We all made mistakes

[happy daze john in oz]

Docking day was one filled with anticipation and someregrets, hope and sometimes despair. Get your pay, see the union man, get yourrailway pass, and off you go. Taxi out of the dock; pay the gate man, and downto the station.

Southampton station was not far from the docks and the trainjourney to Waterloo could be very exciting, particularly as there was almostalways bar on there.
However arriving at Waterloo was I found fraught withdanger. Arriving at the main station I had to cross to the Southern Rail sidefor the train home. The danger came in the form of platform trolleys, which forsome unknown reason the porters always left right in my path for me to tripover. It was years later that my sister informed me the trolleys were a resultof spending time in the on board bar. Such a ridiculous idea could of courseonly come from a female.

Once across the station I then had to wait for the localtrain, then even worse on arrival at my destination I was faced with a walk ofalmost two miles. The only bus available did not go near my house, and therewere no taxis at the station in those days. So with suitcase in hand I wouldwalk home.
Then came the day when dad came up with a great idea, whynot leave one of our two cars at the station and you can put your suitcase inand I will drive home later. Brilliant idea I thought, so dad gave me the keyto our two seater Riley, with the soft top.

Docking day next voyage and off to the station, knowing Ihad transport for my case gave me good reason to maybe indulge just a littlemore than usual on the train journey to Waterloo. The porters must have beenaware of this, as there was more than the usual number of trolleys scatteredaround the platform. By the time I arrived at the southern line platform I wasblack and blue with bruises from my falls.
Arrived at Lee station and once in the car park looked forthe car. Yes, there it was sitting waiting for me. The key was a bit worn so itwas something of a struggle to open the boot, but I managed and with the suitcasein I began my walk home.

The greeting was as per usual, mum said hello son you homeagain, when you going back? Yes mum it is nice to be home again, next week atthis rate. Then my delightful seven year old sister informed me that I musthave been drunk as she could smell the grog on me. So intuitive at that agedon’t you think. Then came the moment of truth. The Riley was sitting outsidethe house, but no sight of dad! He must have passed me on the way and neverstopped to pick me up!
Then came the real shock when I opened the boot to find itempty, but worse still when mum told me dad had forgotten I was coming hometoday so did not take the car to the station. Now I did have a problem, a realone.
Roger Banister would have been proud of my run back to thestation, almost broke the four minute mile in my rush. Getting my wind back Isaw the car was still there, all I had to do was take out the case and walkhome. Key in the lock, still a bit of a struggle but got it open, case half wayout when I heard a voice behind me.
‘ What are you doing with my car young man’?
I looked around and there in a grey pin striped suit a man,obviously a business man coming toward me.
Again he asked what was I doing with his car. This calledfor some quick thinking on my part or I would have some explaining to do.
‘If this is your car then why have you got my suitcase init’?
He looked at me almost dumbstruck, as I took the case andbegan to leave.
Again he asked what was I doing in his car?
I began to tell him and again asked why he had my case inhis car?
He had no answer as by this time I was laughing my head off.He looked at me as if I was some demented soul let out for the day, there wasno way he possibly explain why my case was in his car!
He continued to look at me until at last I stoped thelaughter. It was at this point I decided to tell him the truth. Again he lookedat me dumbstruck until at last the penny dropped. I was then about to go whenhe spoke again.
‘Young man this is a terrible mix up, maybe I could driveyou home’?
I accepted the offer, well he did call me young man.
When dad came home I gave him the key and told him the nexttime not to bother. I could easily get myself into enough trouble without hisassistance.
There were to be many more misadventures on that train fromSouthampton to Waterloo, and many more porter’s trolleys to trip over.

[Captain Kong]

Excellent story John.
I have also come across those inconsiderate Porters trolleys. Brings back a few memories of Pay oiff day.
Cheers
Brian.

[Dennis McGuckin]

John's story stirred up the memory cells [whats left of them]
I lived in Coventry.
Often the crew who either lived in Liverpool or London, depending where we paid off, would 'see me off' at the station.
Recall one occasion, after several farewell pints, I was loaded on the train.
I had to change trains in Birmingham. By that time I needed another drink.
Went into the bar, and missed several connecting trains to Coventry.
I had sent my fiancee a telegram advising her of my arrival time.[if I had caught the first available train]
After she had showed up for numerous arrivals, I finally appeared.
Trouble is, I thought the train had stopped at the platform, so stepped off clutching my case.
I discovered my mistake, as I landed on the tracks.
Several people were kind enough to help me to the platform, where my loved one waited in some embarrassment.
In later years after we were married, she would sometimes remind me of my misgivings.
My replay has always been.
Hey you knew what I was like BEFORE you married me.
End of conversation.

Back to train trips to ships and back.
After some years I became pals with the guys who worked on the trains.
I believe beer was only served at certain times.
To defeat this, I would go into their private compartment where we would scupper several bottles of ale.
Cant recall paying for it. Guess they had a fiddle going, just like some of my shipmates had at sea.
Also had several romances blossom on trains, but think I will leave that for another time.
Den.

[Pete Leonard (Bruno)]

These yarns of pay off days remind me of a time when I paid off one of Joe Shells in Newport. We had all had a good drink before we went ashore to catch the train home. I think we had a few more on the way to the station. So by the time we boarded the train all I wanted to do was sleep it off. But one of the crowd decided that he had not had enough, he broached a bottle of rum that he had bought in Jamaica with the intention of taking it home to his Dad. I think there were four of us in the carriage and he kept passing the bottle around. He kept waking me up to have a drink. He became a complete pain so I stood up and landed him one whch knocked him back in his seat. I thought that would be the end of it. But the next thing I knew was that he was hitting me across the head with the bottle. We were just approaching Paddington by then and when I came to the carriage was empty and I was sitting there with blood all over my face and head. I managed to pull myself together and the ticket collector said "gawd you look a mess,I'll call an ambulance" Whch he did and I finished up in St. Marys hospital with six stitches. I think I managed to catch the last tube home, and by the time I got there my parents had gone to bed. My poor old Mum when she came in with a cup of tea in the morning almost had a fit when she saw me looking like a Sikh with a white turban. I was 18 at the time and it taught me a few lessons about pay off days.

[Captain Kong]

We paid off a Star boat in London. We had several bevies on the train up to Liverpool and arrived there in the evening well oiled. Now Manxy was going to Douglas in the Isle of Man so we poured him onto the Manx boat at the Pier Head. The boat got into Douglas late at night and he got a taxi home. He got his key, the house was in darkness and he let himself in quietly, he crept up the stairs into his bedroom and crashed onto his bed.
The Screams then were terrible, he was in bed with a girl, the lights went on a man ran ito the bedroom and started battering him and almost beat him to a pulp.
The Police were called and Manxy was dragged away to the cells.
Next morning he tried to tell them it was his home and these strangers had beat him up.
It turned out that his parents had moved house while we had been away and he had not received any letters informing him.
He was then released when his parents had been contacted at their new address.
So he eventually arrived `Home `after a night in the Cells, with black eyes, busted nose and cut lips,
He was not a happy man.

[Lou Barron]

A very interesting story John no excuse for falling ove the trolley even though you might of had one over the eight if you had been looking at all the dolly birds it might have been a good excuse

[happy daze john in oz]

The state I was in they may well have been looking at me and wondering what I had been on?