I'm no boffin ES. The last time I used my bamboo Faber=Castell slide rule, I got a blood blister off that plastic sliding thing on it and it made me swear. That's why it's called a cursor. I just thought that you chaps may have come upon such calculations whilst towing things around the world.
I do like that catenary word though - it's applicable to the Chain Bridge over the River Tweed.
And RT - I'm glad I hid the shotgun ...

If you don't know who RT is going to shoot it is probably you. Beware.

No, but then I had a British Thornton slide rule. No foreign rubbish in my pencil box.

Iam going to shoot anything that gobbles

Mine was also British - a Blundell.
But having a sister work in the factory was significant in the ‘choice’.

Anyway, I can't find any depth charges for the limbo mortar so I filled it with scraps and peelings from the galley and shot it the hell away from the GD, and the tow rope. Oh well, I'd better polish the scuppers and grease the winches again. Time for drinks yet?

So when I thought you shouted man overboard, you actually said can overboard?

Wot? When is it not time for tincturing?

I've got a couple of slide rules but I haven't used them for so long the batteries must be flat now.

The fish has now been replaced in the fish fridge. Pantryman tells me that what was in there tasted like pork but it has all gone now.
Now I can see what is in the meat fridge. Good news, I have found some fowl. It looks like goose but has a red bill and there is some black plumage. I’m sure that it will be OK.

I've got my Dad's Mitutoyo Digital Vernier Guage (in a presentation box) that USSCo gave to him when he left them. It's got a flat battery too. Good to use in the dark as it's luminous - not bad for 1971. Slides don't rule any more - calculators took over Long live HP and Texas Instruments. OK, all this tech talk is too much. I'm with Varley for a celebratory tincture now. Join me in the Funnel Lounge and, if I get my pay, I'll buy everyone a drink, or a packet of cheese and onion chips each.
Merry Christmas to all you good guys and gals (and non-binary folk too). Have a safe and happy festive season and a simply superb 2025. Someone find out where the time has gone please. I still feel like I was 19 a couple of years ago.

Thanks to all aboard the GD for putting up with me (again) during 2024.

We have voyaged to some weird, wonderful and strange places over the years. I don't think that anyone has even been incarcerated this year but, nevertheless, we must always remain vigilant! :jester:

Anyway, Best Wishes to you all and also the wider circle of SH members for Christmas and the New Year.

How about a trip to the Weddell sea an iceberg twice the size of london has freed it's self and needs towing back to where it came from, not many have been to that area so lets crash on.

Not a bad idea - summer down there.
But aren’t we supposed to be delivering something, I know not what, to Klang Klang ?
And what about the old tug that ‘someone’ inadvertently acquired?

Don't know about 'Summer down there', Malcolm. ???
It's only 17° here in Melbourne today! Three weeks or one day into Summer depending upon one's religion.
But not to worry it is supposed to be 41° on Thursday. Yippee!
:applause::thumb::cool:

Is there any cod down there? You will soon get warm hopping about on that iceberg are you volunteering to tie the tow line to it? and we can use some of it in our drinks, how about that.

I am not against a challenge but that berg is 3.9 cubic kilometres. If we could source enough gin where would we get the tonic water?

In the spirit of the season - Fresh mince pies now available in the galley. Come and fill your boots.

Mr Tweedie: Please be so kind as dispose of these mincemeat canisters, it might spoil people's enjoyment if they read the labels, and please also bear in mind that the bridle runs out BOTH side of the stern. It took me ages to clear your last load of jetsam.

Varley has caused another problem, so if any of you see three wise men ask them where we get the tonic from.

Mr Varley graduated to G&T?
and I got 7 cases of Old Tawney down below.

Cant help thing that IF we manage to sell the Tow along the way, and swear that it sunk to the owners we could all have a decent Christmas bonus each.

Jawohl mein führer!

Frantically searching for the table centre for Christmas Dinner tomorrow and dusting off the good crockery and cutlery.:sweat::cloud:

The Pudding is made and I sampled a few oysters and prawns in anticipation tonight. Just to make sure that they were OK, (of course).

Bah humbug ................................. Might console myself with another Drambuie in the meantime.:pint:

Merry Christmas to you all and a safe and healthy New Year.:)

Thanks, too, and best wishes to those who have run this ship during 2024.

Have a heart man and let her finish before you do.

Merry Christmas everyone!
Just had a message from my son saying he has pulled a Cracker. Mind you, He always was a lucky lad

Sorry for the gubbins on the bridle, I'll wash it off properly when I'm finished holy-stoning the deck and chipping the anchor cable. Something has shat reindeer doings all over the topside upper bit's of the GD and it's giving to port holes a shitty outlook, and there's a skid mark on the funnel (unless Nike are sponsoring our floating fun?). MC & a HNY to you all. We have thunder and frightening and monsoon type rain here. Ok, where's my chipping hammer ...

Festive Yuletide Greetings.
A good splash of Bailey’s on your breakfast cornflakes might help things along.

