March

1st Celebrating St. David’s Day
Sunday Pete and I celebrated St. David’s Day at 3.00 p.m. this afternoon. We shared round all the goodies between Austin, the two Penney boys, Harry, Charlie, Jim Penney, Mrs. Ward and ourselves.

Scott on Boards
This morning I cut boards from some of Jim Ward’s planks to put Scott on. Claris Burden phoned up the nurse who said that Scott must lie still on boards. She’ll be in the week. Perhaps tomorrow.

Great Fun on Scott’s Skidoo
I’ve had the use of Scott’s skidoo today and I’ll haul a barrel of water on it tomorrow morning before School if the weather is fine enough for Rita to go washing. Great fun!
It’s now midnight and I’ve just returned from Stephen and Sandra’s where I had a lunch. I went up on skidoo of course. I only needed to haul the engine over twice before it started. Stephen had a good bit to say about God and all that stuff. I find it very interesting listening to other people’s views on religion out here. Pastor Churchill lives on the generosity of “his flock”. Some of the people give him a tithe of what they get. He seems to be one of the few affluent people around here! The weather today was overcast with scattered snow showers. I’ve just had my “bath” and off to bed to be ready refreshed for another day ahead! Huh! I wonder if I’ll be feeling refreshed tomorrow morning getting the komatik hooked- up behind the skidoo. I don’t think so.

2nd…It’s “Education Week” and we had an hour and three-quarters of an assembly to mark it. A lot has happened today.

Scott’s Slipped Disc, A New “Water and Wood Lugger” for the House and Having Fun on the Skidoo
Before School this morning I hauled a barrel of water for the house. It was great fun and I met Si Strugnall down at the water.
Nurse Harris came in today and just after dinner she was up here having a look at Scott. He’s got to go out on the Mission plane when it comes. It’s fairly certain he’s got a slipped disc and has to stay in bed for two weeks at least. Since Scott has been laid – up I’ve had a great burst of skidoo driving around and about the place. The skidoos are fabulous to drive. They are made for sport and it’s very tempting to go too fast on them. I’m very careful because it’s not my skidoo and Scott trusts me to drive it around. I’m the official wood and water – lugger for the house now. It’s great fun. I wonder if it will be great fun by the end of the week. The novelty will have worn off but not the sheer enjoyment of buzzing about on the machine. There are various “poses” I have tried! Standing up, kneeling down, kneeling on one knee and I’ve still got to try sitting down.

3rd…I’ve just returned from the School (12.30 p.m.) where I’ve been helping Bax. Claude was also helping in his own over – helpful way. “Canadian Molsen” was flowing afterwards. Before School today I gave Scott a haircut just in case the UKK plane came in. It didn’t. I expect to see it tomorrow because the overcast, snowy weather of today has cleared up a lot. I hauled a barrel of water, cleaved splits and lugged in wood before supper tonight. All great fun. The light is poor and I’ve got to have a lunch and then to bed. So I am closing for the night. (The Carnation Milk as a drink tastes quite O.K. to me now. I must be used to the stuff I suppose.) Final Preparations for Wiring 4th…I’ve just returned from the School (midnight) where we were cutting the last holes prior to the actual wiring. Claude broke the glass of the Vestry oil lamp as he was climbing down from the ceiling. Well, what else has happened today? School went O.K. with the poor Principal that Pete and I have! He’s got very little respect from his pupils which makes mine and Pete’s position all that much weaker. Oh well, we manage O.K. I feel. Pete and I walked over to the School this morning as it was trying to snow. It’s been snowing on and off all day with some quite heavy falls at times.

Getting the Wood Ready for the House
When I came home from School this afternoon I lugged in some wood for the house and cleaved some splits. I’ve got to cut them ready for the morning.
I’ve had the skidoo all evening ever since I took two birthday presents (wallet and hand-cream) up to Stephen and Sandra. It’s great fun to drive and there’s a good bit of power behind the 16 h. p. engine. I wish the road wasn’t so hummocky because all the mounds don’t do the skidoo any good, especially the track that Scott has stapled together. I’m off to bed now.

5th I’ve just returned from Ben’s where I had a lunch and tried some blood pudding (seal’s blood of course.) I went down there on Scott’s skidoo after finishing for the night over at the School with Bax. Actually Wiring – Up! We strung wires up for all the small rooms and also for the two outside lights. I was up above the ceiling after getting there rather precariously and dangerously via a hatch in “Pete’s porch” (the porch leading into Pete’s classroom.) I’m learning a lot from wiring the School with a qualified electrician. I think I did just as much work as he did tonight, if not slightly more. There was no plane today which was poor. Scott is due to go out to Mary’s Hbr. tomorrow on the Mission plane. The weather has “been down” outside PHS. A mail plane left for here but had to turn back. After School this afternoon, Claude left for Mary’s Hbr. To return before the start of School tomorrow morning I suppose. I collected a barrel of water, accompanied by Chip, and got wood in for the house. I’ve just finished “knifing” (shredding each split) ready to be lit tomorrow morning. Over at the School I was reading “Alice in Wonderland” to some of the kids up to 4.30 p.m. “Tom Sawyer” and recently “Robinson Crusoe” finished. They loved them both but I’m enjoying “Alice…” more. It’s a very clever book. I’m also reading “Mere Christianity” by C. S. Lewis after postponing the reading of “Anna Karenina” for it. I hope we get some planes tomorrow. I’m tired, so I’m off to get my sleep. Just about every night since I’ve been here has been a wonderful night with regards to sleeping. I sleep like a log with a “scattered” chat to anybody who’s listening!

6th…Oh well, that’s the end of another school week which is always received by me just like the end of any other day! It’s nice to think of the weekend ahead with the hope (albeit a faint one)
of a mail plane.

Scott’s off to Mary’s Harbour for Treatment
Today’s news goes as follows: School went O.K. and when I came home to dinner it was to be greeted with the news that the Mission plane would be here in five minutes. Doug and I put Scott on Bill Penney’s stretcher and carried him down on the new komatik that Scott’s father made for him. Claude drove the skidoo and we took the patent out to the plane, successfully putting him on board. Roy, Suzie and Jim Ward were all up the house to see him off. Kimberley hardly did any bawling at all. So Scott’s gone up to Mary’s Harbour and Rita and Betty are in the house at the moment. After afternoon School, I lugged in all the wood for the house and fetched a barrel of water. Scott told Rita to tell me that he didn’t want the skidoo used. Except for hauling water, I suppose! “Thanks Scott!” Why didn’t he tell me himself I wonder? I don’t call him much of a man. Anyways, after supper I went over to Mrs. Ward’s where I had a lunch. I didn’t bother going over to the School because the wiring is enough for two fellahs (Bax and Claude).I expect I’ll go over tomorrow at some time or another. Bax is here at the moment, (he’s Betty’s boyfriend), ready to spend the night with her which is more than likely. I think that Betty will be sleeping with Rita tonight. Hard luck “weak willed” Bax! I’m off in a few minutes to my own bed so good night.

