Smoko,Lads!

[Gulliver]

Always fascinating to hear Messroom Banter(i.e.the forums).

Recent topics (March 2009 N.B.) range from Sticky Vicky and Sweaty Betty to plum cobblers and snatch blocks....from sheep on cliffs to Auckland Cup Quinella(!!).....from Leith Walk to Cape Horn novels(I always prefer to curl up with a good Hornblower,personally).

So,for a bit of cerebral trivia....take the following sentence(It should be compulsory for foreign visitors):

The tough,dough-faced ploughman coughed his way through the borough to Lough Earn,where he bought a horse.

It contains eight different pronounciations of the 'ough' sound..Not a lot of people know that!...or want to,did I hear from the depths of the lazarette(very nautical)?
Oh dear,smoko's over! See you later then!

Gulliver

[alf corbyn]

hi gulliver. i bough to your superior knowledge. cheers. alf

[casso]

That was the sentence that had taken the foreign student 6 moths to fathom out. On his way to class he bought a theatrical magazine and saw the headline "Mousetrap pronounced success." and went back home and hanged himself. Tha's the way my Granny used to tell it.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Gulliver.
You posting that sentence is the reason l will always stay looking in on this site, That is the sort of questions and talk we used to have in the messroom. In all my 15 years at sea I can only remember laughs and discussions as compared to arguments. Oh for the days of yore! I must get back to Sydney, my old boss wants me to look after his ferry, I HOPE'
Cheers Des

[David Williams]

Hi Davey.
Where the hell do you get all these
snippets,of funny and interesting
information.

Dave Williams(R583900)

[Louis the Amigo]

Dont remember talking much about anything. Plenty of singing ,and drinking ,music and stuff.

[alf corbyn]

hi dave. mainly from books and a good memory. cheers alf

[Gulliver]

Hi Shipmates. I was recently in the ships library,surfing through our vast ensyklopee....enpsycklaped.....ennsike-lopee....reference section when the following article just' jumped out 'at me......
reproduction
Most barnacles are hermaphroditic, although a few species are gonochoric or androdioecious. The ovaries are located in the base or stalk, and may extend into the mantle, while the testes are towards the back of the head, often extending into the thorax. Typically, recently molted hermaphroditic individuals are receptive as females. Self-fertilization, although theoretically possible, has been experimentally shown to be rare in barnacles.
The sessile lifestyle of barnacles makes sexual reproduction difficult, as the organisms cannot leave their shells to mate. To facilitate genetic transfer between isolated individuals, barnacles have extraordinarily long penises which have the largest penis to body size ratio of the animal kingdom ...!!!!


No,that's not the point,I was actually looking up about 'Anti-fouling paints'.
　
Did you know...... In 1972 the BP tanker British Scientist came out of refit and sailed round The Cape to the Persian Gulf. On her return journey the ship began to judder so violently that she had to be drydocked in Brest. The problem proved to be a covering of 70 tonnes of goose barnacles that had grown on the ship's hull in a matter of a few weeks.

Not a lot of people know that!
And....　
For the Chief Cook----Goose Barnacle Stew
Preparing
Wash the goose barnacles very well.
Cooking
In a saucepan, heat some water to the boiling point with a bay leaf and a small handful of sea salt or, better yet, 1 part sea water to 2 parts fresh water;
3. immerse the barnacles in the boiling water for a few seconds, then serve them cold, on their own. Careful! Overcooking will toughen them.
4. gently twist the calcareous plate so that the edible part comes out of its brown canvas-like sheath. The white flesh is delicious, and to complete the experience, why not suck on the sleeve that encloses it? You’ll taste the sea!

Yum! The perfect antidote to those who've over-indulged the Black Pudding bit!

See you next Smoko!
Gulliver.
　
　

[Gulliver]

Yes,Good Morning Jean in North Yorks.It's also 'monsoon' season here in Worcestershire.... Keep Dry!

Just to clarify to any 'touchy' people here......When I was referring to the hermaphroditic tendencies of the Goose Barnacle,I wasn't suggesting that they should do anything about it.......Heh Heh!

Gulliver

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Davey,
Well good to see you swinging that Lamp again mate,and i am glad that you are back posting,as i read that you were thinking of not posting too much,and just looking in?
Anyway the Subject Thread you have started is a really good one,and gives some interesting reading,even though it may not make too much sense to a lot hahah!
I am sure this one will incite a lot of intetest,and you will be getting some good replies,as allready i see quite a few!
Laughter and general banter is the source of life,and the more the merrier!
Keep them coming Davey!
Cheers and thanks!