Gentlemen, and ladies, A Happy Christmas to all of you

Today brings back memories of yesteryear.

I was 18 and on the coastal tanker 'Esso Cheyenne' After a cold uncomfortable trip up to Bowling, me and my watch-mate 'Haggis' decided to pay off and seek warmer climes. It was the 17th of December 1958 when we left the ship and travelled up to London. We stayed in the Gower Hotel in Gower Street, and proceeded to make a nuisance of our selves in the Capital. On the 19th of December, with our pennies running short, we presented ourselves at the Prescott St. pool.
The guy behind the desk beamed and told us that we were just the men he was looking for. In for a medical, then back to the desk.
Right, say's he. The Royal Mail Ship 'Parima' is docked in Avonmouth waiting to leave, and I want you to go with all possible haste to join her. A mad dash back to Gower Street for our 'gear, then a taxi to Paddington to catch the 1800 train to Bristol. From Bristol, a short train ride out to Avonmouth, then a walk to the dock . It was drizzly, misty rain when we arrived at the berth, and there laid the 'Parima, all her derricks topped, light clusters dripping rain, and not a soul in sight. We climbed up the companionway and went into the mid-ship accomodation to find some-one. We happened upon the 2nd mate who offered to get us our bedding etc. and then to join him in the Miles Hotel for a meal. What time are we sailing, we asked. Not what time ,he replied, but more like ,what day!! Up to now, he went on, it looks like Christmas Day sailing. Well, we were there now, so make the most of it. It appeared that only that morning the ship had finished unloading a full cargo of grain, and we were the only crew aboard, (apart from 1 engineer). Over the next few days, more of the crew joined, or returned from a few days leave, and we spent most of the days sweeping the holds out and keeping out of the bosun's way. Every lunch time , it was a pint in the George, and perhaps the same in the evenings.

Then came Christmas Eve.. A unanimous decision that we were to, en masse, get the bus to Bristol and sample the delights in the LONG BAR public house.
About 20 of us got onto the bus opposite the little cafe' and away we went.
Well, there wasn't much to say, except that we enjoyed ourselves to the extreme, and then purchased a few armfuls of 'Carry-outs' to take back to the ship. Some thoughtful board of trade travelling companion had had the fortitude to order a fleet of taxis to get us 'home'. At the bottom of the companion ladder was the notice that shore expired at mid-night, and that the ship was sailing at noon. Surely Not!!
Next morning, Christmas Day, and after shouting for Ughie down the big white telephone, it was decided that we should go for a last pint before sailing, (in actual fact we were only going across the Bristol Channel to Newport to load steel products).

At 1130 or so, the bar door opened, and an irate ships' agent asked if ant of the Parimas' crew were on the premises, and if there was , they were to return to the ship immediately or the ship would sail without them. Hardly likely, as half the deck crowd were supping their pints. Anyway, we returned, and almost straight away went to stations. After leaving the locks, our thoughts turned to dinner..No way, said the mate, there is about 50 tons of dunnage to chuck over side first. That job completed we returned to the mess-room for what turned out to be a 'black-pan' dinner, and then tea turned out to be a non-starter as well. About 1800 we anchored in Newport Roads, and at 0600 on Boxing day we went into Newport. Several days later we sailed and pulled into Swansea on the afternoon of New Years Eve. Middlesbrough next, then London, and then away to Venezuela.

Well, to most seamen, that would not have been very exciting, but to me, that has stuck in my mind all these years, and I think of that episode every Christmas---she was my Christmas ship. and I wouldn't have missed it for anything.

A pleasant, and peaceful New Year my friends,

Colin