It takes a lot of money to raise a family. We all know that. It has not been easy for me and the missus and it will not be easy for my sons, and I will bet it is not easy for you either.

There are occasions when I look back at the environment in which I was raised, and I do not really understand how my parents did it at all. In our family situation my dad was the only one with an income. He and mom had both worked at Parker’s on Water Street. He was a shoe clerk, and she was a sales assistant. When I was born mom stopped working. Now dad never made more than fifty-five dollars a week. When I was just eighteen, I was working at the railway, and I was making more money than he ever made. Now here is the amazing part. Dad owned his own home. How is that possible?

How do you own a home?

If you are a single salary family with two children and your only income is a single salary from a shoe store, then how do you get to own a home. I still do not understand it.

It is true things were very different then and I at least have a better understanding of it all. In my own case all three of my boys played minor hockey and that cost a fortune. All their equipment was second hand, but registrations alone were crippling.  I noticed early on that most of the vehicles at the arenas seemed to be vans or SUVs and most of the parents appeared to be “well to do.”

When my brother and me were growing up hockey cost our family nothing. The Royal Canadian Legion ran all the hockey. They paid for it. We had to sell tickets each year. The teams reflected the war that ended just five or six years previously. The Gunners, the Sappers, Home, Hood, Liberators etc. All names from World War Two. Not a cent did it cost us.

How things change

That is just an example of how things were then. Another example was childcare. One year we paid 15 thousand dollars in after care and day care for my three boys. Think about that.  It cost a fortune. On the contrary my brother and me in our time went home after school. Mom was there to meet us and if she was not then my grand mother, my aunt, and my uncle lived next door to us.

That is just two examples of how things were different. Society was of a different shape. The family was a different shape. Grand mother was not in “a home.” We did not need paid day care. Supper was cooked and we could play hockey.

NTV’s Jim Furlong can be reached by emailing: jfurlong@ntv.ca

Could this summer have been any better? With its glorious weather and a united call to Come on Home out of it, summer 2022 was one for the record books and we’ve enjoyed every minute. 

Lodge’s Loft/Lodge’s Landing, Catalina: Julie Lodge is one special woman. With a goal to return to the province and raise her children at home, she’s turned her hand at many things. 

Something she’s very good at is providing quality and unique vacation homes to anyone interested in visiting the Catalina/Port Union area. 

“When people walk through my doors, I want them to feel like they are treating themselves to something special. I wanted people to have a higher end feel and to have more of an experience than just a place to lay their head at night,” she said when we visited. With one spot so luxurious you’ll never want to leave (Lodge’s Landing) and another that leaves you longing for simpler times (Lodge’s Loft), a visit to Catalina should be on any vacationer’s bucket list.  

Follow Lodge’s Loft/Landing on Facebook or find them on Airbnb

A Little Cup of Sea, Colliers: The concept is new: A picture-perfect spot on the water where you can just sit back and relax. How perfectly perfect! Owner  Lacey Pike knew what she had the first time she saw their newly purchased little piece of heaven after moving back home from away with her husband and young son. 

What it is that makes A Little Cup of Sea special? Ask Pike and she will say, “It’s just sharing the ocean with other people on this little piece of calm on the water. It’s a spot to come and relax and fill your soul.”

alittlecupofsea.ca 

Smugglers Cove, Burin: One very special spot that brags it calls the adventurous rebel home, Smugglers Cove is one of a kind. 

With huts on the water for a one-of-a-kind stay-over next to a one of a kind Roadhouse and one uniquely designed ‘town,’ Smugglers is almost too many things to mention. In memory of the late Tom Hollett, Smugglers on the Coast of Legends has it all. A great place to eat, play or stay, Smugglers is a must on anyone’s year-round must-visit list. 

Not only are there good eats, there’s good work happening at Smugglers  too.  The Route 210 Run held in Support of the Autism Society raised over $40,000 for the charity. Great job everyone!

smugglerscovenl.com 

Golden Sands, Burin: The sand will stick around almost as long as the memories, but it’s well worth it! An incredible spot for lovers – young and old – and an incredible spot for families, Golden Sands Resort has it all and then some. 

With a sandy shore that never ends and pond water at just the perfect depth for the wee ones, the beach area offers glorious water fun for all ages. Food. Treats. Cabins. Camping. It’s all there at Golden Sands. But it’s the staff – and the seasonal campers – who really make this spot fun. Halloween. Christmas parties. New Year’s celebrations. 

Even mummers showed up at the sands this summer. Ride the ‘Paddy Wagon’ and take in a magic trick, have a dance in the barn area, play mini golf, enjoy the playground with the kiddies or just float your cares away in the pond. Golden Sands is a golden opportunity for fun in the sun. Open until Thanksgiving, there’s still time to visit! 

goldensandsresort.ca

SeaGlass B&B and Studio, New Perlican: Staying a night at Nan’s is what a stay at SeaGlass feels like, only Nanny never had such an incredible deck that sat right on the ocean. With history and beauty as well as hospitality, SeaGlass is a vacation delight. Turn your hand at stained glass and enjoy a relaxing class or do a little shopping. It’s a visit that will lead to many more planned – and unplanned –  escapes to New Perlican. 

seaglassbb.ca 

Dunrovin RV Park, Lethbridge:

This little getaway spot has everything. A place to camp in nature, spectacular cabins, great eats and so much more, this was one incredible sumer vacation stop over. 

