They knew how to build them back then

An appallingly early start to get to Kingston so we could meet up with my godson for breakfast, before he headed off to prepare for the main event of the day, the OUA soccer match between Queen’s University (booooo) and Laurentian University (hurray). So, by 7, we were off and heading in the wrong direction, thanks to my infallibly fallible sense of direction. In fairness, it is a mistake anyone can make – if these North Americans will insist on saying “East” and “West” instead of “Left” and “Right”… Thankfully Mitch was driving, so after a couple of minutes, out came the trusty GPS and my directions were consigned to the rubbish dump of history. Anyway, when we did arrive in Kingston and found the Denny’s, perfectly located next door to the Holiday Inn where the Laurentian team was staying, Nico wasn’t there. We should have realised this might be likely when we called from the highway and found him even more monosyllabic than usual in the morning… so we gave another gentle reminder and waited patiently. Well, I waited patiently, Ottawacker Jr. not so much.
 
Eventually he arrived and a fine breakfast was had. While Nico regaled us with anecdotes of being captain and having to share rooms with a rookie, we ate and caught up. All too soon he was off, for a massage or enema or whatever it is they have pre-match now. So, despite Ottawacker Jr.’s protestations that it was the weekend and not school time, we decided on a cultural tour to edumacate the boy. And me. So, off we went to Kingston Penitentiary – or “the Pen” as it is universally known. Holy crap: if you want a tour to set you on the straight and narrow, then this is it. The Pen closed a couple of years ago now, actually 10 years ago, but until then, the prisoners were staying in concrete cells that were originally 2.4-foot wide x 8-foot deep x 6.7-foot high. You literally couldn’t swing a cat in there (of either variety)… and they shared bunks. Fortunately, they widened them later and, post-riot in 1971, they stopped the sharing....
 
Despite the temptation to leave Ottawacker Jr. behind, we all left together and then headed down to Richardson Stadium for the big match. As well as their forefathers knew how to build a penitentiary, modern Kingstonians struggle with stadia. It’s not that it is an unattractive stadium, far from it – but it is right on Lake Ontario and the winds whistle in to cut right through you. On days like today, when the sun was shining but the temperature only just making the double digits, it is frigging cold. The game was a reasonably exciting 0-0 draw and Nico played well. But I couldn’t wait for it to be over so we could wander down to the changing areas post-game and say good bye and get into the car for some warmth and a drive home.
 
Mitch dropped us off, we had an apéritif and regaled Mrs. Ottawacker with the stories of the day. Then we settled down for dinner.

^^Bonus marks for anyone spotting something unusual about one of the linesmen in the extras.