...welcome to Philip's Fan Club!
ROD, GERTRUDE and ROBERT
Philip left some great friends behind when we left Ontario. He talks of them, and to them, frequently...he has an awesome memory (have I mentioned that before?...I can't remember!). But he is very quick to make new ones...he has a way about him that instantly turns strangers into friends. He must get that from his mother...'cause there are no strangers in Newfoundland - just friends you've yet to meet'!Rod and Gertrude are Diane's cousins...living in Western Bay...a neighbouring community to Ochre Pit Cove, where we lived. It was within walking distance, so Philip spent a lot of time there. The young fellow, Robert, and Philip soon became best friends.
Boxing Day at Rod and Gertrude's...the gray, ominous sky draping the cold, forlorn Atlantic Ocean. A weather-beaten old barn in desperate need of repair...a light dusting of snow masking the mud and cow pies in a yard that is home to their 14 dogs. And there's Rod...sneaking off to the house where a warm cup of soup and the computer await him. But look! Gertrude sees him..no, she 'feels' him...escaping...and it's back to the woodshed for poor old Rod!
Gertrude used that ladle to dish up soup, keep the cows in check...and keep Robert and Rod in line! I believe even I caught the tail end of that 'savage spoon' once! (can't imagine why?).
Philip keeps score of most things. He knew Gertrude had 14 dogs...12 to 16 cats (the number fluctuated from day to day)...3 horses...6 cows...one mean, old bull...several egg-laying hens...and, of course...the 'three little pigs'! (oh, they tasted sooo good shortly after this picture was taken...oink...oink!).
Rod loved his horses...and it was good, healthy 'grunt' work getting them in for the night... feeding them...and Philip's favourite...scooping out the 'poo-poo caa-caa'!
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No matter the weather, the cows had to be fed, and Philip loved helping out on the farm (yeah, right!). Notice he covered his'Red Wings' jersey with a Buffalo Sabres coat...wouldn't do to get cow poo on the jersey...but the Sabres jacket?...who cares!
Philip has never differentiated between young and old...fat and skinny...attractive and unattractive...black and white. He's left that up to us 'normal' folks!...'cause in his world...everyone's the same! In Ontario his friends were his age and much younger. In Newfoundland, he endeared himself to the old and the 'ancient'! Philip, at age 28 saw Gertrude and Rod, as well as many of Diane's older uncles and aunts, as equals. In his eyes, Gertrude, at 69, was his sister. And Rod?...well...he was just a big 'goof'!
Rod proved his 'goofiness' here, at the local Chinese Restaurant, after Philip had commented that he looked "just like Buddha". Rod, in front of a restaurant full of customers, had no problem accommodating Philip's keen observation! Anything for a laugh!
Rod and I are seen here waiting patiently for our women to bring us our well deserved lunch after a hard day on the ranch! What on earth is taking them so long?
One thing Rod and I quickly learned was not to mess with our 'gun-toting' women! They were the hunters...we the hunted! Take your time with those lunches!
Once inside, the coats are off and Philip's true colours surface! Here he's recording the number and value of Robert's birthday presents...'cause his was just around the corner!
Philip was not happy leaving one of his dearest 'fans' behind when we headed west to British Columbia. We appeased him at the time by assuring him we'd be going back soon. And we have every intention of doing so...'cause once you go Rock...you know "you'll be bock"!
Rod and Gertrude, well into their sixties, were always taking in 'disadvantaged' teens and adults, and providing respite for the parents and care-givers of the same. Once they received a call in the middle of the night and were asked to temporarily take in a young teen (Robert) who was in rough shape and needed help. That was over 4 years ago! He quickly settled in...cleaned up his act...became a great friend to Philip...and continues to enjoy his 'new parents' and his daily chores on the 'Ponderosa' in beautiful Western Bay.
Philip was very instrumental in assisting Robert with reading and writing. The Scorekeeper had found an apprentice! Philip's word-search obsession came in handy as he became the teacher (who'd a thunk it, eh?). Even the kitten showed a keen interest...until Philip taught her to spell...DOG!
Boxing Day at Rod and Gertrude's...the gray, ominous sky draping the cold, forlorn Atlantic Ocean. A weather-beaten old barn in desperate need of repair...a light dusting of snow masking the mud and cow pies in a yard that is home to their 14 dogs. And there's Rod...sneaking off to the house where a warm cup of soup and the computer await him. But look! Gertrude sees him..no, she 'feels' him...escaping...and it's back to the woodshed for poor old Rod!
Gertrude used that ladle to dish up soup, keep the cows in check...and keep Robert and Rod in line! I believe even I caught the tail end of that 'savage spoon' once! (can't imagine why?).
Philip keeps score of most things. He knew Gertrude had 14 dogs...12 to 16 cats (the number fluctuated from day to day)...3 horses...6 cows...one mean, old bull...several egg-laying hens...and, of course...the 'three little pigs'! (oh, they tasted sooo good shortly after this picture was taken...oink...oink!).
Rod loved his horses...and it was good, healthy 'grunt' work getting them in for the night... feeding them...and Philip's favourite...scooping out the 'poo-poo caa-caa'!.jpg)
No matter the weather, the cows had to be fed, and Philip loved helping out on the farm (yeah, right!). Notice he covered his'Red Wings' jersey with a Buffalo Sabres coat...wouldn't do to get cow poo on the jersey...but the Sabres jacket?...who cares!
Philip has never differentiated between young and old...fat and skinny...attractive and unattractive...black and white. He's left that up to us 'normal' folks!...'cause in his world...everyone's the same! In Ontario his friends were his age and much younger. In Newfoundland, he endeared himself to the old and the 'ancient'! Philip, at age 28 saw Gertrude and Rod, as well as many of Diane's older uncles and aunts, as equals. In his eyes, Gertrude, at 69, was his sister. And Rod?...well...he was just a big 'goof'!
Rod proved his 'goofiness' here, at the local Chinese Restaurant, after Philip had commented that he looked "just like Buddha". Rod, in front of a restaurant full of customers, had no problem accommodating Philip's keen observation! Anything for a laugh!Rod and I are seen here waiting patiently for our women to bring us our well deserved lunch after a hard day on the ranch! What on earth is taking them so long?
One thing Rod and I quickly learned was not to mess with our 'gun-toting' women! They were the hunters...we the hunted! Take your time with those lunches!
Once inside, the coats are off and Philip's true colours surface! Here he's recording the number and value of Robert's birthday presents...'cause his was just around the corner!
Philip was not happy leaving one of his dearest 'fans' behind when we headed west to British Columbia. We appeased him at the time by assuring him we'd be going back soon. And we have every intention of doing so...'cause once you go Rock...you know "you'll be bock"!
...and that ain't no bull! (or is it?)
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