Check out their unique wooden statues, chat with the staff about the history of the area, or just relax in the woods by the water and listen to the frogs and enjoy the view. We loved our July stay! 

Visit them on Facebook for more 

Humber River Off Grid Tours: Go just to met Uncle Mel and Ashley Hann! And tell them we sent ya! Humber River Off Grid is one of the most unique experiences of our summer. 

With incredible views, great accommodations and grand hosts, you won’t even mind the fact that you can’t post to Facebook or answer emails! Check out Hann on YouTube at Adventures Off Grid for more. 

Check them out on Facebook

Dildo Boathouse Inn, Dildo: Take a ride out to sea or just sit and enjoy the view and the grub in the restaurant, no matter the day’s plan or the time you have to spend, a visit to Dildo Boathouse Inn is a must for any road-tripper. Ask about the history of the building – it’s amazing.

It’s cool to know how some people turned the end of the cod fishery into something unique and positive, and how a fishing boat that’s been in the family for years can now provide so much joy to come from away tourists and those from home who just want to spend a day near –or on – the sea.

dildoboathouse.com 

Fishing For Success, Petty Harbour: It’s hard to put in words sometimes how incredible the people are who devote their time to preserving our culture. That’s the driving passion behind the team at Fishing for Success. 

Take the kids, take any tourists you meet, or just go spend a few hours with them yourself. From art work with fish to a day watching puffins and learning how to jig a cod, this is one fun and memorable stop over during our summer of 2022.  

fishingforsuccess.org 

Marine Park, Pouch Cove: 

I don’t know that there’s many places like it in the province. 

Minutes from the city of St. John’s, this spot offers quality and an unforgettable getaway for the entire family. Camp, rent a golf cart, enjoy the beach area, hike, or take in some of the best kiddie activities around, this Yogi Bear Jellystone Park has something for the entire family to enjoy. 

campjellystone.com 

Dildo Dory Grill, Dildo: We liked it so much, we went back again! Dildo Dory and Breakfast Under the Dory offers great grub and an amazing view. 

Go for the day or book a stay over at one of the many near-by vacations spots. We  recommend  the fish and chips and the chowder!  

dildodorygrill.com

Kilmory, Swift Current: Kilmory has been in the Jamieson family for generations and now Mary and Roger proudly carry on the family tradition. Vacationers have been known to visit annually, and make a stop over a tradition.  

kilmoryresort.com 

George House B& B, Dildo:  Built in 1885, this house has history. It also has class! Plus, it’s fun! 

From the rubber ducky placed in our glorious tub to the brilliant conversation we had with other visitors, Todd at George House makes visiting a B&B one tasty (great breakfast!) adventure! 

www.georgehousebnb.com 

Banting Memorial Park, Musgrave Harbour: I fell in love with this place and the people who stay there. 

With ocean access and a stunning beach as well as a fun pond to play in, I swear I will return every summer! 

musgraveharbour.com/park.

Mom’s Place, Mobile:  Brenda and Bob Lee know how to entertain. Friendly and kind, they know how to make life-long friends too!  Plus, Mom’s Place is glamour with a little love tossed in for good measure. Hot tub and a pool, this place is a must visit!

Roy’s Lighthouse, Catalina:  This lighthouse stayover was one of a kind. We couldn’t stop admiring the detailed work that went into this place. If you’ve ever had a dream about sleeping in a lighthouse, then visit! And ask owner Kristy Sweet where the motivation for this beautiful place came from. 

Route 66, Carbonear: We had so much fun at Route 66! The fact that Ray Johnson was there playing accordion didn’t hurt of course, plus the food and service is second to none! 

Try their muscles! You will need a spoon for the sauce!

The Vimy, Spaniard’s Bay: I love Mary. She makes sleep overs fun, and she serves the best breakfast I think we’ve ever eaten, plus the boutique! Wow!

Oh! Check it out! Great selection and great prices and great service too.  

IceBerg Alley B &B, Twillingate: What’s not to love about Twillingate? Well, Wendy and Danny make a stay even better with their hospitality. 

A stunning place to stay, and a warm loving feeling from the second you first slip into those hand knitted slippers. icebergalley.squarespace.com 

Marble Mountain, Steady Brook: There’s so much to see and do and experience at Marble Mountain all year long. Oh! Try the ribs onsite and pair that with their unique coleslaw! 

Check out the Spider Challenge – if you dare – and go for a zip too!

