Letters from Corner Brook - July 10-16, 2011

I can’t begin to keep up with the time here. It’s been unfortunate that my brother-in-law and nephew haven’t been able to get out and draw/paint as much as they might have liked. Friday at Woody Point was a beautiful day, Saturday not bad. Sunday we were back to cold, chilly, wet and generally disgusting. My poor cedars on the deck just get put upright and get going again, and it rains buckets, and they end up over sideways and floating. We keep hearing that the weather is going to get better. Oh yeah?

I don’t remember if I wrote last week about the show at the Bay of Islands Yacht club. In checking, find it wasn’t included. So let’s hop back to last Thursday. Six young people have summer employment with the Bay of Islands Theatre. They did a wonderful dinner show called “A Concise History of Newfoundland”. Only one of these kids is a theatre student. The others were going into various careers like law and medicine. They interspersed funny scenarios taken from Newfoundland history, with songs from Newfoundland and the appropriate historical periods. The dinner was excellent, and we all enjoyed the show. What talent.

Monday the 11th was one of the good days for weather. Bob and Joel went off to Woody Point again; some drawing and photography for Joel; Bob was giving a watercolour workshop in the afternoon. Kathi and I left at the same time, and headed up to L’Anse aux Meadows. It was a fantastic drive, in beautiful weather. Along the way, we stopped at a chip truck - and got a fat lot of shrimps, onion rings and chips.

As we pulled out from the chip truck, I heard a rattling and banging under the car. Stopping to check, discovered the rear mud-flap flapping. Never let it be said that twist-ties are not one of humanity’s great inventions. A simple twist-tie fed through the two holes in the car and the flap, a couple of twists - and it’s miraculously silent again.

In L’Anse aux Meadows (actually Hay Cove) we found our B&B, and then went off to photograph icebergs before dark came. Since the weather was decent, it was a good time to do it. There were a lot of icebergs around. A 100-square mile ice-sheet recently broke off the Arctic’s Petermann glacier - and the bergs we were seeing were pieces of that ice-sheet, moving into the harbours and gradually breaking up into smaller pieces.
http://www.icebergfinder.com/iceberg-map.aspx

That evening, Kathi and I went to the Norseman Restaurant for dinner. It’s a wonderful place to eat, and we had two nice large cod dinners, a partridgeberry martini, chocolate mousse and pannacotta for dessert. During dinner I was telling Kathi about the Festival 500 community choir in Corner Brook during May, with Scott Leithead from Edmonton - and that Scott’s choir Kokopelli, from Edmonton - would be in Corner Brook July 15. The couple at the next table overheard, and mentioned to us that their daughter was singing with Kokopelli but also playing oboe for one of the pieces.

On Tuesday morning, the great weather had again disappeared, and instead we were buried in fog and sheets of rain. Figuring there was little else to do, we went off to explore some of the smaller coves and towns; up to the Dark Tickle store so I could get one of the warm jackets I’d seen the day before. Cold enough to see the breath! We stopped at a small craft store, where I also got a perfect scale model of a Viking ship - Kathi got a pair of labradorite earrings - part of the opal family of stones.Just after one Bob and Joel arrived, and we went to have lunch at a small restaurant called The Daily Catch. Excellent food, including crab cakes and a carrot-ginger soup. By then the weather had improved enough that we could drive to the Viking village of Norstead - a fascinating look into the history of the Norse migration to North America. Please note: Vikings never put horns on their helmets; that was a theatrical addition invented somewhere along the way to make them look more fearsome. After Norstead, we also went to the national Historical Site of L’Anse aux Meadows, and then out for some more photos of icebergs.

That evening we had dinner at the Norseman again. We were joined by a member of the staff of Parks Canada - she pretty well runs Gros Morne, but does other things as well - and was in L’Anse aux Meadows to work with a film crew doing a documentary. I also wanted to hear one of my favourite singers, Wade Hillier, who often performs there. It was a great evening, good food and company. It is without a doubt my favourite restaurant anywhere.

So Wednesday morning we were off again, driving to St. Anthony to see if there were more icebergs around, and just see the lay of the land. Following a quick lunch, Kathi and I were on the road home and the two fellas went out to do some more drawing while they could. They went down to Norris Point and Rocky Harbour, and did some work there.

Friday everyone was on the way home, and life resumed a somewhat different pace again. Friday evening, Corner Brook was treated to the wonderful youth choir from Edmonton - Kokopelli - led by Scott Leithead, who was the choir clinician at the Corner Brook Festival 500 in May. Those of us who sang with the community choir in May were invited to join Kokopelli for the music that we knew. - and I discovered that Scott is a friend of two of my musician friends - Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran.

