None of your wussy cock’s tail stuff round here.

Much is told of visits to Peel.

(Not much of a valet, that. Obviously never mixed his employer a decent pick-me-up).

Have we been swapping the Walport boxes with GD I? Some of the scribbles on the paper-work in this box suggest their humour was aired there first.

My apologies crew type persons for only keeping a watching brief from the bridge these last few weeks. Was dry docked for a bottom scrape and tubes blown as well but I can hear the injun room calling or maybe its just ES with his finger stuck in the injector again. Squeek and Eric assure me all is in order down below however I have absolutely no interest in their neither regions as I have more than enough crap to deal with of my own. Perhaps Lord Varley would look kindly upon a DBE and offer some sanctuary in his palatial castle on the IOM. (just asking like)

* DBE = Distressed bloody engineer and NOT Dickhead of the British Empire although I qualify on both counts.

A mere Dogsbody of the order? Had that been a K or, at a pinch, an O I would have had no hesitation in offering you a place at my table (which, as you know, often hosts gentry). But as a shipmate I would, of course, always offer a bed (not usually mine unless you are much prettier than I suspect) as long as you don't mind taking your meals in servants' hall.

You shouldn't worry about taking up my nephew's berth. I wouldn't put you in the stables*.

Trust the drydocking went well and none of the nurses pulled rank as Dame of the Boilng Enema, or if they did they didn't qualify on you anyway.

(Sorry that is being sexist. The order of the Boiling Enema must now include Nights too).

*However familiar you are with such accommodations.

IOM is a discrete spot to convalesce from the plague, black death, para typhoid or a weepy willie but a manly affliction requiring lignum vitae is best served near home. Suggest a caravan in Ballywalter or a genteel guest house in Portstewart.

Few of your random jottings are freshly minted but then the Upper Chamber was never famed for its wit and repartee. Perhaps you, yourself, full of the tawney devil fiddled with said paperwork.

A water lubricated jobbie eh? That'll be a shock to the system. Apropos that area in particular, lady at lunch on Friday experienced a very high throughput there a week or so ago - returned from the Rose red City with cholera -can't imagine that would have been considered non-polluting.

(My muse is not the tawny. When I need genius it's gin - but not with Jordanian ice!).

Watching a fair bit of the World Cup last week. Denmark v France was a cracker, Wales a one man band, England looking as if they caught long covid and Ireland ( N,S,E or W) not featuring. But tell me what Group did IOM qualify in?

You will have to ask someone who gives a tinker's cuss (that is about soccer, not god's own rock).

If there's a union flag on their colours I wish 'em the winners. Providing they do not do the knee thing or the gag thing or the being rude to the hosts things.

"god's own rock"

Made in Blackpool.

Or so the lyrics go.

The I.O.M. had at least one football player, remember Norman Wisdom played in goal. I would say the I.O.M. WAS MORE OF A HILLOCK THAN A ROCK. I blame Norman for all the Albanians heading this way.

Thats right, and wasnt Mr Grimsdale the manager?

Mr Grimsdale is alive and well, and now calls himself varley!

I do hate it so when one's family capital is rudely lowered. I note neither Sir Norman's nor the fictitious (but equally long suffering) Mr. Grimshaw's suffered such an indignity. And done by a shipmate, too - not carrying an Albanian passport are you, Rusty? (note position of comma. ", are you Rusty?" would be quite rude

(I may have to forego my junket on Thursday - Much as I was looking forward to it there is a tickle in my throat although there is still only one red line. Etiquette has changed since Covid. I wonder how acceptable it is to be 'abroad' with a cold?).

You are abroad, and i have jumpy finger syndrome.

tourettes of the fingers eh! ... nasty that!

Norman got a medal from the late Queen (bit like our Chief Injunier) Mr Grimsdale I believe was made Lord Laxey.

Are you giving me the finger?

Have the I.O.M. council cleaned up all that horse poo in Douglas yet?

I hope not. My people tell me it's good for the roses.

Cadbury's disagree, they say that because its good enough for Quality Street does not mean it's good enough for their products.

I prefer Celebrations - Check the weight, you get more for your money.

I prefer a sucky sweet to a chewy sweet.
To choose a sweet by weight puts you in the Private Pike school of making the most of your sweety coupons. BTW what age are you?

