virtual crazy gang, part II

[billyboy]

No worries Varley. 3 lrge bottles of Vintage Port and a box of cigars awaits you in the PAX lounge.

[Tom Alexander]

Originally Posted by Dartskipper

There's enough noise coming out of the injuneers domain, without firing up any Screamin' Jimmies. (I know American truckers called them Rocky Mountain Humming Birds, but I think they were probably inhaling wacky tobaccy.)

Ubiquitous Jimmies -- not only in trucks but until a short while ago the North American "standard" for fish boats, tugs, Budd passenger railroad cars, railroad engines in general, etc., etc. Now taken overin large part by Caterpillars, Volvos and Cummins.

[Tom Alexander]

Heading towards the Straits of Florida, and I see the bright lights of Havana abeam to port -- don't see any reason why we shouldn't head in there for a quick sojourn to replenish our stock of cigars and rum?? Eh? Sir William??

[billyboy]

OK by me Tom. Seem to recall a rather nice place we went to before there. Most hospitable ladfies serving too!
They will contact the dealers and have it delivered to the ship. Purely for navigational and recreational purposes of course.
My late father (a scot) skippered a tug and he loved Haigs dimple. it was said that "with a bottle of Dimple and a parallel rule he could navigate anywhere".....LOL

[Varley]

Laddies serving eh?. Lassies'll be above stairs then I suppose.

Don't think you heard your old man quite right. With a bottle of Dimple and a parallel rule one navigates all over everywhere.

[Dartskipper]

If you draw a pencil line around the curve of the Dimple bottle, and then have a few tots, it looks like a great circle course on the chart.

[Tom Alexander]

Dartskipper/Farmer John -- please lay a Mercator course for Havana -- with this scale of chart any navigator with 6 inches who doesn't use it as a rule, in this particular case can; so no need to look for the parallel kind. (Chart must have been rolled up for awhile -- hold the corners down with some of those bottles of Four Bells stowed in the secret locker.) Think I'll turn in and rest up.

[billyboy]

Hello Farmer John. Tom turned in?

Brought a couple of bottles to see us through the night.....Cheers!

Bulkhead phone: Hello Tmac, Tots up on the bridge mate.

[Tmac1720]

Gallump gallump.... puff pant.... better be Black Bush or harsh words will be exchanged

[Farmer John]

Tmac, we know you, of course there is Black Bush.

Course set, all serene, Havana pass-by here we come.

[Dartskipper]

Originally Posted by Tom Alexander

Dartskipper/Farmer John -- please lay a Mercator course for Havana -- with this scale of chart any navigator with 6 inches who doesn't use it as a rule, in this particular case can; so no need to look for the parallel kind. (Chart must have been rolled up for awhile -- hold the corners down with some of those bottles of Four Bells stowed in the secret locker.) Think I'll turn in and rest up.

Sorry chaps, a bit tardy getting up to the Chartroom. I was Havana quick catnap, but the cat trumped my royal flush. That ruddy cat that sneaked aboard at our last port is too damn smart. Squeek had better be on his guard with his best shifter and flogging spanner ready for use.
Now, let's unroll this chart and see about plotting a course......hmmm.. I don't recognise any of this, all the islands and passages look wrong,......ooopps,, turn it the right way up and have another look. Ah, there's Havana, just there. Now, if we take these numbers as accurate measurements, we should be about right. Starboard lookout, can you see a bit of sea with the number 15 on it anywhere? There's a lot of number 15's on the chart around here. Can you see a large yellow coloured bit with some blue around it as well? If you can, we must be in the right area. These new charts are so much better to read than those old black and white ones.
Full ahead, steady as you go helmsman.

[billyboy]

No worries Tmac. look in the flag locker under B. thats black bush mate.

[Tom Alexander]

It might be good politics to sing the Havana national anthem as we arrive in port??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkW_OZLPYMA

[Farmer John]

Originally Posted by Tom Alexander

It might be good politics to sing the Havana national anthem as we arrive in port??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkW_OZLPYMA

I am a shoe-in for the floaty panels. Was there a glimpse of your avatar in there (or are you just pleased to see us?)

[billyboy]

whats going on guys?...Plasticos are smashing plates in the Pantry.
Cutouts dancing round in circles..

[Tmac1720]

Thanks for your concern Dartskipper but I can assure you Squeek is more than capable of fighting his corner with a cat, back streets of Belfast trained he eats them for TV snacks With his patented Harland and Bluff stainless steel gnashers he puts the fear of God into the plasticos

[Tmac1720]

Originally Posted by billyboy

whats going on guys?...Plasticos are smashing plates in the Pantry.
Cutouts dancing round in circles..

Squeek has just arrived in the pantry for his "elevenses"

[Tom Alexander]

Originally Posted by Farmer John

I am a shoe-in for the floaty panels. Was there a glimpse of your avatar in there (or are you just pleased to see us?)

Not my avatar -- my avatar is a 15 ft. Sea Spray Catamaran probably up around 16 knots. I raced them for about 40 years, but about 7 years ago my body finally said "enough is enough".

[billyboy]

Squeeeeeek! little devil getting fussy. asks for particular cheeses now! he not keen on the Camambere though. think the smell puts him off.

[Dartskipper]

Originally Posted by billyboy

Squeeeeeek! little devil getting fussy. asks for particular cheeses now! he not keen on the Camambere though. think the smell puts him off.

He might take it if you give it a squirt of bunkers or lubes.

[billyboy]

Tmac reckons the little devile would eat Bourskin cheese...at least thats what I think he said.
Right guys...Crews bar open on my tab....tuck in.

[Dartskipper]

Just been into the crews bar, Sir William, and John is still in there demanding the steward put on another barrel of Special Brew. I think this will be number 5. I asked him about Coral Star, and he assured me that she could find her own way home.

[Farmer John]

All the way from Paignton, can make a man thirsty. A barrel of Special Brew was good enough for Winston Churchill, and he was a man of complete moderation and well known for it.

The "Coral Star" appears to be somewhere off Norwich, so it would seem she has found her way home. Dartskipper, raise a glass with me to the Chief Steward and John from Paignton. Number 5 has always been my lucky number.

(Personally, I wouldn't drink special brew when perfectly good Brasso can be found).

[billyboy]

Originally Posted by Dartskipper

Just been into the crews bar, Sir William, and John is still in there demanding the steward put on another barrel of Special Brew. I think this will be number 5. I asked him about Coral Star, and he assured me that she could find her own way home.

and she always did too! ha ha

[billyboy]

Here you go. just fetched a 40 gallon drum up from 2 hold......Cheers!!