Saturday morning - today, July 16 - I was out the door to meet a friend who was helping move a deck umbrella from the store to the house. Box was too big for my car, and he has a truck. That done, I worked a little, and then went down to City Hall for the Gay Pride Parade. Who should be there singing and taking part, but Scott Leithead and Kokopelli.

So it’s been a busy week......and I confess to being a bit tired. Just a bit. Starting tomorrow afternoon, I am camp chaplain at West Haven till Friday noon. OK. 35 small kiddies.....fun!

Letters from Corner Brook - Canada Day week.....

Well, what a week! ...where to start?

Monday I guess.....which dawned in a pea-soup fog. Corner Brook *might* get fog once every couple of years. Well, this was the day....I wondered if the Twilight Zone had come and we were suddenly in St. John’s, which *does* get lots of fog.

So - last week had ended with a call from a local funeral home, to take a service Monday afternoon. I didn’t know the family, they weren’t Humber, but asked for United Church. After the service was over, I was approached by a woman who said “It’s a long time since the airport in Toronto!” Then she said “When you walked in this afternoon I thought ‘This person looks right familiar!’. When you started to talk, I thought ‘I know this voice.’ Took a moment but then I remembered we talked in the airport in Toronto, on the way back here to Newfoundland!”

It just goes to show that we never know how those supposedly chance conversations in passing will turn out.

After the service, dashed home to change into more comfortable clothes, and then went to the Comfort Inn to pick up two women I’d met via the cruise network. They were just starting a bus trip through Newfoundland. So we went to the Mamateek Inn for - ahem - cod tongues, with ‘scrunchions’, little tiny pieces of crispy fried salt pork fat. Following dinner, we attempted to drive to Lark Harbour - there were times when it looked as if the fog was lifting, times when we could see right down the bay, but eventually it just got so thick it wasn’t worth driving. So we came back, and went to Steady Brook where the fresh water stream is, to get them a bottle of water for the trip; then down to Bowaters Park for a short walk. They’ve seen a good part of Corner Brook anyway. In the few days since, they report that they had cloudberry (bakeapple) tarts, partridgeberry tarts, moose pie, and figgy duff - have seen four moose and an iceberg. The weather improved and they’ve been enjoying great sunshine and beautiful scenery. Joanne, Fran and Audrey in Corner Brook.

Tuesday was the staff orientation at West Haven United Church camp - so I felt it was a good idea to be there. I’ve started a term as Vice-Chair of the Camp Board, and wanted to meet the staff and just see what was going on. It was a great day, including a fantastic lasagna lunch. The big news is that when the Glidden Paint Store was approached by a member of the board for some donations, he walked away with a commitment for $3000 dollars worth of paint and supplies, and two painters, - to do whatever we need done to the camp buildings. So sometime next week we are going to the camp to volunteer to help the painters.....so I took some pictures of “before”, and will put in “after” when it’s done. There is an iris blooming down on the beach. The title photo is the chapel ready for the evening service.

Wednesday the weather turned, and out came sun and warm weather. Thank goodness! I spent the morning in a conference call, discussing possibilities for the churches in Corner Brook; then some work on paper stuff, in to the hospital to make some visits, in to Home Hardware to order two more deck chairs, and finally finished with dinner out with some friends....sitting on their back deck in the garden watching the birds and just relaxing and enjoying.

Thursday turned out to be one of those days. I’d arranged to meet my colleague Kim at our favourite coffee place for breakfast...and then was going to spend the day just shopping and getting the house in shape. Not to be. My colleague Myles, who chairs Pastoral Oversight, wanted to meet to talk about getting the committee rolling. So from breakfast with Kim, it was downtown to have lunch. Then a run to Zeller’s for stuff for the house, and a meeting with someone from the church for afternoon coffee; then to Canadian Tire for chair cushions, plant pots, a couple of tools and some hooks for the kitchen. Finally got home, and got the outside lights up on the deck.

Oh yes! The landlord came to finish the deck!!! Finally. So, after much mulling about outside gardening, the decision was made to plant some roses and trees in pots on the deck...and not worry about a garden outside where I can’t see it anyway.

If this blog sounds a little disjointed, that’s because I’ve come back to it various times....so picking up on Friday - this time it was up to the church camp for the larger orientation of volunteers. This time it was pack a bag and stay for two nights. Part of my role was worship and music, along with one of our congregation - a youth, Oliver Dingwell, who is also co-chair of our board.

