Long May Your Big Jib Draw

I’ve been quiet for the past few days, but it was not because of a lack of content.  My Newfoundland family  has kept us busy.  We took another trip back to Bowring Park, this time to check out the splash park.  The day was a bit chilly, but my boys are professional splash park attendees, and they were not deterred by inclement weather.

All asleep after winery and lunch pig out

We toured Rodrigues Winery!   One of the best bonding agents Mark and I have is our love for red wine.  When he was out in Kelowna last year, we had a blast touring some of our great wineries.  To my delight, there was a winery in Newfoundland.  Once a hospital, Rodrigues Winery was Newfoundland’s first winery.  They’ve kept the medical equipment throughout, and the boys had fun playing on the antique operating table while the rest of us sipped away.  Like Summerland Sweets in the Okanagan, Rodrigues makes their wine from fruits other than grapes.  Partridgeberry and Bakeapple wines have now been added to my repertoire.  They also made their own brandy, apple schnapps, vodka, and l'eau de vie.  The latter spirit tasted pretty much like fire water.  We had a nice discussion around Canadian spirits with the staff,  as they made a lot of the same products as one of the distilleries in Kelowna.  I had a rather warm buzz when we left, and headed for lunch at the local diner, where we were served the Newfoundland favorite, Jigs dinner:  salt meat, cabbage, potato, turnip, and pea pudding.  I nearly licked my plate clean.

Levi and Theo found Paradise to their liking, as well.   We took advantage of a rainy afternoon and went with the  boys to Axtion, an indoor climbing playground.  Every imaginable inflatable was there, along with a climbing wall, bumper cars, and a zip line.  One of the inflatable slides was nearly a vertical drop.  Theo immediately climbed up the stairs for this ride and we all looked at each other anticipating his nerves.  My just turned three year old slid down while air borne without even flinching; not a drop of fear in his little body.  They soon discovered the rock climbing station.      

After discovering the magic of being clipped onto a harness and rappelling downward, both Levi and Theo found their calling and never looked back.  I literally dragged them kicking and screaming out of there when it was time to go.  We have a similar version of this play centre in Kelowna, but with a hard plastic structure, not inflatables.  Axtion was definitely more user friendly for the younger children,  yet also had  the zip lines and rock climbing which were imperative in keeping the older kids entertained.  I liked this place because it smelled of entrepreneurial spirit.  Everything was just a little on the rough side.  There were no fancy tills at the entrance, the bathrooms were bare bones, and food was found in vending machines.   Starting a business from scratch means negotiating many obstacles.  I hope they make it financially, as it’s nice to see creativity succeed.

Up, up, and up!!!










 Then weeeeee!!!  all the way down










One of the things that most impressed me with St John’s was the amount of social justice programs and facilities that were offered.  Wednesday night was free night at The Rooms, the prestigious museum overlooking the city.  Mark, Kim, and I spent three hours there combing through the exhibits, but easily could have spent more time.  The Rooms bursts with pride over Newfoundland and Labrador.  It’s impossible to leave without a more reverent respect for this oft discounted province.   I think in an earlier blog I expressed my disdain for art being locked in a museum with pricey admissions.  The Rooms opened its doors to everyone the night we were there; the perfect blend of history, art, nature, and social justice.  

The day we had gone downtown we had passed by a cute restaurant called the Hungry Heart.  I mentioned it to Darlene and she explained that it was a training site for people that  had housing and other difficulties.  There was a residence across the street.  People were taken in, given a place to stay, and trained with a work skill at the restaurant.  I was delighted when I found out that this enterprise was sponsored by the United Church of Canada through their Mission and Service Fund.  (A subtle plug  for my denomination J )  I wanted to have lunch there that day, but timing wasn’t on our side, so Mark promised to take me back there another day.  I held him to his word.  We went back into St John’s on our last day.  Unfortunately, It was after our screeching in, so the restaurant was closed for the day by the time we arrived at 3pm.  One of the workers  saw my sad face peering in, however, and let me in for a look.  What a lovely establishment.    “A helping hand, not a hand out”,  I was told by the worker.   He looked me square in the eye, dignity still fully intact. The man’s smile helped the city of  St John’s shine a little brighter.

As I eluded to in the above paragraph, we had been screeched  in the previous night.  We had actually already been screeched in a few years ago, having attended a Newfie party in Edmonton.   I thought that kissing the cod and downing a shot of screech would have been sufficient, but apparently it’s all for naught if the screeching doesn’t occur on Newfoundland soil.   Well, I have to agree that they do things a little different.  We were treated to the driest crackers imaginable, followed by a chunk of bologna, during which you had to repeat an expression that I still can’t remember.  Then came the first  shot of screech, another bite of bologna, a “Long may your big jib draw”, followed by the final shot of screech.  Oh, and of course the lipstick laden cod had to be kissed.  Why such a sequence of events?   I have absolutely no idea.  We were given nice certificates, though.  Plus, I think Mark got a kick out of putting his younger sister through all of that.  He’s lucky I loves him!

Mark's birthday ballons, signifying that 50 is "way up there"

In the midst of these activities were stories, wine,  supper gatherings, and more wine.  I’ve been able to spend more time with Mark this past year than I ever had before.   I know I’ve thanked my late father before, but he deserves to hear it again.  Thanks, Dad!  The sun is toasty warm today and I know that it's Dad smiling at me.

                                                  WILD Atlantic salmon, not farmed!!