North Atlantic Ziplines, Petty Harbour: These guys know how to ramp up fun – and they know how to build up confidence to! The best in the tourism business when it comes to fun on bust! 

zipthenorthatlantic.com 

Grates Cove Studios, Grates Cove:  This place and the family who run it are near and dear to our hearts. What a story they have to share, and what a great piece of heaven on earth they inhabit. 

Discover the art of unpolished living here.  Go for the unique food, and you’ll never want to leave. Ask about the beauty of sea weed too! 

gratescovestudios.ca 

Lobster Pods, South River:  I didn’t know what to expect but we had the time of our lives here! 

The kids adored it, the dogs loved it, and we spent the day exploring the beauty around us and enjoying our lodgings.   

Lobster Pool, Hillgrade: Eileen is the queen! People line up to eat their grub and experience their hospitality. Go once, you will be back! Fish cakes to die for, folks!

Marble Inn & Suites Salt Water Spa, Steady Brook: Go to the spa and ask for Pamela! The best spa experience on the planet! Their saltwater experience for two is a must. Plus, we enjoyed the best pizza ever at The Cove! 

explorenewfoundland.com

Doctors House Inn & Spa, Green’s Harbour: This spot is now one of my favourite getaways. The food – best beef I’ve ever tasted – is incredible and the views and staycation offerings are too numerous to mention. One stay and you will be back.  doctorshousenl.ca   

Ocean Delight, Heart’s Delight: I think this place may be the most romantic location on earth. Stunning views of the ocean and the setting sun but also a vibe inside that insists you hold hands and cuddle. A place with so much heart, you won’t want to leave.

oceandelightcottages.net 

The Quay, Brigus:   Best ever Blueberry Crisp. Order the sampler. You’ll be glad you did! Great to share and enjoy while in one of the most beautiful places in this province. 

The Cove, Freshwater: This house has so much history and the views from the kitchen window will insist that you dine in! Take a good camera as there’s so much to experience you won’t want to forget one thing.

Michelle’s Fine Arts, Carbonear: Take a class or just experience the beauty of Michelle’s work on its own. The best textures and the most incredible colours. 

Jigs & Reels, Green’s Harbour: Beauty and fun and great food in one spot! What’s not to love? You might even meet a star! Kellie Loder was there the day we visited. 

Studio Boutique, Carbonear: Ask for Kat! The service is so amazing you’ll return for that alone, but the clothing and other items available are unique too! 

Rising Tide Theatre, Trinity: Visiting Trinity is like experiencing life in one magical place, and the talent on display at Rising Tide Theatre will enhance that experience. Try their dinner theatre. You won’t be sorry you did. 

New World Island Dinner Theatre, Twillingate: We laughed until we cried from the humour, and then we cried because we were so touched by the local talent on display.  The food was incredible too!

Iceberg Quest, St. John’s:  With fabulous music and incredible views and great staff, this is a party at sea. Arthur O’Brien was there when we sailed and our experience was one of a kind. Great memories are made with these folks!

icebergquest.com/experience-the-wonder 

Round Da Bay Inn, Plate Cove West:  Ask to meet Charlie! Better yet, have him join you for breakfast. Check out the themed rooms and pick your fav, and then help support some of the amazing charity work being performed by these kind-hearted people. 

rounddabayinn.com 

By The Sea, King’s Cove: Order the cod tongues. Amazing! Make sure you go back for breakfast, too. What a beautiful location, what a stunning community and what a great place to stay.

bythesearesort.ca 

The Stone Jug, Carbonear: This beautiful place has so much glamour and sophistication, and the food is off the charts yummy. A romantic spot or a great place to take the family.  

The Dildo Brewery & Museum: Cod tacos to die for and great pizza too. And oh yeah! Beer! Get a flight and find your fav.

www.dildoinns.com 

Margie’s Place By the Pond, Placentia: The kitchen in this place will blow your mind. Then, the master suite will do it again! But check out the rest of the house too for a step back in time. This converted former parish priest house is a must explore location. 

The Cliff House, Dunville: The beauty of Cliff House is not to be believed. From the outside to the inside, the detailed hand-crafted work will leave you inspired to amp up your own surroundings. Stay here once and you will return! 

Baccalieu Trail Brewing Co., Bay Roberts:  We tasted these delightful offerings at The Quay, but they are available many places. Visit the brewery itself as they have some amazing food offerings to pair with your beverages. 

Windamere Cabins, Rattling Brook: These amazing log cabins are in a brilliant setting and are a great place to stay when you want great access to the many hiking trails and beaches in the area.  

Sandy Cove Cabins, Sandy Cove:  Oh! The beach! Walk, stay, play and explore. A great place for beach glass, and a fun vacation spot for all.  

sandycovebeach.ca 

Frozen in Time Winery, Markland: Order one of their charcuterie boards and then taste the wine offerings. Cloudberry, Blackcurrant or Blueberry, there’s many to taste. Check out their healthy Iron Berry products too! Plus, you can stay!

frozenintimeltd.com 

Seacliff House Pro., Brigus: Have something from your childhood you’ve long wanted to have again? Check out Seacliff House! Wander the isles, find your treasure and be gobsmacked. 