On Sunday morning I ran into town for service at Humber, and then back out again for the afternoon closing worship and communion. There is a great update to the camp, too. Turns out the painting of our camp was exciting enough that the Glidden store is providing up to $7000 worth of supplies, and Tim Horton’s will be supplying coffee and donuts on painting day.

Unfortunately I will be in Toronto when painting day happens....

I am trying to remember what I was doing Monday and Tuesday last week....and I think it was cleaning house frantically. About ten days before, I got an email from my brother-in-law, Bob Sinclair in Edmonton - that he and my nephew Joel were coming to Newfoundland. Bob has an art show at the Discovery Centre in Gros Morne National Park (where he was Artist in Residence in 2009); Joel has got into water colour painting as well, and came along to do some drawing and see Newfoundland. After some verbal arm wrestling with my sister, I persuaded her to come as well. That meant that Wednesday of this past week, July 5, they were arriving. Massive cleaning of house, moving of things out of the bedroom, buying more furniture for the deck, and generally getting everything prepared.

And Wednesday they arrived. We went to the train museum, drove out to Lark Harbour and back, stopped to eat, and took a walk in the newly-redone Margaret Bowaters Park. I wanted to make sure they were tired enough to sleep well. They did....

On Friday we took a trip up to Gros Morne, to Woody Point and Trout River. There is an excellent fish place in Trout River, called the Seaside Restaurant....Bob and Joel had fresh cod, Kathi had fresh sole, and I had my first mess of “caplin”, small sardines which come up the shore in droves, and can be picked up by hand. They were so fresh and so sweet, and perfectly cooked. I introduced Kathi to bakeapple berries - in a beautiful ice-cream parfait dessert. Plus we got fairly well snockered on a partridge-berry cocktail. Unfortunately I forgot all about taking a picture of the wonderful food....oh well.

That evening we went to a barbecue at the home of the Gros Morne Park geologist - a wonderful woman Kris Oravec. There we met the current artist-in-residence, from Yorkshire in the UK; a sculptor from the UK living in Newfoundland, and a textile artist working out of Woody Point. I took along some ground moose, moose steaks, and moose sausage. They were all a big hit! We enjoyed a lovely evening together.

Saturday was back to life in Corner Brook. Bob and Joel went off to Woody Point for the opening of the show. Kathi sat at home and rested and read, and I went off to perform a wedding, and attend the reception.

So here we are at Sunday again. Can’t believe how the time is flying. We had a wild storm in Corner Brook last night and into today - high winds and buckets of rain. My laundry which was almost dry didn’t get taken in, hence was not only wet but dirty again. So much rain came down that the dirt in the pots got splashed up on the laundry. The rain is finally ending, the pots are slightly drained out, and I think we are going out for a trek to the mall, and some dinner....

Cheers at the end of another two weeks in Newfoundland.....and the beautiful tablelands of Gros Morne Park.

Letters from Corner Brook - June 26,2011

June 21, and summer begins. Technically. According to the calendar. As I look out the window, the same grey mass which has sat over us all week is still here. At least it’s not raining - at the moment. This is Corner Brook - and even at 8 p.m., on a chilly day, someone is out MOWING THE LAWN!!!!

Before Norio came, the weather was horrendous. For most of the time he was here - with the exception of a couple of very chilly days - it was sunny, blue and warm. We had beautiful drives in the country. Norio left, and the heavy grey came back. It’s getting a bit wearing. However, life here is never boring. One thing about Corner Brook is that there are plenty of things to do.

Sunday evening, I attended a concert at First United Church. Wendy Woodland, soprano - and a local music teacher; accompanied by Dr. Jennifer Matthews: PhD in Operatic Studies, and no formal piano training - but a formidable accompanist nonetheless. She has the distinction of having been the youngest faculty member at U of Western Ontario - at the age of 26. She is now home in Corner Brook. It was an evening of art song - everything from Grieg to Benjamin Britten - finishing with Puccini’s ‘Vissi D’arte’. It was absolutely fantastic, as good or better than anything one would find anywhere.

Monday morning, I took off for the town of Pasadena, about 25 minutes away, with my friend Pauline - to have a full manicure and pedicure. On the way, we stopped at a stream just outside Steady Brook - fresh clear mountain water. One just puts the water containers under the hose, and fills them up. It is absolutely pure, clear water - and my, the coffee in the morning tastes 100% better than when made with tap water.

Newfoundland has very few farms, and most that there are tend to be vegetables and such like. There is nothing to pollute the water. The boat tours of Bay of Islands are called “Crystal Waters”; the crab from off Guernsey Island (aka Weeball) is the best in the world.There are streams all over the island which come down from the mountains. Not very many places like this left. No real polluting industries, very little air pollution. I suspect that Newfoundland natives don’t always realise what they have here. Next time we are at the stream, I will get a photo taken....

So we followed up our trip to pamper ourselves, with a buffet lunch at Pizza Delight, of all things. I didn’t know they had that! Good day off. Tuesday was back to work - minutes of last Friday’s meeting, preparation of bulletin for the summer, coverage for vacation times. Went shopping, and met my two colleagues for lunch and conversation before we all head off for the summer - or at least, before we all don’t want to be reached for a couple of months :-)

Oh yes, side story. At the District meeting last month, I was part of the music team. The first evening, a rather lively worship and singing time, I was busy whacking away on the tambourine. Remember that diamond ring which I had reset before going on the trip? Well, the gold ring part got cracked right through from the tambourine. I realised, of course, that I haven’t worn that ring for a long time, and completely forgot about having it on. Lesson learned. The other lesson? Don’t remove wedding ring in the middle of a service - said wedding ring got dropped down the pedal board on the organ. The good news was, two men at the church knew how to remove the pedal board, and I got the ring back. I think my rings are jinxed. Next time, rings stay at home in a safe place. No tambourine with rings.

Back to Corner Brook - and another view of Newfoundland generosity. Our church caretaker popped into the office one day to see if I need a sewing machine. She had bought one and then didn’t like the way it worked, so bought a better one - but now she had the problem of what to do with this almost-brand-new machine and stand. Would I take it? Well, sure, I said - thinking she would sell it to me. No such happening. My doorbell rang not shortly afterward, and there is Ivy with her son, dropping off the machine and the desk for it. And no, she would be *insulted* to take money for it. Just so it gets used. - and it so happens I have a few things which need hemming, a wall hanging to make, and some curtains for my office.

OK so while a lot of this is a kind of chronicle of my day to day life - there’s more here than meets the eye. Newfoundland has a culture of open-ness and generosity which I have never seen anywhere else in this country. I know that it’s because of a history outside of Confederation (remember Newfoundland didn’t join till 1949) - and it’s a history of hard life and community collaboration in tiny outport communities, in order to survive. While it is changing a little - it is still ingrained in people. It’s what made those fishermen sell the crab to Norio and me - for far less than they get at the fishery. It’s what makes people open their homes, no matter who you are. There’s a philosophy that if you have something, and someone else can use it, you do it.

I am always baffled by how a week can look clear at the beginning, and by the end it’s been full. Given that it was cold, damp and rainy on Wednesday, I stayed home. Two of our sister churches are joining with Humber to share the summer services - so there was a bulletin and inserts to be prepared. We are going to worship in both churches - on alternating weeks.....and it works out that both clergy take three Sundays each, and the rest of the summer is weekends off, even though we have our other things to do. So I can spend some time on my beautiful (almost finished) deck.......

Thursday was also cold and wet - but I spent the afternoon with Oliver Dingwell, planning our part of the orientation for staff and volunteers at the United Church camp, West Haven. This camp is about twenty minutes from Corner Brook, in the town just north of us called Pasadena. It is a beautiful camp, on a very quiet part of a lake. This year the camp hired a cook who is beyond fantastic. Since there are always issues of camp upkeep, some of the board members have been looking for community donations. One of the major jobs this year is to scrape and paint the outside of all the buildings. - and what should transpire, but a local paint store has donated all the paint needed, as well as a team of painters, to help the camp. I will be sure to take pictures to post - but here is a photo of the outside of the camp, Norio cooking burgers for the Sunday School kids.

The camp board is chaired by Rev. Wilson Gonese. Wilson is ordained in the Dutch Reform Church of Zimbabwe, and served as Moderator of that denomination in Botswana. He came to Canada several years ago and applied to be admitted to the United Church. He willingly took a post in the tiny town of Burgeo, on the south coast - one road in, and if you want to go anywhere else, it’s by boat. Wilson appeared at a camp board meeting, after being in District church meetings for two days - and sat down to a roast beef dinner. I warned him the picture of his piled-high plate would be posted!

Thursday supper I had a quick barbecued burger with the Dingwells, and then whipped down to the church to run off the summer bulletins and meet with a young couple for baptism - and I mean young....but they are mature for their age, have recognised that they are a bit young, and are working hard to upgrade their education and be good parents. I hope that Humber can be a support for them as they move ahead......I love moments like these.

Alas, the photocopier, which has been so kind all winter, did not comply with my wishes. So while the major part of the bulletin got run off on the risograph without a problem, the copier insisted on making folded fans out of the insert page. Gave up. They will get run off at the other church.

