Time

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John S.
Keep it up going through your old books and I will soon have enough knowledge to sit for my ticket, something I should have attempted many years ago.
Would be able to get a third mates job on one of those private rockets.
Des

[j.sabourn]

#8 Bill going east the clocks would be advancing all the time until came to 12 hours , when you figuratively would go back a day and continue advancing them . The opposite going the other way. For countries around the date line they would have chosen years ago what Zone time they were in . Made no difference to a seaman unless he crossed the dateline on a Sunday where a day could disappear or you could get two in its place where arguments could occur re Sunday’s at sea. The actual time at sea was usually made by the navigator the 2 mate , so as to have noon about 1145 hrs . So as to be all wound up by 1200 hrs so as to get his lunch . Or if the 3rd. Mate was an ungrateful wretch for him to get a 7 beller and back on the bridge for noon about 1145. Time is anything you want to make it at sea, but unfortuanetley have to be on Zonal time arriving wherever you are destined to go. JS

[j.sabourn]

#11. Don’t really have any old books Des as gave away or threw away when finished with tickets in 1963. Do have the old piece of paper which falls out of other books at odd times and takes some time these days to remember how it got there. All you want for one of your private rockets is one of these Flash Gordon’s cut outs off a cornflake packet. Would be harder to get a vaccination certificate these days. Cheers JS
PS people like yourself Des , if that’s what you fancied you should have done , you had the same opportunity’s as anyone else , more so in lots of cases as had more money. I learned from mostly deck crew the seamanship part of life, the other stuff had to teach oneself which you and many more would of been competent of doing , it’s not magic or rocket science as some may have you believe. But it does take belief in yourself and not be put off the track. Anyhow all the best for the Xmas and new year. Cheers JS.

[Colin Wood]

As discussion has descended into a serious discussion, at a pub I frequented as a youth, another drinker owned a large bull mastiff cross which would accompany his owner. Rain or shine, on entering the dog always walked to the fireplace and laid down, taking up a large part of the floor. When publican called last orders, the dog would look up, then lay down again. when time gentlemen was called, the dog got up and walked out.

[thomas michael]

#11. Don’t really have any old books Des as gave away or threw away when finished with tickets in 1963. Do have the old piece of paper which falls out of other books at odd times and takes some time these days to remember how it got there. All you want for one of your private rockets is one of these Flash Gordon’s cut outs off a cornflake packet. Would be harder to get a vaccination certificate these days. Cheers JS
PS people like yourself Des , if that’s what you fancied you should have done , you had the same opportunity’s as anyone else , more so in lots of cases as had more money. I learned from mostly deck crew the seamanship part of life, the other stuff had to teach oneself which you and many more would of been competent of doing , it’s not magic or rocket science as some may have you believe. But it does take belief in yourself and not be put off the track. Anyhow all the best for the Xmas and new year. Cheers JS.

hi john sabourn
ive sailed with some quality seamen, ive also sailed with some terrible seamen with more tickets than a ticket collector on the railway,
and i have enjoyed most of your accounts of your memories of your time at sea, Because it is instantly recognizable to me through those missives that you have retained your street credability by the way you have worked throughout your profession ie with your crew and crew members.
tom