One Hell Of A Pub Crawl!

I have been back around the world several times since I retired and all the bars have GONE, all the girls have GONE,
The British Merchant Navy kept the worlds dockside economy going, full employment for young ladies, Bar Staffs and owners,
FOC Container ships come in and are gone in a few hours, no one goes ashore, the third world seamen do not do what we did.
the only bar I came across that was still `working` was the Skandy Bar in Valparaiso. and some insignificant bars in La BocA in BA.
very disappointed in Java this year, the bar where my lovely Dedeh Suardi was and many other beautiful young ladies all gone, replaced by millions of containers all the way to Djakarta, Semarang was the same so was Bali.
Hong Kong the bars where my beautiful Mimi worked all gone.
All the bars in Viente Cinco de Mayo all gone replace by offices, banks and shops, only have a drink in a hotel bar now.
Ma Gleasons in Auckland all gone. , Sir Charles Hotham in Melbourne now a back packers , only Cleos bar open and sanitised.
Market Diner in New York Gone, now a strip joint,
Kingston all gone but you darnt go ashore without getting killed now.
Joe Beefs, House of Scouse etc in Montreal all gone.
ETC, ETC ETC, AD FIN

I guess we had it all, we were lucky in our time. the only thing left in this world for us are Memories.
Brian, who is about to weep into a glass of Mount Gay Rum.

Montevideo all gone. below the California Bar closed, se vende, a couple of young ladies in La Boca, but SHE dragged me away,
and the Skandi Bar in Valpo still open.

Here is another Memory, I think I have put it on before,.......................
.




The Lap of Honour.

I went to the `Vindi`when I was a lad, ............................. [ Vindicatrix Sea Training School ]
where conditions were hard
and the food was bad,
but I walked through those gates
as tall as a man
off to my first ship bound for Japan

And now that I`ve retired and saved up my cash
once more round the world I am going to dash
to Mombasa and Java and out to Cathay
to see all my old girl friends
once more on the way

Mimi`s still waiting for me I`ve been told
I`d like to see her before she gets old
then on to see Dedeh in Tanjong Patak
then fly off on a Jumbo to Hong Kong`s Kai Tak

I`ll go back to Tahiti down in the South Seas
to see my Wahine in the warm sunny breeze
Then across to see Maggie in New Zealand`s Hawkes Bay
and have a beer in Ma Gleesons* back on the way. ......................*Sailors pub in Auckland.

I`ll do the Lap of Honour round the Australian coast
to see all the girls who loved me the most,
from Thursday Island round to Sydney and Perth
they were the loveliest girls on earth

I`ll go to see Sheila and then Marylou
and call upon Sally in Woolloomooloo
then go up to Townsville to see Mary O`Keefe
where we walked hand in hand by the Great Barrier Reef

When I think of those nights by a blue lagoon
loving my girl under a tropical moon
and those happy times that we both shared.......................
my Mary`s still waiting for me so I`ve heard.

On then to Honolulu and then Frisco Bay
and up to Vancouver and down to L.A.
I`ll jump on a Greyhound across to Hoboken
to see my Jenny whose heart I had broken

In Manhattan`s Times Square and 42nd Street
there must be some girls left that I used to meet
it would be sad if I looked around
and none of my girls were there to be found.

So off I would go to old Mexico
to see my Juanita down in Tampico.
then across to see Molly in Montego Bay
and go up the Blue Mountains where we used to play

On then to Rio, Montevideo and B.A.*.......................................... *Buenos Aires
to *May Sullivan`s Bar where I used to stay
There was Rosita, Paquita and also Maria
on then to Santos and round to Bahia.

Then when I return home again
to Englands dark and dismal rain
all my memories will always stay
they are something that no one can take away

I`ll be thinking now that I`ll get a shock
on my memory trip to turn back the clock.
things won`t be the same time has moved on
the young girls I once loved have grown old and are gone.

and now that I am coming to the end of my time
I must put my memories down into rhyme.
cos when you are young life is all magic
but as you get older life becomes tragic.

but there is still some life in this old dog yet
and there`s more adventures for me to get
so I`ll be heading off into the sun
to have more excitement and plenty of fun.

It`s not for me to tend the garden and flowers
polishing the brasses , walking the dog for hours.
but to go back round the world in a blaze of glory
then I`ll come back home to write my story.

And then one day when I am old and grey
and my life`s been used up and it`s come time to pay
as I lie on my bed on my face will be a smile
I`ll just be a thinking ` it`s all been worth while.

By Brian Aspinall

Another by Joe Earl, seems appropriate: K


TANKER JOES

There was a large log cabin down on the River Plate,
Frequented there by `Tanker men` - at a steady rate,
It was famous for its revelry as every sailor knows,
On the coast of Argentine` a - and they called it `Tanker Joe's`.

The Oil berths were far away from the mainstream of the town,
The only socialising was in this cabin painted brown,
Inside the barred up windows with the curtains hung by cords,
Were basic chairs and tables, with dust across the boards.

