| Islands of Song |
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| This trip to Ireland was born in a casual conversation with Jim Fidler one evening on the ham radio. He mentioned that he was going to bring some of Newfoundland�s best to Cork, Ireland to work with Irish songwriters and share songs and collaborate on new ones. That sounded like a great idea and as it began to take flight he shared name after name that had agreed to join him. With this incredible line up, how could I NOT go? Any opportunity to hear Jim is a good one, but with Ron Hynes, Pamela Morgan, Colleen Power, Darrell Power, and Hugh Scott going with him, I figured I�d never in my life have that opportunity again to hear all that talent at once. The formula of an incredible group of Newfoundland musicians sharing their songs with talented Irish songwriters made the potential outcome a possible explosion of music like no one has seen before. It could be one heck of a concert review to write, too. I really didn�t know how I was going to afford to go but the Lord smiled on us and provided opportunities and windfalls so my hope became a reality. In the month preceding the trip, Jim helped to stoke the fire of excitement as he�d mention tidbits of songs, rehearsing with the musicians and the show they were going to put on to raise funds. All of the above musicians at one venue, Mile One, in St. John's NFLD in one evening! I wish I had been able to be there for that. March 16th dawned with excitement. I went to work for half a day and then Karen and Heather picked us up at home and drove us to the airport in New York � JFK. The plane was supposed to leave at 7:55 and we had to be there at least 2-3 hours before that. Leaving a tad late, the ride was uneventful with Vic driving to the airport and Karen and Heather getting a rest. JFK was not as confusing as I had remembered it in the 60�s when we drove my brother back and forth. A hug and a kiss from each of the girls and a command to �Have a good time!� buoyed us up for the very looooooooong line at the American Airlines check-in counters. The hour-plus wait was made easier by joking with our fellow line-mates. One girl was traveling to visit her boyfriend in Italy for 2 weeks. She was considering moving there for 3 months on a semester abroad program at her University. She spoke some Italian and was studying Information Technology. The lady behind us was French but going to London to live for a year. She was having a nicotine fit and was not having any luck with the line moving fast enough. The lady next to her watched her stuff while she went and satisfied her urges. She had us laughing telling us about the last time she traveled on a long plane ride without her cigs. She had purchased nicotine patches but they require scissors to open. You can�t carry scissors on the plane. The attendants don�t even have scissors! Finally the attendant got it open with much sawing by a plastic dinner knife. We had a good laugh over her addiction with nicotine. |
| Irish Flag |
| Modern Newfoundland Flag |
| Republic of Newfoundland Flag |
| Eventually the pilot announced that someone�s baggage had to be removed from the plane after it was all loaded. We left an hour late. Supper was served at 10 PM to get us used to the European customs I guess. And I was able to get a small amount of sleep after we had traveled over Eastern North America. What a geek I was! I much preferred watching the little plane on the "Where are we now?" screen to any movie or radio station available. I took photos of Flat Stanley flying over various cities. We said hi to Columbine in Somerville, Massachusetts, Karen and Shannon in Vermont, Tracy and Honey in Nova Scotia, and to Ken, Diane, Christina and Shawn in Newfoundland. With those formalities over, I finally caught a few winks. A few hours later, I awoke to a meal being served. Breakfast was a shoebox affair, but good nontheless. The bagel chips with cream cheese hit the spot. I had Flat Stanley sitting on the tray and the stewardess let out a laugh. "Flat Stanley's here!" she chortled. Her son had brought one home and she asked to take a photos of him on my tray with me. After that, he was invited back to party with the flight attendants. Half of them had never heard of Flat Stanley and were a little wary of our taking photos with them. But it was all in good fun and they complied happily. |
| The Emerald Isle |
| The "Tropical Island" of Newfoundland |
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| When we got on the plane, I was shocked at how big it was. I had not been on a Transatlantic flight since 1969. Whoa! Seriously huge plane, this Boeing 777! In the back section where I was seated there were two seats next to the windows and six across in the middle. I was thankful to have requested a window seat. Even though it was nighttime, I figured I could watch the sunrise. Plus there was only one person who had to move when I went to the bathroom. |
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| Stella sat down next to me and we became instant flight buddies. She was an British national who had married an American and moved to New York City. She had her own law practice but was thinking about joining a firm so she would be able to draw more of a consistent income. Her Mum was anxiously awaiting her two-week visit. Vic was seated 10 rows ahead of me because we had not bought tickets at the same time. The seats were comfy and I settled in easily. We waited a very long time after everyone had boarded while they kept loading cargo and baggage onto the plane. |
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| We hollered "Hi!" to friends in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland as we flew over those lovely provinces |
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| Loved this view of the coming sceneryon the screen. Felt like I was on a ship and looking at the horizon. Actually, I think I used to be in a former life. At least that's the connection I feel to Signal Hill & the Narrows in St. John's. |
| Stanley saw that it was -59 degrees F outside and decided to put on his blanket. The outside temperature would go down to -92 degrees F by the time we arrived in Ireland. |
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| Flat Stanley partied with the flight attandants for a while on the flight. He really was quite the popular gentleman on the plane! |
| Greeted by St. Patrick in Cork! |
| How about the similarities between the Newfoundland Republic flag and the Irish flag? |
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