Wiring the School, No Mail Plane, People Coming and Going, A Big Skidoo Race is Planned and “On the Drunk” Saturday 7th…
I had a long lie – in this morning and then went over to the School before and after dinner helping Bax. I was cutting insulation from the wires for him. The weather has been “down” today and there wasn’t “er” sign of a mail plane. I sure look forward to the coming of a plane around here. Clive’s in, also Israel Snook and Eugene Burden from Fox Harbour. Clive and I had an invitation to go there at Easter. We’ll be at Mary’s Harbour for our Easter holidays with a bit of luck. A big skidoo race (all horse - powers) is coming off there on Easter Monday which should be great fun to watch. Tony Coish and Andrew Crumble are in from Mary’s Harbour and they are both spending the night at the house. Drunk I should add – twits. I’ve been randying about with Clive on the skidoo since supper, going around the place. Clive has been thinking very seriously about “throwing things in” up at Rexon’s Cove. I’m sure he’ll stick it out with only another four months to go. This evening Pete, Clive and I were doing a bit of “singing” down at Mrs. Ward’s for Israel and ‘Gene. It seemed to go down rather well which I thought was rather surprising. Well, we were singing “our songs” which they had never heard before. A lot of fellahs are “on the drunk” tonight because it’s Saturday night. That includes Carl and Bob Russell who came in with Clive. I’m off to bed. I expect it’ll be cold because the boys have got the sleeping bag. Never mind, I’ll heave clothes over my few bedclothes. Sunday 8thI had a nice long lie – in this morning. Clive’s Thoughts about His Life out at Rexon’s Cove I expect Clive got out O.K. this morning because he was with Bob and Carl Russell. It was very interesting listening to Clive’s comments and complaints about life out at Rexon’s Cove. I think it will be worthwhile noting some of the things he said from memory: The comparison that Clive agreed with to describe life in Rexon’s Cove is you have to imagine yourself living in a room, with all its windows blacked, with your family and close relations. That describes life out there for him. He finds it a mental strain living with a people who are not on the same intellectual, cultural and social wavelength as himself. When he was in here on a cruise we spent a good bit of time knocking about with each other.

Enough of Vague Abstractions…Back to Reality
9th…Clive was here until 3.15 p.m. hence no writing has been done. I’ve just come back with him from Stephen and Sandra’s on the skidoo. We had a lunch up there. The skidoo ran out of gas but we got some from Ted Penney’s. The weather is very mild with lots of melting due to a moderately heavy fall of rain. It’s 1.30 a.m. and I’m tired and therefore not writing much because I’m off to bed.

12th No mail plane today. It’s now 10.55 p.m. and today we’ve seen a “Light and Power” plane but no mail plane. Oh well, it’s something to look forward to, I suppose. Boy, I hope we get one tomorrow. The weather has been clear and sunny most of the day with scattered snow showers. It was pretty around here after School with the sun shining on the snow – a glimpse of what it’s like around here in spring. School went well today and I didn’t finish until 4.30 p.m. because the kids wanted me to read “Alice in Wonderland” to them. I came home, lugged in the wood and later on Ray, helped by Claude, sawed off some sticks that I’d put outside the house ready for Alton who said he was coming down. I haven’t seen him all evening.

Patience is a Virtue!
I had my supper at about seven o’clock when Rita and Jean returned home after a fruitless afternoon smelting trip up The Bay. I didn’t like having to wait for my food (fish, potatoes and bake apples) but I suppose I’ve always been like that!

People
Rita is taciturn, likewise Betty and Jean with me anyways. Everybody says they’ve always been so. I don’t like it. It’s nice to have somebody to speak with you and ask you questions. After supper I went over to Pete’s where I left to buy soft drinks and chips (crisps) at Sam’s. When I was down at the store I also decided to buy a pair of leather shucks which will prolong the life of the gloves that Rita knitted for me. They cost $1.75 which wasn’t too bad, or doesn’t seem much to me when I’m working in Canadian currency. It does seem a lot when I convert it into £.s. d. I left Pete’s after a couple of card games and a general moan about taciturnity and called in at the Pentecost School to give Stephen “Mere Christianity”. I had a little chat with him about it. I was there with him for about an hour talking about school books and then walked part of the way home with him. He was on his wayhome also.

Stephen’s Second Fire Scare at His House
He told me about the second fire scare they had up at the house. It occurred a couple of days ago at three o’clock in the morning, when the wood stove (“Ashleigh” make) became so hot it set the wood smoldering around the stove pipe at the point where it enters the ceiling. They aren’t going to use it anymore because it is too dangerous; especially so when there is a strong wind blowing. I have “shavings to draw” and a wash to have before bed so I’m signing off for the night with the hope of seeing a mail plane tomorrow.
14th…The weather is clear this morning after two days of overcast skies. The winds are fairly high with drifting and a couple of feet of snow outside the door of the house. Clive and I were visiting Ted Penney last night and Mr. Fred Green from “The Power Commission” who knows the Island well – a traveling 40 year old bloke. I hope we see a mail plane today. Nothing much has happened during the week so far. It’s now 10.00 p.m. and the weather changed again, as usual out here – to snow for the day and then clear again this evening. I hope we will get a mail plane tomorrow because the weather is promising a good bit tonight. Out here, however, it could just as easily be snowing as it could be fine tomorrow. It can change dangerously quickly, especially for a visitor or on the coast.

Reflections about the Theft of Money
I told him a good bit about Pete which set a good bit to rights for him about Pete’s trip to Goose Bay at Christmas. After talking things over with Clive, I’ve decided to let Rev. Lewis “in on things.” At least that puts the whole nasty business out of my hands. I feel it’s my duty to let V.S.O. in Labrador (Rev. Lewis) in on the business that I’ve kept covered up for so long for Pete’s sake. Also for the sake of V.S.O.’s reputation out here. Scott and Rita “aren’t even in on it!” Anyways, over to more mundane matters now.

The School is almost completely wired – up now
I haven’t been over since Clive’s came in but Bax said that another day would see the job over. It only needs Lem Penney to “hook us up” and…Hey Presto! Our School has that fantastic discovery called Electricity! School is going O.K. teaching – wise with my weekly French lesson going down well.I came home today, lugged in the wood and got enough “clove-up” (past tense of the verb “to cleave” out here) for the ‘morrow. Next comes,

The Latest, Little Adventure
The next latest, little adventure came at about 6.00 p.m. when I’d got as far as Si Strugnall’s house hauling the water barrel. The water barrel was tied on to the komatik that was being hauled by the skidoo. The road conditions were atrocious with this mild, rainy weather we’ve had lately. I was driving along and I took what I thought was the easiest looking path to the left of the main track. I ended – up bogged down in running water up to the running – board of the skidoo! The water was very close top of my Wellingtons and, as I write this, my jeans are drying over the stove in the house. Luckily, Bob Strugnall came out and gave me a hand to heave the skidoo back onto the main track. I thanked him and managed to complete my water – carrying expedition with no more, rather worrying incidents. Humbie’s Brook was well above its usual height for this time of year and there was no need to dip the bucket (taken over in the barrel), into the water hole because the water was streaming over the top of it. The road below Edgar’s store, down to the Brook, has streams flowing across it and it was in one of those, just near the snow – covered bridge that I was bogged down. The road has been moulded into hummocks by the action of the skidoos upon the snow and there are pools of water, about one feet deep at rather regular intervals along its length. For about 40 yards the main skidoo track on the road is completely under water.

Thinking About a View of God
For the rest of the evening I had a game of 120 with Rita after supper for a short while and then went into my room to lie down and finish “Mere Christianity” by C. S. Lewis. Maude Russell (Gordon Russell’s wife) was up here talking with Rita who, at this moment is making a few dresses for some of the people here. I enjoyed C. S. Lewis’s book but I still can’t see myself accepting Christianity’s conception of God, or rather Lewis’s conception of God anyways. My views are changing all the time. Lewis hasn’t called it another dimension, I don’t think, but that’s the way the mental picture has come over to me. I recommend the book to anyone with an inquisitive mind. “Curioser and curioser” comes to mind when I’m thinking about what’s said in the book. I can see how Christianity can help a person in his life on earth. Christianity is a way of living which, if everybody could follow its doctrines perfectly would produce a truly Communist World. Here is Lewis’s conception of what God is, reduced to diagrammatic form by myself.

