Then And Now.

[Jim Brady]

We all live in the past and remember our good runs ashore,imagine what it would be like now!!!
I often think what it must've been like in the days of sail and indeed after that upto the 1950's
It must've been great visiting these Countries which were a bit "Third World" and life was far different to what it is now a far different way of life of what it is today.I think this is one of the reasons that I went away to sea.
I recall in my time that we had no fear of going ashore anywhere and in many places we were respected.We could get drunk in bars fall asleep,decide to go off with one of the girls and never be in fear of our lives.Thats the times I remember.
My son decided to go away to sea as a Cadet,I went down to the Pool with him and he secured an apprenticeship with a lovelly little shipping company in Liverpool "Booker Line".This company did all the ports in the West Indies,Barbados,St.Kitts,St Lucia,Antigua,Trinidad,Georgetown and many more.What a job that is I said 10 week trips to the best places you can ever wish to go to.When he came home he said many places were quite dangerous to go ashore and walk around in.They would order a taxi to the ship go to the Holiday Inn have a drink and get a taxi back to the ship.Like we have "Mugging" here they have what they call "Choke and Rob"
Yes lets live with our memories those times are gone and will never return,what a pity for the young kids comming up now.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Derek Brooks]

You have hit the nail on the head with your comments about then and now. Like you I remember going ashore all over the world, between 67 and 77, and getting absolutely bladdered, waking up in the morning and walking back to the ship. There was only one port where we had to take care and that was Tampa, Florida, we went ashore in daylight and ended up in a bar by the docks. When we walked in a stunned silence filled the air until we walked u to the bar and asked for four beers. Once they heard our accent they all stated talking again. We had a great time but when it came time to get back they insisted we have a taxi, even for the half mile to the docks. We returned the next day and invited them back onboard for their hospitality and friendship. We became regular callers at Tampa and built up a good relationship with the locals. We used to play soccer and softball with teams from around the area and were accepted by everybody. I went back to Tampa in 1993 and what a different place it had become. You were advised to not even drive anywhere near the docks. Definitely no walking.

Rgds Derek

[happy daze john in oz]

A very good friend of mine here is from Durban and was there last year to see family. From what I hear many of the white South Africans will be very wary about where they go at night. But there are still a few places in Indonesia and the Southern Ocean islands where life is still very much as we knew it all those years ago. Parts with still no electricity and all cooking done on open fires. The world is more divded between rich and poor more than ever.

[Ken Berry 58]

Hello Jim,

I've just joined this web site and read your post about Booker Line. I thought you may be interested to
know that I author a website for the Booker Line and I think your son features in one of the photo's
in the Gallery Pages.

You can view the site at:

http://bookerline.com


Regards,

Ken

[Alan Ward]

I once went ashore in a Brazilian port called Angra dos Reis(?)got as drunk as a rat and slept it off in a park between the harbour and the town.Woke up as dawn broke and wandered back to the ship.What are my chances of surviving that experience now?answers on a postage stamp please.

[Alan Ward]

We all live in the past and remember our good runs ashore,imagine what it would be like now!!!
I often think what it must've been like in the days of sail and indeed after that upto the 1950's

Yes lets live with our memories those times are gone and will never return,what a pity for the young kids comming up now.
Regards.
Jim.B.

I once sailed on Lambert Brothers,Temple Bar and we had an AB called Hughie McManus from one of those Hebridean islands with an unpronouncable name.His Discharge book said he was 64 in 1974 but he was definately much older.A lovely gentle bloke with a beautiful accent,I once asked him what the best time and port he`d ever known.He assured that to be s erving on a Royal Navy gunboat on the Yangtze between the wars was pleasure and a privilege.You could get a chinese guy to do your work for about tuppence a year or whatever,and the rest of the day was your own.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi Shipmates, The time had any probelms ashore was in The U.S.A. a place called " Candam nr Philly by The soup factory "Campbells" {a black area} loads of trouble there race riots and murders then, But my probelm was they drinks were too big, no measure for a glass of wiskey only ,by fingers ? and they were very kind to us poor limeys sailors , in the bars and The steak dinner s' was too big and too many fries and extras' could have been very bad for my health? Not jumping ship was very hard , loads of well payed work there and nice ladys. No danger to us ? the police were only after the locals .