virtual crazy gang, part II

[Engine Serang]

I recall many years ago being at a similar Seminar with Engine Supers. The Deck Supers were a bit miffed they weren't invited or hadn't the wit to organise one of their own so they had a competition to come up with a collective noun for a group of Engine Supers. The usual words appeared, a flock, a herd, a crew, a troupe but the winner was;-

A nuisance of Engineer Superintendents.

Who said the Deck Department lacked a sense of humour.

[rustytrawler]

Eyup ES I have a complaint to make, the radio man has let me down big time, bookies cursing cars reversing i had the bottle of smoke. He did not put the bet on.

[Malcolm G]

Ah yes, smoking - I stopped some years since but I was the type of smoker who created a firestorm when I inhaled. Cigarettes, cigars, pipes…
I ceased for the usual reasons;
Health and wellbeing
The smell on my clothing which permeated the entire wardrobe.
The shunning and shouting when one lit up in the ‘wrong’ place.
Oh, and shoreside prices may have had a significant influence.

[Varley]

I have just seen those remarks. I won't keel haul the little beast for missing the ship tax on your BLT (betting-letter-telegram) as the administration doesn't allow them (but for small donation to Mrs Varley's Fund for sailor-boy sons .....). What I will have the little sod for is broaching the Tawny while 'in charge' and being caught at it. The next thing you'll be reporting is that my stash of left handed literature has been raided.

[Varley]

E-S,
1) just about everyone, I think.
2) You had more than one deck super?

[rustytrawler]

Respect Varley, I did not think that you were familiar with the bottle of smoke song.

[tweediekiwi]

Well then RT, sing us the song then! Some of us haven't heard it.

[Varley]

For the majority that horse runs as often as it's name suggests and wins are even rarer.

[rustytrawler]

I had the bottle of smoke, have a look on utube, it's an uplifting song by the Pogues beware of the swearing, let me know what you think.

[Engine Serang]

What horse?
Who's horse?
Am I missing something?

[Engine Serang]

You had more than one deck super?

Good heavens no. They were more Cargo Supers than anything else plus a couple of Supercargo's contracted out as demand required.

[rustytrawler]

Wake up ES and get a good wash with cold water in the back yard you can dry your face on your vest. You should know this song well i play it in every Irish pub i go into, if you have never heard it it is time to hang your head, shame on you....."twenty fucking five to one my gambling days are done i had the bottle of smoke and my horse won.

[Varley]

E-S that sounds a little like the post proper-officer-era. Occasional difficulties in cargo handling were usually sorted by masters on leave if the ship manager or marine super could not sort by telex or loud telephone call.

Exception might have been with our US operation. The only mate that was trusted to discharge unchaperoned was a lady. The others had to have a hand holder (in Europe often an ex-company North Sea pilot). I did shotgun on a new to management vessel which was anticipated to be problematic. It was but in one way more unusual than the blackest of crystal balls could have forecast. The mate could not convert between barrels and cubic metres - and we had the adventure of the loaded trip (once the figured had been agreed) before us yet!