December

5^th It’s very foggy outside. I can’t see the water from my lodgings, a distance of about one hundred yards.

I wonder when my mail is going to get out. Pretty soon I hope. Wallace gave me a tassel today. I’m making Christmas decorations with the kid’s last lesson this afternoon. We are going to get a volleyball court marked out somewhere near the School tomorrow. The Pentecosts have volleyball around their School.

Pete and I were up at Ted Penney’s last night. Ted is seized by the Holy Spirit! He almost hates the Pentecostals. We had a very nice lunch up there of bread and cheese, pineapple chunks, fig biscuits, marshmallows and two cups of tea. The people around here like to bring out something special for “the teachers”.

Mr. Ted Penney has thirteen children living. Gus Penney has eighteen! This came out last night when Pete was extending the family tree he is making. Big families are the order of the day. Ted has his face washed by “his woman” Clara. Brian, Terry and Pauline are three of the schoolchildren in Ted’s family. I “kept mum” about religion whilst Ted spouted forth “the scriptures” (his quote). Pete’s here to go down the School. He calls in on his way down to the School.

Thoughts about the Food

It’s 9.30 p.m. now and I’m just wading through Grade 5 and Grade 6 workbooks. A part of the book said that many Canadians regard pork and beans as their favorite dish. It’s very nice. At first I thought it looks just like a lump of fat with some beans but it’s really very, very tasty. Rita cooks her haricot beans in molasses with the salt pork. The pork is just a lump of fat. Well, it’s just a lump of fat here anyway. My midday meal today was potatoes and tinned meat. Rita bought one small tin, enough for one person and it was spread between all of us here. Mind you, the other day I did have “fresh meat” – big deal! My mouth waters when I think of it! Well, anything is better than the “fish and bruse” I had up at William’s Harbour by kind (?!?!) courtesy of Charlie Larkum. The “bruse” was softish pulverized bread, absolutely unrecognizable as anything like bread of course.

It’s tiring work marking these workbooks. I’m having too many late nights lately. Regardless of kind mocking from Scott who thinks that three hours sleep is enough for anyone! That’s all he says he needs. Well, he sleeps most of the day anyway so it’s not really surprising!

It’s “raining cats and dogs” outside now. The weather changes so very, very quickly in Port Hope. I’ve been told it’s dangerous to go somewhere only wearing the clothes which suit the weather at the time of leaving. In the afternoon or evening a blizzard could easily be blowing and you could be frozen to death. “Unpredictable” is the best word to attach to the weather out here.

7^th…Clive’s in. I put the notice board up in School. I’ve been down at Mary Ward’s most of the evening where I had “lunch”. I had my best mid-day meal on record yet: whole chicken with all the trimmings. It was fabulous.

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