Seasons Greetings

[gray_marian]

Hope this works!


http://go.fold3.com/screen-cast.php?vid=holiday

Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays.
In an effort to bring a little "home" into their holidays, soldiers fighting on foreign shores in 20th-century wars added traditional touches to their celebrations. Please enjoy a slideshow of Christmas and Hanukkah traditions from the front lines.

Click Here to view the slideshow.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Thinking of Kirsty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwHyuraau4Q

[Keith at Tregenna]

SEASONAL FELICITATIONS (Politically Correct)


The purpose of this message is to extend Greetings to everyone of my acquaintance on the occasion of the forthcoming Public Holiday (UK)!


I wanted to send some sort of holiday greeting to my friends, but it is so difficult in today's world to know exactly what to say without offending someone.


So, I met with my solicitor yesterday and on his advice, I wish to say the following:


Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the solstice holiday, practiced with the most enjoyable traditions of religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.


I also wish you a fiscally successful (without prejudice to the fiscal needs of others), personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2014 common era, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make our country great (not to imply that our country is necessarily greater than any other country) and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the recipient.


By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms.


This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal.


It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher.


This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.


Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the sending of this message. However, a significant number of electrons were seriously inconvenienced.


Happy whatever floats your boat!

K.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Christmas At Sea


The sea is cold, the night is dark... the blowing wind is crisp,
I stare across the ship's huge deck... I did not get my wish.
I wanted so, to be at home... this year on Christmas Eve,
But this will be the year that I... did not get Christmas leave.

I stand and think about my family... gathered by the tree,
I know that one will say my name... and then they'll think of me.
I am not there to share their joy... my country needs me here,
But I am not the only one... who won't get home this year.

I miss my family but I am... on guard for my country,
Protecting those who can have Christmas... is my first duty.

Many men have given all... for us to have that right,
And I feel honored just to sacrifice... a Christmas night.

But still I'm feeling so alone... as many of us are,
As I just stand here on the deck... and watch a Christmas star.
I guess it is a Christmas star... it shines for all it's worth,
And I think back to when a star... foretold His peace on earth.


If only people felt this calm... as on this Christmas Eve,
And not create hostilities... that make their brothers grieve.
Then we could have a peaceful world... as it was meant to be,
But until then we must stand guard...
and this night it is me.

Once again my thoughts turn home... my family safe and sound,
Because this ship and other men... are ready to stand ground.
The Navy and the other branches... keep us safe and strong,
So those at home can celebrate... and sing their Christmas song.

But knowing that I must do this... I can't hold back a tear,
Wishing I was home this Christmas... sharing in the cheer.
Seeing all my families faces... lights and Christmas trim,
Now the night is getting darker... as I think of them.


Trying now to fight this feeling... of such loneliness,
Softly speaking to myself... a lonely Christmas wish.
Actually my Christmas wish... is now a Christmas prayer,
Thank you for the men who serve... our country everywhere.

Thank you for our families... who enjoy this Christmas free,
Thank you for the other men... who serve this ship with me.
Thank you for allowing me... to make this sacrifice,
A joyous Christmas for our families... makes it worth the price.

May there be peace within you today.
May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our
Wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

Author not known.

[Richard Quartermaine]

Christmas 2009

Every Christmas is a joyful event. Every morning five days a week during November and December 2009 Aldo, Clive, Richard, Tony and Sam met in the Nepean Cancer Care Centre, changed into blue cotton pants and took our turn on the radiation table. We all, and a couple of wives who came along for support, became great pals. Tony, an ex Royal Australian Navy stoker was a local Santa at Christmas time kids parties.

A couple of days before Christmas Day we were sitting around chatting and noticed Tony was missing. It was then that it happened. Into the main entrance big tony in full Santa attire strides ringing a big brass hand bell. HO! HO! HO! he calls, past the reception with grins on their faces like white picket fences in the moonlight. HO! HO! HO! past the general waiting room where about forty glum faces suddenly beamed and around the corner to our Zapping area.

Here are some pictures which do not include as he was called in he dropped his strides and bent over to reveal a crown and anchor on his buttocks and commented "I hope this doesn't get wrecked"!

We are all still here watching the joyous Christmases come and go. Enjoy yours shipmates.

Richard


Richard, Maria, Tony, SAm.jpgRichard, Santa, Aldo and Clive.jpgSanta and his helpers.jpgSanta and LA1 RT staffers (a).jpgSanta.jpg

[Keith at Tregenna]

Just the time of year: http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/h...ve-1917-a.html


K.