Remembering Bernie

In the midst of everything else, sad news about a compadre from the Miriamichi. Word arrived via email that Bernie Williams had passed away and I wanted to say a few words about my relationship with him.
It was probably 1986 or 87 when I made my first trip to the Miramichi as an adult while accompanying my good friend Florent, entered in what was to become the first of a few Black Jack curling bonspiels. This was small town Canada at it's best and while similar events were played out every winter in a hundred other mining towns across the country, it is doubtful that many could boast of as unique a character as Bernie.
We first met when Florent dragged me to the 'Low Tide' for refreshments, almost immediately after arriving in Newcastle.....little did I know how my future was to become entwined with this establishment.
Bernie, whom Florent knew quite well from Heath Steele days, was now the owner. He had postponed, as it turned out, his adventuresome days as an underground miner to run his new investment.
We weren't seated for more than a few minutes when Bernie immediately recognized Florent, joined us, introduced himself to me and bought us a beer. The conversation began and ended with mining and I don't know if I have, or will, ever, meet anyone so knowledgeable and experienced about the practical aspects of the business. And funny.....within a matter of minutes I was laughing so hard I almost fell out of my chair. This was a characteristic of Bernie's that I learned to look forward to at every meeting... and fortunately there were many, at different venues... over the next ten years or so.
He was a man out of place and although I didn't immediately recognize how much he ached to return to the mining business, it became evident several years later when I also found myself living on the Miramichi. Several more curling bonspiels had come and gone by that time....along with a few more visits to the Low Tide. It got to the point where I was going there to listen to Bernie's story's and he was looking forward to telling them.
I don't know if he ever realized the impact he had on me. He had relocated his family to the Miramichi after years at a mine in Brazil. Listening to his stories about the trials and tribulations instilled in me the confidence to look further afield for work when I had the opportunity several years later. By that time there had been more than a few casual get togethers. Thanks to Florent, I had been adopted into an ancient Miramichi mining alumni that provided invaluable instruction in the ways of curling, golf and mining. Bernie was a fixture at all of the sessions and invariably I found myself drawn to his side, in many respects like student to teacher.
It was not possible to be in his company for more than a few minutes and not laugh...and laugh hard. No matter what the topic, no matter the place, no matter the time. Among the alumni, laughter was a priority and Bernie was the king.
It was inevitable that he return to the mining business and so he did by taking on a challenging project in Tanzania. Our meetings became less frequent as we were both working out of the country. When we did meet, there was a new enthusiasm about him, he was in the game... he was a player.
The Miramichi mining alumni was proud and not a little bit jealous. Although I wasn't around as much as I wanted to be by that time, I noticed.
Some of my most cherished memories are of Sunday afternoons at the MGCC, eighteen holes in, three or four pitchers down and the lies starting. It becomes apparent to me that when the inevitable mining stories begin, and Bernie starts to speak, it's not just me listening, everyone is leaning forward to hear what he has to say....

So far...so good

Lovely.....
Spent a half an hour writing a post only to have it dissappear into the twilight zone when trying to insert a picture... Note to self---save drafts often.

Here we go again.

The week went well and we were only summoned to the school administrator's office once to deal with Nicolai's random exits from the classroom to the playground and the general disruption it was causing. During the course of one day, four different teachers were engaged in trying to coerce him back inside. Galina's assistance only resulted in them both crying. I guess some stern words were spoken and they wanted to let us know about it and beg forgiveness...I almost broke out laughing but managed to contain myself.
Anway all is well now and he has settled down somewhat. Either that or the teacher's mobile phone is broken and they can't get a hold of Nino. Galina's reports back are positive though and if there was any kind of problem and her little brother was upset, she'd let us know. We should all be so lucky as to have a Galina nearby looking out for us.

It should be mentioned that this is a private school conducted in Turkish. Galina and Nicolai are pretty much as fluent as they can be at that age, Nino too for that matter, with your's truly bringing up a distant fourth.

So let's try the pictures again....

Here they are on the front steps of the school at about 7:45 in the morning. It's September 8th.

Galina is excited...Nico is something else.

School is a big event in Turkey and taken very seriously. Note Galina's uniform. It's not worn just because it's a private school...it is mandatory in the public schools also.

...and when I say private school...it's not private in the exclusive sense, although it's definitely out of reach of most. The attraction seems to be the liberal attitudes and the embracing of new teaching techniques. On a scale of one to ten I think we'd give it an eight at this point. Can't say for sure how it would compare with an Avalon school since we have no experience.

Ok. Just found out that uploading the pictures is painfully long. Not sure if I can put up with that....




This is Galiko in her new classroom.... bursting with anticipation.

This is Nico... everything hunky dory at this point but apparently it all goes to hell in a hand basket later in the day.

....and this isn't even one of the bad moments since Nino took this picture and was obviously nearby.

Not to worry...there isn't a woman who has been in Nico's company for more than fifteen minutes who hasn't fallen in love with him....

He'll have them all eating out of his hand by the end of the month...

Time to wrap this up.

As you can see....

....after creating the site I did nothing with it for almost a year.
We have now been in Turkey for over two and a half years and recently committed ourselves to another three. One of my Ramazan resolutions is to try and record at least a week's worth of activities at a time in the future....we will see...
Tomorrow's big event is the start of school. Galina returns to Karun Okul for Grade II and she went to bed very excited. She has looked forward to this since shortly after school closed for the summer recess in late June. This year Nicolai joins her on the bus as he switches from the daycare he was attending (Atlikarincar...means merry-go-round I think) to the daycare at Karun. Now he will leave with Galina on the bus every morning and return the same way every afternoon. So much for the freedom filled days he enjoyed with Anee (Mom) if and when they even decided to go. I suspect there will be a steep adjustment curve....
As per tradition I will take a couple of hours from work and Nino and I will go to the school to formally see them begin. Nico will bear watching......