Application of abstract thoughts
There are two quotes which I think are true for me from my experience with (i) Clive and (ii) Pete:
(i) “…individual members, when they are together, do really develop particular ways of talking and behaving which they would not have if they were apart. It is as if some sort of communal personality came into existence.” P.148
(ii) “Good things as well as bad, you know, are caught by a kind of infection.” P.149
I think I’m immune to number (ii) with regards to Pete anyways. I’m going to have a lunch and a wash and get off to bed now. I close for the night with the hope of seeing a mail plane tomorrow.

The Mail Plane Winging In From Charlottetown Saturday 14th…
It’s now dinner time and I have a Day to Report. It was great yesterday afternoon because as we were in the staffroom just before the start of afternoon School we saw a mail plane winging in from Charlottetown. I had some very welcome mail. Pete and I collected our mail after School and the evening was spent very agreeably reading all the news. I think I will apply for that course at Luton. It sounds just what I’d like to do in between the time I take –up teaching as a full – time career. The course will be invaluable and will stand me in good stead for teaching, which I know I want to do. Anyways that was all the news yesterday. This morning I was up at 9.30 a.m. which must be a record for a Saturday morning. The weather has been very fine so far today and this morning I was out taking some pictures. Mrs. Una Green asked me to write away to “Jones’s Sewing Machines” in Manchester requesting some spare parts. I willingly obliged. That’s the second letter I’ve written for somebody else since I’ve been here. Last night I had stomach trouble again. I get them regularly out here it seems. I woke-up at 4.30 a.m. feeling sick. So I dressed up with two sweaters and Parka and off I went down to the tide –washed bog.

Sick as a Dog
I got there O.K. but on the return, up and out of me came those two pieces of fat that I gobbled up at supper last night! That’ll teach me to think that I can eat anything. Anyways, after that sickening episode I got back to sleep O.K. the temperature was –7 degrees C all through my escapade. Proper “brass monkey weather” I call it. I’ve got to take Alfreda Penney’s Grading Certificate up to Ted Penney’s now. Clive sent it in from Rexon’s Cove. A Pentecost crowd is off to Mary’s Harbour for a Service, led by Ed Osmond. It’s mid-day and I’ve just returned from Stephen and Sandra’s where I had a careful hamburger lunch. My stomach is still feeling the after – affects of last night. I talked over the course open at Luton which made me all the more convinced that I want to apply for it. Consequently, I filled in the application forms. It’s been a fine day today and it’s going to be a cold night tonight because the sky is clear and the frost was nipping at my face as I came across The Bay from Stephen and Sandra’s. They’re very nice people. Both only 26 years of age. Stephen was thinking about buying a pair of leather shucks like the ones I have. They make a vast difference to how warm my hands are feeling. I haven’t got much to say except all the wood is in and shavings are drawn for the morning. I think I’ll have to get a barrel of water tomorrow…on Sunday too!

The Yellow “Wheeler Northland” Plane Takes Off
Oh – I saw the “Wheeler Northland” plane take – off from the Bay for Goose Bay. I was only 20 feet away and it was great being so close to the yellow plane as she warmed – up ready for take – off. The snow thrown up by the propeller blast stung my face but the hood of my parka stopped that as I turned sideways on to the aircraft as she took off. I’m off to bed now.

Miss Cairns Pentecostal teacher gassed!
15th…I am writing this by flashlight so there’s not going to be much (12.05 a.m.) I’ve been in all day writing letters except for fetching a barrel of water, lugging the wood in and clove some up for tomorrow. There was a great happening and excitement after supper. I went down to Pete’s for a cruise and to write a letter and I heard that Miss Cairns (Pentecost teacher) was gassed. I went down to Billy Parr’s and after a great palaver, including phoning Nurse Harris, they took her out to Mary’s Harbour suffering from shock and possibly exposure with gassing (fumes from skidoo). Claude’s skidoo broke down and he came in today with Eric. He’d been to Fox Harbour. At 8.30 p.m. I went down to take Vic’s letter (from “John Conways” regarding clothes) and I was talking to Bob Rogers, from Bell Telephone, about his work. He’s a tester and he’s trying to find a fault in this new system. The latest date by which it will be operational is April 19th. I wonder how long after that date it will be ready! Ha! The people down at Mrs. Parr’s didn’t know much about First Aid but luckily myself and Mr. Rogers were able to help the patient with hot water bottles. Lizzie Hicks forgot to give them to her even though the Nurse had told her only about ten minutes before I enquired! I hope Miss Cairns will be O.K. and I go to bed feeling that I’ve put my Scout “First Aid Proficiency Badge” to practical work! I wonder what this week will bring. Boy that was a wonderful short weekend.

16th…I’ve just got up and I’d like to write a bit more about the episode yesterday. I went down to Pete’s after supper and it was there, at about 6.15 p.m., that I heard that Miss Cairns had just been taken into Billy Parr’s gassed. I asked Pete if he would come down with me and see if there was anything we could do. Of course, “Retarding Force Number 1” said,
“No, I’m not coming down, there’s nothing we can do.”
Huh, I thought to myself and because a life might be in danger (and it was) I said,
“Well, I’m off.”
As I was walking down Austin asked me to wait for him but because I didn’t think there was any time to waste I just carried on. Austin followed with Pete who was now completely contradicting what he had said a few minutes earlier in the house. When I got down there it was packed out with kids. I moved them all out because in a case of gassing the patient obviously needs as much air as possible. By this time the Nurse had been phoned and I helped by making sure the patient had hot water bottles. The patient was put head first, on her bed, facing the open door, following Nurse Harris’s instructions. I then left the room because I thought it to be the best thing. Pastor Churchill and Lizzie Hicks were at the bedside, limiting the amount of air that Miss Cairns was getting. Anyways, I had done my bit of crowd control. I went up to Mrs. Ward’s and stayed there for about ten minutes before returning to Mr. Parr’s.

More Crowd Control
Again I cleared kids out and told the grown – ups not to stand in the doorway. Boy were they stupid, just looking on and talking, sometimes even shouting whilst there was a woman in the room not all that far away from death through shock, slight gassing ( I guess) and exposure. I got a bit vexed with them, telling them to be quiet because Miss Cairns needed all the quiet she could get. They shut up. By this time, at least three- quarters of an hour after she was brought in by Eric and Claude ( yes the same) Rumbolt, I was glad to see that she was able to answer simple questions put to her by Mr. Bob Rogers, the French Canadian bell Telephone bloke.) Afterwards, Mr. Rogers showed me his “Ninth Label Qualification” in First Aid. He’s been doing it for 14 years. The Nurse, speaking to Lizzie over the telephone, said that Miss Cairns was to be brought out to Mary’s Harbour and she would be met by the Nurse half-way. The people around the bedside and the blokes with skidoos said they would not take Miss Cairns out. Nurse apparently said this was “uncooperative.” Lizzie Hicks, who played a major part in looking after Miss Cairns, asked Bob Rogers what he thought and he only tended away from the Nurse’s advice saying,
“The trail is very rough.”
I was the other person Lizzie asked and I said that we would be stupid not to do what somebody’s whose qualified to speak has told us to. She agreed and since nobody volunteered a coachbox to take Miss Cairns out I told Eric that Scott had one which he promptly went up and fetched. I was on the komatik holding the partly – lashed coachbox in place. Margaret Burden (Rub’s wife) went in the coachbox with Miss Cairns and with two more skidoos they went off to Mary’s Harbour. I haven’t heard anything more on Miss Cairns’s condition. I expect to hear today sometime. I’m sure she’ll be O.K. It will take her quite a while to get over it all. She was badly shook up.