Friday started out grey and overcast - but I decided the trip to the provincial park with my colleague and friend, Kim, had to happen. Grabbed some yogurt and fruit, stopped at Timmies for some croissants, picked up Kim and got coffee at her place - and we drove out to the country. As we drove, the weather slowly improved, and we spent two hours sitting by the water, in the sun, eating and yakking. Perfect. The front garden space is almost ready for the roses to go in; the landlord insists he is finishing the deck this weekend, and the weather prediction is for sunny and warm all next week. Can’t really organise the deck till it’s done - but here’s another photo of how it is now...

Already, next week is filling up. Funeral on Monday and a possible meeting; trip to the camp on Tuesday (which is fun); possibly strawberry picking on Wednesday and visiting with a family; another pastoral visit Thursday, and camp orientation on Friday. There goes another week......but it’s fun.

Nova Scotia strawberries are in the stores....not long till local Newfoundland berries come along..now don’t these look good???? and so ends another week.....

Letters from Corner Brook - Picking Up Again

Many of you have asked what happened. The short answer is, so much has happened I just got left behind! I know that I left off at the end of March, on my way to Toronto to meet Norio for the much-awaited anniversary trip. The trip consisted of two weeks aboard Liberty of the Seas, crossing the Atlantic - with stops in Bahamas, Canary Islands, Cadiz/Seville, Malaga, Valencia and ending in Barcelona. Once off the ship, we rented a car and drove back across Spain, through Valencia and Cordoba, and ended in the town of Moncarapacho in Portugal where we rented a beautiful home for a week. The picture to the left is a wonderful dish we ate in Miami (before sailing), at an Italian restaurant called Primo's, run by an Italian-Canadian from Ottawa!!! This is called 'cioppino'.

There is too much to get into this one blog, but I post a couple of pics of the trip. It was an incredible month, and we not only saw a lot, but learned a lot. There is a beautiful little town in Spain just outside Malaga called Nerja - we fell in love. Our hosts in Moncarapacho were Kent and Inge Ringborn. Kent retired from Royal Caribbean International about six years ago. He and Inge have built a wonderful guest house next to their own home, and we quickly became friends. We’ve booked ourselves in for two weeks again next April, and will explore around Spain and Portugal some more. The beauty of it is, the town is just half an hour from the airport in Faro, and Air Transat flies direct.

Norio - at Senor Frog's in Nassau. I figured he at least needed to have one visit! Then there's Jimmy and Teruko, people we met on board. The village of Nerja, on the Costa del Sol in Spain. The pool at our house in Portugal. Norio, Inge, and "Captain" Kent, at the top of the hill overlooking Olhao and Moncarapacho.












If you wish to see more photos, find me on Facebook - there are lots more there.






I returned to Corner Brook at the beginning of May, and life took on a life of its own, so to speak. My covenanting service was May 11th, and instead of a single sermon my two colleagues - Myles Vardy and Kim Waite - gave a five-minute reflection on the nature of covenant. It was an excellent service, but I realised afterwards that my camera was still in the office! So I have one photo of Myles signing the Warrant to Covenant, on behalf of the District. It's now done...

On May 16 I flew to Minneapolis for the Festival of Homiletics - the preaching conference which I attend every year as continuing education. It was a beautiful warm week in Minneapolis, and the whole conference was exceptional, as it always is. I caught up with several friends in ministry in the US, as well as a quick wave to Diana Butler Bass, who always has fascinating ideas, and of course her lecture generated a long line-up of people wanting to talk. My 'roomie" again this year was Evelyn McLachlan from Mississauga. Fun!

Back here, to find that Norio had decided to make a trip, and had booked for the last weekend of May - which is always Conference or District meeting, in pretty well every part of the country. Oops! So with a quick rearrange, his time was changed to June 2.

End of May was the spring meeting of West District of Newfoundland and Labrador Conference. District meets twice a year - spring and fall. Since I had volunteered to be on the Liturgy Team, I was also involved in worship and music. The meeting was held in Gander, so it was also some time away, but working time. Stayed in a lovely little motel just outside Gander. The day we drove up it was sunny and 25 degrees. Within an hour that evening, the clouds and rain had come in and the temperature plummeted to 7 degrees. Welcome to Newfoundland!