Time of day old boy. G&T at half past breakfast, Manzanilla or Fizz predinner. Tawny through to breakfast.

Wise men would give this tub a wide berth, probably charge a lot for hiring us one at all.

Merry merry all. Busy in galley. So far only hint of C2H5OH when making brandy cream (would have had more but its the bottle that doubles as varnish remover. Label says French, tonsils suggest only as much as is the Foreign Legion). Guests at 1900 when can pop a cork or two. Toodle pip.

Merry Christmas, if that's appropriate. Vague feeling I've lost a day or two somewhere in the run in to the big day, Memsahib strangely quiet.
After a month of the Food Channel having Jamie, Roux, Martin, the guy from Padstow, the Cowgirl from the Ranch and the hideous Nigella show us how to stuff and cook a turkey we're having a rib roast. Freedom from the tyranny of Tom Turkey.
Will talk on Annual Outputs and our Balanced Score Card closer to New Year. Have your figures for submission and wide discussion.

My sister enjoyed Christmas Day dinner at her grandson’s place, in France with extended French family.
Turkey? Non! - Main course, Leg of wild boar shot earlier this week.

I have tasted an Armagnac which felt as though it was going to melt my tonsils, best stick with Cognac.

I have a long and probably tedious annecdote that supports that in spades but to cut it short the 'Wine Cellar' (conveniently relocated just across the road so that they could save on delivery fuel costs) provides me with a not, by a long shot, affordable Cognac (Fontvielle until off the market and now an equally expensive ABK7 XO). When out of stock I was persuaded to try an Armagnac. WHen next there with a raw throat I consulted an older head. He advised that to get an Armagnac of equivalent quality to the Fontvielle I would have to pay double the price - so not viable even for the Christmas cake or culinary napalm.

4 slices of toast served up with a generous helping of Baked Beans was my Christmas dinner. been dashing about to various parties, luncheons, family reunion and dinner invites...be happy now its all over. Roll on January 1. lets get back to normal.
Steward! splice the main brace. 3 fingers to each glass on my tab. Happy new year everyone.

Varley - isn't C2H5OH the stuff the compass needle floats in? Sounds too strong for human consumption. But, this from observation from a guy that could get drunk on wine gums these days as I'm on too many other things that make me too difficult to stand up proply. Hope you all had a very merry merry - now you can go and have a happy new.

The Lewis Structure, takes me back to 1970 "A" Level Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, only for swots and boffins. But if you can drink it; lets not be judgemental.

Stand by to shorten the hawser lads, we are to anchor off and await the pilot. he will board us near the top of tomorrows tide.
rig for towing on the starboard quarter of the tow.
once we beach it we can go for a decent curry somewhere nearby.

To be pedantic I think it is the card that floats (more buoyed perhaps) with the needle affixed and supported/centred by a pin. I have been informed in my opinion when forced to disassemble a bowl or two in the search for something to take with the quinine water (strictly medicinal, of course).

(I think also it is really either isopropyl alcohol or purified kerosene).

I fed 6 on Monday and 6 again on Christmas day. Guests arrived just at the point I intended to switch off the bird and I forgot about it. Bird very dry when it finally emerged but no complaints.

Yesterday I checked the maturation state of the Curry de Noel (has livened-up the dry bird nicely) and put several portions to freeze. All I have left is a millimetre of so of smoked salmon before I am carving skin and a mountain of cheese.

Intended to be mouse quiet on New Year's Eve but was winkled out for Indian (sandwiched between domestic pre and post prandials). Back home before 'the hour' to field the inevitable 'Happy' 'phonecalls.

And tonight. Anyone tried smoked salmon, cheese and bread sauce vindaloo?

Ah, BillyBoy, I'll have a nasi goreng please with the fried egg flopped on top. Sounds fine.
And, I bow to Varleys greater experience regarding cards, needles, alcohol and all points North. He's been there, I've only been told about it or read it in a book.
I think my memory is improving as I can remember 2024 like it was a few days ago.
Happy New Year Lads!!

Nasi Goreng with fried egg. If done as our Chinese cooks did then I would beat path to the galley door. For those that haven't had it, a mystery, (one friend also craves same from when stationed with late husband in Singapore, she would help with the beating sticks).

Last of the smoked salmon went this morning for breakfast (well, I gauged it as the last as the cats showed only moderate interest in thieving, 'obviously over the top').

We will just have to make sure that we actually release the tow and try not to run ourselves up the beach as well.

In this short season of goodwill ought we invite Oldgit77 back?

I think the thread needs an Aunt Sally, I'm fed picking on His Lordship and YM.

Pilot has the con!
soon as he says ''let go'' we back off astern to where the pilot boat is. dump the pilot and get the heck out of here. Mumbai for a run ashore and a decent curry.
Nothing from the agent so wherever we go from there who knows.
Any suggestions welcome.

Of course, ES.

Anyone or anything to take the pressure off. :jester:

Incidentally, Best Wishes for 2025 :wave:

Have you worked out where you are or where you'd rather be yet?

It's going to be around 40° here today - that should put you off coming here. :bye: