21st Birthday.

[John Albert Evans]

I just thought that it would be interesting for us to remember where we were on our 21st Birthday.

I was Second Cook and Baker on the Shell Tanker STS Haustrum. 20th. September 1961. Brisbane Australia.
21st. September 1961. At Sea. My 21st Birthday.
22nd.September 1961. Sydney Australia.
I asked the Ch/Stwd. if i could buy a case of beer, he told me to ask the Captain which I did and he refused. Happy Days

Where were you ?????

John Albert Evans.

[Keith Tindell]

I think i posted before, we were mid pacific, on the way from Panama to Japan, i was on the 12-4 watch, and the other two had made me farmer. We had quite a large ammount of beer saved up, the birthday celebration was going on into the evening, and at Tommy Driscoll turn at lookout he was well p*****, after about 30 mins the ships whistle started to blow, pandemonium , i rushed up to the bridge, skipper was there in his pyjamas, and Tommy had fallen asleep on monkey island on a vent, slipped off and on to the whistle lanyard!!. Poor old Tommy was logged for the said incident, but i always remember my 21st KT

[Colin Hawken]

I think I have done this before. I spent my 21st on a Shell in British North Borneo. People now tell me there is no such a place.Being an unrepentant diehard Son of the Empire my reply is,"There was when I was 21.when Britannia ruled and the World was a better place. " ???

[Stuart Henderson]

I was a/s on the Esso Syracuse and we were in mid S.Atlantic en route Ras Tanura in Persian Gulf from Campana Argentina to load aviation fuel for USN in Korea War. diverted last minute to Sasebo Japan (smashing run ashore first for couple months. Anyway it was March 5th 1952. Two beers a day or was it a week ? Anyway went to Master Captain Jones and asked for case for 21st to share with shipmates. Strongly refused and not even a Happy Birthday greeting........... Trip lastled nearly eleven months//// Needless to say I didnt go back left ship in Le Havre
Stuart

[happy daze john in oz]

I was officers steward on the Windsor castle two days out of Southampton homeward bound. Wrote an article on this ealier in the year, under Swinging the lamp.

[Charlie Hannah]

I was on the M.V. Deerpool at sea,two cans a day so saved mine up gave all the deck crowed two cans each then me and my mate Paddy White got on the Px#*
drunk as skuns on a couple cans.

[Richard Quartermaine]

It was 26 February 1952 and like Stuart, a Pisces, or in China the 'Year of the Goat'. Both supposed to be amiable, decent blokes. I'm skeptic about these sort of things but have been mildly surprised at some things that have happened over the decades. Of course, living and working so long with Chinese who have superstition down to a fine art it has to rub off a bit!

Colin, British North Borneo, about the time Jesselton became Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, West Malaysia. I had a branch office there and the manager was an Aussie who was built like a brick sh....ouse and a bully to boot. The Capital (yes, with an a) Hotel had a little bar just up the stairs from the street. "Sunshine" wandered up the stairs, fronted the bar and growled to the little Chinese barman, "Whisky - Teachers". The friendly little barman looked up and said,
"Just a moment sir".
"Get me a whisky - Teachers" growled "Sunshine"!
"Just a moment Sir, I'm serving another customer".
"Get me a Teachers whisky or come outside"!
"Just a moment Sir".
Sunshine thundered down the steps followed by the slightly built barman. Sunshine put up his dooks, lunged at the barman, who, like greased lightning that would have put many aspiring actors to shame, gyrated and connected. Sunshine was airborne for a while before he landed in the gutter. The next day somebody put sugar in his petrol tank. When I went over from Singapore I was looking for who put the sugar in the Company's petrol tank. I didn't find him, but it would have been nice to have shaken his (or her) hand!!!

And exactly one week before Stuart celebrated his 21st on 5th March, 1952 I was on the Gothic docked in Melbourne with the local reporters looking for news about the cancellation of the Royal Tour three weeks earlier in Mombasa, Kenya. At least the passengers we picked up in Mombasa had disembarked so a few of us got ashore and I think it was up at Young and Jacksons (of 'Chloe' fame) that we cooled ourselves with some schooners of the local brew.
Richard

[happy daze john in oz]

Richard, not sure how you got on in Young and Jacksons but we were ejected. One of the lads, as full as a boot by this time, a Liverpool lad, said he was hungry and wanted soup in a basket, but then realy got them going when he said 'Chloe' needed a shave!!!!! Never knew the sidewalk to be so hard.

[Neil Morton]

New Years Day 1960 winger on Durban Castle, captains table, still under the weather from night before at breakfast, half cut by lunch and well and truly soused by dinner. My mates finished me off and put me to rest around 2200. Zombie for next two days. Still have photo's would post but don't know how.
A foot note to the above ; being born on 1st of January a man needs a strong constitution . Still here though and # 75 coming up.

[Charlie Hannah]

New Years Day 1960 winger on Durban Castle, captains table, still under the weather from night before at breakfast, half cut by lunch and well and truly soused by dinner. My mates finished me off and put me to rest around 2200. Zombie for next two days. Still have photo's would post but don't know how.
A foot note to the above ; being born on 1st of January a man needs a strong constitution . Still here though and # 75 coming up.

Perks of reaching 50
Or being over 60
And heading towards
70 or beyond!


1.
Kidnappers are not very
Interested in you.


2.
In a hostage situation,
You are likely to be released first.


3.
No one expects you to run --
Anywhere.


4.
People call at 9 PM (or 9 AM) and ask,
'Did I wake you?'


5.
People no longer view you as a
Hypochondriac.


6.
There is nothing left
To learn the hard way.


7.
Things you buy now
Won't wear out.


8.
You can eat
Supper at 4 PM.


9.
You can live without sex
But not your glasses.


10.
You get into heated arguments
About pension plans.


11.
You no longer think of speed limits
As a challenge.


12.
You quit trying to hold
Your stomach in no matter who walks
Into the room.


13.
You sing along
With elevator music.


14.
Your eyes won't get
Much worse.


15.
Your investment in health insurance
Is finally beginning to pay off.


16.
Your joints are more accurate meteorologists
Than the national weather service.


17.
Your secrets are safe with your friends
Because they can't remember them either.

18.
Your supply of brain cells is finally down to
A manageable size.


19.
You can't remember
Who sent you this list.


And you notice these are all
In big print
For your convenience.


Forward this to everyone
You can remember
Right now!







"Good friends are like stars...You don't always see them, but you know they are always there