It was great having Norio here for two weeks. We had dinner at many different homes, drove up both sides of the Bay of Islands, found the Blow Me Down Provincial Park about twenty minutes from here, got a season’s pass for provincial parks and picked out the campsites we like. Took a walk on a nature trail - almost unmarked, but gorgeous. Walked the Corner Brook stream, went to concerts around town, and just had a really good time together. Norio got in some time
canoeing ... at a friend's cottage. Stopped at many streams and rivers along the roadside on the way to Lark Harbour. We had a wonderful three-church barbecue at the church camp, 70 people came, and Norio did yeoman's duty with the hamburgers. Haven't been able to get him to eat a whole moose-burger, but he did have some and allowed as how it was "pretty good". I, of course, love mooseburgers.

...and so I am back to single lifestyle. The landlord is finishing the deck, and I’ve managed to get a whipper-snipper, as well as some potted herbs and flowers. Oh yes, chairs and cushions for the deck too. Last two pieces of stuff - a small barbecue and maybe a firepit.....hmmmm.

In between, I am already aware of friends who are coming through - and visiting. July will not be quiet! But Corner Brook and western Newfoundland in the summer and fall are spectacular. I should say it is always spectacular, but the green right now almost hurts the eyes.

...Norio left here June 13, and on June 15 flew to Japan. He will return to Toronto August 3. On July 27 I fly to Toronto, and together we will drive back to Corner Brook and do some camping. Later in August we take a quick trip to Halifax for a conference, and then back here.

....and so begins the next set of chapters of life here in Newfoundland. It’s an adventure, and I thank you all for coming along on the ride. Salut! I leave you with a photo of the very fresh snow crab we picked up in Lark Harbour - right off the boat, straight out of the water.

Letters from Corner Brook Week 18

All of a sudden the days seem to be going so fast, it’s not possible to keep up. Always happens. Of course, the anniversary trip begins Thursday 31st - and there are so many things to be done ahead.

Couldn't resist putting in one more picture of the Blomidon Mountains - just such a spectacular view......

Well, first, the jeweller called to say the wedding ring was done, the diamond resetting almost done, and one more resetting to finish. So the wedding band which was cut off for surgery five years ago is now back in one piece again.....

Then, got lots of little odds and ends done, planning services for the Easter season. All services are planned, and little by little the pieces come together.

Wednesday I met a friend for lunch, and tried a new restaurant - Gitano’s - hidden away in a strip mall near the mill. Their chicken curry crepe special was to die for - and real rice! Not Uncle Ben’s or minute rice, but real basmati. Impressive. Another place to remember.

Wednesday evening a home visit was scheduled, to meet with a family about baptism. They have been associated with the church on and off, and talked quite frankly about not being great attenders, but then asking the church to do something like a wedding or a baptism. But they also said church is important even if they aren’t there every week. I think sometimes in our cynicism we forget that even if people are not always right there, it doesn’t mean it isn’t important. We need to remember that everyone has needs, on many levels. It was a wonderful visit; the 3-year old wasn’t shy at all, and the little girl we are baptising is the sweetest tiny thing. When they found out I’d never tried moose sausage, out came several packs from the freezer. So Fran’s freezer now holds two packs of English bangers, two Oktoberfest, and one Wild Game. Had one for breakfast Thursday morning, and they are really, really good.

After the office Thursday morning, went to the hairdresser for the pre-cruise update. The hairdresser is a member of the congregation. Colour job over, we went upstairs for dinner (dinner here is at noon). Fish and Brewis - the real Newfie variety with salt cod, potatoes and ship’s biscuit boiled (that’s the brewis) - and nice fried onions all over the top - plus incredible dessert. Went straight to the track for a 45-minute walk....

Tonight another parishioner called - he was on his way by and had some fresh trout. This gentleman goes into the woods every Sunday night to the cabin, and does hunting or fishing - comes back on Wednesday. I teased him about the trout, and the response was “You loikes trout?” “Yis,b’y” says I “I loikes trout!” Well, late evening snack - delivered right to the door - two fillets of fresh trout cooked with herbs and lemon juice...after the huge noon dinner, wasn’t very hungry, so some nice trout just hit the spot. Mmmmmm.

Friday spent the day running more errands, and baking cookies to take on the ship. The usual cookie-baking..Friday evening - yes, more food. Out with my two colleagues to the local pub for dinner - ribs and wings, and a pint of beer. It was good to just kick back and talk about everything but church. Not that church isn’t good, it’s just that we clergy can fall into the trap of talking about it all the time....

Saturday - Earth Hour! Corner Brook did well - looking out the window, other than the necessary street lights (and it was snowing so they were really needed) Corner Brook was pretty dark. Had some friends in, and it was lovely to sit with candles for a couple of hours and talk. Lots of fun.

Sunday - baptism in church, and the dedication of prayer shawls. These have been made by the women of the church, and are going to the cancer unit in the hospital. So the last picture here is the amazing and beautiful collection of shawls.

