Ron - hope you and IG haven't disappeared off into a huddle somewhere to discuss serious issues without inviting us!

I don't know about a "where is Mick" thread, perhaps we ought to start a "WHERE IS RON?" thread?

Come back Ron - I'm missing your bulletins from Middle England! And the exotic locations around the world you get to. Are you a secret agent?

Ann,Jenni,

When I departed to a job some eight weeks ago, it was to a place in the Middle East that I absolutely detest.
I called there on my first voyage at sea as an engineer. It was a hell hole then, and has remained unchanged.
They have no natural fresh water, so they use purified sea water.
It is the vilest tasting liquid that I have ever tasted. I just cannot drink it.
When we took on water there on a ship, we usually had an ‘accident’ within a few hours, and pumped it ‘over the wall’.
However, to recap. When I left for there, I took no laptop, because I knew it would go ‘walkabout’ within a few hours, never to be seen again. I also envisaged returning within a week to work in more pleasant surroundings. Alas, it was not to be.
My Marine division comprises of eight engineers. They are superb engineers and are young and very fit. Essential commodities for what they do. Unfortunately, 5 have been ‘called’ up in the RNR and TA. The team cannot function on less than four engineers. I was therefore , very reluctantly, left no choice but to take the place of one of them.
At sea, we work watches of 4 hours on and eight off, plus 2 hours before and after as stand-by. This does not apply to the Marine division, because they are involved in trials, testing, repair and replacement.
They work a reverse watch. 8 on 4 off, plus stand by and call outs. It is quite common to go 3 days without sleep. When I first commenced in this business years ago, the hours didn’t bother me. They do now! My main hobbies are water sports. When possible, I swim every day, water ski, sail, scuba dive, snorkel, and when the opportunity arises, I play the occasional game of water polo.. Over the past few weeks, all this has been pointless. I have had to fight to keep up with the others on the Marine work. Age tells!.
It has, therefore, been nearly impossible to check the TT forum or the BBC forum that I use a lot.
What surprises me is the fact that at least a dozen people on here have my e-mail number. Three have my business e-mail number and address, and the girlfriend of one of my engineers, uses this forum and thread and knows me personally. Yet when you both enquired about my whereabouts, no one knew!. Nevertheless, in fairness to all, most don’t use this forum now, and my engineer’s girlfriend, who is a student at Liverpool uni, hasn’t been on here for a couple of months.
I shall be returning to Marine duties from the 20th of this month until pre Christmas. I shall, therefore, make arrangements for you to have my private or business e-mail address prior to leaving, should you want to get in touch, no problem. I will devise a means of doing this and will let you both know.
Just received some tragic news. One of my close friends(he was my best man last time I married, has dropped dead. He was aged 45, with a wife and two young children and had a thriving business. How very unfair and very sad.

Ron.

Owain,

Before I left for work some time ago, you told me that whilst walking along the beach with one of your children, a Spitfire had suddenly appeared from out of the clouds.
I am unaware of the part of Wales that you reside in, but as you know, the 'Valley' area is under tight restriction. However, I have seen one quite a few times at Denbigh Glyder Club.It could have been this one.
If you are interested, they have a number of 'Open Days' each year, when anyone can 'go up' with a pilot for £20.
It lasts between 20/30 minutes, dependent upon the wind, and is most enjoyable.
I had to go down to Oswestry to=day, via the Chirk valley.
What a beautiful sight, all those multi coloured trees. You live in a lovely country.

Ron.

quote:

Originally posted by RonW:
Owain...You live in a lovely country.

So do I...