Miss Cairns is Recovering
It’s now 10.30.p.m. and here’s all the news: I met Margaret and Eric just after they came in today and Margaret said that Miss Cairns was almost as good as new this morning! She said the first thing the Nurse gave her was an injection of sugar. (Fulfilled my prophecy! Bighead!) The Nurse said that she was suffering from a combination of things and that she wasn’t gassed. Overtired, lack of food, thin blood and the cold. All of which were probably aggravated by the fumes from the skidoo. Anyways, I’m pleased to say that Miss Cairns is making a good recovery and she’s up at Mary’s Harbour for two days so that the Nurse can do some more tests on her. Looking Back Reflecting on the episode now…I’m surprised that Miss Cairns (first name Sharon I think) didn’t have more sense. She shouldn’t have gone out to Mary’s Harbour in the first place because she was feeling not too well from what I’ve gathered from various sources. Also she should have been taken back into Mary’s Harbour when she took sick coming out. Eric Rumbolt brought her on to PHS. There is no blame attached because he didn’t know what state she was in. The Nurse said, again through Margaret, that Miss Cairns was in a semi – coma which didn’t sound too good.

Back to More “Common and Garden Matter”
This afternoon Rita and Betty fetched a barrel of water. Rita was too shy to ask me. At least, that’s what it looked like because I had to take some mail, including my Luton College application, down to the Post Office and I was slightly rushed for time. Anyways, Ray and Claude sawed up some sticks for me. (I’m not using a power saw because I think I’d be stupid lacking practice with the all – too dangerous machine!) I clove some “junks” (small logs) up and lugged in the wood. After supper I went down to John Penney’s (wife called Iris) and showed the middle – aged couple photographs and pictures of my home. I think I’d make a good publicity agent for Exmouth’s “Chamber of Trade and Commerce”. I finished “work” over there at 9.00 p.m. and went over to Mrs. Ward’s where I had an hour long chat with Charlie about life, school and education. Pete was out randying with Austin on the komatik. Harry had gone to “The Show” and Mrs. Ward had gone to a “shower” of Jake Russell’s woman; she’s married to somebody on the Island I believe. I’ve just had a lunch and I’m off to bed to get on with “Anna Karenina” by Tolstoy. Rev Lewis and a School Inspector, Mr. Roberts are coming in pretty soon. I’d better get on with my register. No worries on my part. Goodnight.

17th…Yesterday’s entry in “this ‘ere diary” was just about the longest to date I should think. The length of the entry is determined by how early in the evening I start writing. It’s now 8.50 p.m. and I’ve just drawn shavings for tomorrow morning.

Registering the Cold.
When I woke up this morning I was not as cold as last night. My thermometer registered 40 degrees F. which appeared quite mild to me lying in bed.(I’ve bought myself a small thermometer that I hang in my room.)It registers 60 degrees F. when my door is wide open. If I closed my door it would plummet down to 40 degrees F. in about fifteen minutes. It’s been snowing all day with about four inches having fallen so far. It is much deeper than that in places because quite a strong wind is blowing, causing drifting.

“An Ugly Blot”
School went O.K. today but I’d like to mention “an ugly blot” on the characters of a good few of the kids in our School. They are continually arguing and nobody thinks twice about “clecking” on one of their friends. One boy, James Butt, an R.C., thinks I am continually picking on him. That idea has been put there by his ignorant father who came down to Claude’s and “swore blue murder” at him some time ago. James and Will Butt aren’t the best behaved of children because they just haven’t been shown how to behave at home. Our School provides a mirror - image of all the family bickering going on in this place. It isn’t very pleasant to see or listen to. One household or other is always at odds with at least one other family which is reflected in pupil relationships. It’s not very nice and I’m very glad that I don’t have to stay here any more than one year.

The Nurse, Doctor and Dentist are all coming in.
After School I fetched a barrel of water and then lugged in all the wood. I clove up a few junks and did some splits. It was nearly 6.00 p.m. so I hurriedly put the skidoo away and off I went down to El’s with the money for the newspapers. They were having supper so I waited and chatted with Mr. Rogers, El and Becky. Becky said that the Nurse, Doctor and Dentist are coming in here tomorrow. I posted my letter (eight posted yesterday!) and I came back to the house for my watery beans and fatty pork of a supper. It was snowing quite heavily as I walked back. I’ve been indoors all evening just taking it easy. I had two games of cards with Rita and then did some writing. Oh yes, I also copied some chapter headings for School, from one of our school library books.

Time’s whizzing By
18th…Weeks seem to whiz by out here because my day, for the most part, is broken up into 40 minute lessons. Before I know where I am, a morning or an afternoon is over and yet another day is finished. All of which must show that I’m enjoying it out here.

The Future
But I know I definitely don’t want to live here. After all, this place needs foreign aid. That fact alone puts PHS in some sort of perspective. The children who I’m teaching and most of the children in the School combined with the other adults - of – the – future will set this place to rights. Maybe they will be able to work happily together given the right kind of leadership.

Learning Difficulties and Teaching Organization
The children in my class, especially Grade Five, find Mathematics the most difficult to grasp, followed by Reading. My Geography lesson always gets squeezed into a half – an – hour period because it takes such a long time to explain the homework to them. I really have to “pick this Maths abroad” and follow my Guide books. The Mathematics syllabus, like all the syllabi for the subjects, would be O.K. in a one Grade classroom. The Courses fail to meet the real needs, for example, reading, of the children in my School. I cannot allow myself to spend too much time with one Grade because the other two Grades will suffer.

Suffering! Bowels Upheaval!
Talking about suffering – I suffered at seven o’clock this morning when I had to get dressed rather hurriedly and visit the toilet, that is over one hundred yards from my home! It was snowing all day yesterday and a good bit fell over-night. Anyways, I buttoned up my Parka, put on my over – boots and went out on a blustering morning. This wind has caused, at worst, five foot drift – banks but this didn’t deter me from my very necessary objective – the toilet! I completed the expedition successfully, the only mishap being a rather cold ass (excuse the crudity, dear reader, my only justification is that it’s used by the locals and Pete when it can be applied to the bottom part of anything. For example, “git the ass off the carburetor!”)
I got back to the house, into bed and managed another hour’s sleep before my alarm woke me at 8.40 a.m. I put my over – trousers on to go over to the School because it was still snowing and again visited the toilet! My bowels have regular upheavals out here it seems. I certainly will be glad to get back to,

Good ‘ole English Food
Bread, potatoes, fish (salted), pork fat and beans – you can keep it. I think I’d give anything to have a plateful of rump steak, sweet Brussels sprouts, new potatoes and peas. It makes my mouth water just to think about it. I don’t think I’ll ever touch “Carnation” tinned milk ever again after having had to substitute it for beautiful, clean, wholesome, refreshing bottled fresh milk for a whole year. It’s going to be quite a shock to my system, which has had enough "Carnation" for twenty people to date, when I pull a pinta from the fridge.I wonder if I’ll collapse from the shock.

Christy Brown
At dinner time of greased potato slivers and meatless sausages (synthetic veiners) my stomach had settled down a bit. My God! I’m giving a diary of my stomach troubles not of Life in Labrador! I read “The Sunday Times” article about Christy Brown who suffers from cerebral palsy and is nothing more than a gifted cabbage. He can only use his left foot to type on his electric typewriter and has written a book of literary genius on life from the point of view of a fly who is the hero in the story. I must read the book when it’s published in September. The extracts seem excellent stuff. I put the article in an air – mail envelope and sent it down by Gordon Churchill to Stephen. Stephen showed me the project he wrote about children who were victims of cerebral palsy whilst he was in Teacher’s Training College in York.