As of Thursday this week, the long-awaited anniversary trip - two years in the making - begins. There may be periodic updates, but for sure there will be something upon our return. Easter in Portugal! This will be a new experience......

Letters from Corner Brook Week 17

Well, what a week! And what a roller coaster ride. As the news of the point 9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan spread, life almost came to a standstill here as well. Norio in Toronto spent a couple of days trying to reach his mother. I was able to reach our son, and be assured that they got a good shaking but little more. On top of emails, worrying about students over there, friends and family, he was called for interviews - and had a hectic and tiring week. Not to mention depressing and emotional.

Now, technically I know that both Dennis and Mother would be OK. They live several hundred kilometres from the centre of the devastation, but there is concern nonetheless. Plus there were friends in Sendai, and in the town of Hachinohe, not far from there. The pictures of the tsunami were so horrifying that one could be forgiven for believing the whole town was gone. Indeed many of the smaller villages are gone. The train line goes right along the coast beside the ocean. But in actual fact, much of Sendai is well back from the water - albeit on a small strip of land between sea and mountains, and there are alternate routes for travel. So our friends report that the homes are damaged but standing, no heat, little food; Tohoku University in Sendai was seriously damaged by the quake.

Over the week, both Norio and I received numerous phone calls, emails and messages from friends all over the world who were concerned. It was helpful to know that so many people made contact. By Thursday Norio heard from the last friends we had tried to contact, as well as some of his former students living there. They are well, if a little cold and hungry, and some are on their way home.

Monday I went for a long walk around the pond and the stream trail in Corner Brook, Tuesday walking at the Pepsi Centre, and Tuesday afternoon completely crashed and burned. Finally decided it was low blood sugar, from not keeping up eating properly, combined with the underlying anxiety.
By Wednesday things were back to normal, and I went out to dinner and to a movie with a friend - went to see “Rango”, and if you haven’t seen it, do. It’s funny but there is also a strong underlying theme about co-existence, collaboration, and the interdependence of everything. Most enjoyable.

Life in the church goes on, and this particular week also had its serious lows, requiring some rethinking about relationships with colleagues, and drawing some different boundaries. The stress of Japan didn’t help, for sure. Life is one long learning experience.

So there is little to say this week, except thank you all for your expressions of concern and caring. It has meant a lot.

Norio and I are off April 1, to Miami, and from there pick up the Liberty of the Seas - sailing to Nassau, Tenerife, Malaga, Seville and Valencia before docking in Barcelona. We’ve rented a car, and will be driving to Moncarapacho in Portugal, near the sea - and renting a house from the “Singing Captain”, former Royal Caribbean captain Kent Ringborn and his wife Inge. We are looking forward to being on the ocean, in the sun and sand, seeing some different places, and celebrating 40 years together. So likely this particular blog won’t appear until the beginning of May. However, as we have access to internet I will keep you up to date on the travels, and yet more new experiences.

...and since we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day this week - Slainte!

Letters from Corner Brook Week 16

I can’t keep up with how the time goes! Just a blink, another week gone by, and the beginning of Lent!

I left off last Saturday with a friend dropping in - and this is really a typical snapshot of Newfoundland. So let me back up. My colleague Myles Vardy was a mechanic and welder before entering ministry, and had already offered to see if he could repair that big piece of plastic which fell off my car. Saturday morning, a message - couldn’t find the house on Friday. So After emailing directions, I thought “I bet anything he’s going to come on his way back from skiing.” So, got dressed, made the bed, vacuumed, cleaned the kitchen and bathroom, and then sat down to finish the sermon. Got up to go put my face on, and the doorbell rang....good thing I’d got dressed! He “could probably fix the car”. I’d made an appointment for Monday with the garage, I said. “I could take the car to his garage”- because he didn’t want me getting soaked by some unscrupulous repair shop just to put a plastic piece back on. Well, maybe I am too much of a worry wart, but I had visions of the jack buckling and him being flattened by my car - something for which I could never forgive myself. Don’t want to maim - or worse - lose a good friend and colleague only four short months into this ministry! I also have these same worries whenever Norio or my sons get under a car....nothing ever happens, but there it is. A worry wart....

But, this is *such* a typical Newfoundland story. People grew up here in tiny and remote communities where everyone just naturally helped everyone else. By and large, that hasn’t changed. If someone can do something for you they will. It’s just the way - and it’s one of the things I love about Newfoundland and living here.

