The Rock

[Montreal Wanderer]

To the Yanks it’s Alcatraz, to the Brits it’s Gibraltar, but to Canadians it is our tenth and strangest province. It is bigger than the other Rocks, but then again Canada is much bigger than the USA and the UK would fit comfortably in one of our lakes. Newfoundland is closer to Sweden than Vancouver Island. Its inhabitants are descended from the Irish and Scots (because everyone else had more sense) and they speak with an unusual accent that sometimes leaves their meaning obscure. The weather is very uncertain – usually cold in summer and often foggy, it is also subject to high winds (their anemometers are said to be primitive – they hang a heavy chain out of the window and, if it is horizontal, they advise against sailing). The Vikings lived there for a century before heading back to the warmer climes of Iceland. It also proved the theory of continental drift – the West part belongs to North America geologically, the East part to Africa and the middle bit was once ocean bottom. Their time zone is half an hour before Atlantic time – where else are time zones anything other than hours? It joined Canada in my lifetime. The local beverage is called screetch and abstinence is recommended. Altogether an odd place.

On Saturday I begin the long trek to go there with three of my children (a day and a half drive, then a 14 hour ferry ride). Hopefully I will get there Monday night. As you will doubtless be relieved to hear, I will be unlikely to appear on the pages of TW for the next couple of weeks. I don’t know if they have the internet or what they call it if they do. However, I will try to keep abreast of things if fortune smiles.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Sounds like an interesting place, Monty. May you travel in safety and return with photographs!

[InsaneApache]

Is it in Bury?

[Spaced]

sounds like Dingles country...

[Montreal Wanderer]

Is it in Bury?

I'm not sure, IA - does Bury look like this?

[blurred]

Their time zone is half an hour before Atlantic time – where else are time zones anything other than hours?

India/Pakistan are on a half-hour timezone aren't they? Somewhere around there is

And I've actually been to Newfoundland, for all of a couple of hours, for a plane to refuel. The place we landed was called 'Gander'. It had a small-ish airport. That's all I know

[Montreal Wanderer]

Their time zone is half an hour before Atlantic time – where else are time zones anything other than hours?

India/Pakistan are on a half-hour timezone aren't they? Somewhere around there is

And I've actually been to Newfoundland, for all of a couple of hours, for a plane to refuel. The place we landed was called 'Gander'. It had a small-ish airport. That's all I know

Gander was a military airport during the war I think and is still the closest North American landing strip to Europe. You could be right about India - it just strikes me as daft.

edit: And you are right. India, Iran, Afghanistan, Northern Territory (Aust.) and South Australia are all offset time zones.

[InsaneApache]

Is it in Bury?

I'm not sure, IA - does Bury look like this?

Well it didn't when I left Radcliffe 27 years ago, however I do believe that there has been a fair bit of developement near to the Two Tubs.

[sluffy]

Have a great time Monty - keep us posted if you can!

[americantrotter]

A happy and safe trip to you Monty.

[Worthy4England]

Aye - enjoy Monty it's nowt like Bury...

[Zulus Thousand of em]

Have a great trip, Monty!

[Nozza]

?

[jmjhb]

Wow, very nice, have a great time!

[wovlad]

And I've actually been to Newfoundland, for all of a couple of hours, for a plane to refuel. The place we landed was called 'Gander'. It had a small-ish airport. That's all I know [/quote]

Ditto. In 1990. They let us of the plane to have a wonder around and after a couple of mins you'd seen it.

The airport building looked like a large shed & probably was a large shed

[Verbal]

Have a good one Monty weather reports make it sound like over here!

[fatshaft]

Nah nozza, this is THE Rock!