Broken down Skidoo, Snowshoes and the Novelty of Hauling Water has Worn Off
On the way down to afternoon School I met Pete and Austin just by Edgar’s with the skidoo inevitably broken down. Pete was getting a lift down to School and it made me feel how nice it would be to drive Scott’s machine through the snow. It was hard walking and I would have liked to have worn the “rackets” (snowshoes) that Scott said
he’d “turn” for me. He’d split the birch before he left for Mary’s Harbour. (Fast worker that fellow Scott?!?!?!) A good bit of snow had been trapped inside the track of Charlie’s skidoo and Pete managed to get down O.K. He was perspiring a good bit. (Ha! Ha! Ha!) Come four o’clock I sent Wallace up to Bart’s for two bottles of coke and two bars of chocolate. These were for Claude and me because, as usual, Pete had left the School bang on the dot of four o’clock. I very often don’t leave School until 4.30 p.m. with scattered energetic periods that take me up to 5 – 5.30 p.m. I was keeping Wallace, Hedley and Charles in for various reasons. Incidentally, I sent Wallace up to the store at 4.15 p.m. I came home, changed, lugged in the wood for the night and tomorrow and clove up some splits. I was pleased to see that the water barrel was three – quarters full. The novelty of getting water has worn off!

Malnutrition
My supper of corn beef hash and cake went down well and I’ve stayed indoors reading “Anna Karenina” and writing my diary ever since then. I wish that the lamp above my head didn’t make such a noise. I’m not reading by the oil lamp in my room because it will definitely harm my eyes. I use the torch if I want to have a read in bed. It will be very nice to get back to a house that has electricity and running water. I think that the sty on the lower eyelid of my left eye was caused by reading by the poor light by the bed. However, when I was up at Stephen and Sandra’s, Sandra said that I hadn’t been taken my pills (multivitamins). That was quite right and my sty has very nearly disappeared since I’ve been taking a couple a days for a week or so. I must keep taking them because my diet is not good enough. The way that Rita cooks the food makes it a foregone conclusion that all the goodness in the food will be destroyed. For instance, every Sunday the statutory chicken legs are put on the stove at about 9.30 a.m. and not taken off until gone mid – day. They are fried in a covered frying pan. They come out like lumps of leather. I’m off down to Pete’s now at 8.00 p.m. to get a breath of the clear, vitalizing Labrador air on the way. Come to think of it, Pete hasn’t been up here for eons, ever since my money was stolen I think!
I’ve just returned from Mrs. Ward’s at 10.45 p.m. where I had a nice lunch. Pete’s a queer fellah. I wouldn’t make friends with him elsewhere. There is no news except that a plane is due tomorrow. It’s a beautiful clear night. I’ve just seen The Northern Lights flashing over the northern sky but they weren’t spectacular.

A Poem
Here’s a bit of rubbish I’d like to pop in. I’ve just written it but I’ve spoilt it by being rather funny. The line “on Port Hope Simpson” should be I feel, to stop a laugh, “Through the darkness”. If I spent more time on the “poem” I could make a better job of it but it’s too late. I call it right strange because I just suddenly felt like writing – so I wrote five paragraphs after I’d stood outside the house for half an hour or so and then I decided to put it into verse. I didn’t really try and it’s not very good but I enjoy doing stuff like that. It’s a nice past – time which fills a spare moment here or there. Anyways it’s been good fun writing it.

Port Hope Simpson – At Night

Thoughts come flooding in on me.
Why do I ponder and word what I see?

Mountain blots ‘gainst starry sky,
Soft darkness and a beauty tried.

Then broken by dazzling shafts of light,
Winging their way into the frozen night.

She is a dazzling sight aloft,
Beating them back no more to cross.

Silence is torn abroad by the chugging roar
That gives man-made power and light galore.

How welcome the homes appear,
With laughing and crying and maybe beer?

People are here in all their starkness but
They cannot rival this sweet – smelling darkness.

I could ponder and gaze with sheer delight
On Port Hope Simpson on this fine frosty night.

How nice it must have been
When hours and minutes passed by unseen.
18th March 1970

19th… I’m not writing much tonight because it’s now 1.05 a.m. I collected wood and water O.K. The mail plane came and I only got some mail. After supper I went to Pete’s and then on down to the restaurant for three games of pool with Alt, Stan and Aubrey and two plates of chips (20 cents each). I then went up to Uncle Bob’s and had a fabulous strawberry, bake apple, bread and cheese lunch.

Wonderful ‘ole people.
Uncle Bob’s a great story teller. I’ve just drawn shavings and broken the blade of Scott’s old knife – hard luck. I’m off to bed. Oh! Wait! Austin Ward and James Butt have each had a letter from pupils in Exmouth School. I wrote away asking for 14 pen – pals for some of the kids in my class. I’ve got a damned painful right shin bone where I was kicked playing football a month ago. I just accidentally hit it just now and it “certainly pained.”

20th…A lot has happened today. Before I got down to School this morning, Rita said that Scott was coming in today on the mission plane. Off I went to School and all went O.K. today.

The Mounties are In
Two Mounties (Federal Canadian Police) came into School this morning and wrecked my Maths lesson incidentally. They’re in questioning people about the burning of Hayward Russell’s boat on bonfire night. They questioned the following schoolchildren: Will Butt, Stan Penney, Harrison Ward, Roy Ward, Kevin Penney, Roy Russell, Austin Penney, Hedley Sampson and Wallace Kippenhuck. In the afternoon they returned and gave a talk about various aspects of the R.C. M. P.’s work in Canada. I made a few brief notes which I’ll transcribe: In 1873, John A. MacDonald was the founder of the police force. To begin with, the police force was called “The North West Mounted Police” and the first members of the force came from The Maritime Provinces as well as from British subjects. Today the only Provinces with their own police force are Quebec and Ontario. The Federal R. C. M. P. have jurisdiction over the whole of Canada. Newfoundland / Labrador come under the “B” Division of the R. C. M. P. s in Canada. The country is divided into Divisions.

Mounties
There are approximately 360 in Newfoundland /Labrador with a total of between 8 – 9,000 for the whole of Canada. With a Grade XI qualification (equivalent to UK standard of somewhere between “O” and “A” Level) at 19 years of age a Mountie earns $6000 per annum that works out at roughly £42.00 per week which isn’t too bad for a starting off salary. The two Constables said they’d just received a $1000 pay rise. They pointed out that pay rises come regularly.
Wages out here are higher than back home. A qualified English teacher would get three times as much money teaching in Canada than he would in England. That’s not attractive to me. The Mounties didn’t speak for more than 10 minutes and the event disrupted the afternoon’s teaching. They had also been speaking over at the Pentecost School.

Scott’s Back Home
After School, I came back to the house to be greeted by Scott alone because Rita went off smelting and came back with a pile of shiny eyes. I heard all about his adventure. He had a slipped disc and has got to wear a strap for the rest of his life. I brought in the wood and water and sawed up some sticks with Ray. Claude, incidentally, has gone to Mary’s Harbour on the “Bell Telephone” plane to see to his broken skidoo. I’ve just had a poor supper of potatoes, bread pudding and turnip only with raspberries for afters. I’m off down to Pete’s “the once” which this time means in a few minutes! I’ve just come back from Aunt Maude’s where Minnie (her daughter) gave me six smelts. I’m going down tomorrow night to show pictures. I’ve given the six to Rita, who got four today. Before I went down to Aunt Maude’s I was at the restaurant having chips and playing pool with Pete. I was also down talking with and seeing the Nurse, Doctor and Dentist before I was at Pete’s.21st…I got up this morning at about 10.00 a.m. after doing some reading in bed. The weather today has been one of the finest since I’ve been here with a slightly clouded sky not dampening my good spirits. I clove up some wood first thing and then went out to get some of that clear, vitalizing Labrador air into my lungs.