Wind at your back Lazy River, Whitbourne: We enjoyed ourselves so much this day. It was fun and laughter under the sun and on the water. Highly recommended for everyone.  We want to return with a bigger group because it’s so much fun.

windatyourbacknl.ca 

St. John’s Walking Tours: The history will amaze you, even if you are from the Avalon. It’s something worth spending a few hours on for come from aways and livyers alike. 

stjohnswalkingtours.com

Mad Rock Cafe, Bay Roberts: Best fish and brewis and the biggest laugh ever with the staff. So much fun, and incredible grub. Go and then tell your friends!  

Dream Chalet Getaways & Event Planning, Brigus Junction:A glamorous staycation spot with a touching back story, this is a great spot to either escape and get away from it all, or to invite the entire family to join you for a visit!

Rise Over, Brigus: The views are incredible and the food is amazing. We had mussels and cod the day we were there but there’s so much more to try that we will visit again and again to fit in many more menu items. A great Sunday drive spot for an afternoon mug up.

theriseover.com

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians came home for Come Home 2022 celebrations and the province welcomed many first time visitors too.  The weather coorperated with record breaking sunshine for one record setting NL  summer.

There was a little something for everyone to enjoy. Wonderbolt Productions celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2022, and they dazzled and delighted audiences all summer long. The George Street Festival was a huge hit and so was the Churchill Park Music Festival with both attracting huge and enthusiastic crowds. 

But whether it’s the large concerts on George Street or the smaller gatherings on an outport wharf, it’s been quite a summer to celebrate, Premier Andrew Furey said. “To see this (Come Home 2022) come from a concept to reality, and then to see the return, well the actual numbers speak for themselves,” he said as he launched into some cheerful chatter about the rise in tourism numbers throughout Come Home 2022. And the fun continues through the fall too with Come From Away: The Concert and Tell Tale Harbour yet to be celebrated and enjoyed. 

What was your favourite Come Home 2022 experience? Was it the Stanley Cup or a concert? Was it seeing family or friends or was it a wedding celebration that was delayed due to the pandemic. 

Share your super summer story with us at letters@nfldherald.com 

Charles & Camilla’s 2022 Royal Tour

Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrived St. John’s on May 17th to begin a three-day Canadian tour largely focused on reconciliation with Indigenous people. 

The couple attended a welcome ceremony at the provincial legislature with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon then it was off to Gov. House and Quidi Vidi.

Photos provided by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, taken by Alick Tsui Photography.

Kellie Loder Proves They’re Fearless

Not only is Kellie Loder selling out shows, but they are selling totally out of merch at these performances as well, they added when The Herald swung by for a chat. “The opportunity to be on a national television show, what that has done for me is amazing. People stop you on the side of the road and people shout at you from their cars. And it’s so positive,” they said of appearing on Canada’s Got Talent. 

 Had reality set in yet? Since being a  national sensation on CGT, so much had changed. “You work so, so hard for so long to get that sort of recognition that when you finally get it it’s a bit wild. Like, I still feel like I’m a small town kid from Badger and now people are wanting to carry my things and bring me water and food and steam my clothes. And I’m like, ‘What’s happening right now?’” 

Loder also felt “different” seeing their face on a NL Herald cover. “I would go to the store and The Herald would always be on the front counter, and I would see different faces every week on the cover and I always wondered if I was ever going to make the cover, do you know what I mean? I always wondered that, even when nobody knew who I was.” Well, now they certainly do! 

Show Your Pride in NL

Irma Gerd made NL proud as one of the contestants of the third season of Canada’s Drag Race. 

Gerd told The Herald that “The amount of support that I’ve gotten from all of Atlantic Canada, not just Newfoundland, has been overwhelming. Just positively overwhelming in the best way.” 

Pride events throughout NL recognized and celebrated the diversity of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community within the province and the Provincial Government sponsored St. John’s Pride Week as a part of Come Home 2022. Sponsored events included Drag on Water held on Saturday, July 23 as well as the St. John’s Pride Parade

Staycation with the OZFM Summer CREW

Kali Kenny and Noah Perchard hit the road in the OZFM Staycation Summer Cruiser and brought the cheer and the joy to many as they travelled the province throughout the summer of 2022.

Kenny told The Herald that being a member of the Staycation Summer Cruiser Team was a “dream come true.” 

The Regatta Returns

For the very first time in Royal St. John’s Regatta history, there was a Women’s Long course race. 

North America’s oldest annual sporting event concluded with repeat champions in both the men’s and women’s races. NTV were winners of the Men’s Championship Race and Hyflodraulic won Stirling Communications Women’s Championship Race with a time of 5:11.

This year’s Regatta saw crowds return to the banks of Quidi Vidi Lake for the first time since 2019.

Jaida Lee Makes History

At 16 years old, Jaida Lee became the first female to compete in Men’s Baseball at the Canada Summer Games in 2022. The teenage baseball sensation and her father, Dave Lee, shared with media how “unreal” the experience was,  included the fact that she got to throw an opening pitch at a Blue Jays game.

