Boxing Day
Sorry about the gap in this diary but this book has been packed away in my overnight bag that is all ready to take to Goose. Well, what’s happened?
I gave up a chance of a free trip to
I’m writing now up at Wince Clark’s. If the going is good we are
off on his dog team tomorrow, 29th up the
road. It should be great fun. I’ve just come down from Stephen Cook’s where
I’ve been for most of the evening. Stan Penney, Mildred Russell, Wince and Doreen
and the two kids are here. I’ve just had supper here including bake apples for
second course and I had dinner at Stephen’s which was most definitely an
English dinner! I think Sandra must cook it in a different way. Ivan Coish came
in yesterday from Mary’s Harbour and Claude got his new skidoo. I believe they
have gone out back today.
I was at my first “Show” last night, called “Gun Fury” with Rock
Hudson as the hero. It was a good old – fashioned western. The whole affair was
1950’ish I should say. I think I can say it was the best Western I’ve been to
because the theatre itself was just like the ones you see in the films. I was
sitting with about fifty others on wooden benches and the film was shown
against a white cloth strung up from one wall.
The names of Wince’s dogs are, Prince, Flurt, Frisk, Jill, Busker,
Trot and Happy.
29th…It was a fabulous trip on the dog – team, with Wince, which lasted
for about an hour or so. We went up the High Road as far as the “Drum Barker” (de- barker for the
logs when Bowaters was here) and then came back. It
was the best trip I have ever made in my life because it was great fun hanging
on and it wasn’t unsafe even when we were careering down the “down grade” parts
of the road. I took some photographs and Wince took one of me being dragged
along by the dogs which happened when I slipped as I was holding them and off
they went! We left Wince’s house at about 1.30 p.m., starting off with the dogs
going under Sam’s house (Sam Kippenhuck’s house is nearby, about forty yards
from Winston Clarke’s.) I put the harness on the last dog which Wince held
after he’d done the six others. These seven dogs were put in their traces and
were controlled just by word – of – mouth from Wince, their master. “Uk” is the
word used to turn to the right and “Ada” is used to mean turn to the left.
Wince didn’t even have to bawl at them because he is their master. Mind you,
the team would have been much better with a leader and another two dogs. Wince
said Happy (Charlie Ward’s dog now with Wince) was useless. Today’s ride was an
experience I’ll never forget with those huskies heaving away ahead of the
komatik and yours truly hanging on to the few ropes strung across the sledge.
Lying on these ropes was a chain that Wince held in his hand whilst we were
moving. He just jangled it to get harder work from his dogs. It worked too.
Those huskies know whose boss and they like their master. I hope their will be
more trips with the dogs to come. I was also cracking or trying to crack the
dog – whip that, incidentally, Wince didn’t take with him. “Practice makes
perfect” are the only words needed when I talk about using a fifteen foot dog –
whip! When used properly by Wince it cracks to give just about the same noise
as you get from a .303 rifle being fired. That would certainly give somebody
“some big cut!” Wince gave me a small lighter as a souvenir and also today Aunt
Maude Burden gave me a cushion cover to add to my collection of oddments.
Just spent what I would call a poor New Year’s Eve. Well, I suppose
it could have been worse. I was down at the restaurant. Just signed my December
pay cheque over to Scott and Rita that will cover payment for November and
December OK.
I’ve been off my food here over the past week because I became
“vexed” with Rita about not filling up my lamp. It took three days for it to be
filled and take it from me reader; it could have been done in a few minutes.
She just didn’t bother. “I’m not paying buttons to stay here put her in her
place.” Oh well, I might as well stick it out here now since I have managed it
so far. Patience and tolerance is a
virtue.
With a bit of luck I should be off porcupine hunting with Ron
Notley, a local trapper. He is one of the few in this settlement, from what I
can gather, who is fully engaged in fur trapping. He has a permanent camp
situated five miles up from the lake. It should be great fun, snowshoes and
all.
Around Christmas time here there is a local custom called
“jannying” when children dress up in any sort of disguise and go round the
houses letting the people guess who they are. Two nights ago, five came in
Uncle Bob’s and Aunt Edith’s when I was there. Four of them were from my class.
2nd…Been cruising from Scott’s to Post Office, to Vic’s, to Ben’s, to
Ron Notley’s, to Mrs. Butt’s, to Cliff Rumbolt’s and finally to Jim Rumbolt’s.
I have arranged a trip for tomorrow with Ron and bought a smashing sealskin
from him for $5. He’d get about $15 for it on the island. I’ve got to clean it
which won’t be too difficult. I’ve just come back from the “restaurant” which
is a very poor sort of place. Nothing much happening. I gave my caribou drawing
to Mrs. Elsie Butt so that she can work from it to make a mat. The drawing was
OK I suppose. “Practice makes perfect” or so I’ve been told. The mail plane is
expected any day now, as it has been for the past week. A dog team stationed at
Goose Bay would run a more efficient service I’m sure. It was no luck with the
hunt but great fun all the same. Pete Ackerman is sleeping here tonight; he’s
in with a few fellahs from Mary’s Harbour. There was no mail plane today and its
School tomorrow.
Monday 3rd…Pete and Clive are back in. Pete was very thoughtful towards me
regarding his debt! They both missed the first day of School! I prepared
lessons yesterday and the first day went quite smoothly except I only had
sixteen pupils due to a misunderstanding about the opening day I believe! The
School is to be wired as soon as possible. There is no mail yet. There isn’t
much news. I feel too tired.
6th…School went OK today. There is a settled - in atmosphere about my
classroom which is very pleasing. Clive went out tonight to Rexon’s Cove on the
back of Claude’s machine which wasn’t very sensible; neither of them knew the
way and there was “bad ice” on the trail. They made it OK I’m glad to say. I
was out “jannying” with Scott tonight for an hour or so. We went from here, my
lodgings, to Uncle Bob’s to Mrs. Ward’s to Lloyd Hicks’s (where we were refused
entry because of the frightened children) and then to George Penney’s and
finally to Uncle Jack Burden’s and home. It was quite enjoyable letting the
people guess our identities. We were disguised in old clothes and a mask. If
all goes well I should be off up to Mary’s Harbour with Scott, Rita and
Kimberely and Dora Penney (Sam’s wife) on Friday afternoon. It will mean an
afternoon away from School but there isn’t any harm in that. I’ll leave at
about 2.00 p.m. Friday and return on Sunday evening. No mail plane yet –
shocking service.