It’s Difficult…
“Jesus Christ”, I feel bloody unhappy as I write this – as usual I am waiting for my “Godamn” supper. In this house, supper is not bothered about until Scott is bloody ready for it. The fact that I’m paying to stay here just doesn’t seem to come into their minds. My God! I would challenge any other person of my age from England to stay in this flipping place for longer than three weeks.
I’ve just seen the ugliest woman I’ve ever seen in my whole life. She’s Rita’ sister and Henry Turnbolt’s wife. Six of the Turnbolts came in from Charlottetown on Scott’s skidoo that was lent to him by Mr. Scott Bloody Coish himself. To think that I’m getting all the wood and water for this place and I wasn’t even allowed to have a ride on it. Anyways, I can console myself with the thought that there are plenty of people here, for example, Dick and Henry Rumbolt, Charlie Ward and Aubrey Sampson this morning who willingly lend me their machine to have a randy on. This afternoon I went out with Peter Mason for a while, taking him down to the restaurant. I’ll be going down with him at 6.30 p.m. for a game of pool. After that I’ve promised to go down to Aunt Maude’s and show them my photographs and general rubbish.

Ouch!!!
When I was down at Billy Parr’s, where the Dentist operates from, Mrs. Chamberlin Penney came out of Peter, the Dentist’s room. She was bleeding quite heavily after having had 13 teeth pulled. I heard she has to go back to have more out. Peter said that puss came out when he poked the teeth and he also said that he had a nasty taste in his mouth after he’d done the job.

Widespread Tooth Decay in PHS
The vast majority of this whole settlement, Peter actually quoted 100%, are in need of dental treatment. Only 12 people have been to see the Dentist since he started working this morning. People seem to be afraid of pushing themselves forward here. Maybe, it costs too much to have teeth pulled? By the way, Peter comes from Thurso which is 40 odd miles from John O’Groats, Scotland.
The time is now 12.20 a.m. and I’ve just returned from Mrs. Billy Parr’s where I’ve spent a very enjoyable evening. I was talking with the Doctor, Miles Franklin, the nurse and the Dentist. I was also down at Aunt Maude’s showing photographs.

The Drunk and the Flying Plaster Cast
A very funny incident happened at the Parrs when Clifford Paul came in drunk and complaining of a broken arm. The Doctor and Nurse put a plaster cast on his arm which was later torn off and hurled at Miles! Without causing injury I hasten to add. It narrowly missed his left ear from a distance of 10 yards. He hadn’t broken his arm I don’t think. The Doctor’s inexperience was shown up a good bit. Of the three, I find the Dentist the most interesting to listen to, Nurse Harris second and a rather boring Doctor third. All three of them are in their twenties and I know Peter is 27. He hopes to go to Mexico for the World Cup.
I had a lunch at Mrs. Parr’s and also met Ursie with her $120 set of dentures. They looked very good. My spirits have risen considerably since that downhearted feeling at suppertime and everything is “A” OK

Planning for Ferryland
Today I had a very encouraging letter from “Bowaters” regarding my working home on the wood boat. I will let V.S.O. know that I’m getting back under my own steam. I want to see a good bit of the Island and especially the pulp and paper mills at Corner Brook. All very exciting and I am off to bed with a trip to Mary’s Harbour looming up. I had no luck with my whale tooth from Charlottetown, said Henry Turnbolt this evening – “none available”.

22nd…It’s now 10.45 a.m., I’ve just got up and because I enjoy writing I’ve decided to put pen to paper. The door of my room is closed with two or three strangers out there- Henry Turnbolt and the two White Point operators. The latter two were down at Aunt Maude’s last night for their supper. I find it very wearing, irksome and tiresome talking continually about skidoos and idle chit – chat. “Busy – idle” talk is all the people are capable of.

Refreshing Talk
It was very nice to talk with the Dentist, Doctor and Nurse which I found relaxing and a welcome break from Pete and the locals.

It’s out in the Open Now!
Pete’s O.K. as far as thieves go. Well, there it is. It was Pete who stole the $40 from my suitcase. He returned the money with a written confession at a later date. I showed the confession to the Mountie when he came in and then went up the path above the house and burnt it. I told the Mountie that I didn’t want to press charges and he has hushed it up as well. I told Pete that the only person I would tell would be the Mountie. I’ve done that now and I feel sort of obliged to keep to what I said. However, having spoken to an unforgiving Clive I have decided to inform Reverend Lewis about it. I feel it’s my duty to pass this information on to V. S. O’s representative here. Let me explain further why I feel I’ve got to tell all:

Dealing with the Problem and Learning from the Mistake
Clive said that he’s come across the feeling that Scott and Rita are to blame for the loss of my money. I want them cleared and therefore the news has to be let out to the settlement at some time or other. I feel that time should be very close to my departure date to protect the reputation of VSO’s along the coast.
I am, as a volunteer, very much lumped together as an English teacher with those roundabouts. “One bad apple spoils the barrel” doesn’t apply in here. But I have found that one bad apple has made his cousin apple’s work rather difficult. For example, Pete and I had agreed that we’d pick the organ abroad over at the School to try and fix it. As soon as Rev Lewis went, Pete wouldn’t lift a finger to help me. It now looks like I’m going to have a bash at fixing it all on my own.
To give a clear, truthful picture of what life is really like out here for me I have included the above details about Pete. I feel that he has been punished enough by his own conscience. V. S. O. should have been a damned sight more careful about whom they sent out. The whole episode is partly my fault as well. I kept and still keep, all my money in my suitcase and Pete must have known this. I keep my case locked but that didn’t stop him because he has a case with an identical key. I knew that only Pete or Clive could possibly have taken that money because they were the only two in the whole settlement who could possibly have taken it. The house was guarded by Chip or Scott and Rita at all times except once on a Sunday afternoon. I remember Pete saying that he took the money “for a joke” to begin with. What sort of a joke is it, I ask myself; when somebody can take the money and post it off to the Bank in Goose Bay? It seems to me that the biggest reason why Pete went to Goose Bay over Christmas was to get the money. What a stupid thing to do, that’s all I can say. No…I can say more than that : Everybody in the whole settlement knew that my money had been “nicked” and consequently I’ve had to lie whenever anybody has asked me if I’ve got it back. Well, I’ll ask Rev Lewis about it and “put it in his lap” whether or not I should tell Scott and Rita – with the risk of the whole settlement being “educated” (From Rita to Betty to Jean to the whole place!)

Thank You Nurse, Margaret Harris
At least one foot of snow fell last night and it’s still snowing this morning. So much for the beautiful fine weather we’ve had of late! It’s now nearly 6.00 p.m. and I’ve just managed to get back from Billy’s and El’s where I’ve been chatting with Peter and Margaret. I felt very humbled when Margaret expressed her admiration for VSOs out here. It came out most strongly that the most difficult facet of life to come to grips with out here is home life. Margaret completely agreed with this which pleased me no end. It was very nice of her to lend a sympathetic ear. She said that Pete hasn’t thrown himself into the life of the settlement. Also, she knew what Scott really is underneath his agreeable exterior. However, I’ve just lugged the wood in and Scott made me realize, without actually saying anything, that he’s not happy with my doing all the work when he’s about. This was very nice to come across. This sty that I’ve had on my lower left eyelid for the past couple of weeks, at least, is a sign that I’m run – down according to Pete the dentist. I renewed my stock of multi – vitamins via Margaret who also threw in a “Kendal Mint Cake”. She wouldn’t take anything for it. The multi – vitamins, she said, were necessary out here and we should all take them. I went down to El’s, where the Nurse and Doctor have their clinic after an hour or so at Mrs. Parr’s.

