Before heading to Newfoundland, a work colleague, with a cheeky sparkle in his eye, said, ‘You have to get screeched in when you’re there.’

I looked it up, to be screeched in is to become an honourary Newfoundlander.

The ceremony, performed at some pubs, requires saying something in old Irish, kissing a cod, and downing a shot of rum.

Mmmm…

When we booked our boat trip to view the icebergs up close, they asked if we’d like to purchase a shot of rum for the adults. We said yes, thinking this would be nice to warm us up on a cold boat trip. Little did we know we’d signed up to be screeched in!

On the way out, we were lulled by their lovely accents. They told us about the icebergs, how long they’ve been on their journey, how old they are, and the best way to film them.

All rugged up, with the cold wind rouging our cheeks and nose, I was anywhere but 2025.

We cruised around two great icebergs.

They’re huge and noisy, cracking and creaking!

I’m remembering a quiet amongst us.

Or maybe it was just me; everything else melted away, including my dearly beloved incessant inner voice.

A moment of peaceful quiet, not a worry in the world.

Thank you, icebergs.

Then on the way back home, the crew brought us inside, put floppy yellow fisherman’s rain hats on us, taught us something to say in old Irish (I can’t for the life of me remember it, but I feel certain it had ‘mudda’ in it, which reminds me of Playing Beatie Bow), passed around a cod to kiss (a soft toy, phew!) and gave us a shot of rum.

It doesn’t take much to make me tipsy!

Then, back up on deck, with an ugly stick, we sang sea shanties!

Ha ha, I got to have a go of the ugly stick, so did my two much more musically coordinated fellow travellers.

Before we knew it, we were back on shore.

Next stop lunch, then on to Bonavista!

Our Iceberg

Acrylic on canvas 30.5 x 30.5 cms (12×12 inches) by Arwen Munro, June 2025. Painted at Crush of Colour, St Stephens Anglican Church, Ambleside, West Vancouver, Canada.

Have a wonderful day! ❄️