I come from a naval family, not navel that would make me related
to a Satsuma. My Mum was in both the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy, my Dad
was mainly in the Merchant but also in the Royal and both my Grandads’ had been
land based to do with ships and shipping. My Auntie and Uncle, again a
seafaring couple. It was easier for me to get away with an odd ‘bloody’ in my
very early vocabulary than ever to call anything other than a rowing boat or
similar a boat. There were life’boats’, ferry boats, rowing boats, everything
else was without question or contradiction a ship! The other thing and Wilko
News staff will know what’s coming now….. even a little kayak or a huge ocean
liner BEFORE it was a boat or a ship was a ‘she’. There were simply no
exceptions to that rule! However hard you might try!! I bring this up for a
very specific reason. I came across this and thought I would share it with you
all and try to imagine what Mum may have said about it,
~ A ship is called a ‘she’ because there is always a great deal
of bustle around her. There is usually a gang of men about, she has a waist and
stays, it takes a lot of paint to keep her good looking and it’s not the
initial expense that breaks you but the upkeep. She can be all decked out and
it takes an experienced man to handle her correctly and without a man at the helm
she is absolutely uncontrollable. She shows her topsides, hides her bottom and
when coming in to port heads for the buoys. She also can become a wreck with a
full cargo of gin. ~
Sticking with the sea and ships…….. Last weekend in Liverpool
was HMS Dragon one of our navies newest and most sophisticated battle ships
ever. Not to mention most technologically advanced and of course expensive! A
class 45 destroyer and by all accounts a beast of a ship. She is pictured below. Again Wilko News ‘crew’ may be a bit ahead here, in knowing how Mum would have
described the ‘Dragon Lady’! “Not a
warship, never.” “She is so unpretty.” “She is all straight lines.” “Doesn’t
have the bit between her teeth.” “No fighting lines.” And finally, though not
conclusively, “What’s all that rubbish amid ships?”
You know what – it must be my upbringing or I am getting old –
but I couldn’t agree more!!! After 50 pictures taken she probably is a bit
ugly! Mum would not have called her ugly though!! She would have just turned
her back on her and walked away, head held high!!
Ok so what kind of idiot puts his right glove in his left hand
pocket? Yes you are right the six year old at primary school! Oh and of course
the 57 year old out with his camera.
Have you noticed if you meet people on a bus whether you know
them or not the first five minutes of the conversation is always about the
bus!! Trains as well but not so much! “Always late this one.” “Thought it wasn’t
coming today.” “Late because of those road works.” “Remember when it used to go
to Lower Village?” “Does this one still go to Tesco’s car park?” Obviously if
you hadn’t noticed it before you will now!!
There can’t be many places in the world where a bus is diverted in
to another country because of road works!! Especially when the start and finish
of the journey are in the same English county! Of course though I was too
involved with the conversations to notice the ‘Welcome to Wales – Croeso I Cymru”
sign!
No comments:
Post a Comment