40 Teeth Hauled by Peter the Dentist
The Dentist hauled 40 teeth this afternoon, making $200 in all during his stay. Ursie’s dentures make up most of that sum. That money goes towards “The Grenfell Mission” who run the hospital at Mary’s Harbour. The weather today is “crooked” and when I went from here to Pete’s, every step I took put me up to my waist in snow. I could certainly do with a pair of racquets now.

Peter’s Plans for the Future
Oh! By the way, the Dentist is getting married in July to a Swiss girl. The marriage takes place in Switzerland. He’s 27 years of age which seems to be a popular age to get married if Des (my brother – in – law) is anything to go by. It’s now 11.30 p.m. and I’m successfully in bed after a bath and lunch. All evening I’ve been down at Billy Parr’s talking with Peter for almost the whole time. He’s a very nice Scottish bloke who is off to Churchill Falls in May to take up a post there. It’s a “Company Town” and in it, apparently, the Company has a fantastic control over the individual. Pete said,
“It’s like a Police State.” The Company, “Churchill Falls Labrador Company”, is paying such phenomenally high wages that they are able to impose stringent rules successfully. Also this evening, Cliff Paul came back just after Miles and Margaret arrived. He thinks he has a broken cum dislocated wrist and he’s off to St. Anthony on the mission plane. I’m off to sleep now having spent another enjoyable evening down at Billy’s taking with Peter, The Scotsman with a stutter who graduated from Glasgow University. He said that the step on my scarred lip shows a poor job in the stitching Department of “The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital”! It was great fun listening to him talk about his work and the things he’s done. A very nice bloke – some wonderful difference from Pete the teacher. Oh well, last week before the Easter Hols. Whoopee!

Dealing with the Freezing Cold Weather in My Room and Food Problems
23rd…It was very cold last night. The water in my tooth glass and in my bowl was frozen over. The glass and the bowl are four feet off the ground on top of the dresser! The weather today is Wonderful fine and I’m just waiting for my dinner of smelts and something else. Luckily that earlier I had six smelts given to me because four wouldn’t have gone very far between Scott, Rita, Kimberley, myself and Terry Turnbolt who is staying for dinner. I expect the Turnbolts go out today once a trail has been cut. Grumble – bloody Scott, I’ll get my dinner when he decides to come down from the other house. He bloody well knows that I get back here by twenty minutes to one. My diary offers me the only outlet for my feelings. That doesn’t matter to the punk – he’s too insensitive for words. Actually, Nurse Harris said that she finds she does a lot of writing for herself. It’s so much safer for me to write down all the grumbles I have because I’ve just got to put up with them. Well, I haven’t actually; it’s just that I do. Nurse Harris said that she couldn’t do what V. S. Os do out here. Living at the level of the locals for a whole year. I’ve just finished dinner. I was right. I had a pile of potatoes and two smelts ( very small kippers). There were five of us for the meal. I asked for more and got a pile of greasy potatoes. $60 a bloody month - why the hell do I put up with it? Oh well, only another four months to go. The worst thing I find is continually trying to “put on a face” that I love it in this house. Thank God I have a sort of an outlet via this diary. It’s better than nothing I suppose.

A “Shower” for an Expected New Arrival and Ted Penney
It’s now 10.00 p.m. and I’m in bed having had a “Mars” bar, soft drink – lunch. Scott and Rita are lying down (as usual.) I went up to Alice Rumbolt’s and then on to Stephen’s where I was for an hour or so. Then Fred Hiscock brought in his electric guitar and Stephen played on it. After listening for a while I went. Stephen is teaching Fred how to play. Sandra wasn’t there to listen because she was over at Margaret Burden’s where a “Shower” is being held for the forthcoming Cook! All the women go taking presents for the baby. Before I went to Stephen’s from Mrs. Harold Rumbolt’ s, I called in at Ted Penney’s for a chat. Poor bloke, it won’t be long before he is completely blind. He’s completely lost his sight in one eye. He had a good old grumble about the Minister, Rev Lewis, Mr. Decker (Welfare Officer) and Jim Rumbolt called in here for an hour on their way to Rexon’s Cove. From there, they will go to Charlottetown and Pinsent’s Arm returning here, so it’s been said, on Wednesday evening. Timing often goes haywire out here mainly due to the very changeable weather, so they might be in Saturday. Mind you, it’s been fine all day today and I think I am in for another cold night tonight. I must make sure that I cover myself completely with my bedclothes. I woke up cold this morning. Before I close to do some Tolstoy reading, I’d just like to note down my impressions of going into Stephen’s house and also about chatting with Peter down at Billy’s:

Stepping From One World into Another
It was just like stepping from one world into another, going from a house where there are only locals to a house where there are people with a similar background to mine. I can speak with Stephen on the same intellectual wavelength if you like. My conversation isn’t simply limited to small words and local “happenings” like Cliff Paul’s or any other event.
I have the vitamins that pregnant mothers take! Food for thought! Very Hungry Again Tuesday 24th…It’s now just before dinner time and I’m back from Morning School which went O.K. For dinner, it looks like I have spaghetti and potatoes – fantastic. It’s a wonder I’m not incredibly fat considering the amount of bread and potatoes I eat in this house. It’s all cheap food. Rita and Scott, more or less, live a hand – to – mouth existence with meals spun out as far as possible. I mustn’t grumble too much because I get a scattered feed with vegetables as well as, yes, as well as meat and potatoes. They just don’t seem to care that I’m paying $60 per month to stay here. Scott hasn’t arrived yet so that means more waiting for my food. If there’s one thing I’ve never liked it’s having to wait for my food. Here I can’t express my annoyance. I can only grumble to myself via the medium of this diary.

Multi-Vitamins to the Rescue
Damned good job I have plenty of vitamin tablets that’s all I can say.
It’s now 5.30 p.m. and today has seen snow, snow and yet more snow. It’s coming down thickly and already today a couple of feet have fallen. If there’s a good frost then going about will be O.K. If not…help!
At the moment Claude is cleaving wood for his boarding house (he doesn’t pay anything to stay there), and he’s just broken an axe handle. He’s using the one that was stuck in the block outside my house. Today it struck me that Pete and I can’t talk to Claude about stuff we can talk to one another about. He is one of the Labrador people and although he’s above skidoo talk he’s not very far above it.

A Couple of Realizations:
Out here, life has made me realize the importance of getting a good education and how lucky I am in having one. And the vast difference a television makes in educating a person about the world. It will make quite an impact on the people when television comes here because they will be able to better see how their life compares with life elsewhere. It’s now 12.45 a.m. and I’ve just returned from Uncle Bob’s after playing cards with Uncle Bob, Harold and Gordon Russell and Andrew Strugnall the younger who was married. It was great fun even if it was a bit boring. I showed photographs and later had a fabulous bake apple lunch – no nicer people in Hope Simpson and I’d love it here if I’d be staying with them. It was a bit of a struggle to get over to Uncle Bob’s after supper because the snow was middle thigh deep and a path hadn’t been cut. I was the trailblazer! It was also raining later this evening and the snow is wet. I was fine in my over trousers, over boots and Parks – great snow gear. No more news so I’m off to bed.

Wednesday 25th…Yippee! Last day tomorrow!
It’s now 10.30 p.m. and I’ve just returned from Charles Sampson’s (Alt’s father) where I’ve been showing photographs and slides since supper. Charl is taking his dogs out to Mary’s Harbour and I might go with Alt on Friday.

How Many Children Can You Fit in the Same Bed?
Up at the house, five kids were put to bed in the same bed. They are a nice family. Ruth Kippenhuck and Charles’s daughter also saw my photographs and slides. They were much impressed by them. I gave Alt a “National Geographic” magazine as a present. The weather today has been mild and fine.

