The Stories

So my Uncle Winston was asked to build a porch on this house in Meat Cove, because they knew he could do the work. He figured my Grandfather might enjoy the day out, so he picked up 2 quarts of whiskey…one for the way there and one for the way back….and he brought Grandpa along as the navigator and the foreman.

They set the foundation for the porch, talking and sipping on the whiskey, and then they decided to make a run down to Inverness to get Neil Archie…brother to my grandfather… since they were probably half way there, and the whiskey and the porch were only half done, and it was such a fine day.

They got to Inverness, and were able to lure Neil A out of his house with the promise of whiskey and gaelic and a day spent with family on an honest enterprise. " And bring your fiddle" Winston said.

So they got back to Meat Cove, with the porch waiting to be built, and they set about finishing off the whiskey, and Neil A took out his fiddle and began to play.

Soon neighbours began to gather, while Winston built the porch and Neil A and my Grandfather sat about telling the stories .

And Neil A got serious about playing the tunes on his fiddle once the spirit took him, and soon the hammer of Winston’s work and the tapping of many neighbour’s feet provided the necessary back beat, and the porch was finished.

A fine time was had by all, and someone asked Winston how much he charged for his services….

He said .."well I charged them $500.00 for the porch…but I had to because the music was so dear, eh?"

This story probably has no significance outside my family circle…but I still find it so funny and telling I thought I’d pass it along.