Curcao

[John F Collier]

Its funny really that I saw your post this morning -- I'm sure Mike will want them for is Gallery as well. Its nice to bring back forgotton memories.

John

Look forward to seeing those pictures John, there are some great stories and memories going around the site "landlubbers"
could only dream of, "we are blessed with them" cheers, JC

[John F Collier]

I was Shanghaied once on a sailing ship. IN CURACAO



Brian

You never cease to amaze me with your stories Brian, they are very readable, I'm sure you could write a great autobiography
and get it published, "you are gifted", I'd buy it as would many others. cheers. JC

[Captain Kong]

Hi Vernon,
I was at sea from 16 to retiring, just five years ashore when I got married, then back to sea again. so had many many years of seafaring. It wasn't a career as such just a big adventure. Loved nearly every minute.
Cheers
Brian

[j.sabourn]

In other words Brian it was a vocation and not a vacation. One was stuck with it or found a different means of livelihood. In the end it was the next ship and what challenges that would have, all life if going to sea was a challenge and one never lost that feeling of what was going to happen. When doing longer trips than usual used to say after 9 months were over the hump and was all downhill then. Life expectancy wasn't waiting to die it was waiting to live. However that feeling doesn't exist today at sea, especially when asked by 25 year olds when are you retiring, as are holding them back. Let the youngsters have it and see how long they last, they are all just using the sea to advance their own life style hopefully in shore oriented jobs as will not leave their wives and families for long periods of time, and who can blame them. We never had that opportunity or if did, we failed. It is very doubtful if British shipping will ever retain its former glory, there would have to be a huge search for seamen apart from a huge search for ships. JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Johnf
This post really brought back memories, I had forgotten all about Curacao, I was there two or three times, made you think you were in Holland, I remember the fort now but had forgotten about it, will have to get the Google shot up.
Cheers Des

[Ivan Cloherty]

. . It is very doubtful if British shipping will ever retain its former glory, there would have to be a huge search for seamen apart from a huge search for ships. JS

1939........ 195,000 British seamen

1975......... 90,000 British seamen

2016......... 16,000 British seamen

Says it all

[john sutton]

visited curacao 6 times on the navicella.Went to happy valley a few times but cant remember if I partook of their wares(carnel) Had some good runs ahore most of which were forgettable due to alchohol cunsumtion but do remember the night I spent in the nick.
I was going through my"collection" period when I had an impulse to take soverniers back aboard.I was waiting on the jetty for the launch to take us back aboard carrying an 8 foot ladder an advertising sign ripped of a wall and over my shoulder I had a lifebelt purloined from the dockside.
I felt some pressure under each elbow and looked up at the face of a huge black policemen and on the other side a similar sized white man.They waltzed me of to the local jud and threw me into a cell with no windows,just bars which offered no resistance to the mosquitoes from the swamp just outside.They feasted on me all night and I,m sure that they had hangovers in the morning(I did).The police took me back to the chip next morning and demanded that the skipper paid my fine.An uncomfortable and expensive night but unforgetable

[Jim Brady]

Captain Morgan.Prince Phillip was visiting a lunatic asylum he came across a man dressed like a pirate,who are you my good man asks the prince.I am Captain Morgan said the man,the prince asks,if your Captain Morgan where's your buccaneers,there under my buccan hat where do you think they are said the man.

When I was on a tanker the Hamilton Curacao was like our base we ran in and out of there,also Emmastad.In Willimstad I don't think we ever got further than the Mad House bar which I think may have been within the refinery complex,I think the Wranglers at the time were about £3.00 a pair I bought quite a few pair there.I also bought a bottle of Chanel 5 which we were told was cheap at £5.00 for a very small bottle,was it cheap at over half a weeks wages.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[John F Collier]

1939........ 195,000 British seamen

1975......... 90,000 British seamen

2016......... 16,000 British seamen

Says it all

I wonder how many of those 16,000 are actually British ?, "I'm just saying". JC

[John F Collier]

visited curacao 6 times on the navicella.Went to happy valley a few times but cant remember if I partook of their wares(carnel) Had some good runs ahore most of which were forgettable due to alchohol cunsumtion but do remember the night I spent in the nick.
I was going through my"collection" period when I had an impulse to take soverniers back aboard.I was waiting on the jetty for the launch to take us back aboard carrying an 8 foot ladder an advertising sign ripped of a wall and over my shoulder I had a lifebelt purloined from the dockside.
I felt some pressure under each elbow and looked up at the face of a huge black policemen and on the other side a similar sized white man.They waltzed me of to the local jud and threw me into a cell with no windows,just bars which offered no resistance to the mosquitoes from the swamp just outside.They feasted on me all night and I,m sure that they had hangovers in the morning(I did).The police took me back to the chip next morning and demanded that the skipper paid my fine.An uncomfortable and expensive night but unforgetable

I can remember a group of the lads singing a ditty in calypso style while they were painting the derricks at sea , has anyone else heard this, it was in the 50s. JC
Rum and Coco Cola in Curacao,
If you sing like Nat King Cole ,
You can always get your hole,
If you sing like Frankie Laine,
You can get it just the same.