The age at which sucky sweets are less trouble on the remaining teeth than chewy sweets.

I remain heartened that the onset of my second, final, childhood is not yet heralded by the return of my boyhood's sweet-tooth.

Unlike some of my shipmates it seems.

(A square of Bourneville Orange anyone? To go with the Colheita.)

Did charity beano Thursday night. Astonishingly His Exc. did not introduce himself. That is two opportunities he has missed, damn close to negligence that, what?

(Probably did notice however as one of my table guests fell on backside when seating herself after loyal toast and at same time threw her glassful over my last employer. To be entirely fair I had used her chairback to assist me in standing and may just have adjusted some of the chair's geographical parameters a tad in doing so. Anyway she enjoyed the attention of the two younger gentlemen in picking her up and, in the unlikely event champagne stains, I am sure the chairman has another shirt).

Now, when does the match start? Not my bag so I thought I would help the boy get rid of the OBS and see if we can raise GD I for a chat after that.

GD1 is now a conundrum wrapped up in an enema so probably best contacted by morse.

One genuinely wonders if Ham Radio is still an interest or hobby or has the internet buggered it.

CQ CQ CQ DX Whisky Romeo Charlie 42 calling Golf Delta 1......

Nah dont think anyone awake over there nowadays.

WTF is all that crackling on the radiomaphone thingy? some body stuck in a queue and can't see? probably pissed from a run ashore playing golf with some Charlie named Romeo. Ah well each to their own I suppose but he wouldn't last 5 minutes in Harland and Bluff with a name like that.

Never mind I have an announcement to all you crew type persons..... testing, testing, Squeek is that macadoriaphone switched on or has Varley buggered it up again?

Ahem here we go.........

Christmas comes but once a year
and when it does its bloody dear
Times are tough and very hard
so here's your feckin' Christmas card :quill:

Seriously here's wishing all of you a wonderful Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year. Sorry I haven't been about as much as I would have liked these past few months but fingers crossed things can only get better (cue song)

Take care my friends and my very best wishes to you all and your families :thumb:

Merry Christmas everybody. Hope you all have a good one and a happy healthy new year.

I, too would like to add my best wishes for the season now upon us. Also 'all the best' for 2023.

(The radio room will remain open throughout our stay in the land of port - just don't give the boy to many R/T calls home on the the day)

Carols and mulled wine on the forecastle in 20 minutes!

Bit early for all this Christmas palaaver, youse'll be looking for Easter Eggs in the shops next week.

Huh thats something I dont have to worry about here. Dont think they heard of them in the Philippines ha ha.

Done two lots of carols already. Thankfully no resurrectional dietary products on the scene yet.

No idea where we are or for how long we will be laid-up but I think that its about time to wish the crew of the GD and all here on SH a Happy Christmas and a safe, contented and healthy 2023.

My thanks to all who have made me, a landlubber ex-railwayman, welcome here. I have appreciated the courtesy, maturity and depth of experience so evident.

The 'user-friendly' Gallery has also contributed to my photography and, indirectly, my health by cycling to take the photos.

Best Wishes to All. :wave:

Geoff (YM)

In a dry dock in Beer-kan-Ed. Most crew gone home to spend their Christmas bonus. I stay aboard as usual.
We float out January one. waiting for a message from the agent as to where we will sail for.
Cheers everybody, go live it up this festive season. But, Dont forget the reason for the season.

Well, turkey de-salmonellad (cheap rum instead of Dettol), draped in sausage and bacon covered in foil, checked of in oven fit and put in larder for tomorrow.

Giblet gravy on the go. Turkey legs cooking (cats Eve treat). Gammon cooking (cold with hot bird).

New potatoes harvested from elephant socks (hoping someone will volunteer to wash and rub).

Taking a break to fetch newspaper and have tea - to sound of R4 carols and whopping great thunder rumbling. Then on to make cauliflower cheese (one lady does not do sprouts) and perhaps start the bread sauce. I take it there will be a snifter or two in the owner' suite - on the Company of course - before dinner

If we are the only ones left onboard be warned. I've the measure of all the comestibles and I expect them all to be there in the morning - bar the legs, of course. I will check before the guests arrive.

What about the polishing of your upright?