Growing up and Growing older on Random Island
Growing up back home, pizza was a foreign commodity, we’d heard of it, but there was none around Clarenville at all. The only pizza we saw were the (I think) chef boyardee pizza kits, with a can of sauce and dough mix that was never big enough to cover the pan and some herbs to […]
When I was growing up, haircuts weren’t like they are now, or at least not around home. Till I got a little older, most haircuts were done at home with scissors and an old electric clipper. The only other real option those days wasn’t a salon, it was a barber. The only barber that I […]
Near the road back home in Apsey Brook, on Uncle Luther’s Land (I guess Carol’s? Meghan’s? now, well thats irrelevant :)) is Dad’s apple tree. Its Dad’s because his grandmother gave it to him, so its a little bit old now. I’ve not had an apple from it since I moved here I don’t think, […]
From the time I was born till he retired, Dad worked at the department of highways as a clerk. Now a clerk for the department of highways may be an office job, but the offices them selves were usually one room buildings attached to bunk houses the department had set up in various working areas […]
Back in 1955, the trans-atlantic telephone cable came ashore in Clarenville. I’m not sure if the old cable station is still there on Cormack Drive or not, or if the cable is still used anymore, but I have to imagine it was a big event back in the day. What many don’t know though is […]
Its been too damn hot to sit in front of the computer and write anything lately. Thankfully its cooled down a bit the last couple days. I saw a note on The Packet twitter feed about Clarenville Days, and of course it reminded me about the old Clarenville Day from years back. I really recall […]
Seems a lot of my posts talk about food, but its really an integral part of rural Newfoundland life. A meal was more than an opportunity to fill your belly, it was a social family event. And no visit was complete till you had a “cup of tea” which meant, tea, cake, cookies, jam, crackers, […]
Handy Andy Associate store was located on Marine Drive in Clarenville, and sold camping and fishing gear, bikes, and automotive parts. But I think the biggest draw there was entertainment. It was always a favorite spot to go to look at new fishing rods and reels, as well as tackle. I believe Eric Cooper and […]
One of the treats of going to Clarenville when I was a boy was a trip to Nikki’s Nook. Its possible my early memories have combined several places into one, but if memory serves. Nikki’s Nook started out down by the old railway station, not far from Duffett’s, Stanley’s and an old favorite for another […]
Anyone that knows me reasonably well, knows that my favorite snack has to be chips. Yes, I’m an unabashed chip-a-holic. Growing up back home we had more brands than now, there were Lays yes, and Humpty Dumpty, but also Scotties (click the link for an image of those), and of course the big one of […]