Alex Newhook Brings Home Lord Stanley

Colorado Avalanche forward and St. John’s native Alex Newhook couldn’t stop smiling the day he brought the Stanley Cup home to St. John’s! 

The timing couldn’t have been better and fans young and old couldn’t get enough of the party that came with Lord Stanley held during Come Home 2022 celebrations.

About being only the third player from Newfoundland and Labrador to win the Stanley Cup, Newhook shared how he received congratulations from the other two who had done so before he did – Daniel Cleary and Michael Ryder. Newhook cheered along with fans so loudly as he yelled, ’Our fans are the best in the world’ that Newhook seemed to  have lost his voice during part of the Stanley Cup parade.

Was it emotion or cheering along with fans that cause the brief quiet spell? Probably a bit of both, but whatever the reason, it was a grand day in the province and an unforgettable day for Alex Newhook and his family and friends. Congratulations! 

One visit to any area of the province will leave folks saying; why did we stay where we’re to? We should have come where you’re at long ago.

 “It’s been overwhelming, overwhelmingly positive,” says Premier Andrew Furey of Come Home 2022. Furey himself has been touring the province as much as possible himself too, he shared.  

Exactly what NL needed

“It’s just been an incredibly joyous, happy occasion for communities throughout our province. Coming out of the pandemic, this is exactly what people needed. People celebrating life … all rallying around this call to come home. And I couldn’t be more proud with the results from this campaign,” he said.

From Regatta and Churchill Park Music Festival to Monster Trucks, George Street Festival, Tell Tale Harbor and Come From Away, Furey and team have been proudly supporting events held throughout the province.  “This was exactly what the province needed right now. For decades, centuries even, we’ve had a history of festivals in towns and communities. Of concerts, arts festivals and more, but because of the pandemic these things mostly stopped. We needed an injection of enthusiasm to reinvigorate them and I think that Come Home Year 2022 did exactly that.”

Whether it was a large concert or a smaller gathering on an outport wharf, it’s been quite a summer to celebrate. The numbers speak for themselves, he said. 

In auto traffic, the province is up 166 per cent from 2019 and growing. Travellers in general are up almost 300 per cent compared to 2021. “It’s special, it’s emotional and it’s economically beneficial at the end of the day as well,” Furey  said.  

Furey shared he figures he spent one weekend in his own bed this entire summer. “It was really nice to see the hope and optimism and the spirit of Newfoundland and Labrador on full display in many communities – all communities, frankly – around the province,” he said. 

This has always been an incredible place to visit, he added. “It’s really more than just about one year. It’s about reinjecting  enthusiasm and optimism … that will live beyond 2022.” 

The premier says he has been so proud as he’s travelled around. “I’d like to thank everybody for being involved and for embracing (Come Home 2022). We were in communities that normally only have 100 people in it and to see it grow to 300 or 400 people in an afternoon to  celebrate the culture of Newfoundland and Labrador … was just fantastic.  

After sold-out shows in St. John’s and Halifax in 2019, well known Afro-German-Caribbean disco and funk vocal group Boney M. featuring Liz Mitchell return to Atlantic Canada for seven ‘Holiday Favourites and Classic Hits’ shows this November and December.

Tickets for Halifax, Moncton, Charlottetown, Truro, and Sydney go on sale this Friday, September 23 at 10 a.m. and tickets for Corner Brook and St. John’s go on sale this Friday, September 23 at 12 noon.

Tickets for the Corner Brook show will be available online at cbciviccentre.com

Tickets for the St. John’s show will be available at the Mary Brown’s Centre Box Office (50 New Gower Street), by calling 1-709-576-7657 and online at mbcentre.ca

Originally founded in Germany by writer and producer Frank Farian, Boney M. was one of the disco-oriented pop acts which dominated the European charts throughout the late seventies and early eighties with a string of hits well remembered to this day. The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and their discography of hits is extensive. The group had eight #1 hits on the European charts, including Daddy Cool, Sunny, Ma Baker, Belfast, Rivers of Babylon, Brown Girl in the Ring, Rasputin, and Mary’s Boy Child. In addition to the successes of Boney M’s singles was the success of three #1 albums in the European market.

Now in the 21st Century, there is obviously no doubt that songs from the past are far more popular than ever before. Boney M’s international success during the past thirty-five years has proven that their hits belong to the collection of timeless classics. In 2022, Boney M. featuring Liz Mitchell is still a phenomenal live act drawing huge crowds across Europe.  The live show is as spectacular as ever and they are currently making live appearances in concert halls, arenas, and festivals around the world.

Boney M. live in Atlantic Canada is presented by VaughCo Entertainment: vaughncoentertainment.com

Mel Simmonds and her husband Brad had everything they could want – except for good health. “In 2018 I was at my heaviest, well on my way to 450lbs… medication I was on caused weight gain, high blood pressure and very high anxiety levels,” Mel Simmonds said. 

