The jobs we did before and after our Sea life .

[Lou Barron]

WOW what some wonderful stories from you guys it just shows a ex MN guy can do anything

[j.sabourn]

Very true Lou, Have said in previous post how I tried (half heartedly, I suppose) to come ashore in the 60 "s after being married. Most jobs that I went after and was unsuccessful were about half the salary as well. At the back of the mind was also, and I suppose with a lot of others was the fact that one had committments to meet and Bills to pay and a family to look after. I really do congratulate those who had the guts and stamina to make the break, and make a good go of it. Going to sea I think as many have said goes a long way to given one both a physical and moral backbone to face the uncertain times they had to face. Nowadays things come in some cases too easy to some with the backing of all the welfare systems in place, and which a lot use to their advantage. I know there are a shortage of jobs, but life never was easy, and in this respect is possibly going to get worse. Starting life at sea however gave one a feeling of self reliance. Cheers JS

[Charlie Hannah]

This was before i went to sea,Peddled all the way to orrell on pushbike and got a job, "wait for it" Bunling fire wood 2 and a 1/2pence a hundred bundles the fore man spent best part of the time i was there trying to convince me what a good job it was by pointing out another kid and saying to me see that lad there he makes over seven quid a week.To cut it short i told him to stick his job were the sun dont shine collected my cards allmost had to fight the B----- to get them pedelled home again worked there all of two hours . Some bloody job that was.

[happy daze john in oz]

As Lou said we put our hands to anything but after time at sea no matter the department you had to become a littlle efficient in many tasks. As to the hours when I went ashore i remained in the hospitality industry and there is plenty of early starts, early finnish if you want them. Suited me as many of the lazy shore bums did not like to turn to early.

[j.sabourn]

1948 to 1952 Paper boy, butcher boy, cobblers, boy. 2002 to 2015 Weed puller outer, bin putter outer, dodger in general. JS

[Bill Cameron]

This thread, by Doc Vernon, brought me back onboard, it’s the things I like about of this great website
1955, left school with no qualifications, tried to join the Royal Navy, but my eyesight was bad, the nice recruiting CPO, directed me to the pool in Dundee, was told come back when your 16, I started my career as a “Creeler” an apprentice carpet weaver.
Then Gravesend Sea School, and my first ship Mv Broughty, and for the next few years sailed the world, met a Leith lassie, got married, and in May 1983, I burnt my suitcase, and began a career on shoreside.
A chef derang in the Commodore hotel Edinburgh
A cocktail barman, in the Sighthill inn, until the manager ran away with the weeks takings, all staff sacked
Then I was a wine butler in a very exclusive gentleman’s club
Next a postman in Leith
Now I went to the dark side, I became a poacher, turned gamekeeper, I joined HMC&E, where I did many jobs,but never a rummage squad, or vat man, I’ve been an intelligence officer, a job I enjoyed greatly, catching bootleggers, and junkies, and helped put a few behind bars.
I then went into Estate Management, Ergonomics, and finally I was Transport Manager for Scotland Wales ad Northern Ireland, loved the Customs, and in between I was a Royal Naval Reservist rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, so I had a good life, but my short time in the Merchant Navy were my happiest years

[Doc Vernon]

Thanks Bill
You like many of us here seem to have had some varied careers in life,and I am sure its that wide experience that helped many of us to not only enjoy life to the full,but to understand what life was all about especially when young! It stand us in good stead nowdays.
Cheers

You certainly had a few too! No not Drinks LOL

[happy daze john in oz]

Bill you are a sight for sore eyes, wlcome back indeed.

[cappy]

This thread, by Doc Vernon, brought me back onboard, it’s the things I like about of this great website


I had a good life, but my short time in the Merchant Navy were my happiest years

###welcome back bill......good to see you posting ......when its not right ......dont have it ......till it is right .....its called freedom and freedom of choice its what its all about .....respects to you ...cappy

[j.sabourn]

Cappy you werent one of those policemen in Shields that Peter in NZ described were you, I know you don’t like being called petal. Has the Lake District settled down again ? Go for the he analysis of all these medical tests on Thursday and if. Gwen and self fit to travel will gird up my loins and attempt the journey at the turn of the year maybe, perhaps. Remember that tv show with Richard Boone , Have gun. will travel, that’s me although the suit maybe a bit tight these days. Cheers Bruv. JWS...