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Greetings one and all.Wonderful to see the Captain and Ann again through the medium of your photo gallery Vernon. You are looking well and Richard looks just like his avatar only a little greyer around the gills. Well done mate. I'm guessing they will not stop in Melbourne this trip.
Well my day Yesterday the 12th February 2014 started off at 4.40am.
Got up and had a quick Coffee ,got dressed and did my usual!
I then left the House at 5.05am and took a walk to our Local Station here at Blackheath!
It was a cool Morning here and was also very foggy,and dark!
Thus the walk was a bit slow,but got to the station in time to catch the 5.44am to Central
Station!
Arrived at 7.50am at Central in the City,so just a wee bit over two Hours there!
It was then a quick change from the Country Platform to the City Line,taking another short trip from Central to Wynyard,this is where Capt and Ann were staying!
As i was very early and did not want to wake then up,i walked around the City for a while
Stopped and had a nice cool Coke at a Cafe!
At 9.30am i walked into the Lobby of the Travelodge Hotel where Capt and Ann were!
As i walked in the side entrance a few stairs t the lobby,i saw Capt standing there,he looked at me and a big smile came across his face!
So that was the start of a wonderful day!
We shook hands and i of course also embraced Anne and a fond Kiss on her Face,which was warmly returned!
We then sat and chatted for a wee while before leaving the Hotel,to go just around the corner to a nice little Cafe,where we sat again chatted on various things,and had Coffee!
The time seemed to go very fast,as when i looked at my watch it was just going on 11.30am,this was about the time that Roger was due to arrive,so we left the Cafe and returned to the Hotel.
Only about five minuted passed and then Anne saw Roger walking in the Hotel!
Again there were fond greeting between all of us,hand shaking kisses for the dear Lady etc!
We the sat for about 10minutes once again chatting,just general stuff,before it was suggested that we go somewhere to sit and enjoy each others company and have some refreshments!
As it was now going on to nearly 12 noon,it was decided that we go to the Menzies Hotel which was just down the road,to which all agreed!
(The Menzies was where my late Uncle Dusty worked after he left the MN)
He was Manager there for some time!
Anyway on with the story!
On arrival we walked around a wee bit,and then decided to go to the Lounge/Dining Area where we were so politely seated by the Lady in Charge!
This is where the real conversations started! And a few Beverages too LOL.
We ordered a nice small lunch for each of us,which although not big at all,was really tasty and enjoyable to us all.
Both Capt Kong (Brian) and Roger started off with a nice cool James Boag Beer,which is apparently Rogers only one he likes! I know its good as have heard from my BIL about it!
Anne had a nice Glass of White Wine and me well just a plain old Coke! LOL!
Anyway throughout the Meal,the conversation got really interesting,and as usual,i must say the Capt Kong really has a way to tell his Stories,always so very interesting and so full of detail too,this is the way one can tell Fiction from Fact! And thus far i know that all i have heard from him,not only Yesterday but other times too. He is a Man that has done so much in life,and a more interesting person will be hard to find! He also is so genuine!
A person that i would have been truly honored to have had as a mate on board ship!
Now not for one minute saying that many of you are similar,which i am sure you are but i suppose one has to really meet in person to decide that!
Roger is another who is a real story teller ,and he too kept me so interested in all that he has done at Sea!
Yes i suppose we all have our own stories to tell,but some just have that gift of talking!
Me well i am a bit of the quiet one haha!
So as the day went on,so did the talk,and as always the time seemed to just melt away!
We went back to the Travelodge Hotel later ,as it was getting time for me to start my journey back home!
Unfortunately i had to leave at 3.40pm to get my train at Central at 4.05pm,just barely made it Whew!!
Arrived home safely at 6.20pm.
It was a such a pity that i could have not stayed longer,anyway both Anne and Brian came out with me to say our farewells, (i had said bye to Roger inside)
Not shy to admit walking away (Brian and Anne did not see ) i was very teary eyed! (old softy LOL)
I sincerely wish them both a very pleasant rest of their Holidays and may the go safe !
It was a pleasure to travel a little way to see them both!
Hope that Roger got home safely as well,as he stayed on for a while after i left!
Thank you all for the lovely day,Brian,Anne and Roger!
Thats it Folks!
PS Brian and Anne gave me a few small lovely little UCL mementos which he had bought in Cape Town some 13 Years ago.
I will take a pic of them and post in time!
Thank you once again Brian,and Anne!
You are both very lovely people,i will never forget you!
With Gods blessing i may see you also in September this Year!?/
Who knows!
Cheers and take Care!
Vernon
I gave your love and wishes to Irene ,and she in turn says thank you too!
Love to you both from her xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
They go to Wollongong on Friday to their Niece and then Fly on to Perth ,then on to Singapore for a few days and the back home,to be back I think if I recall by the 2Mrach??
Cheers
These are a few little things received from Capt Kong and Anne.
As they are UCL related he knew I would appreciate them to add to my collection!
Thanks again Brian really did appreciate these!
Cheers
Attachment 14798Attachment 14799Attachment 14800Attachment 14801Attachment 14802
1st Pic is just little collection all together some from Capt and others I have bought and received!
Pic #3 are two Knives from the Dunnottar Castle
#2 are the three Items from Capt Kong! Spoon of Pendennis Castle,Playing Cards from the Sterling Castle,Ladies Powder Compact from Llandovery Castle (circla 1938) Mother of Pearl on top casing! Beautiful!
More keepsakes.
Attachment 14803Attachment 14804Attachment 14805Attachment 14806Attachment 14807
Last three Pics are Original Postcards from the Ships in question still in their plastic wrapping, they are aslo three of my Ships I was on!
Just a wee bit of info for you Roger (remember we discussed this)
Cheers mate,hope you had a good trip back and not a cattle train again LOL!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Stirling_Castle
Great photos Vernon, but a couple of points. Is Kong OK as I see Ann with a drink but not him?
Secondly I never knew he was with UCL, either that or he has been diving in Table Bay to get the silver there.
He is fine John,he did have a Drink or three,just that it wasn't in the Pic! LOL!Quote:
Originally Posted by happy daze john in oz
No he wasn't with UCL he bought them there in 2001 while on Holiday!
Cheers
#47
Things you remember clearly - February 1948 walking along KGV Dock after getting off the the red 'Manor Way' double decker bus to board the Moreton Bay. The big round lavender stern of with 'Winchester Castle' arced across it -Can't remember the home port below. Moreton Bay was next one for'd, dark green and had the old style that swept back to expose the rudder. Richard
#48... Nah he had a part time job in the Del Monico emptying the half full glasses. JS
For John Strange!
Thinking on one question last night John,and sort of remember now that Capt Kong was in fact with UCL for a wee while,recall hime saying something on the Good Hope Castle,a Cargo Passenger Ship,carried about 12 passengers!??
But I stand corrected here!
Cheers
Just a thought LOL!
As many of the Capt.Kong stories always seem to have a Feminine flavour of Kisses and Huggings to them,i had suggested to him that we now call him "Capt Casanova Kong" LOL!:)
Cheers
J.Sabourne
Keep all the Ladies locked up on his arrival! haha!:D