More medication was prescribed but she knew there had to be a better and a more natural way.  

“I decided to do research based on the information my doctor gave me. She said I was unable to process carbs and sugars in the same way as a regular healthy person may do so with this tidbit of information and my handy dandy Google, I stumbled across Ketogenic lifestyle.” She began to learn how to redevelop her family’s fav Newfoundland cultured-based recipes into no added sugar, low carb and low sodium meals. 

“I have been involved in the food industry since high school…and I am a very creative person so it comes very natural to me to be a rock star in the kitchen. When my family started seeing all the delicious foods I was eating they weren’t long to jump on the keto bandwagon and join me on my journey.” She lost 110lbs in a year and didn’t crave a thing. 

“Whatever I wanted I was easily able to transform into a wonderful delicious new keto approved creation.” She kept things as simple as possible, she added.  

Joining the journey

“My aim when starting was to make this as simple and easy as possible because I knew if it was anything but, my mental wellness would not allow me to continue it. When friends and family saw the amazing transformation that was happening, there were lots of questions.”

“My inbox on Facebook was being bombarded with inquiries so I figured the easiest way to do this was to build a Facebook group (Keto Newf). There I could post about my journey, answer questions and give support to my friends and family. To my shock, people from all over the world started jumping in my inbox and asking to join my journey.”

The group grew. “I had spiked some interest in people who wanted to be healthier, just like me,” she said.  

By 2019 she had lost another 220lbs and her family’s total weight loss was nearing 500lbs. “We were doing fantastic and the dish creations now were simply amazing. Not only Newfoundland cultured foods but I was learning  to recreate foods from all over the world.”

Then, in Feb 2020, one of her closest and dearest friends, Roxanne Weinhebour,  also the former owner of Chapman’s Bakery, encouraged her to start selling some of her dishes. “By the time I figured out how I was going to take orders and get it to those local people who needed it, the winter was in full swing and then the pandemic hit. I knew now, more than ever, that I needed to get these health foods out to people as being stuck in the house would make us more unhealthy,” she said.

Spreading the word

She packed up her family, the food and even the family dog and headed out on to the TCH to do safe drop offs along the way from St. John’s to GFW.  “It didn’t take long before the word spread. I had people filling up my inbox saying how much of an inspiration I was to them, and that I was helping to get them through the pandemic. Mission accomplished,” she said. 

But there was more to do, she added, and the Keto Newf brand keeps growing. Another thing growing is the couple’s love of music. 

“Brad Simmonds Country Music  (their Facebook group) has grown in popularity and Brad calls me his Wifager because I am his wife and manager. I am also his song writer, promotions specialist, booking agent, publisher and distributor,” she shared.

Husband Brad is an easy listening  country music performer, Simmonds added, and with two original songs that have been released, their music is being heard all over the world on all major streaming platforms.  –

 “Brad has always been into music since he was five and got his first guitar. Brad and I met in 2012 and I found his musical abilities and fantastic deep-based vocals very exciting and it is one of the things that made me fall in love with him. I moved to his very small rural community of Charlottetown, NL so there were no real opportunity to showcase his talent.” They married in 2015 and began livestreaming their music on Facebook. 

“We had a fan group and streamed virtual concerts. In 2018 I decided to help make his dreams come true and I wrote a letter to Santa. I asked him to help me by surprising Brad with one of the things he wanted the most because I wanted help in making his dream come true.”  

The gift? Recording studio time to help make their dreams come true.. 

Brad and Mel focus on their future while still helping others, sharing their contacts and knowledge with anyone who needs help musically or health-wise. Being a friend to all has become their passion and their mission. 

For more visit  Keto Newf – sites.google.com/view/ketonewf/home. 

The Shed – Powerhouse (sites.google.com/view/theshed-powerhouse/home). 

Brad Simmonds Country Music Artist (sites.google.com/view/bradsimmonds/home)

I’ve been privileged to meet – as well as to thank– many who work in the tourism industry throughout the province of Newfoundland & Labrador that 520-odd-thousand of us are still blessed to call home.

As these tourism angels I’ve encountered worked tirelessly welcoming expats – who easily outnumber those of us who stayed or eventually returned – and come from aways alike during Come Home 2022, one thing in particular kept tugging at my mind and at my heart. 

I left this province myself in 1990 for school, and I remained away for 13 more years. While I was gone, something that always stood out for me personally was how easy it was to make friends or how simple it was to gain employment based mainly on one simple fact: That I was born and bred a Newfoundlander. 

‘greener pastures’

Newfoundlanders who left this province over the decades to escape poverty and harsh conditions for so-called greener pastures up-along spread kindness and humour along with the mortar they slathered on the bricks they slung. 

They helped build cities and erect skyscrapers in cities throughout North America with names many from back ‘ome had never even heard of before. 

Newfoundlanders showcased their hard-working nature and demonstrated their tenacious  spirit as they fought wars for countries that weren’t their own and shovelled foundations that helped over-populate mainland towns and depopulated the outports leaving those pretty, quaint clotheslines filed with colourful flapping quilts and nanny’s knitted trigger mitts that tourism advertisers love – empty.    

