Still alive

[Louis the fly]

It is amazing that so many of us are still alive to contribute to this site.
We were burnt black in the Gulf and tropics, no sun protection or thoughts of skin cancer then. On other trips we would be freezing in Northern Norway, Canada, Russia etc.
We drank the local water, ate food from street sellers, not knowing what we were eating. Nearly all of us drank and smoked too much.
In many ports we could be mugged or killed just for the sub in our pockets or a watch or ring.
We must have been bitten by every known insect and bug while trying to sleep down the West African coast with no air conditioning or breeze.
Yet we we are alive and hopefully well, smiling at the great life we had.

[Captain Kong]

Thats right Louis,
Most of us were bombed by the germans, and our Lou by germans and japanese as well,
then survived as deck boys, being bullied and battered by mad crazy crowds on ships, sleeping with a fire axe under the pillow, surviving the curse of the Ju Ju Man in West Africa, falling off masts, and in the worlds dodgiest hospitals, going over the wall and near drowning or trying to save mates who did drown.
Climbing out of bedroom windows when the husband comes home from work early,
Mugged and gear torn off by gangs of locals in Cape Town and fighting them off.
Surviving Hurricanes, Cyclones and the worst of the North Atlantic winter storms on the rust bucket tramps that were falling to pieces even in good weather. Trying to lash down moving Locomotives with a heaving line as heavy seas washed us down the deck, Starving on bad feeders on a very bad diet with no fresh food, Being shot at by mad Gauchos in South America, swimming in shark infested waters. Crashing into the Southern Ocean on a helicopter, being battered over the head by Vigilantes with rifle buts and flung into dungeons in BA, and by US Army Patrols with their night sticks.
Entering gas filled oil tanks and hoping the air supply will last until you can climb out. Sweeping up cargo holds full of all kinds on chemical dust, carbon black and other kinds of dust going into the lungs.
.
Apart from all that , it wasnt a bad job and would do it all again even tho` I have the scars, mental as well as physical.,
Where was elf and safety when you needed them???????????
Cheers
Brian.

[Louis the fly]

All together now;

Always look on the bright side of life.

[eric fisher]

Ain't it the truth Louis, and more Brian! Despite ALL the stuff we put up with and the complaints we made, it never occurred to us to quit. Never could settle ashore 'till married with family. As said before, 'Once a Sailor, Always A Sailor. Eric

[Ivan Cloherty]

All sounds so familiar, but we went back for more, loved it, 9 to 5 would have driven nearly all of us crazy with the biggest excitement in life was when the train driver didn't stop in the usual spot and they had to dash to the train door, but guess someone had to do it!

[Lou Barron]

I consider myself a very lucky guy .
So live life to the full .

[happy daze john in oz]

We were a breed apart, we all went through one world war and some maybe two. we had to make do with what we had, we became adaptable to circumstances and made our own way in life without any of the modern day life support systems. We were adventerous, we feared very little, apart from the mother in law, we drank and whenched our way around and became better persons for it. Today's generations will never fully comprehend who we were or what we did but we know and that is the main point.

[Captain Kong]

We are the last of the Seafarers , John
The world will not see our likes again.
We had it all.
Cheers
Brian.

[John Pruden]

one thing it gave us a better understanding of how the world ticks how the other half lives respect of other no matter what country you were in manners and most of all {I think} be able to look after yourself under pressure ? we were young lions and inside all of us are still the same the body may be giving out the mind isn't ? we lost our souls to the sea other wise we would not be here putting posts?jp

[alf corbyn]

i think we all enjoyed ourselves, visiting all those strange places, drinking strange drinks and foods. no such thing as a colour bar except maybe south africa and the southern US of A. Remember taking my maori girl friend to parties in NZ and both being made welcome. going to maori meeting places and enjoying a sea feast. Eating curry on deck with the P&O deck crew and listening to thier weird music played on a one handed harmonium. Drinking mint tea with arabs in the galley.
what great times and still great memories.