Christmas Folly

[j.sabourn]

There were probably a lot of young boys raped as well Rob. Nothing reported however as far as I know. All I know what I have seen women on a ship are trouble. I have been on ships with officers wives where you wouldn't think butter would melt in their mouths, some were shockers. My 11 months on a passenger/cargo vessel, the female passengers mostly in their 50s and 60s seemed to lose all inhibitions. The stewardesses have already mentioned about one of them being pregnant unbeknown to me as thought she was just seasick. The carriage horses we carried on deck for Bermuda were less trouble. I had the opportunity to carry my wife but never took it, anyhow her place was bringing up the family at home. I believe the husband should be the supplier for the home and the woman should run the same. I have stood and watched some of these so called men stand at the cash till at the supermarket and hand the wife the money to pay for the groceries. I have never done that, in fact wouldn't know how to pay the electric bill, this is the wifes job to me and she has control of the money for such. However we do have a joint account and if either wants cash just draw it with no questions asked. A seamans wife had to do this as spent a lot of her time on her own, some were unlucky I suppose and married someone who couldn't take that responsibility, I was lucky. Did One eyed Mary in Shields ever catch up with you by the way. Cheers John .

[j.sabourn]

Talking about homeward Bounders how many remember the orders from sparks to the Ship" Lands End for Orders". Everyone on tenderhooks until off landsend to see if discharging port was within or out of Home trade limits. I even have recollections in my early days at sea as getting the discharge port by Aldis lamp, maybe our radio was out or sparky drunk or something. Will probably get a bollicking now from all our teetotal sparkies. Cheers John Sabourn

[happy daze john in oz]

... Or equal Rights...If women are employed on ships and expect equal rights, they should accept all that goes with it. ...............................

John you say men are men ans omen are women. Well if like a number of other members you had sailed with UCL or P&O you may have taken a different view.

[happy daze john in oz]

Speaking of seasonal events as we are how mnay had new year at sea or in a differnt port?
Had a coupl;e, one in Cape twon which is stilla bit of a blur after alll this time. But back in 2010 had two opn the one night, new years eves that is. Midnight was great on the cruise then at 1215 the clocks were put back as were leaving NZ for Oz. So a second bite of the cherry an hour later. Then to add insult to injury the next morning on the big screen they shoed live from London Big Ben striking midnight, we had to do it all again.
Going on that cruise again this year.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Will probably get a bollicking now from all our teetotal sparkies. Cheers John Sabourn

Ho! Ho! Ho! rarer than hen's teeth, had to do something with all that di da di da dit at sea and all that time in port to kill

[j.sabourn]

#43... Heard all the tales in Kapstaad about the Union Castle people, also met a few ashore in the usual taverns. Cheers John S.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, I was at sea on new years eve once and had the job of ringing in the new year on the anchor bell on the fo'c'sle head, very old tradition at sea for the youngest seaman on board,I must be one of the few who did it had a Large rum given to me after to welcome in the new year.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Hi shipmates, I was at sea on new years eve once and had the job of ringing in the new year on the anchor bell on the fo'c'sle head, very old tradition at sea for the youngest seaman on board,I must be one of the few who did it had a Large rum given to me after to welcome in the new year.

Hope you rang 16 bells Louis, 8 for the old year and 8 for the new, had that pleasure but got no rum as was a cadet

[gray_marian]

# 47 & 48,These last few posts have reminded me of a childhood memory. Every Hogmanay before I married, my Father would open the family room windows and we would all listen for the ships on Clydeside sounding their horn to bring in the New Year. He always had a tear in his eye!

[happy daze john in oz]

#43... Heard all the tales in Kapstaad about the Union Castle people, also met a few ashore in the usual taverns. Cheers John S.

Please, please tell me I would love find out what happened to me on NYEve.