Have no idea on God’s Green Earth what to say here.Sure,that has never stopped me.

As you are aware Out around the Bay and even in Town.We all have different dialects. No need to tell you that.It was a surprise to us kids in School in the Mid

60’s when Premier Joe did the Genius Plan of Resettlement.Uprooting small Places

and moving them  to bigger Communities such as Placentia and even Trepassey for

Employment and some would argue a better quality of life.

We were surprised the first day of School to meet new friends who hailed from

Places such as Merasheen,Bar Haven,Conception Bay and White Bay .Their families moved to town for Father’s to work at the Fish Plant.

They says we talks funny .We were not ones to brag about with the Irish Brogue and all.

Hearing a kid raise his hand in Math Class and say.”Sir,Do he on the Board for Me.” A new kind of language to us.Some kids dropped H’s and added them on in areas that did not require them.Down at the Pond where we Swim.Hearing one kid say to the other as they were diving.”Did ya Gettin?No,Never Gotten.”Or the one about the Moose Story.The missus told us.”I shot -en and Me Husband finished En Off!” The poor Nuns had their hands full with us in English Class.

Never really was a fan of School.Found what they were trying to teach very dry.

Teachers were not the most interesting.Most of them spent the whole Class writing on the Board with their back to us.Some looked better that way.It is possible I may have been absent or Daydreaming the day they teached about key words and key phrases to help memorise homework.Don’t recall learning that lesson.No Quizzes before test with the phrase.”This is Important! Remember This!”

One day in the Ninth Grade our friend George was called upon by the Nun to read the Essay he just wrote.It was rare the Nuns called on Boys to read.It was usually one

of their young female Pets.The ones who would be put in Charge to tattle when the Teacher needed a Potty Break.

Low and behold George had a Gift for a Story and he was funny as well.

To be honest I don’t remember any details other than it was told by a young local Bay Boy like ourselves and in our language and using references from around the Landwash,The Backside,The Barking Kettle and Places familiar to us all.

George may not have the best Grades but he was Smart.He was describing things we were all familiar with and we all could relate to.Of course Teachers back then never

praised anyone.I think by the Class response George hit a home Run.

In Closing the dialect is fine and a part of who we are.I found  when I moved away.I had to talk slower.Open my mouth,Use Eye Contact.I still hear the Nuns say Open Your Mouth when you Speak.If ya say Cad on the Mainland.They don’t know you mean Cod.I don’t speak fast.You need to listen more Quickly.

See Ya!