Odd ones

[Peter F Chard]

This yarn goes back to the sixties and the restricted drinking hours in OZ, Sydney in particular. The ship was stuck in Sydney, it was Sunday and no cargo was being worked. An Australian friend of mine and his wife came down to the ship and offered to take anyone who was interested for a drive around the place. The result was that myself and the third and fourth engineers piled into this monster of a Chevrolet and off we went. My friend said he would drive us up the Blue Mountains to see the wonderful scenery, and he was right - it was fantastic. On our way there we passed through Penrith ( from memory ) when my friend said we had gone more than 25 miles and could legally go into a pub for a drink ( we were Bone Fide travellers according to the Law and could sign in and have a pot or two.) The main street in this town was utterly deserted, not a human in sight, not even a cat, except for one young woman walking on our side of the road and in the same direction . We pulled up outside the Pub as this lady walked past, and at the same time as the fourth engineer pushed open the car door which made her hesitate and do a side step. The fourth blurted out an apology and this woman took one look at him and screamed " and where the f....ing hell have you being this last seven years " It turned out that this couple had being engaged to get married back in Dundee when the fourth got cold feet and just disappeared to sea without telling her and had never had any contact until that fateful meeting in Australia !! The rest of us went inside the Pub and left these two arguing on the footpath, they were still at it when we came out of the pub, we just grabbed the fourth and threw him into the car and drove off. Bye the way, the trip to the mountains was fantastic, such scenery. Regards Peter in NZ.

[happy daze john in oz]

With prevailing North wind , I would have thought the girls very brave , but I expect it was good for muscle tone I always preferred Exhibition .

Now then young Rob, would that be the beer or the antics of the ladies?

[robpage]

A couple of good points there John

[j.sabourn]

Anyone visit the Safe House in Milwaukee. Had heard there was a pub down a certain road so we followed this party of 4 or 5 revellers down the road who disappeared into what appeared an old warehouse. On entering they had disappeared. There was a bloke sitting in a chair and we asked him where they had gone, he said it was a club and one had to know the password to get in, I said whats the password and he said Is It a Safe house, so I repeated this and a concealed door opened up and we were admitted. It was done out with memories and gimmicks of the Berlin Wall at the time, also bar stools which went up or down at the bar staffs command, an imitation Berlin wall etc. etc. the place was heaving, mostly women. Apparently they were mostly divorcees and was the usual cattle market. There were TV monitors so the occupants of this rather large place could see who was trying to gain admittance and could pass the word to the barman to refuse entry. Anyway was a great swinging place for that era in time about 1970 or thereabouts. John S.

[Gordon Turnbull]

The Castle pub here in seaforth, Not many seaman used it i lived a stone's throw away from it. One end of the bar instead of an ice bucket there was a bucket of chilled ears , Other pubs had jars of pickled eggs the Castle had jars of pickled foreskins It was under new management every week It was actually used in filming a few scenes in the movie. Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Starring Vinnie Jones, with a few of the locals used as extras. They didnt have to act just be yourself the director said Terry.

Funnily enough Ted, t last time I as in Seaforth, under the meat loader was 73. One of the stewards came from Seaforth and the Castle was his local. Used to have a few in there before hitting the Norseman. :-)

[j.sabourn]

#10... Alf re. South Shields you must have been in the old "Mechanics", did you not see Cappy there. Cheers John S.

[cappy]

#10... Alf re. South Shields you must have been in the old "Mechanics", did you not see Cappy there. Cheers John S.

######it was me brothers brother