Indeed, Jenni. England,Ireland, Scotland and Wales, cannot be beaten for beauty, and that's the women! Wait until you see the landscape!
Just a small group of Islands in the North Sea. Yet the whole world wants to live here. Could it be the climate?.
Suprisingly, there are two parts of Gt Britain that I have never been to. The first is East Anglia and the Norfolk Broads, etc. The other is the Scilly Isles, which I have sailed past on nemerous occassions, but never called.
I must rectify that before it's too late.
This has been a most unpleasant week. Firstly, I went to a funeral of a relative in the Orkneys. And today, I attended the funeral of my best friend.
He was 45, happily married with two young children, and a successful business.
He had a thorough medical two weeks ago, 100% fit. Then last week he drops dead with a massive heart attack. Figure that one out?
I am a Christian, but I fail to see the justice or fairness in this. Apart from his wife who he was devated too. He had two little children aged 8 and twelve. It doesn't make sense'
The other day, I called to say goodbye to him. I looked at that frozen piece of meat, and I thought ' this isn't Ray'. This body lying here is now on its way to infinity. To nothing and nowhere Is there a soul? There are times when I have my doubts.
He married into a large Irish family, lovely genuine people. They had flown in from all over the world for the 'Wake' and funeral.
The church held about 300 and overspilled outside, where they relaid on loud speakers.
I must conceed, that when it comes to a special occassion, the Roman Catholic Church beats the others flat out.
The service lasted about one and a half hours and involved everyone. Unlike the service in the Orkneys, about 20 minutes and it was all over and done with.
Well, enough of this sad talk, you must excuse me, but I am feeling upset at the loss of my best friend.

Ron

Commiserations Ron, I can only imagine how you must be feeling.

So sorry Ron - I also lost an old friend this year it isn't fair -but isn't it only this generation that expects life to be fair? What makes me cross is when pious people tell you that God must have a reason for it -of course he hasn't he is probably as sad and sorrowful as we are. I am sure he didn't will my friend to die of breast cancer.

One of our neighbours has published a volume of poems and one ends, 'religious faith always seems vied with doubts they dance these two inseperables without'

None of that helps tho' does it but sailing might?

Thank you Valerie and Ann for your commiserations/ I took yor advice Ann, and went sailing on the Metsey. Returned an hour ago--freezing!

A couple of poems for Rememberance Day;-

The Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle; they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Laurence Binyon (1869 – 1943)

[B]The Blessings[/

I count my blessings when I can,

The blessings that are given to man.

I have two eyes that I might see,

The beauty that is lent to me.

I have a nose that I might smell,

The perfume of the flowers,.

All different yet so very sweet,

Especially after showers.

I have a tongue that I might talk,

I have two legs that I might walk,

Two ears to hear, two hands to feel,

Who could have a better deal?

By E Callard.

Condolences Ron. Experienced more than enough grief of my own the last year, so appreciate your loss. And always sad when a young family are left behind.

BTW Laurence Binyon was born in my town. I walk past the house going to the station.

See I'm not always horrible :0

Thank you Greenhug for yor codolences. Being horrible doesn't worry me one iota, but being conversant is far more pleasant civilised and informative.
Watching the Rememberance parade yesterday, it was nice to see the decendents of the British soldiers wrongly assasinated on orders of the butchering generals, walking proudly in their rightful place.
It is unimaginable, the living hell that these young lads endured with shells exploding all around them for hours on end. Shell shocked, bewildered confused and impervious to reality. Then the B------s shot them.
Whilst I served in the Royal or Merchant Navy, I never disobeyed an order, nor felt inclined to do so. However, had I been in the trenches, I would have urged my men to turn around and shoot the generals. How sad they didn't.

Ron.

quote:

Originally posted by RonW:
However, had I been in the trenches, I would have urged my men to turn around and shoot the generals.

They were mostly out of range Ron.

That said 78 officers above Brigadier General were killed and a further 146 injured.

WW1.

Sometimes God picks the flower
that is still in full bloom;
sometimes he picks the rosebud
and we feel he picked too soon.

Sometimes the flower is fading
with petals floating down,
but God knows the perfect time
to gather flowers from the ground.

There is a heavenly garden
in which God takes great pleasure
because He's placed within it
the loved ones that we treasure.

He walks among the blossoms
giving them eternal rest,
and I know that it must please
Him because He chose my very best.

I always believe that no one truly dies who lives on in our hearts. I've lost friends young and old, as have we all, and seen no purpose to it. If we believe in God, we have to accept his judgment even if it flies in the face of what we desire or believe is right or fair.

I read yesterday of the Australian actress who died of breast cancer at 32. My own cousin was 34 with two young children when she died of breast cancer. My next door neighbour just died unexpectedly in her sleep at 36. There is no rhyme nor reason for it, just the whim of God or Nature or whatever one believes determines our lifespan and health.

