Report on FABAC Meeting 18th March, 2026

    With St. Patrick's Day barely out of the way, we met at the shiny new location of one of our favourite eateries, Namaste for the March meeting and dinner.

      As always (do I still need to state this?) Gary took the floor once we'd all ordered our meals and brought us date on recent happenings. Since it's still early—and cold—and snowy, there's only been one event, which was our annual (and always well attended) run up to Dumfries for maple syrup and pancakes. 

    Upcoming events were then mentioned:

• John and his entourage are planning a couple of summer runs to a car show on the Island and a jaunt around Nova Scotia. Details will be forthcoming. 
• Ernst reminded us of the 25th anniversary bash in New Maryland on June 7th, This will be a pot luck. 

    I distributed a few copies of what I hope is the final version of our club brochure. With all comments and revisions done, I'll print a few AND have David post it on the site for everyone to download and print their own. These can be carried in a person's car and handed out (or stuck in a windshield) of an interesting or appropriate car. Everyone can write their own number and/or email on the brochure for a more personal touch. 

    Next month's dinner will be at the good ole Hilltop on April 15th. We have the large front window seating area on the left as you enter. 

    This brings up a point that has been circulating a bit within our group. We're talking about having a few regular spots that we meet at every month. Going somewhere different each month has led us to spots that weren't up to our standards and sometimes resulted in confusion. The Hilltop is popular and has lots of parking at the front door. We also have a somewhat large, private area by the front window and it's never crowded. It looks like Namaste will also be a regular spot. The food is excellent, the service is terrific and like the Hilltop, there's a ton of parking right outside. There's a few other spots we've frequented that we can keep on our list. This doesn't preclude trying someplace new either. 

    Rob E.

FABAC Meeting March 18/26 - Namaste Bistro

IMPORTANT: Please respond if you plan to attend this meeting. I have to confirm numbers by Monday. gararsenault@gmail.com

     Our March meeting will be held at the new and improved Namaste's Bistro (formerly the Namaste restaurant located in the Capital Curling Rink). Its new location on 5 Acorn St. is located off Bishop Drive near Hanwell Rd.

They specialize in Indian foods especially curries. Here is their menu:

         

       https://www.namastebistro.ca/menufrederictonnav

     I've made our reservation for the usual time at 5:30. This is going to be a popular restaurant so I will need attending numbers in order to confirm our seating. 

    I'm looking forward to experiencing the new location and their new expanded menu. 

    Also, please bring ideas for runs and events that could help us celebrate our 25th anniversary. Again, it does not have to be a big event.....a short run somewhere with a meal is always well appreciated.

   Looking forward to seeing many of you at the new Namaste Bistro.

          Thanks,

           Gary

Proposed Nova Scotia Tour

I’ve been planning to go to a long-standing car show on Yarmouth, NS this summer.  The show starts on the evening of July 10^th with a downtown parade and the car show on July 11^th from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM.  My plan is as follows:

• Take a two and one half hour cruise on the 10^th from Saint John to Digby, leaving at 2:15 PM.  Rates have been lowered substantially this year.
• Travel to Yarmouth via Rt. 101 and Rt. 1, take in the evening parade, staying at the Comfort Inn, Yarmouth and attend the car show the next morning.  You may want to enter your car in the show. Information about the show at https://www.facebook.com/roaringautos  
• Leaving Yarmouth on July 11^th after the show and travel to Bridgewater and Lunenburg via Rt.103 staying at Travelodge in Bridgewater.  The evening of the 11^th and the morning of the 12^th can be spent touring Lunenburg.
• After lunch on July 12^th, we will drive to Peggy’s Cove for a short visit and a stop at the SwissAir Memorial, then on to Truro and Fredericton via some back roads.
• More detailed information later for those interested in the trip.  Hotels in NS are booking up already for the summer.

Please let me know if you are interested.

- Phil O.

Dumfries Pancake Run 2026

      Under clear blue skies, with clean roads and not horribly cold temps, we headed upriver to Dumfries maple syrup cabin and true to form, overshot the entrance.  It would have been fun to have a camera set up on the road to catch the informal ballet as we all performed  U, Z, and some W turns to get back to the entrance. Next year I'll make sure we have our phones ready to record the fun-n-games.  Guaranteed it'll happen again.

    

     Our timing was again perfect as we had the place to ourselves. The breakfast and lunch crowds were gone and supper was still a couple of hours away.  True to form, we all forgot how generous the portions were and most of us took home doggie bags.

   

Thanks to all who attended.

   Rob E.

 

 

Adventrures with Mr. Hogg

 https://fabaclub.blogspot.com/search?q=Adventures+hogg

This link will take you to a couple of posts written by our scribe Rob Earl back in 2010.

Dumfries for Maple Syrup Annual Event

 Sunday, Sunday, Sunday the first (1st) of March.

Depart at 1:00 for a 2:00 PM rendezvous at Dumfries for a late lunch.

As always, the inaugural season run is to Dumfries Maple for pancakes and such.

Let's meet at Miller's Ice, just up the road from where Prospect and Woodstock Roads meet. It's a blue metal building on the left that has an ice cream shop there in the summer.

If you plan on going separately, or joining in on the way PLEASE LET ME KNOW.  I'll inform Dumfries so that they can arrange tables for us.

Anyone who fails to do so will be forced to sit outside in an icy puddle!

Rob E.

Robbie Hogg

 

My heart is breaking today after losing the love of my life this morning. Robbie is finally free from a long battle with Alzheimer's. This man was loved by all. He had a sharp wit and was a friend to all and he would go out of his way to help anyone in need. He adored all of his Grandkids and before he was diagnosed he would tell me every day that he loved me and always made me feel like I was the only woman in the world. I believe that he still knew who I was even towards the end. I'm going to miss him forever. 

Nettie💔

Notes from FABAC February Meeting

     Our February dinner/meeting was another HUGE success with 20 folks showing up.  Only three of us were 'tied' but we'll keep working on that.  Last month, the Hilltop had been so good that we assumed it was a fluke and tried it again—you know—just to be sure.  It was just as good.  We'll have to visit there again.

• Gary opened the business with not much.  Still in the throws of winter, and a darned nasty one at that, we haven't done much so there wasn't much to report.
• I (Rob E.) asked, begged and pleaded for folks to come to our annual spring run to Dumfries for maple syrup. This year should be especially good with the c-c-cold nights and sorta warm days.
• Ernst proposed a 25th anniversary outing at a lodge in New Maryland.  We can either have it catered or do a pot luck.  The ensuing discussion seemed to favour having a pot luck dinner.

     Our next meeting will be at the NEW location of Namaste, our favourite East Indian restaurant.  I had to look it up too and it's on Acorn street just off of Bishop Drive right before the Hanwell. (Why is it the Hanwell?) 

Rob E.

FABAC Meeting/Eating February 18

 I confirmed our February meeting for next week, the 18th at the Hilltop restaurant (again).  It'll be at the regular time of 5:30 PM.  We have the large seating area by the window on the left as you enter.  I reserved for a massive crowd of 24—you know, just in case.

- Rob E.

Robert E's Civic update

 I got our trusty old 2008 Civic through the safety check (again).  This time took a bit more work with two new(ish) doors.  Swapping the door locks was a knuckle, finger mashing endeavour that left a bit of blood inside both sets of doors.