Ah Mr V, your father was a man after my own heart, VFM and a dual mandate in one half pint package. Pity his son deviated down the Mackeson route.

a free train pass and bus pass... Correct

a free phone... Incorrect

as many blue tablets as you can eat... Incorrect... We don't need them, they are for export only. Mostly to the UK.

:applause:

Our departure lounge card only gives us half fare on the railway (it's seen as recreational and a way of earning from visitors rather than transport).

The BBC tell me HMS QE cannot go to the Red Sea to support HMS Diamond because the RFA have a manpower shortage. Like Capt Mainwaring I can scarcely believe my ears.
Will the nice Mr Shapps kick arse?

Me and varley are on our way to kick it and varley is going to put his windows in....see how he likes that.

I don't think aircraft carrier plans include sailing without a group of warships in support. A fleet (in modern arithmetic).

(I doubt it means the MN has gained an aircraft carrier! If so we would have to think on a change of regulations. Look what a noise the authorities make when we sink another ship by accident. What sort of melee would ensue if we started doing it for a living?)

Next thing they will be looking for Hull trawlers.

So, the problem is fuel and stores.
Here’s a suggestion which would fit with the best traditions of Golden Dreamer.
Just tell the Egyptians et al that Queen Elizabeth is really the cruise ship of the same name in disguise. Then pop into port, pick up what you want and charge it to Carnival.
Sorted, particularly if RN are using Fujitsu kit - then no one would ever suspect a thing and if they did, they would just be told to shut up.

HMS Diamond must have bunkering and stores arrangements, piggy-back of them.

come on lads Hartlepool next stop. Single up cut outs hold a breast slipper. Engine room on standby.

British West Hartlepool?

Careful, there`s still a shore battery up there.

and a rare breed of long necked monkeys I hear.

Lets head for somewhere that doesn't flood, freeze or will be subject to storm after storm.

No good coming to Sunny Bananaland (Queensland) then.;)
Floods, monsoon rain, cyclones and bushfires.
Makes Victoria, bad as it is, half tolerable.

BB think outside the box.

We must give succour to our oul shipmate in Oz, a dry bed and a cold beer. Lay off a course for Melbourne, like a good chap. Easter in Australia, what could be nicer, hang on YM we're on our way.

Tmax big burners please and prepare the Admiralty Emergency Nozzles on the HP Turbine.

Iron mike has the details. we will need BPS on all nozzles. notify the boiler room! and hold tight.

Is titty sailing with us, we may need a hand.

Which direction are we proceeding ?
West and Panama is rumoured to be running dry.
East and one is likely to be shot at.
Or perhaps around a Cape for safety.

Tmax moves in circles, such is their influence that HMS Diamond will escort us thro the Bab.

That's alright then... I think...
That's not round and round in actual circles though, is it?

At this rate, Cape town for bunkers and stores (and a quick half ashore) late tomorrow afternoon.
sent a message to that bloke with the Aldis at Dover. We were off plymouth by the time he read it.

I will look forward to the GD in Melbourne. By Easter the snakes should have gone into hibernation.
Pump up the bike tyres, oil the chain (with some gee-wizz slippery lubricant that I just found on the internet) and camera at the ready.
Anchor under the Port Control Tower free as they seem to miss reporting half the arrivals and departures.
Come via Cape Horn just for a change.

Can we go via the Cape of Good Horne? I need all the help I can get.

Britian is powered by circles, nods and winks, funny handshakes and smutty behaviour in public schools. Brexit has, naturally, separated us from those surrender monkeys across the channel.

3 in 1 oil is what you need and it will oil the mirror mechanism in your camera. Don't fret about the missing ships, they're only dropping well wrapped parcels off to local fishermen.

Got put in some shore time lads. Everything is flooding here. Roads and bridges being washed away, Landslides. this house is ok at the moment but the flood level is rising. Non stop rain for 3 days already and that water will be running down from the mountains for another 24 hours. catch up with you all when I can. I leave ES in charge in my absence ... Enjoy.

Water is a danger whether at sea or on land, at least at sea some attention is paid to make allowances but on land building regulations are pretty slack. Take care BB.

E-S I/C Plumbing? We're doomed, I tell ye, Doomed.

(Get dry soon Sir W. DPA has put the attached in the post but says you have to take it with you when you re-join as its vacant space on the wheelhouse bulkhead is why the SEC is short-term).

Eyup Varley, what are you doing with a lifejacket from Cork?

The Arms of Cork City were officially registered by the Chief Herald on 23rd August 1949 and are described as follows:

"Órdha ar thonntracha mara long trí-chrann fá lántseol dualdaite idir dhá thúr dhearg ar charraigeacha dualdaite ar gach túr bratach airgid maisithe le sailtír dheirg" Leis an Rosc "Statio Bene Fide Carinis."

"Or, on waves of the sea a ship three masts in full sail proper between two towers gules upon rocks also proper each tower surmounted by a flag argent charged with a saltire of the third" with the Motto "Statio Bene Fida Carinis."

The Arms of Cork City were officially registered by the Chief Herald on 23rd August 1949 and are described as follows: "Órdha ar thonntracha mara long trí-chrann fá lántseol dualdaite idir dhá thúr dhearg ar charraigeacha dualdaite ar gach túr bratach airgid maisithe le sailtír dheirg" Leis an Rosc "Statio Bene Fide Carinis."

"Or, on waves of the sea a ship three masts in full sail proper between two towers gules upon rocks also proper each tower surmounted by a flag argent charged with a saltire of the third" with the Motto "Statio Bene Fida Carinis."

The Arms of Cork City were officially registered by the Chief Herald on 23rd August 1949 and are described as follows: "Órdha ar thonntracha mara long trí-chrann fá lántseol dualdaite idir dhá thúr dhearg ar charraigeacha dualdaite ar gach túr bratach airgid maisithe le sailtír dheirg" Leis an Rosc "Statio Bene Fide Carinis."

"Or, on waves of the sea a ship three masts in full sail proper between two towers gules upon rocks also proper each tower surmounted by a flag argent charged with a saltire of the third" with the Motto "Statio Bene Fida Carinis."
"A safe Harbour for ships"

Cork is a maritime town, motto ought to be , "Dont piss us off". "Rusty".

Many thanks BB but I'm inclined to side with His Lordship.

In mitigation I'ii say that whilst Engineering is my profession, navigation was always my hobby so I'll get you to the Pilot Station in Melbourne and YM can be elevated to Docking Pilot.

Hi , billyboy .
Wish you all the best , hope weather improves .

I have a filipino daughter who lives there in Quezon City . she is a doctor there .
[ long story ] Talk regular by vidio link

Take care .

Tony

Be warned ES!
This is but one of my previous attempts at navigation on the Yarra. :o

Good enough for a first attempt, with a bit of room for improvement.

Eyup ES....I see that the arr, arr, arrs have a new government, does that mean we can export some of our barge people over to you, they would be great at navigating your new ship to oz

Rusty, The framed instructions came as part of my 21st birthday present from Brother. Along with a torch and some other marine related bric-a-brac that he thought would amuse his sailor boy sibling. David V

Hope you never had to use it.

serious situation here right now. River overflowing and flood level rising. Have a ladder ready to get up on the roof if we have to. will catch up when I can. expecting to loose power any time now.