And the Time is just Rolling By
The “going “is slushy but not too bad. No news today just that time is rolling by. The weeks certainly fly past when I’m teaching. I’m sleepy and so I ‘m off to bed after I’ve had a lunch. I wonder if tomorrow will see a mail plane.

Start of the Easter Break and Hoping to get out to Mary’s Harbour.
Thursday 26th…Well, School’s over or a while. I’ve just come back from the restaurant where I went after Church. Rev Lewis is in and so Pete and I went to Church. I’m off to Mary’s Harbour on Sunday morning, weather permitting, which should be great. I hope to go to Fox Harbour to see the dog team races also over the holiday. The skidoo race is on Easter Monday at Mary’s Harbour. I hope I manage to get out O.K. It all depends on the weather that has been overclouded all day. It’s a,“Broad, brech, moonlit, nite ” will be very cold tonight. Tonight’s been mild, that is freezing!
School went fine today being the last day of Term. Pupils and teacher alike were very happy. I also got some mail today – just “common – a- garden stuff that included my air photograph Photostat. I’ve sent off for some air photos of this area. They should be back by the end of April. I also have newspapers to read. Really up – to – date stuff, February 18th! Come 4.00 p.m. today I felt a sense of anti – climax on the last day of term. That has worn off after doing things tonight. I had three games of pool at the restaurant and more than one plate of chips (at 20c) and soft drink. The place was crowded with the same old faces. I’ve been down there on a number of occasions and it’s…it’s…it’s…something to do! That’s “the long and the short” of it. No more news tonight except that I feel pleased there’s a week’s holiday ahead. No more School until April 6th – Whoopee!

Feeling Lethargic
27th… The weather today is sunny but still below freezing. It’s easily bearable. I’ve just had a lie – down (2.00 p.m.) and I feel very lethargic. I must drag myself outside where nothing much is happening. This morning I went over to Bart’s to change a cheque but it’s Good Friday and Port Hope Simpson has come to a stop. What a waste of a day. I spoke to Rev Lewis this morning and passed on what I knew about the loss of my money. He agreed with telling Scott and Rita which I’ll do tonight, I suppose. Boy, it’s wonderful easy to feel lethargic and a do-nothing feeling has come over me. In that case I’m off out somewhere to get rid of the feeling. But nothing much is happening outside – what a bloody drag. Oh well, must go. It’s clouded over now.

Pure-blooded Huskies
It’s now 11.30 p.m. and I’ve just returned from Stephen and Sandra’s where I’ve been since 3.00 p.m. I went there after going up to Wince’s and taking some photos of his dogs. He said they should be pure – blooded huskies because the dog and she were huskies from Cartwright and Goose Bay respectively.

Mental Fatigue
When I called in at the Cooks, Sandra remarked how tired I looked. I felt tired but I couldn’t account for it. I have good enough food and two multi – vitamins a day. I was mentally exhausted and felt wonderful when I finished the evening up at the Cooks. I made a mental recovery. It’s living with the locals that cause this type of mental fatigue which is very easily brought on. As a result of my non – action today I haven’t got any news except about the weather. It’s blowing hard out now with slight rain. I didn’t enjoy walking down from the Cooks because it is difficult to stay upright on parts of the “road”. The skidoos dig out the snow into a series of hollows interspersed with ridges. I must “go and see a man about a dog” now – bloody nuisance. It’s now bed – time and I’ve just told Scott that I know who took the money and that I’ve got it back. This is what Rev Lewis advised.

Off to Mary’s Harbour on My Snow - Cruiser
Saturday 28th…Alton and Henry went off to Mary’s Harbour this morning. I was left. Girls were favoured. I felt “crooked” this afternoon but I am now in high spirits because parked outside the house is my snow cruiser! I’m off to Mary’s Harbour tomorrow driving it. I went “all over” trying to get fixed – up to go out for the Easter but I was unlucky until Ron Penney said that I could have the old cruiser for $4! Fantastic! I just hope that it will get me safely to Mary’s Harbour and back again. I’m off tomorrow, all being well with some of the Sampsons and Cal Penney, whose old machine I’ve hired from Ron. A lot is happening in Mary’s Harbour “the week” and I hope to get to Fox Harbour for the dog – team races. I’m off to bed now with high hopes for the ‘morrow. I’ll believe I’m going to Mary’s Harbour only when I’m on my way. It’s been a hard job fixing my trip out. I also hope the weather is O.K. tomorrow. Goodnight!

Holiday Begins 29th…There are no better people on this earth than the Labrador people. That’s the impression I get as I lie writing this on the feather – filled mattress of Mr. And Mrs. Paul and Fate Bradley in Lodge Bay. I finally left PHS at 10.45 a.m. with Mrs. Jim Sampson, Aubrey and Hedley. Hedley was on my cruiser. After a wonderful ride on my “Tractor” I got to Mary’s Harbour by 1.00 p.m. and had dinner at The Nursing Station by kind permission of Nurse Skiley. At 5.00 p.m. I came over to the Lodge with Clive and some “Lodge women.” I’m spending the night here and going back to Mary’s Harbour tomorrow. Mrs. Bradley has been showing me her “hooked mats”. They are fabulous and it looks like I might be given one. These two people are very kind and Chris Haynes, the other V.S.O. here) got me fixed – up with them. They just took me to “The Show” – Gerry Lee Lewis in a comic western – very good. It would have been a lot funnier to me if I hadn’t been so tired. I’ve just shown all my photographs to these two very kind, middle – aged couple. They deserve more. I must close now. Action – packed day tomorrow. I’m having a fabulous holiday after all. The Nurse, Dentist and Secretary have all gone to Henley Harbour. I met Tim Acey from Henley for the first time since we left him in September of last year.

Having Fun
Monday 30th…It’s now 5.00 p.m. and I’m sitting in the living – room of Mr. And Mrs. Coish. This is a wealthy family – he’s a store owner. I’m shaking uncontrollably as I write this which is due to the skidoo driving. It’s hard work driving these machines. I left Paul and Fate Bradley’s house by 9.00 a.m. and after a good bit of trouble with the machine I went up to Mary’s Harbour with Guy Pie. Lodge bay is a very pretty place but I bet my impressions would change after living there. Chris seems to like it there O.K. He’s gone back on my cruiser this afternoon. I hope he gets back O.K.This afternoon has seen the skidoo race that was quite sensational. 30 odd skidoos were lined – up ready for the ten mile race. There were different prizes for the different horse-powers. Pete the Dentist was in the race after returning this morning from Henley Harbour. I’m off to “The Time” tonight which should be great fun.
It’s now gone 1.05 a.m. and I’ve just returned from “The Time” leaving Clive, Chris and Tim. I went up there at the old Mission School after I’d spent a couple of hours at The Nursing Station where I got a nice haircut. Hair was all over the recreational room. I took Tim for a mishap – filled ride on the snow cruiser in the dark. I managed to “prang it” against a supporting wire coming down from a telegraph pole and I turned it over and ripped my corduroy pants. I must have been very lucky because I only missed getting my leg ripped by a fraction of an inch. The starting procedure on my old cruiser is rather dangerous. She’s tuned lovely by Chris and goes very well. I’m off to White Point tomorrow, following Nurse Skiley with Chris and Tom. I’m certainly having an action – packed Easter holiday. It’s lovely to have an electric light in my room. I’m off to bed now. Too much to try to put down in my diary.

Tuesday 31st…I’ve had a very busy day going from Mary’s Harbour to White Point to Lodge bay to Mary’s Harbour. I saw The Meteorological Station (D. O. T.) at White Point.