chicken tragedy

[Doc Vernon]

Thing have changed so much Vic, i was on the Stirling Castle, same trip as Vernon, and i remember we had someone go over off the South African coast, cannot remember exactly where, but i remember being amazed how quickly everyone was accounted for , except the missing guy, we never found him, searched for some time. The system of crew members having to check their department members made it a quick result on who it was, turned out to be a crew member who jumped if i recall correctly.Today i could see it being a long time before finding out who it was gone over.

Yes Keith Recall that incident as well, always such a tragedy to loose anyone on Board let alone a Crew Member! Actually i must look into that Crew List or Voyage Record Card i have as they at times do put those things on the listings?
Cheers

[Johnny Kieran]

The last few cruises I've been on, there was no muster, or any such thing. You just have to go to your muster station (usually a bar or theatre) and get your card clicked on boarding. All the rest is on the telly.
We got a snotty letter delivered to our cabin last time, due to not bothering to get our cards clicked. We had to report to our place at a certain time or else. The person doing the clicking was indeed an entertainer.
I guess it's all down to the covid thing.
My experience of a real fire on a cruise is documented in another topic on here somewhere . Believe me, it's a worry.

[Keith Tindell]

Even staying in hotels in this country is a worry, briefly, 30 years ago hotels were inspected annually by the fire authority, the whole layout of the hotel was inspected to make sure none of the escape routes , fire doors etc had been change, all bells and lights operated etc, log books up to date, etc. Come the money saving office bods in Gov, decided this was no longer required, and it was down to the owner, he is still expected to have fire drills, keep the log book up etc. Now i have stayed with a local travelling group of hotels, and their idea of a fire test is , while everyone is at breakfast, they chip the fire bells, and i know that at breakfast this is no spare staff, so to walk the hotel to see fire doors have close, or emergency lights are on , bell ringing on all floors etc, does not get done. My advice to everyone, is as soon as you put your suitcase on the floor of your room, go and look for the nearest way out.

[Ivan Cloherty]

My advice to everyone, is as soon as you put your suitcase on the floor of your room, go and look for the nearest way out.

Always do that, also have a torch by the bed, yes I know every mobile phone has a torch, but an actual torch is more instantly responsive. Also useful for finding your underwear, my late wife and myself were staying at a 'modern' hotel for a black tie function and the room was mainly black and shades of grey, the wardrobes were black as were the interiors, the lighting was also 'modern' = dim and suffused. of course the ladies accessories were black to go with the LBD, well previously I had received many light hearted remarks about my torch on previous hotel experiences such as your not at sea now, but on this occasion it was where's you bloody torch I can't find my underwear in this goddam wardrobe

[Keith Tindell]

Off thread a little, but my son had bought us a robot carpet cleaner, hoover thing, 2 nights ago, 2am pitch dark, and i woke up, something was in the room !!, shot out of bed, no bedside light, power cut, in the dark could detect movement and a light moving across the floor. The power cut had somehow triggered the robot out of its casing, and it was merrily gliding across the floor. at least gave us both a good laugh. should have had a torch like you say.

[Tony Taylor]

Off thread a little, but my son had bought us a robot carpet cleaner, hoover thing, 2 nights ago, 2am pitch dark, and i woke up, something was in the room !!, shot out of bed, no bedside light, power cut, in the dark could detect movement and a light moving across the floor. The power cut had somehow triggered the robot out of its casing, and it was merrily gliding across the floor. at least gave us both a good laugh. should have had a torch like you say.

Keith, I have several small sensor operated LED lights strategically placed (stair well, landing, toilet etc) they only activate in dark and safely light my way across the landing, down the stairs etc. They only cost under a fiver and are a invaluable as we seem to to get more than our fair share of power cuts, they are also useful for middle of the night trips to the toilet without lighting up everything.
I also have a 3kw generator for extended power cuts, enough to run my freezer, fridge and central heating.

[Michael Black]

On our last cruise, May 22 we had the virtual muster where we went to our muster station on embarkation a
nd were recorded as attended. The rest was shown on the TV on a loop. This was solely down to covid restrictions. Our next cruise, next month, same company, they have gone back to a proper muster now and you have to attend. On the cruises we have been on there are bench seats on the embarkation deck which have life jackets under the bench seat.
Regards Michael

[Tony Taylor]

Off thread a little, but my son had bought us a robot carpet cleaner, hoover thing, 2 nights ago, 2am pitch dark, and i woke up, something was in the room !!, shot out of bed, no bedside light, power cut, in the dark could detect movement and a light moving across the floor. The power cut had somehow triggered the robot out of its casing, and it was merrily gliding across the floor. at least gave us both a good laugh. should have had a torch like you say.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjRWHmvYTbM Keith, If you have a dog you better watch this.

[j.sabourn]

Back to the old chuck. Family friends had a farm near Haltwhistle we used to visit. The most humane way to kill a chicken I was informed by the farmers wife and she showed me as we were having it for dinner,was to grab the chicken by the legs put its head under a broom shank lying on the ground , place both feet on the broomshank either side of the head and a quick sharp tug on the legs , took about 3 seconds . The lengthy part was catching the chicken if not properly prepared . When preparing a few hundred for the market was the quickest way of doing it , she was an expert that farmers wife, think the husband was a bit scared of her . JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Cappy we kept chickens when I was living at home and they were' everyone of them pets, I hated it when my uncle used to come over to kill one, as they were all my favorites, I suppose something one shouldn't do as children.
Des



I remember the Andria Doria collision with a Norwegian coal or ore carrier, the first five or six boats to arrive at her side were full of stewards, the skipper refused to take them on board and sent them back to pick up passengers off the sinking ship.
This is not an attack on stewards as I think that British seamen were the best, I can't comment on the present day crews on passenger ships as they come from so many different countries.