. Looking forward to seeing you again when we are back in Vancouver in March 2015. Seasons Greetings and much love, Rosemary XXX 

Hi Rosemary! Thanks so much for birthday greetings! Much appreciated. Having about 10 for dinner this evening. Flamin' and Sarge, Ruth and Rick, (friends from Squamish who will stay overnight), Joanne, another friend and neighbour from our building, Clarisse and Dusty, Chloë and Cora Lee and Birthday Boy, of course! You sound more than busy with your flitting around Europe.  Have a wonderful time in the Caribbean! Fondestos from Cora Lee to you both! Cheers, Patrizzio 

Happy birthday! have a great day!! Hugs and kisses. Pam, Greg, Cody and Dustin Hi Spumoni! Thanks so much for birthday greetings! Much appreciated.
Fondestos to you four! Cheers, Patrizzio!

hi patrick,cactus?.i see possibly my bike on craigslist but cannot get a reply to the person due to computer glitz.anyway thank you for your offer .off looking for a replacement and in the meantime will borrow catherines.from no longer sour puss matt 

Hi Glasgow! Glad to hear you are no longer a sour puss! Sorry I've not replied sooner but it was a full day on my birthday. Any luck with Craigslist? Buona Fotuna with replacement. Cactus is aka David from Berkeley! Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Ricardo and Ruthless in front of Dusty's latest. Birthday Bash!

Up at 6:30 am as I knew it would be a full day on my birthday. Had a number of errands to run and then managed to get over to FCCC to use elliptical before place closed at 4:00 pm. Back home to shower and change and then helped Cora Lee with a few things in kitchen to help her ready appetizers and dinner. When she went to have a shower herself I popped over to the Aquabus to take it to Hornby as I wanted to buy a bottle of their Cucumber Gin for Ricardo. (He and Ruth we coming for dinner and would stay overnight. Giorgio asked me if I would buy him a bottle of something for some legal advice he'd provided.)

Took along two bottles of Diplomatico rum, the Reserva and the Reserva Exclusiva, as I had been trying to have a mini-tasting with the owner, Charles Tremewen, the owner, I've come to know since we first started frequenting the distillery. I had been to a very posh Diplomatico tasting, (organized for free by Legacy), this past June and had told Charles about it, in passing.  Had a lovely time, in back with all the gorgeous copper stills. He and his two assistants, Colin and Cole, were also most impressed with this Venezuelan rum. Had to dash back after a few snorts as I knew Mme Coriandre would not be happy if I wasn't home by the time the guests started to arrive.
 
Didn't have to worry as Ricardo and Ruthless phoned to say they were just on Lions Gate when I walked in patio door. Flamin' and Sarge were at a late  afternoon Xmas gathering in Surrey so they wouldn't be arriving until after 7:00 pm. Nevertheless, all was ready when Clara and Dusty came over. Chloë had spent most of the afternoon here, helping her Mom and had only taken a quick trip back to her place to change. 
Around 1:00 pm she had dropped the "shared" car off at the GM dealership on Terminal to have a part for the driver's side seat warmer replaced and then someone there brought her to our place. With all the inconvenience, the part that had been ordered was the wrong one so this entire process will need to be repeated in the future!

At any rate, once everyone started to arrive we enjoyed the first of many, many bottles of wine along with the amazingly light, fluffy, melt-in-your mouth cheese puffs Clarisse had made and the wonderful prawns in garlic butter and bacon wrapped water-chestnuts that Cora Lee offered as appetizers. Gathering, though "reasonably" small, more than made up for numbers in volume as everyone was busy visiting and chatting/laughing at Richter levels on the decibel scale! 

We were just about to sit down to dinner when Joanne arrived. She's been taking care of her grandchildren on the North Shore so knew she would be a tad late. Corinne had done most tasty steaks in the oven, along with crunchy roasted new potatoes. I'd prepared two butternut squash that morning so dish just needed to be reheated. Chloë threw together a large Caesar salad, (She used the pewter bowl I'd picked up in Playa this pat May and it worked very well.), with a paint-remover garlic, Tofu, Tahini dressing that almost made your eyes water when you sniffed it!Since there were only ten of us we could all sit around the table so it was another boisterous meal. Plenty of toasts and plenty more bottles of wine. One in particular, a 2008 Noceto Mistura, (an old-world Portuguese-style blend), that I'd muled back from the latest California trip  
After we'd finished that part of the meal, Chloë brought all my presents to the table and I proceeded to open them: special wine, (2011 Stags' Leap Petite Sirah, 13.9% as well as a care package of home preserves and baked goods, from R/R; a 2013 1884 Malbec, 13.8%, fro JT), a litre of Glenlivet, Master Distiller's Reserve, from F/S; French Roast Torréfaction and cold cash from Clarisse and Dusty; a vinyl copy of Rodriguez's Cold Fact, his debut album, a collector's item now, from Cora Lee; Bob Dylan and The Band The Basement Tapes Raw, The Bootleg Series Vol. II, an Alex Colville Comic published by the AGO, (bought while in Toronto in late November), and a perfect malt sipping T-shirt: What Whiskey Can't Cure Isn't Worth Curing, from Chloë, so I was very well fêted I must say!

For dessert Rosita had made, by special request, an Angel Food cake for my birthday cake and suitably topped with "six" and "seven" candles Chloë dimmed lights and brought the cake to the table. Not much trouble thinking of a wish or blowing out the candles and then it was time to lead the assembled company in a traditional round of For He's a Jolly Good Fellow after which we tucked in to enjoy this perfect concoction. Think it was close to 11:00 pm by the time the cake was dispatched and Flamin' and Sarge bade goodnight, along with Clara and Dusty. Thanking them all we repaired to the living room and The Squamoids showed their drinking mettle as we proceeded to sample a number of Bourbons: Knob Hill, Breaking and Entering, Eagle Rare and Booker's, the last weighing in at 63.7%! Cora Lee stuck to wine, as did Joanne and Chloë. 

Around 1:00 am they both left but the hard-core drinkers kept on, fueled by pistachios and lack of common sense! I was pushed over my limit by 2:00 am and thanked those still standing for exceptional celebration and staggered off to bed, very happy and into my 68th year!, thanks to all the wonderful friends and family I'm blessed to have! Grand time was had by all! Learned the next morning that Cora Lee opened another bottle of wine at 2:30 am so the "hard core" kept "knocking it back" until 3:30 pm. Took a terrible toll in the final analysis but at the time, I suppose, it seemed like a very good idea
indeed! Who needs those silly old brain cells anyway? Certainly not Mme Coriandre and Rikki Ricardo, obviously!



 

 
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