But those who left to pave the way helped spread the word that the rest of us Newfoundlanders who might one day come behind a decade or even ten into the future would be just as kind  and talented and hardworking.

There’s simply some things that – for whatever reasons – just never change. Whether it’s the culture or the climate, Newfoundlanders will always be what we have always been: Hardworking and, as demonstrated continuously by tourism operators through Come Home 2022 –  focused on being hospitable.

I spoke with Nicole Power recently and she perhaps put it best. “I feel like being from Newfoundland is my superpower,” she said. Power, who grew up in Middle Cove and is now on the mainland staring in the series Strays, added that anytime anyone finds out she’s a Newfoundlander the ice is instantly broken.

“It’s a testament to who we all are at home and showcases how nice we are as people. The second someone finds out I’m a Newfoundlander they’re over the moon and they can’t wait to tell me how all of the things that they heard before about the kind of people we are are all true,” she said.  Our reputation precedes us, she added, and it has helped pave the way for others like her – myself included – and it’s something to be proud of. 

‘be leaving now, mudder’

A very long time ago some young bayman lad stood on some outport wharf and hollered out across the harbour: “I’ll be leaving now, Mudder,” taking  with him some hard bread along with hard-earned attributes of a life raised on ‘The Rock’ and the legacy that spread ‘round the globe, remaining to this very day, was born.

That very first ‘be leaving’ turned the rest of the world into believers of one simple fact proven time and time again: that Newfoundlanders really are – and will forever be – one of a kind.

Pam Pardy, The Herald’s Managing Editor, can be reached by emailing pghent@nfldherald.com

We were in a restaurant in a hotel in Paris. It was the middle of the Republican primaries before that weird election that took Donald J. Trump to a one term presidency.

Wife and I were on a short trip to France. It was part of an organized tour which I hate. There were about 20 or 30 of us and it was all Americans except for wife Judy and me.

Over dinner with one of the American couples the subject of Donald Trump was raised at the table and the couple with us, older than ourselves, wanted to know if I could assure them that Donald Trump would never be President of the United States. I told them with great and very misplaced confidence that the American people would never let someone like Trump be president.

Orange faced oily grifter

Well, how wrong was that! Incredibly all obstacles vanished, and an orange faced oily grifter named Trump became POTUS as they say in news circles. 

It was enough to send you to despair although, luckily, as soon he walked in through the doors of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue Donald Trump began to self-destruct. Through an incredible series of bad decisions by Trump, the Republican Party lost control of the House of Representatives, the Senate and ultimately the White House itself when Democrat Joe Biden beat him at the polls like you would beat a rug in the spring.

Even after Trump’s defeat things turned really ugly after what was an attempted coup in Washington on the 6th of January that did not work. The air went out of Trump’s attempt to cling to power with a whoosh. He may run for President again, but even his hold on the Republican Party has waned and Donald is no longer the “go to guy.”

He was caught with classified secret documents from his presidency stashed away at his Florida golf club with federal agents armed with a search warrant pounding on the door looking to get the material back.

I think Donald Trump is going to jail eventually. He will be a victim of his own ego. He thought he was above the law. Now as he “lawyers up” it must cross his mind between snack boxes and hamburgers that this is one narrative he cannot control.

In a quiet moment he will wonder how it all went wrong so quickly and how he came to be wearing an orange jumpsuit from some federal penitentiary. A friend of mine has one of those “Make America Great Again” hats. He does not wear it anymore. Not a minute too soon.   

NTV’s Jim Furlong can be reached by emailing: jfurlong@ntv.ca

Mark Bowering just might have the most perfect working conditions possible and as we stand in his Walsh’s Farm ‘office’  – a brilliantly sun-lit field in Colliers – he takes a moment to appreciate what a great summer it’s been for anyone in the business of growing blueberries. 

“The berries, they seem to do really good in the heat. They like it. And we always notice around big rocks that hold heat from the sun, the berries around them are some of the best,” he said. 

“It’s easy to be grateful for the heat when cold can cost so much,” he added. “You can lose your whole season in a frost in June. The plants are coming to flower in June and that actually happened here two years ago with a late frost,” he said.

Bowering, as president at Bowering Gardens – a landscaping company – and co-owner of Walsh’s Blueberry Farms, spends a nice bit of time outdoors and he appreciates every minute. 

The many berry-pickers Bowering employs seem to be enjoying their day in the great Newfoundland outdoors as well. We meet Vince Wade who has been picking berries for profit since he was eight years-old. 

Bren Bartlett, who shows off his berry-stained hands, has been picking for over 35 years. Chris England – famous for being both speedy and efficient – uses a two-handed method. “Been doing this for over 25 years and I loves being out picking berries,” England said. 

