Mal de mer

[happy daze john in oz]

Many people during their life time suffer from some form of travel sickness, be it sea, bus or air.

Most after a short while will recover and never again suffer from it.
All manner of tricks have been suggested in ways to over come it.
When asked how to recover from sea sickness I just suggest the spend half an hour under a tree.

But I do recall my first, and only episode of Mal de Mer.

As a bell boy on the Windsor sailing out of Southampton on grey February Thursday, every Thursday at Four o'clock was the saying.

Fine for the first hour or so but then came to realize the ship was slowly rolling from side to side.
Then we hit the channel!!
My equilibrium deserted me at a rate of knots, my legs were no longer my property.
Somehow I managed to get through the evening dinner service and hungry stuffing my self with roast spuds that came back in the veg dishes from the saloon where it was my duty to remove them for the winger.

By the time I reached my bunk we were in the bay and with very little warning I brought up the daily takings.

Next morning felling very sorry for myself I somehow dragged my body up to the dinning saloon for breakfast service.
The winger I was with took some pity on me and suggested I go up on deck for some fresh air.

No idea where the crew deck was I some how made my way up to one of the higher decks used by the bloods.
It was blowing a gale, freezing cold as well.
I looked around and there leaning over the side brining up the days takings at a rate of knots one blood.
But as fast as he brought it up, he got it back all over him. He was on the windward side of the ship.

I stood for a few minutes watching the action, then thought this is not how to get over this so back down below.

By now breakfast was over and the lads having their breakfast before getting set for lunch.
I then went and stood in the middle of the saloon. legs apart and my arms stretched out.
Stood there for about five minutes when Tony Talavera the assistant head waiter asked me what I was doing, having explained he then told me how he had suffered on his first voyage all those years previous.
I felt by then recovered and never again suffered from it.

I did speak on regular occasions with Huey on the big white phone, but that was often Mal De Brandy or Beer.

I did back in 2018 again have to speak with Huey, in Japan this time and it was Mal De Saki!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ivan Cloherty]

Fortunately was never bitten by Mal de Mar, on my first trip on a trawler to Arctic Circle, made mistake of telling one of crew I didn't feel too good, so he and another said 'come with us lad, we've got just the thing' took me to the foc'le tied me to the railings looking outboard over the bow, too scared for a few minutes to be sick but that sickness feeling turned into fascination watching the rollers approaching, the bow lifting and the water disappearing astern, don't know how long I was there . felt like hours, but probably not; but what a great life long cure, doubt your bloods would think so John !!

[Doc Vernon]

Likewise Ivan
I too must be one of the Lucky ones, not having ever been Sea, Land or Air Sick!
Think my first Trip on a Ships, i was far too Busy and excited to care about anything else! LOL

But also earlier in life. was on small Trawlers , so that would have made it easier.

Air sickness , that as well, no probs, again possibly the Flights i made also early in life when in the RAF.

And Land, well Car Travel never worried me at all, it was just all about Speed! LOL
cHEERS

[Des Jenkins]

HI John
I was sea sick on my first trip, second trip and so on,only for maybe an hour and it didn't affect my work, I had sea sickness for 17 years I was at sea but it was like tying ones shoelaces once done it was over, have flown many times including in small planes buffeted about in strong winds but was never affected, possibly a mental thing.
Never thought it was anything to worry about.
Des

[Johnny Kieran]

Only time I got sea sick, was after leaving a destroyer I'd been on when in the sea cadets. Never felt anything till I got home and was sitting at the table having my tea. It was the first time I had been completely still, just sitting there, motionless, then everything started rolling around. All in the head I suppose, but caused by the lack of motion instead of motion itself? Didn't actually riff up, but certainly felt a bit like it for a few minutes.