No shortage but, of beer and rum, and shelter from the sun,
And local steaks so juicy, in a fresh baked country bun,
Motley crews assembled, with wages there to burn,
Each man at his table - there to take his turn.

These tough men were sailors, and firemen from below,
Many short of schooling and their education low,
But when it came to ballads and other verse in force,
So able was their talent it showed much fine resource.

One by one they took the floor and gave us their rendition,
(Some of them were worse for wear, but most in good condition)
`There wasn't any music, the words were spoke in hush,
The audience respectful - emotions turned to mush.

`With plenty of encouragement they spoke their party word,
It was so very wonderful - the best you've ever heard,
`Maggie May`,` Bull De Mare` and the `Lady that's known as Lou`,
Also `Rudyard Kipling` and tales from `Miller` too.

From Flanders Fields Where Poppies Grow`, was there among the first
And `Take Me East Of Suez Where A Man Can Raise A Thirst`.
Titanic` verse, `John Masefield`, and `The Bards` great works as well.
`Sam Magee from Tennessee`, and the tale of `Eskimo Nell`,

Some things you don’t forget and this was one event,
Etched into my memory, the summer day I spent -
Among shellbacks hard as diamonds who opened up their souls,
When stood upon the trestle, acting out their roles.

`These mariners of England filled my heart with pride,
When I was a young man, with these men by my side.
Innocent as choirboys they recited favourite prose,
I well remember that day - down at `Tanker Joe's`.

tanker joes was one of the worlds best honky bars ........good steaks and fresh milk plus any booze you required a great atmosphere of revelry .......music blasting out and a room or two at the backfor the carnal affairs ....pretty senoritas galore and a thirst for life ......my oppo was from sunderland and anyone who was at tanker joes in the 50s will rememember when the tide is out the berth is just mud .....he fell in and only a heaving line saved him as he slowly sank into the mud ........i am 76 now but remember that like yesterday .....and no presents from the ladies iether .........happy days with great mates ........cappy

#11, Jeeze John, you have spoiled my day.
Oh well, thanks for the memories.

THE MOLLY MOGS

In all the pubs in all the world singled out for praise,
It’s the Molly Mogs in Soho for all the funds they raise,
Specially for our mariners and veterans of war,
And the unsung heroes that struggled at the fore.

On the corner of Old Compton Street this pub’s a little gem
Built in seventeen hundred, her pedigree’s from then,
Plenty are the bar stools but not a lot of space,
Hearty entertainment is the highlight of the place.

Some clientele enthral with witty quips so gay,
Bonding all together in their camp and funny way,
They recognize the value of duty to the end,
Selfless with their time and energy they lend.

Famous for its drag shows and fabulous inside,
Historic and important for old London’s pride,
Performers are just marvellous, open and sincere,
Collecting for our heroes when punters come for cheer.

Raising cash for brave folk is humble and sublime,
Patrons of the Molly Mogs do it all the time,
This cultured bar is friendly to all of us out there,
Best of all a grand spot for those that really care.

Joe Earl Nov. 2009

Here is another one for the memories.............................


Tombo Mary's.


Apapa was the venue for our lads run ashore,
On the coast of Africa where tourists never tour,
The bar was Tombo Mary's where she ruled the roost all day,
Customers were seafarers - keen to spend their pay.


In this one-roomed shanty, with hard mud for a floor,
Palm fronds on the thatched roof and canvas for a door,
Our black mama Mary - a wondrous female sight,
Would choose a handy sailor for her carnal joys at night.


Raised up on a dias just behind the bar,
The centre of attention from here to Calabar,
Was a huge four poster bed with linen and fine lace,
Imported from some far off land and taking pride of place.

It`s where Mary held her lover-boy for a torrid night of fun.
Piccaninnies and the bar staff - at the setting of the sun -
Would sleep below this raft of love, with tassels hanging red,
While the sailor did his duty - in Tombo Mary's bed.

Author unknown, but he must have been there.

Am shocked that there is no mention of the infamous pub in Leith the "Jungle" aka the Kings Wark, still on the shore in Sunny Leith, but is now an upmarket yuppy bar

In Southampton last year down the high street. Could not find one pub or even a bottle shop, where have they all gone? Juniper Berry is still there I hear but that is about all. Horse and Groom now a car park, Scullards and all the others no more. But with the demise of the BMN no shock lads as there will be no one now to keep them going.

Do any of you fully realize just how much we contributed to the economic welfare of so many countries? Without the Great British seamen so many bars may not have even made it to smoko!

Even in our heyday guys we would have struggled on today's beer prices, down here a pint of beer adver ages £3.50, now even on our moderate intake in those days, say ten pints, £35 a session, and that's moderate, so normal people do not go in pubs to drink these days, they can only survive on food sales. I know in some parts beer is cheaper than the prices I have stated, but pubs have completely changed, not seen a dartboard or cribbage, dominoes etc for years, all bloody plastic tables and napkins. Got a tear in my eye as I type, kt