Remember I also said it would probably be a good idea do my face and be dressed even when home larking about???? Note to self: first thing up in the morning, face goes on. While I don’t look bad for 65, there is a heck of a lot to be said for makeup.

Sunday news: “Flat Stanley” is coming to one of my parishioners - so we’re going to take him around Corner Brook and take pics. Stay tuned!!!!! Boy, photo op with Leif the Lucky, and now Flat Stanley!

Monday the car went in to the “car doctor”. I have been lucky to find a really good place to take the car, - well, they were recommended by several people, I didn’t find them myself. Left the car, and Nancy, our church administrator, picked me up as it’s right on the way to the church. Morning in the office cleaning up the desk, and starting to set up the new computer. We wonder if I might be able to use the tower from the old computer with a little upgrading and a new monitor....but I think probably not without a fair bit of upgrading...not worth it.

Then, back to the car doctor, to find that they repaired the piece and reattached it to the car, and charged $46.50 parts and labour. Just a couple of minutes from there, is a member of the congregation who just turned 90 - had a broken hip and just got home from hospital. That’s the next stop. I know she wanted a longer visit, but she’s just tired enough yet that I didn’t want to wear her out. That’s one which will need regular visits. She’s lived in that house for 65 years! Worked in Toronto for awhile, then back to Corner Brook to raise a family. Amazing!

Tuesday morning, for some reason I am awake *before* the crack of dawn - as in 6 am. The alarm is set for 6:30, as I am meeting friends for breakfast at St. John the Evangelist downtown; breakfast to raise funds to support the homeless. I whip to the office with Sunday’s bulletin all done and some music for Sunday, then downtown again by 7:15. Wait close to 15 minutes, friends don’t arrive so I decide to go in and start. Sure enough, just as I sit down to eat, they come in. Great breakfast of pancakes and sausages, juice, coffee and yogurt for $5.00. At 7: 3o there aren’t many people there - by the time we leave at 8:30 the place is packed. Good to see.

Then we are on up to the Pepsi Centre to walk the track - I do 5 km, which is not bad considering I am normally not even conscious at that time of the morning.

Corner Brook weather never ceases to amaze - it’s been warm and raining, water flowing down the hill streets in sheets and rivulets. As I arrive home, snow is starting, alternating with sunny periods....but spring is in the air, and there were patches of green grass in one or two places.

Well, this was supposed to be a “reading week” to prepare services for the Lent-Easter season, since Norio and I are off on a trip. Coincidentally I have a sore tonsil and stuffy nose, so staying in by the fire is a good idea. The warm weather has disappeared, and it’s now decidedly brisk outside again. Wednesday and Thursday are really focused work days, with six services prepared. The only remaining ones are the Tuesday evening in Holy Week, and a joint Good Friday service.

Since we aren't doing an Ash Wednesday service here, I've decided to do ashes on Sunday morning. One problem - can't find my ashes. Dash to the Anglican Book Room. No ashes but they know that the priest has some left from last year. Run upstairs to his office, and yes indeed he does have ashes and is glad to share. Whew! One more thing out of the way.....and the breakfast to raise funds for homeless care here in Corner Brook fed more than 400 people. I am sure some people popped in more than $5, so they have done really well. Once again, I am amazed by how people just turn out to support any of these things - no matter when or where.

Saturday: temps make it up to the double digits and it’s really warm and beautiful. Water once again rolling down the streets, and a good half the snow is gone. First stop is the jewellers. Five years ago my gold wedding ring had to be cut off for surgery, and I just never got around to getting it resized. There is also a diamond ring Norio bought in 1973 in Viet Nam, which a couple of years ago went through the washing machine in the pocket of the housecoat of Yrs. Truly. Diamond was fine but the setting got flattened and cracked. So the wedding ring is being resized, and the diamond set in gold to match; the other setting will have a moonstone put in. Then it’s up to Wal Mart for a photo for international driver’s licence, which requires passport quality photos. Well, these are passport quality all right! They turn out so bad they are scary....look like someone just released from prison, and no I won’t put them out here!!!!!

The afternoon is spent relaxing - the “girls” get together .....good thing most of the sermon is done. Pea soup or turkey soup with dumplings, quiche, fruit salad, cake and cookies. Just a small afternoon nosh. - and a photo of the “girls” - Christine, Madonna, Donna, Pauline and Diane.

Way back I remember saying I’d get a photo of a beautiful cat with big blue eyes - remembered to do that. So the cat's photo opens this week - he is a gorgeous big boy.



...oh yes! Flat Stanley, who is visiting Donna this week. He’ll be in church tomorrow, and we’ll be sure to get a pic of Stanley there.

So ends Week 16.....