Helpful bees

There’s much to brag about when it comes to Newfoundland berries. The thicker skin – believed to be designed by nature as a way to protect the berry from the elements – is possibly the reason why locally grown blueberries are ‘the berry best’ tasting and the best for us, especially when it comes to their antioxidant value. 

No pesticides are used as none are required in this province. 

The plants require no watering and they need no other tending besides controlled field burning which is on a rotational schedule and keeps the low-bush blueberry plants healthy and improves yield.  We visit the resident bees on site and Bowering explains how their presence has been helpful.

“We’ve been using bees to try and experiment with pollination … to up our yields a bit. They’re just been doing fantastic out there and seem to be loving it,” he said.

Berry pickers

One fun bee/berry fact?  Bees who thrive around blueberry bushes make a pretty amazing blueberry honey. “The honey that they make from the nectar that they collect at the time of flowering is thicker than regular wildflower only honey,” he said. 

We watch the many pickers do their thing as we enjoy the sunshine – and the berries around us. Bowering smiled.  

“Some of these berry pickers here on this farm have been here for over 30 or 40 years. Some of the same people return and a lot of them are locals. It’s amazing to watch them work. One picker could pick anywhere around  450 pounds a day depending on how thick the berries are and their experience.” 

Who’s their clients? Blueberry pie making nannies? Bowering laughed. 

“Wine makers, beer makers, restaurants, supermarkets. We mostly do bulk sales for businesses but we also do online sales to locals. You can have delivery or arrange for pick-up.”

As for how he enjoys his berries best? “In oatmeal,” he answered.  Bowering shared that when he was first asked to get into the berry business five years ago, he stood on the same field we were standing in and saw nothing but grass and woods. 

“I just saw fields of grass. I’m like, ‘Where’s the berries?’ I didn’t see it because when you look in, it’s just all grass and how can there be berries?”

But he looked down and finally saw the potential.  “When you get out on the field and you finally see the sea of blue you’re in, it’s just amazing.” 

For more visit walshsfarms.com 

I was raised to believe in things that are not of this world. The more ‘mysterious’ the better for me and mine. My mom’s father was a bit of a character. A very religious man, he had quite a few superstitions and beliefs that many would consider different. As a farmer and a businessman, Pop followed a way of doing things that he felt worked, so that was that.

There was a sign from above to plant, and yet another when it was time to harvest. You get the picture. It’s interesting to note this, however; as much of a Bible believer as that man was, he was also out there too.

Crossed-off career

Pop ‘crossed-off,’ as they called it back then, or treated other people’s warts and whatnot using a potato that he later buried. The belief was, as the potato rotted in the ground the wart fell off or the healing happened. Pop used to chant a few things as he did this, and one of his last warnings to the potato patient was this: “Believe this will help, or it won’t.” I swear this on both my youngster’s lives – I saw Pop’s magical potatoes work with my very own eyes more than once.

I also get some unique ways from my Nan on Dad’s side of the family too. That woman could tell ghost stories. I still, to this day, believe each and every one. One ghostly figure passed Nan as a young girl on her way home across an ocean path at night and the cool chill made Nan swoon where she stood. 

Others she knew ‘saw things’ that made either their hair turn instantly white or took their ability to speak from them. That stuff happened, b’ys, cause Nanny didn’t lie. Neither does NASA. 

On June 15, 2022, the official Twitter account for NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover shared the news that a piece of trash had been found on Mars. Space junk or evidence of an alien’s bad habit?  Interesting. So, do aliens really exist? 

One of NASA’s astrobiologists, Lindsay Hays, said that while extraterrestrial life has never been discovered, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. In fact one of NASA’s key goals is the search for life out in the universe. 

Just days ago the NASA James Webb Space Telescope shared stunning new images of Jupiter and a haunting audio clip taken from a black hole. 

So, what does all this mean? Are God, superstitions, magical potatoes, ghosts and ETs from outer space all connected somehow? Who knows, but I do know we all keep looking up with wonder from time to time. Just recently a string of lights over top of St. John’s left more than a few livyers astonished. 

Sheerr to the rescue!

While NTV’s Eddie Sheerr later issued a “do not be alarmed,” message on social media, explaining that the lights were not an alien invasion but “most likely (99 per cent chance) just the SpaceX StarLink satellites,” it still was cool – if just for a little – to think otherwise. 

Bottom line; for anything to really exist, you pretty much have to believe it does – or could – right?

Just like my Pop’s wart healing ways. Would the potato-thing have worked if no one believed it could? No one was willing to take the chance, and who could blame ‘em? I’d rather believe in a rotting potato with magical powers than have a wart. I’d much rather believe that a ghost made Nanny faint than to think she had low blood sugar or (gasp) that she was drunk.

That even aliens forget to pick up their bit of tin of milk trash is more fun to think about than space junk. And who knows? There’s a one per cent chance that Eddie was wrong that night and that those lights above the city were visitors from another planet. Believing  it possible makes life a little more thrilling, and there’s nar thing wrong with that.

Pam Pardy, The Herald’s Managing Editor, can be reached by emailing pghent@nfldherald.com