I don't know about the invisibility cloak. More like I flaked out somewhere where you didn't look. I have too many entangled quarks to try the Starfleet transporter thingy. And Tmac need not think he can get me pissed enough to be his Guineapig again the next trial of his bumfleet version.

Well we tried to "dispatch" the strange fishy thing and to paraphrase the well known song:

We hit it with a hammer and we hit it with a broom
We chased that strange fish all around the room (aft deck!)

I even got the Cutouts singing Hi-Tiddly-I-Ti to keep morale up!

Unfortunately, the damn thing would not die - in fact it seemed to come to life! No amount of hammering, brooming seemed to work and when it started to hum, tick and the propeller type tail started to revolve I decided that if we could not do anything with it it would not be good eating, so we gave it a (yes, very gentle) float test.

We just put it back in the water and it took off at a rate of Knots in a straight line!

The good thing is that the nearby cruise liners and containerships all changed course rapidly so will be no danger to us and the OOW and lookouts can now relax!

Anyway, we have a good catch - I can identify some swordfish, tuna and some deep dwellers like monkfish so that will be OK for supper.

By the way, as a "right on", green friendly environmentalist I threw the dolphins back as well!

McC

I told the cut outs to let go our moorings to the dolphins in our last berth. I didn't know they were still lashed alongside.

Hey ho, press on regardless.

Tom, has anyone corrected these charts recently? There seem to be a large number of mysterious tan coloured rings. Strangely, they are all exactly the same size, but although most of them are down the right hand side of the chart, there are a few slap bang in the middle of the North Atlantic. I have seen similar rings in various locations on horizontal surfaces all over the chart room and bridge. Any ideas? :confused:

Mmm, fish chips and mushy peas, that's good for what ails yer.

Dartskipper, I had noticed the rings on the charts too, they are (on close examination) rings caused by mycorrhizae living in close symbiotic relationships with the chip pan that keeps getting left on the charts when there has been an urgent need to eat something after wetting of the whistle. They are often known as "Fairy Rings" but I feel that is distasteful.

Hark!

(I've always wanted to say that)

Was that a dull boom from just over the horizon, just where the plume of debris and water is rising?

According to the chart there is a wreck in the area of the detonation in shallow water....Good shot! not every day you get to sink a sunken ship heh heh heh. I did hear a tale about a Sub that let one loose many years ago. darn thing shot up the beach and sunk a horse and cart.

I have often let one loose with great violence, never hit a horse and cart.

Gee! I've never seen a can of WD 40 that big. I knew that stuff was flammable but it sure made a helluva mess of that old shipping container floating about two miles away. :D

(Must'ave 'ad two warheads because I see we sunk a sunken ship as well. Could be that it managed to get into Varley's Gripetini and was seeing double.) :smoking::smoking:

Gripetini...by heck....that stuff is strong. One glass of that and I am anybodys. Maskes tocket fuel seem tame heh heh

Seeing as Coastie hasn't been around for a bit, for nostalgia's sake, is anyone aboard with sufficient culinary expertise able to rustle up a plate of anchovies on toast?? Good for restoring a thirst!

:pint:

Coastie is very busy ashore attending to company business. Also CED is likewise attending to company business. Sister Eleff, attending to company business. all on official business and still on the payroll.

I think I could rustle up some anchovies on toast, if folks don't mind it being anchovy toast?

Many thanks for solving the Mystery of the Rings, FJ. I was worried that some strange denizen of the deep that Mr McC caught had got loose and had been leaving tentacle prints behind. As for a little toasted savoury snack, that would be very acceptable. A couple of rounds please.

Tom, that WD40 is capable of all sorts of things, according to the long list of unconventional uses found by folks posting on their web site. Large explosions are well within its capabilities ! (An aerosol can exploded in the Ambersil factory in Bridgwater, Somerset. It left a circular dent in a steel door.)

https://www.wd40.com/uses-tips

I think the saying goes: If it doesn't move and it is supposed to - use WD40. If it moves and is supposed not to - you are not using enough duct tape!! :jump:

Inasmuch as we are drawing close to the Azores, I would ask that we heave to at 13:03 hours to have some moments of silence for the sinking of the Pamir. See:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamir_(ship)

At the time I was an apprentice in the "Pacific Northwest", about 600 miles north of the Azores - too far away to be of any assistance. This was a terrible tragedy which could possibly have been avoided - but that in many ways has been the lot of the seaman at the hands of some owners for millenia. :(:(

Fully agree TA.

Is Stein on this site or is he on "the other side"?

I am sure he has some input into this.

McC

A sad story, corners cut and money shaved, with an end to sadden all.

Pamir in better days -- my best guess around 1945 when trading out of Western Canada.

Attention on deck, hats off, lower ensign to half staff for one minute of silence.

Aye Aye Captain Tom.

Ive had the stewards prepare tots and snacks in The PAX lounge,

I will join you there Sir William.

McC

been busy teaching the Chef how to Shovel fry Bacon, Mushroom, Eggs and tomatoes.

With that smokey, coaly flavour! Once tasted - never forgotten.

McC

Nice memorial service Tom. Now come and try the footplate mans Breakfast. Best Bacon ever.

Irene wouldnt let me bring a shovel into the Galley. Had to use one of them Black pan things but still ok.

Can we all be sure about the safety of the eggs and bacon cooked on the shovel especially given some of the much talked about but never detailed secret aspects of the GD's engineroom?

I have concerns especially about the purpose and use of that entire compartment that looks like a cross between a huge microwave oven and a push bike. It does not seem to burn either coal or Bunker C. Entry to this area is currently disguised behind the engineroom Christmas Tree.

A fry up on a shovel is no more unsafe than Cornish Pasties baked on the exhaust pipe.


Piping hot tiddy oggie anyone?

Nice service of remembrance Tom.

Time for a tot now.

Joining everyone for a "tot", (or more). Nice frie-up Sir William -- glad you had the foresight to brush most of the coal dust off the shovel before hand. Faial in the morning. Oh! Yes! Got to wash the breakfast down. :pint:

Tot's
 

Had a rummage in my store cupboard. came up with a case of this. Cheers all!!

No worries Varley. I found a couple of bottles of vintage port for you. Amazing just what i have hidden away in there......Hic!!

As those with good memories will recall, in my role as Chief Steward I have supplies of most beverages that can be named, and access to many others if demanded. Any requests to enliven the upcoming festivities will be gratefully received and cheerfully met.

Personally, I am investigating some of the Belgian Beers, so it will be as well to write down anything I can.

O could manage a couple of Orangeboom or Stella Artoise.

I've had at least one Belgian beer in the past, and from the taste actually made some of my own ----- but the best comparison by far, in my limiuted experience is to be found here on Vancouver Island.

https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/vancou...ice-bock/6195/

Fair puts hair on your chest, and lead in your pencil!!! Tastes good too. :king:

[QUOTE=billyboy;10139]O could manage a couple of Orangeboom./QUOTE]

From my experience with that stuff in Rotterdam I vaguely remember thinking it was made from onions. Had way too many of them, so probably didn't quite appreciate the finer points. :supercool:

Mr. McCluggie --- glad to see you took the initiative to lay us alongside when we arrived in Horta on the island of Faial. Nice peaceful little spot with several bars close to the barbour. I think we should organise a shore party to investigate the level of entertainment provided by each establishment in turn. (One step up from a bar crawl?) :):)

I thought Horta was near St Kilda and reckoned it was a bit busy! Anyway the alongside berth seemed free and we did not want to go outboard of anything.

Right. Ganwway cutouts mustered.

Who else is up for a run ashore?

McC

The entertainment bars sound good. Must nip and get a pocketfull of Hershey bars to take ashore with me. Oh and some Sunlight soap as well.

Amazing how quiet it is when everybody has gone ashore with McC. Must be one heck of a party.....

this ship is as busy as Aberdeen on a flag day..... Bulkhead Phone: Oi, Scabby knuckles, get yer butt up here to the PAX lounge. we have the bar to ourself Mate. Have a few drinks before they all get back. You can tell me all about that time in Belfast....err no I cant write that on here......LOL

Your wish is my command sire and anyhoo Squeek could do with the practice for his chiefs ticket. Pint of Black Bush you say.... don't mind if I do. :chuckle:

Did you see that oul fella with yon sleigh gubbins ?... Cheeky bugger, I told him I didn't care who's father he was and to get those feckin' Reindeer off the bridge roof. :(

Just got back onboard after a blaze round the bars. Listen, you can still hear the wailing and crying "Come Back, Come Back" they cry, "Come Back and pay".