No ships

[happy daze john in oz]

Most of us have told why we first went to sea. But imagine if we had rolled up at the Pool to be told ' no more ships get work ashore'. Had you not gone to sea what other job or profession would you have taken up or liked to have taken up? I had visions of being an electrician but ended up as a caterer, vastly different from my school day ambitions.

[Doc Vernon]

Well a hard question i fear,but i suppose thinking back a bit besides joining the M Navy i also had visions of becoming some sort of Medical person,not necessary a Doctor,but just someone who could assist the Sick and Frail!
But that soon fell by the wayside when i left School,as i first of all didnt have enough Education for anything like that,so landed up becoming a little Porter at the Mount Nelson Hotel,Cape Town then after that started on the South African Railways as a Train Steward,a far cry i fear from what i had first visions of haha!
Then as most of you may recall,like many here had many varied Jobs along lifes path,some good some bleedin awfull,but on thinking back along the track,i really and honestly dont think i would change a thing if i had the chance again!
Had many good experiences and learnt a great deal with all that shunting around from Job to Job!
Thats me finished haha!
Cheers

Good one John!!

I think besides anything else John,if we went there and were told ' no more ships get work ashore'. there would have been major issues around all the Shipping ports! Strikes Galore!! haha!

[Neville Roberts]

I allmost came across that feeling after 7 years and 20 ships I wanted a job on the Empress of Canada with some of my mates, we went too the shipping office and the chief steward Mr reeve told me that he did,nt want my kind on the canada as I moved around too muchI paniced and told him I was looking for a ship too settle down on ,he relented and gave me the job that was my last ship 3 years on her wound up in first class

[Neil Morton]

Back in the 50's if you could not get a ship by the time you were eighteen you would end up doing two years learning an occupation in the servce. Probably one you did not fancy anyway.
However notwithstanding that the year I spent as a commis waiter in London equiped me to be, like Neville, a first class waiter both at sea and ashore.This base has been a real life saver more than once in my wanderings around the globe.
I guess what I'm saying John is that like you I'd have been and was a Publican.Long hours but lots of fun.Mort

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi Shipmates, Hi Dr Vernon, Hi Happy john in oz, I done lots of other jobs when I was at sea, as soon as I came home I would sign on, go on the pool, for pool pay and apply to get a tax rebate, I was not a heavy drinker,then take any job that was about painting industrial and shops, factory work, restruants in the kitchen or waiting tables, pub behind bar ,work in an art galley selling works of art and paintings, door to door selling to named a few untill i got a telegram to go back to sea, this to me was a very good life had some good times . At sea I was on deck but I learned plenty about the other jobs at sea its was a great way to gain knowleage for any young person in my time

[James Tindill]

Hi John - Again. 2nd Time today!

I don't know about anyone else but when I, and classmates of 1953, reached the ripe old age of 15 we were kicked out educated or not! Who the hell knew what they wanted to be at that age. I recall I and my mother were invited into the head masters office where he made us aware of what was available on the workfront. There was the Railways, Carrs Biscuits factory or the Metal Box factory. Aside from that there were only two other openings. One as a watchmakers apprentice or a radio & TV apprentice. I opted for the latter. BIG mistake as it turned out the 'apprenticeship' was limited to dusting TV's, radios, electic fires and light fittings and making tea. After about a year of that I chucked it in and became an electricians apprentice. Three months later the owner had a heart attack and died and I was once again unemployed. I decided there had to be something better out there and, after fighting tooth and nail with my mother for months, she eventually allowed me to join the MN. Until my intake I worked in a local sawmill.

In Nov 1959, whilst on the Dominion Monarch, I got married in Wellington, NZ, at the ripe old age of 21. I then stayed ashore for about a year and worked in a swimming pool for six months and IN THE WINTER worked in a shipyard as a plumbers mate. I then returned to sea with UC Line until 1964 when I emigrated to CT, South Africa where within six weeks I found myself selling office equipment. Stuck that for about a year and joined Marine Diamond Corp as chief steward working on the rigs off the Skeleton coast SWA. Two years later I was made redundant and within two weeks joined the SA Breweries as Catering Manager at the Newlands Hotel,CT. Stuck that for three months and left to join Claridges Hotel, Green Point, as a cocktail barman at the same salary BUT with tips! Left there to take over the cocktail bar in the Juliana Room at the Bay beach, Moullie Point.

In November 1968, I joined Safmarine and remained in their employ until July 1991. During that lengthy period, whilst on long leaves, I did relief management at two hotels in the little Karoo, The Loganda at Tousrivier and The Laingsburg hotel, Laingsburg. In 1984, again on long leave, I started a Flea Market in Green Point which grew to be the largest one in CT. It became too big and when things reached the stage where 'people' were fighting with baseball bats over stands at 5.30am I decided to pack it in.

Since leaving the sea I've done barwork, run restaurants & pubs. Had my own restaurant/pub. And for the past decade did house maintenance.

In March of 2009 I left CT on the Black Watch and arrived Southampton on April 13th. So, I guess, one could say I've come full circle, and not without family tragedy in South Africa. My daughter and grandaughter arrived in UK on April 22nd this year and are now residing in Selkirk. At least they are now out of danger.

Anyone out there need a handyman FROM HELL? PS: I don't do gardens or windows.

Does that help to answer your question, John?

Cheers
The Handyman From Hell. Who said men can't multi-task? Must have been a woman!!!!

[happy daze john in oz]

James, great story mate you have lived a full and usefull life and I wish you many more happy years to come.