| Newfoundland 2005 |
| After supper, Jim directed me to the place where he grew up � Long Pond at the bottom of Conception Bay. I was amazed that he described the streets and landmarks to look for with such accuracy. He�d say, �By now you should be seeing�� and sure enough, it�d be there! At this point I should explain something if you are not familiar with Jim Fidler. He�s been blind since age 9 and was still able to take me to the exact spot his house once stood, 31 years later. We drove down the narrow street to the gravel road, past the spot where the slaughterhouse used to be and took the left fork and stopped. There in front of us was one of the prettiest scenes in Newfoundland! Jim pointed out Bell Island, Little Bell Island and Kelly�s Island, the yacht club and its access canal. |
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| The yacht club with Bell Island in the distance on the left |
| The yacht club with Little Bell Island in the distancet |
| A view of Kelly's Island from the spot where Jim's home once sat. |
| Well, I have now found another spot where I could buy a house. My first choice in Newfoundland is still Flatrock - then comes Outer Cove, Pouch Cove, Long Pond/Kelligrews/Mauels/Conception Bay South,Bay Bulls, Ferryland. If I decide I want to be away from St. John's then I'll just pick it up and go to Swift Current, Rocky Harbour, Twillingate or Fogo. So if I win the lottery, you know where to look after you check in Baddeck, Cape Breton. We went back home after supper and then to Erin's where Andrew and Barry LeDrew were playing again. We had just missed Hugh Scott's set but he joined us at the bar for pints and a chat about the festival. The LeDrews had to do three sets, singing till 2 AM or so, and mixed it up a bit for each one. Not an easy life, that of a musician. |
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| It was the second day of the Smoking Ban and it was all people were talking about. No one dared to go against the ban as there was a $5000 fine for the bar owner as well as an individual fine for the smoker. But they played with the limits from the door. We waited for the cops to come and say something, but no one did. Stayed till 4 AM, waxing poetic about the Festival and went home and watched the sun come up. Lillian had put a bottle of wine in the freezer earlier to chill it, and we all forgot. Now it was ice, so we warmed it up a bit in the microwave and had blueberry wine Slushies. Man! Were they good! Sat on the back patio and listened to material Jim wanted to put on the podcast and finally went to bed at 7 AM, after the sun had come up. I woke at 11 AM when Vic called me on the radio. I don't know how coherent I was but I went back to sleep till 2 PM and had my morning Tim's then. LOL! |
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