Cottage Family Fun <br /> <br /> Newfoundlanders have always been great cottage people. Every summer there is a mass exodus of families from the city to their favourite cottage retreats. And there the fun begins. They sure know how to have a great time. Back in my day (1940s) the term was cabin, not cottage. When I was courting my wife Marie Shute I remember spending quality time with her and her family at their cabin on Ocean Pond. The photo shows the family gathered in the cottage in July of 1954. Rear (L to R): mother Beatrice, sister Ernestine, house maid Beatrice Hounsell, father Ern Shute Sr., Front: Marie with dog Bonzo. They had a large family, and always accommodated many family friends at the cabin. They had a series of bunk beds to do that. Heating was by wood stove and lighting by kerosene lamps. Marie&acirc;€™s father (the skipper) always smoked cigars as can be seen in the photo. One funny story comes to mind. One summer night I was visiting during a severe thunder and lightning storm and sleeping in one of the bunks. I had to get up through the night to go to the bathroom. Blindly groping my way through the darkness of the kitchen in my bare feet I suddenly felt a warm wet sensation. It turned out I was standing in a large pool of dog pee. Apparently the dog Bonzo was deathly afraid of thunder storms, and it was common for him to relieve himself on the spot. You can guess what fun the family had at my expense after that episode. <br /> <br /> John Cornick<br /> Halifax, Nova Scotia<br />   Submitted By: John Cornick