Todays Mission.

[Doc Vernon]

For Keith's info

Slight change George
I will still be arriving Southampton Main Station on the 9th but it will be a late arrival,so straight off to the Hotel (Jurys Inn Southampton) so we can meet on the 10th at the Bargate by the Arch! From there possibly the Juniper Berry for a few Pics and Pints haha! Then whatever ! I will also have to leave you Guys (whoever may be there) at about 2pm,have other things to do! I also leave Southampton on the 11th now not the 12th!
But will have most of that day there too,late Train back to the Big Smoke!
Hope this is acceptable to you and others!
Cheers

PS Just looked at number 69 Cheriton Avenue where the old Love of my life used to live,it hasnt changed one bit! Amazing!!

Hope you can make it too Keith!!

[Richard Quartermaine]

You lucky b^*uggers!! How much I would like to be able to be there. Looking forward to your return, Vernon to tell me all about it.

The last time I was in Southampton in 1951 - at Shirley it was - having a few pints I met this nice girl who didn't mind if I walked her home. I didn't mind at all, however there was some excuse when we got to the apartment block that I can't recall that she needed a quid to organise something or other. It didn't take long standing out in the cold to realise that I had just learned a lesson. That was well worth the quid I spent.

Richard Q

[Des Taff Jenkins]

HI All.
Letter writing!! I have been writing to my sisters every month since I went to the Vindi in 1949, My older sister passed away seven years ago and i still miss her letters, I still write and recieved letters from my other sister in Wales once a month, must have spent hundreds on postage over the years but still wait expectantly for her letter. My wife says I should have been a journalist the amount I can write about. To me emails seem harsh and imperonal, but I suppose nessesary in this fast lifestyle.
Cheers Des

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[Neil Morton]

Most of us did not know when we were well off . My first girlfriend from our school days became disenchanted with me when I jumped in NZ and stopped writing. When I got home 18 months later she had married one of my mates and had a baby. "Jeez", I said "you wouldn't even let me touch your top hamper"!

[Evan Lewis]

Can empathise with your experience at So'ton Richard .

Something similar happened to me .though no money involved, just a lowering of my ego.

Popular Seamen's pub in Newport,. was already ,behind the eight-ball, as it was some two miles ,from our berth. Can't think of the name of Pub now,though may be some seamen out there still who can recall.

The attraction there being this Voice ,"not be missed,"as it were.


Heard it resonating through the public bar ,as we entered. Deep ,almost Paul Robeson like,sound.
Entering the Singing Room, to find the Voice,emanating from this rather overweight, female. Incredible!

Finished up ,like You.

Invited to 'Walk me home ,if you like. "! by this friendly girl at the next table.
Me luck's changed ,thought I.
About an hour later further out, from the Docks.,arrived at the rear lane of the House, A warm embrace.Squeeze "I'll just go in .see if my Mum's in bed.'

Possibly about Half-hr later, .She hadn't returned .

Then faced with a few miles walk, ,Half -blotto, , Couple of hrs kip. then a 7,am, turn to.

As the Saying" You Win some ,you lose Some"! Hurts at the time though.

[happy daze john in oz]

Letter writing is now a dying art, even the bills now come via e-mail. The younger generation will nebver know the joy of opening a letter from a loved one when far away from home. In a couple of generations time the kids will be born with elongated thumbs and eyes on stalks, and heads in a permanant down position.

[Captain Kong]

Yes I remember the excitement of the mail coming into the mess room, and with trembling hands fumbling to try to tear open the letter, just to read, "I cannot write to you anymore, my new boy friend doesnt like it. I hope you dont mind and we can still be friends."
Of course I minded and how can we still be friends with another guy there.?
All hands laugh, it goes up on the notice board for all to see.

Another one, I had been away for four months, "I have to tell you I am now pregnant, the big problem is his wife is a close friend of mine, I dont know how to tell her.".....................
.
The story of my life.
Cheers
Brian.

[Glenn Baker]

AAah yes the Dear johns, mainly arrived in Panama after the kiwi Coast , Dear john how I hate to write this letter etc, i have found another! and of course going the other way around on the outward bound trip (Every Turn of the Screw brings me closer to You) ensuring a loving meeting on the wharf of Auckland Harbour once again.

Sometimes i often suspected on an invitation to some chix flat that were letters with other Shipping company Logo,s on the writing paper.

and how about the Creme de mont line, (I dont do this for everybody you know) all the best Glenn who got to know lots of contacts on the Kiwi Coast. all the letters well heaps of them.

[Neville Roberts]

some of those stories sound familiar. I was on the cruises on the Canada for six months out of New York, and I got a letter from a girl friend who I met in Liverpool a couple of weeks before we sailed , that said she was pregnant and was sorry she didnt tell me before . I was devastated and was very nervous coming home . found out after she was pregnant just before she met me . what a relief that was she finaly went back too her previous boy friend

[Doc Vernon]

Ah Yes!
Talking about dear Johns etc,brings to mind a Girl i really fell for in Southampton, used to write to her so much,and she to me as well.
She was always at the Dock when i left and arrived in Soton,a great Girl.
We had a good thing going,and when i was away,my Heart actually yearned for this one!

Anyway to cut this short,i left the Merc,and joined the RAF, we were still going strong,i used to get every Pass that i could to go and see her!

Well came the time i got this Long Weekend Pass,and off i went as per usual!

On arriving at her House in Cheriton Avenue (never forget that place) i was politely informed that she had gone off with another chap,and got herself Married!!! God did that hit me! I was truthfully absolutely devastated!

To this day i will never know why,i did however find out that she was apparently pregnant,but who was the Father?????
I will never know!

How strange things happen,and so quick!
Cheers