Life after sea life

[James Diamond]

Hi,
I left the sea life in 1968 having decided that I wanted a change and that was because all the old ships that I enjoyed working on were being sold and I didn't fancy working on the newer ones, so I took a shore job as a barman in a Auckland hotel named the Star Tavern in Karangahape Road where I stayed for about a year. From there I worked in several other hotels before moving back to my home town of Nelson. There I worked at the Tasman Tavern for 1 year and then drove away to the city of Christchurch where I spent the next 30 years. I still miss the sea life after all these years and wish now that I had stayed as I had friends and it was a good life.

[Rodney Mills]

Spencer:

Good post. How about some insight in to life in Baku and, not wishing to be nosey in your personal affairs, but everyday life for an ex-pat, rents, food, transportation, types of visas an ex-pat needs, how far a dollar or a pound goes, things like that. Not that I'm thinking of emigrating. No disrespect meant, but it just seems an unusual country to go to and I'm sure though off the beaten emigration path, it must have a lot going for it.

Cheers, Rodney

[Keith Tindell]

Very good idea Rodney, so c.mon Spencer, it would be good to hear new stories from an old salt, kt

[Keith Tindell]

Thanks for that Spencer, its always nice to hear new stories from the old hands, as seamen we travelled all over the world, and its always interesting to hear where that life lead us, and by strange routes, lots of questions of course, how about language ?, is that something you have mastered, or can you get by with English ?, but whatever sounds like you have an interesting life, many thanks , kt

[Captain Kong]

Very interesting information, Spencer I am now a little wiser, I knew nothing at all before.
Thank you/
Brian

[Doc Vernon]

Sorry lads, it seems that my attachment did not get included, so can somebody walk me through how to attach an article.
Thanks, Spence

Hi Spencer
If you follow this Link https://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/...ture-post.html now just in place of inserting a Pic select the litte attachment Icon and then do the same as shown in following steps.
Any trouble contact me in a private message please
Thanks

It would be a lot easier to just Copy and paste the Text Content into a reply post though!

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi James.
Had many a good night out in Timaru when i was on the coast doing the East Coast run, Timaru was one of our best stops, lovely place.
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

Spencer, you mention Gardner Merchant.

I spent some time with them back in the late 60's if they are indeed the same Contract caterers of then.

[Rodney Mills]

Spencer.

I enjoyed your well written and informative post on Baku. Another question if you don't mind. What is the medical like? The skill of doctors, where are they trained, how are the hospitals services, and say comparison to Western standards, ambulance service, various costs. And, if it's not to personal, the cost of insurance and out-of-pocket expenses if any, those not covered by insurance.

Cheers, Rodney

[happy daze john in oz]

We talk about life after the sea, the years we put in before the age of retirement.

But what of that, I have less time now to get tings done than ever when working.
Three days a week as a volunteer, house and garden maintenance, walking the dog for my brother when he works late, no wonder I am buggered at the end of the day.