The oldest brother was in town this weekend after a whirlwind tour of eastern Canada. He arrived late Friday night, so we just had a few drinks and then all hit the hay. We still haven’t explained what happened at 6 in the morning: two thunderous explosions just outside our door; we couldn’t see what it was, but it was loud enough to wake us, scare the cats, send birds scattering and create a plume of smoke in the air. We’re blaming it on the empty hole in the ground across the street, which we’ve now named the Thunder Pit.

Saturday was more eventful. We walked down King Street and had some breakfast, then walked a little further to the distillery district. He likes exploring new neighbourhoods, and this one wasn’t really even there when he lived here. We poked around for a bit, checking out the amazing stuff in the Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Brush and Sound Designs. Had we not just stuffed ourselves silly we would’ve stopped at a patio and had a drink. We left there and walked back down the Esplanade, then walked up Yonge a bit to the Irish Embassy (after all, we weren’t going to stay full forever) for a pint.

The Toronto Street Festival is on this weekend, so we poked around the acts a bit on the way back up Yonge. Nothing too impressive. ‘Sides, I was boiling hot and needed a frozen hot chocolate. We relaxed a while at home before going up to Yonge & Eglinton (where we were caught in yet more Street festival crowds) and walking over to 7 Numbers…Mmmmmm, sexy duck. We stuffed ourselves silly, then 4/5 of us went to the Bow & Arrow for a few drinks. When we got home my wife and brother decided to watch Friday The 13th on TV; because I’d gotten up at 7 in the morning to go for a run, I was knackered. I went to sleep.

Today was low-key: no explosions, the most ridiculous movie ever made, brunch at the Duke of York, a bit of frisbee in Ramsden Park, and then my brother had to take off for his flight. My wife and I sat exhausted on the couch and absorbed a few more episodes of Six Feet Under (season 2).

It was good to have him here. Living on opposite sides of the ocean we don’t see each other that much, but I think we were at least able to give him some relaxation (and good food!) at the end of his long trip.

Rage on, ThunderPit. Rage on.