REGRETS? I've had a few.

[Capt Bill Davies]

Not an extract from a well known song. How many of the 'old timers' amongst us regret staying at sea for the full time. Would it have been more sensible to get out earlier and enjoy a family life. There were many options available such as Management,Lecturing, Piloting etc, etc.
With young grandchildren around I am starting to enjoy things I never experienced in my younger days. Thankfully, none followed in my footsteps and talk of an anchor in the local would receive a -ve reaction.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Hi Bill

The reverse is also true, those of us who came ashore early often wished we were back at sea away from all the back stabbing that goes on in shore establishments, whether it be pilotage, lecturing and especially management. At least at sea you had an established heirachy and everyone knew what the boundaries were

As for young children, enjoy your grandchildren, but also remember when they are your own young children you cannot hand them back to their parents as you are that parent which as you may recall is vastly different to being a grandparent, a 24 hour a day job full of worries and we still worry about them when they now have families of their own.

In the words of the song

Regrets I've had a few, but too few to remember

[j.sabourn]

Bill. I suppose we all have regrets. I also tried unsuccessfully for various shore jobs during the short leave breaks we had during earlier times. Some of these were very lowly positions, and all I wanted was to be near at home for family. I never managed to land one, I suppose my approach may have been only half hearted. In the late 70's I plumped for the offshore Industry, even in this area I was considered too old, it is a different story now, however in bad times of laid up vessels in the offshore industry which also happened at various times, I returned deep sea. The sea has always given me a living, albeit not a luxurious one at times. I suppose people of our generation have a different approach to life. I left school probably as many on this web, at 15.The Merchant Navy as far as I am concerned was a level playing field, and anyone wanting to proceed further could do so, without any delving into their ancestry etc. Unlike certain positions in the armed forces etc. The M.N. to me was always a classless society, regardless of what some may say about privilege, I never observed this during my time, and people were judged on their capability. I suppose if I spoke the truth I would say I have no regrets, there were bad times but also the good, and met many fine people, who really out numbered those not so fine. Regards John Sabourn

[Captain Kong]

My only regret is that the decade of the 50s expired, that was the best time to go away to sea. after that there was a slow and steady decline to oblivion.
I tried shore jobs when I got married, didnt like the characters I worked with and worked for so went back to sea where I belonged, I was happy at sea but again the only regret is aging and retirement.
Another regret is being unable to go back to the 50s.
Cheers
Brian.

[Capt Bill Davies]

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the responses. I would agree with Brian that the 50s was a decade to remember, although I can only speak for the latter half having commenced my seagoing career in 55. My first trip as Deck Boy was on the Memnon (11 months) and the beginning of a six year spell with the Blue Funnel which certainly shaped my career. I was lucky to have sailed with a fine bunch of men. Incidentally the Bosun on my first trip as Deck Boy was also Bosun on my last trip as AB on the 'Peleus', April 61, prior for going up for Second Mates (FG). Great memories and much learning.
What a change from the last 6 years (retired 2005) which were shear drudgery sailing with people who the posters on this thread would hardly recognise as seamen/navigators. It was hard going.

Brgds

Bill

[Pete Leonard (Bruno)]

When I regularly read on this site that the 50's were the halcyon years at sea, it makes me more glad than ever that I came ashore in 1958 at the age of 25, before it all started to go tits up. At least it gave me the opportunity to make a career change. I was a steward so my training and experience were gained on the job with no cost to me. But I think that anyone on the Deck dept. must have found it difficult to find a comparable position shoreside. Not so bad for engineers, they should be able to find something to compare.
I was reluctant to come ashore, but I had recently married and as my wife was having some domestic problems I felt that I should be with her. I made one or two false starts but finished up as a sales rep. which I loved.
Would I do it again if they wound back the years? Bet your life I would.
Cheers
Pete

[David Williams]

Hi Ivan.
I couldnt have put it better myself.

Dave Williams(R583900)

[Ron B Manderson]

Yes I regret ever leaving the sea after just 5 years.
I wanted to go to sea when my time was up in 1963. But my father had just died and I thought I should stay home and help bring up my two younger siblins.

What I missed most was the comrades and places we went to in Brockes.
Also as chief lecky you made your own dissisions(spelt wrong) about work. There was nobody else there to make them. My biggest was we had trouble with the Ruston genny breaker on the main board on the S.S Mahseer. Called into the chief cabin sat the old man Derrick O'Burn. What do we do Ron go into capetown (which was freezing) or make for PORT OF SPAIN. After a few drams and a quick clean of the breaker I replied " Ah Let's go to port of spain. We made it and when I checked the breaker contacts were welded together. I replaced them in Hotter climates. lol. But that was your job.

Now when I worked with BT. I always got the answer" we have always done it this or that way. My answer to the big boss was " Hell with that principle we would still have kids going up the chimmney." I think they were glad to give me early retirment at 50.
I may in my old age try to keep my mouth shut when bosses were around.

I had a deal with my newly married wife was if I can't get a job shore side I will go back to brockes.
I ended up with an interview with an old boss on mine and I tried everything now to get the job. But I failed.


So I regret leaving so soon as the MN taught me a lot about people and how to treat them.

As they say " At sea you have freinds, mates and board of trade people. Your friends are friends for life.
Ron the Batcave.

[John Gill]

gillyr635733.
distance lends enchanchment, so the poets say; - we enjoy the good times but blank out some of the moments when, alone in your cabin, thinking of home,of those waiting for your return, to be reunited with loved ones. and once ashore, all is heaven for an achingly short moment in time, when the call of the sea becomes a message that cannot be ignored. We then bade farewell to those left behind, to once more become united with those who share a love of the sea and all it's mysteries and adventures.
but comes a time when, oceans travelled, sights seen, perhaps a little weary of the journey,an anchor needs to be dropped somewhere we can call home. We have our memories,they were of our time-they will be with us forever.

[Duke Drennan]

I was reunited with my "loved ones" every month, by way of the allotment cheque.