Ron - there's plenty in East Anglia worth a visit (mind you, being a local I could be biased! ).

Well there's an issue we agree on Ron. Watched the repeat of the The Somme the other night. Unimaginable!

Thank you Jenni for your advice on East Anglia, which I shall follow in the near future.
Talking to Bruce some years ago, he expounded upon East Anglican countryside. Alas, at the time, he also expounded upon the fantasy of having 'New Labour' as I, and so many others did. He believed that it heralded a new future. I wonder if he has changed his mind?

Tragically, another four young people have died in Iraq fighting the war on behalf of the Oil Barons. What an absolute waste of young lives, not only ours, but all peoples
I fully agree with responses of all of you on this subject.
Two of my favourite writers/poets,are Rudyard Kipling and G K Chesterton. Surely Kiplings 'Tommy' sums up an 'attitude' which has prevailed in the past and sadly is still in evidence today.

v In Flanders Fields - a poem by Dr. John McCrae


In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Well since we are on the subject -

'Fight the year out', the War-Lords said:
What said the dying among the dead?

'To the last man', cried the profitiers:
What said the poor in the starvling years?

'War is good', yelled the jingo kind'
What said the wounded, the maimed and blind?

'Fight on', the Armament-kings besought:
Nobody asked what the women thought.

'On!' echoed Hate where the fiends kept tryst:
Asked the Church, even, what said Christ?

S. Ford. from 'Scars Upon y Heart -Women's Poetry in WW1

To-day, I had a business meeting in Brussels. No connection with the corrupt, anti British, un-democratic European Union.
After 10-30 AM, contracts were exchanged and busies concluded. --- I then behaved badly, in fact, I behaved very badly. I behaved like an intolerant school boy, ---and I loved every minute of it!
After my business was concluded, I returned to my hotel removed my suit and changed into a black pair of trousers, and my favourite anti-EU jumper. It is jet black, with a Cross Of St George on the chest. the flag six is 3ins by 2ins. around the top in a semi-circle, are the words "Keep Our Lbs- £££"On the bottom semi-circle are the words" Hang Euro Quislings"
Below this, are the words in one straight line.
"Stuff the European Union"
I have done this before and I have expected to be arrested every time. Especially as they are opposed to free speech. You would be surprised at how many thumbs up and nod and winks I receive-And that's only the fellas You should have seen the reception when I forgot to fasten my fly!.
Yet, seriously, I do receive an unbelievable number of congratulations from people of all nationalities. I also endure, with pleasure. The hate and hostile stares of the EU employees who enjoy the tax free luxury life with all the perks that are available on the EU gravy train. Paid for by us. Yes, I have had a bloody lovely day.
I buy these jumpers every time I visit Cornwall. Everyone seems to be selling them in the local shops. Can also be purchased in Dartmouth and elsewhere in Devon. However, some are just too rude to be worn!

Ron.

Unlike you to be so retiring and shy, Ron!

quote:

You should have seen the reception when I forgot to fasten my fly!.

Boasting Ron?

I do like to see a young man enjoy himself so innocently.

Ron, glad to see that like me you can be an intolerant school boy. Not sure I approve of the 'Hang quislings' bit. If I wore one saying 'Hang marine engineers' you'd probably take offence, and rightly so.

However, my main point is actually a question. Why are people like you so attached to the £? I don't care if we have Euros. What difference does it really make?

Also what's with Cornwall being the centre of EU antipathy?

quote:

Originally posted by GreenRug:
However, my main point is actually a question. Why are people like you so attached to the £? I don't care if we have Euros. What difference does it really make?

It makes a great deal of difference. It's not just a switch of currency but losing control of our economy. This has been bad enough for France and Germany, if we'd had Eurozone interest rates for the past 2-3 years (3-3.25%) would you like to imagine what would've happened just to house prices?

Why is it losing control of our economy? Can you explain? I tak ethe point about interest rates but dont quite see how control is lost. What is the problem with exerting control at a different level? ie a Europe level. This argument always seems to imply that Europeans are somehow less able to manage economically than Brits. And the extent to which an economy can actually be controlled anyway is doubtful.

Sorry Ron, I also missed the opportunity to make a quip about you being 'hung' too. In the open fly sense . Im not usually that slow.