Gap Years, Crash Courses

Gap years. When I was editing this piece, for some reason I started thinking about gap years, and realised I actually had four and a half gap years. There are two sides to this equation, for those intending further education, it can be useful to take a temporary job in the profession or trade you’re… Continue reading Gap Years, Crash Courses

Naval Rum Part 2 of 3

A Chiefs’ & Petty Officers Rum This Mess treated Rum like the Romans treated Jupiter and the tradition also was unique in my experience. Daily at eleven o’clock a deep-sided dish was placed on the Mess table containing fresh water. Three average sized tumblers were place, upended, in the water for the men to take… Continue reading Naval Rum Part 2 of 3

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Categorized as Royal Navy

The New Party, Concluded.

From the stats it would appear that the subject is popular but not the flavour of the month, but having started it I must complete it. I propose to set out the structure and the reasoning behind the structure of the nucleus and the outposts. The purpose of this exercise is to regenerate political awareness,… Continue reading The New Party, Concluded.

Naval Rum Part 1 of 3

The Tradition and Importance of The Tot Previously Published 15,09,06 To the RN Lower-deck that I knew, the withdrawal of the daily Rum Ration, the Tot, must have been like the death of a lover. How, in 1970, a do-gooder managed to engineer the withdrawal without murder is astounding, as you will realise if you… Continue reading Naval Rum Part 1 of 3

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Categorized as Royal Navy

April Fools Day, Idiocy 2

The case of the ‘window glass’; The head of the office, Carl, a very diligent man, very clever but detached from reality, was a terror for detail, which did not endear him to some of the staff. He made the mistake of ordering glass with the office phone. It was for home, to be fitted… Continue reading April Fools Day, Idiocy 2

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Categorized as Frivolity

People Are So Diverse

If people say to you ‘You really must come and see us!’ don’t take them at their word, often it’s lip service. My mother met a distant relative who said that, and when I was on my first leave, a little pleased with myself as a seagoing sailor, I arranged a visit. It was the… Continue reading People Are So Diverse

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Categorized as General