| Newfoundland 2005 |
| Friday, July 1st Canada Day dawned for us in the afternoon, as we caught up on lost sleep. Lillian volunteered to make breakfast sandwiches if I went for some missing ingredients. Here in Newfoundland it's a strange kind of holiday. Before Newfoundland joined the Confederation, July 1st was Memorial Day here. They commemorated the slaughter of the Newfoundland Regiment in 1917 at Beaumont-Hamel. 801 proud Newfoundlanders went into battle that day and 68 walked out. It was the bloodiest battle of the War for Britain and certainly decimated a whole generation of Newfoundlanders. That's why when the Canadian flag flies high and proud over the rest of Canada on July first, it can be found at half-mast here. But whether you're celebrating Canada Day or commemorating Memorial Day, not much is open. I managed to find Stockwell�s Bakery after some street name changes I wasn�t aware of. I have a big complaint about St. John�s streets. First of all, they go every which way, seemingly without plan. Secondly, and the most annoying for CFAs I guess, are the streets which change names two or three times within the city. Mayor Ave. changes three times in a mile, Cashin Ave. changes at least once. It�s enough to make a person crazy when a local gives you directions and tells you to look for the name the street has at the top of the hill but you are at the bottom and it�s named differently there. Argh! But I finally found the bakery, made some purchases and made it back in less than an hour. Lillian made a most delicious brunch. We just lazed around the rest of the day until evening when we had been invited to Wayne and Sheila�s for a Canada Day BBQ on very steep Victoria Street. I parked on Duckworth and hiked my way up the steps and hill to the house not far up the street from the LSPU Hall. The sounds of singing hit me as I walked around the corner of the house to the backyard. I said hello, found a seat and enjoyed listening to the young Irish musicians singing or murdering each other�s songs. It was too funny! I ended up sitting next to Kathy, Hugh Scott�s wife, for a good portion of the evening. Angela was there and Ford Elms, Dave Panting, Hugh and Kathy, Jim and Lillian, Dermot and Anne O�Reilly, Clare O�Mahony, Mark Greville, Martin Finn, Ken Cotter and wife Val, Moray Bresnihan, Ger Wolfe, and other people whose names I either forget or wasn't introduced to. The food was out of this world as well as the hospitality of Wayne and Sheila, making sure everyone was fed and happy. The guitar was passed around and anyone who wanted to, sang whatever they wanted. Some a capella songs were sung but the most magical moment of the evening was when someone handed the guitar to Dermot O�Reilly. Dermot had recently had a quintuple bypass in the winter and was just getting back in the swing of things. Tonight�s songs were his first public singing appearance since the operation. What an honor! I think the Irish musicians were surprised when every Newfoundlander (and some who were not) sang West Country Lady along with him. Putting a guitar in his hand was a dangerous thing this evening as he sang several more songs before he passed it along � Candlelight and Wine, Heave Away and Black Velvet Band. It was great to hear him again and to see him taking such delight in singing for us. 9 PM came too soon and the Irish musicians had to leave for the airport. Two cabs came to pick them and their guitars up at the Cooke�s house. The goodbyes were heartfelt and almost tearful as both groups of musicians had to part for a while. We were all surprised later when the taxi pulled up looking for Ger�s bag of souvenirs for his kids. We found them and I�m assuming they made their way to Ireland. . I had picked Ger up downtown one day after he had bought the toys for his kids. He said he spent the afternoon playing with them at the store and the clerk was playing as well. He went back later and bought more stuff after he played with it. Men and their toys! After the Irish contingent left on their way home, the party continued with much singing. Ford brought out his bodhran and banged along to some of Dave and Dermot�s guitar and bouzouki playing. Anyone who knew the words was encouraged to sing along, melody or harmony. I ended up having a really nice chat with Anne O�Reilly, Dermot�s wife, who had been to the Philadelphia area last year. She was delightful to chat with. When it got chilly, Jim, Lillian and I went to Erin�s to get warmed up (wink, wink). Pieces of Brothers in Stereo were there - Andrew and Barry - along with Mike Hanrahan. We had missed the trad session beforehand. Melissa had told me she'd be there this eveing but I had forgotten and passed right by her on the way in. I did a doubletake when I caught sight of her and Emma and their friend. |
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| I enjoyed their set - they had Everly Brothers harmonies going on and seemed friendly. Melissa stayed for a bit and went up the street after their set was done. Lisa from the mainland, whom I met last night, strolled in and had a conversation with Jim She had gone to see the fireworks and came afterwards. She ended up staying till closing with us and I drove her back to the Wit's Inn before we went home to sleep. The next day she was scheduled to take off for dive school. |
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