I bet you re Gld the engineers are all sober guys

[j.sabourn]

Ref. Brians cutting re ex fishing boat going ashore. I will say this about the stand by boats however, I should imagine there are very few on this site who would have accepted the wages and conditions on such at that time. They were barely above Labour exchange money and most went there because of various reasons. Unemployment being the main one. I have sailed with some very fine seamen on such as well as those one step above as far as you can get in shipping, as we all were one step above rock bottom having to accept such employment. Some may say you didnt have to take, which I agree, however it is up to the individual whether they would rather scrounge off the dole or go to sea. There was one post on here yesterday with his CV on as having been with a well known Aberdeen Company North Star or something like that, this was supposedly one of the better companys and he maybe able to supply better information about wages and conditions of some of the other companys also. Cheers John S

[j.sabourn]

Ref. to drink...non seamen.. No names as may upset those who may know. When I was mate with John I jacobs we had a 2nd. Mate who had been ashore for a number of years as an accountant and decided to give the sea a go again. He was an ex Conway or Worcester boy and came from a moneyed background. His family was some well known Yorkshire brewer. He brought his so called wife away with him. His excuse for bringing his wife away was because they lived in Belfast and he was worried leaving her there amongst the troubles. She was an ex Windmill Girl, and both were into Exhibition Ballroom Dancing. On the face of it a well adjusted couple. As we were doing short trips I offered them accomodation so he could leave his wife ashore for a while. The old man a person I was asking of someone recently on site if knew from LOF days knew. He said I was nuts so must have known something I didnt. Anyhow we were away about 4 weeks and on returning to Middlesborough went home for a few days. The wife said our guest had been ill as nearly went through some glass doors we had in the house. My wife is strictly teetotal and didnt realize this lady was drunk. She was also drunk most of the time which I realized after taking a closer look at the situation. She was up at the shops every morning for a bottle of gin and by lunchtime was looking for another. I then found out that they were not married and she was someones elses wife. Fortuanetly this second mate and his wife were transferred to another ship, and I had all the explaining and promise not to bring such characters home again. She was an alcoholic, so proves you dont have to be a seaman to be one, the only good thing that came from this interlude was as I had just come back from foreign flag he did my tax return, and even though I hadnt paid any I got a rebate. Cheers JS

[happy daze john in oz]

On this latest cruise I met with a guy who had been with Blue Funnel for a number of years. We had a long chat about our times at sea, then he told me he had been an engineer. Pity realy as he was a very nice Scottish guy.

[j.sabourn]

Wait till Rob sees that one. And haway the noo Marian. And Cappy singing in the background Keep your feet still geordie Hinny lets be happy through the night to Mary. Cheers and the best of luck.. JS PS Sorry keep your foot still Geordie hinny. JS

[John Arton]

This happened recently in the Gulf of Mexico. The authorities concerned immediately said that alcohol was not involved but could not explain how it happened.
rig and boat.jpg
rgds
JA

[j.sabourn]

Thars what you call a close quarter situation John. Not the Quarter they were trying to teach in 1963 I must say Cheers JS

[John Arton]

Reason for ship under oil rig
Captain to Lookout---"See any ships, lookout"
Lookout to Captain---"I see no ships"
KERRRRRASSSSH!!!!! Ship hits rig
Angry Captain to look---"Why did you not tell me about the rig ahead"
Lookout to Captain----"But Captain you ask me if I see any ships, not oil rigs"
Common language problem experienced these days with multi-national crews not understanding each other language and grammar
Problem could have been solved if Captain and Lookout communicated by text messaging as its language is universal
e.g.
"U C ay sps"
rgds
JA
who has no idea of text speak

[robpage]

~34 , I was ignoring the Strange one John , Obviously when Engineers Steward , he got Zero dropsy , and is still bearing a grudge

[happy daze john in oz]

~34 , I was ignoring the Strange one John , Obviously when Engineers Steward , he got Zero dropsy , and is still bearing a grudge

Oh ye of little faith. It was only at the end of a long conversation about the Mn he mentioned the word engineer. But in all homesty when as officers steward the engineers were far better than deck officers. They liked a drink and were always friendly.

[robpage]

BUT still NO dropsy John !