July and Links

A Wet Awakening
1st Wednesday …I had a wet awakening this morning with splashes of water landing on “me chops” and all over the bedside cabinet. Water was gushing in through the porthole so I jumped out of bed and stuffed towels on the sloping ledge beneath the porthole. The water was coming from the hose that the men use for cleaning the ship. It was hanging down exactly level with the middle of the porthole. Accidental or otherwise? Bunging on some clothes I dashed onto the deck above my cabin and re-positioned the hanging hose. As I was returning to my sodden cabin I noticed the Swedish Boson laughing with another Swedish deckhand and that’s why I thought it might not have been accidental. The wireless operator told me that any new hand on board ship is tried out by the crew. Maybe that water incident was accidental. Or was it?

Preferential Treatment
On this ship, like the Captain said, I’m traveling double first class which is completely true. I have been lucky to get on this ship to get back to England. It’s going to cost me about $70.00 which is very nearly ¼ of what it would have cost V. S. O. to get me back.

The Ship Has Shrunk!
Besides that awakening this morning there’s been no piece of excitement in my life except this “Ride on the Ocean Waves”. It is amazing when I thought how big this ship was back in Burnt Point to see it getting chucked about by the sea. The “Frans Gorthon” has diminished in size and security since we lost sight of land so many days ago.

Maybe See Ireland?
Today we have traveled 300 miles from 10.00 p.m. last night to 10.00 p.m. tonight. Tomorrow afternoon or thereabouts will put Ireland in view. Yippee!
I have had only a slight headache for my pains in crossing by ship. At the slightest feeling of nausea in my stomach I’ve rammed a “Gravol” down me cakehole.

Bye Bye Sty
The fabulous food on board and ever since I left Port Hope has knocked the sty on my right eye for six.

Oh, by the way we’ve had very good weather so far. Touch wood. My God! If this is a smooth crossing I wouldn’t want to be on the Atlantic when it’s rough “for all the tea in China” (to quote some philosopher or other.) Too much thinking isn’t good for anyone that’s what I think. Worry about things when you’ve got to. That’s my motto. “British Rail” will foil my chances of getting home for a good ‘ole Sunday dinner.

Land Ahoy Jim Lad!
Thursday 2nd…At 5.45 p.m. land was sighted. The Bishop Rock lighthouse off the Scilly Isles was a grand sight. Not much further to go now before I am back on dry land. I got up at 11.00 a.m. according to my timepiece but it was really mid-day. So I got out of bed and joined Captain Karl for a hamburger and eggs lunch. Gorgeous food. The weather has been sunny all day and I couldn’t have asked for better weather to greet me on my arrival. Good ‘ole English weather. It’s not one of extremes I am glad to say. I’ve done nothing all day except read and generally pass away my time as best as I can. Captain Karl got the T.V. working this evening. “Very emotional” was the impression I had of the Dr. Hardy serial that was on. I’m off to bed after a shower, a sandwich and a glass of squash.

Our Pilot is On Board
Friday 3rd July…Well for a change a good bit has happened in the life of our Roving Reporter Ernie Pritchard! Most of the day went as per usual as we motored at 121/2 knots up The English Channel. At 6.15 p.m. after supper The Pilot came on board and he is now in command of the ship, taking it to its mooring that we will reach at 2330hrs He’s a friendly sort of bloke who has been Pilot around the Folkestone to Sheerness locality for 10 years so he should get us in safely tonight. I had a good chat with him, telling him all about my escapades in far away Hope Simpson. All this was going on up at the Bridge which the Captain has said I can visit whenever I want to.

Phoned Home
It was from the Bridge that I phoned home speaking to Mum and Will. I don’t think they were acquainted with the machinations of a radio telephone conversation with its “Over” and “Out” and all that jazz. I suppose I should have told them. I had some experience of using it in Hope Simpson. I am getting tired of saying that name! Anyways I should get home tomorrow sometime and I’m going to get home without dropping in on V. S. O. because I can do that on my way to visit Luton College of Technology which I want to run a “rain check” on before the college closes for the Summer Vacation.

Back to the Pilot…He told me there are 150 Pilots at Folkestone which I thought sounded impressive. That dwarfed in comparison when he told me there are 450 Pilots in London. It just shows what a busy waterway The English Channel is. I nattered with him for a while and paid the Wireless Operator (A beautiful Swedish student by the way) $2.25 for the phone call – 18 bob – scandalous,” shocking”! then I went to watch the goggle box for a while. From there I went to ask the Pilot if he would like a sandwich and a drink and when he said,

“Yes please” I went down to the “Pantry”. As I was going out he said, “Any chance of a beer?”

I said, “O.K. I’ll see what I can do.”

When I got down the very steep staircase and into the “Pantrie” I thought,

“Huh; I’m not getting him any booze whilst he’s looking after this ship.”

I took him a cheese and cucumber sandwich with a glass of squash. Let’s see if he can get stoned on that!

Dropped Anchor
It’s 11.38 p.m. and we’ve just dropped anchor. I wonder when the Customs men will come on board. You just watch. I bet it will be in the middle of the night. They are 24 hour men so I’ve been told.

From Ship to Train to Home

Saturday 4th July…At 8.00 a.m. this morning I was keeping an eye open for the Pilot Boat that the Captain said he would get for me. Sure enough it came powering out to the ship. I said goodbye to the Wireless Operator, the First and Third Mates and loaded my bags on board the little beauty. From the Dock the Coxswain took me down to the station. This was Sheerness Railway Station. I gave him a couple of Canadian Dollars. From Sheerness I bought a ticket to London. I didn’t actually buy one because I didn’t have any English cash. I paid for my ticket at Victoria Station in London form Sittingbourne to Exmouth. It cost 68 bob. From the Victoria ticket office the Clerk got me a Porter who called a taxi for me. When I gave him a tip of one shilling he said to the taxi driver, “Charge him a quid, he only gave me a bloody bob!” I smiled it off but it wasn’t very pleasant. Incidentally, the taxi man charged me a reasonable six shillings and eight pence for the ride to Waterloo Station. The train left for Exeter at 1300 hrs. which meant an hour’s wait for yours truly. What a place Waterloo Station was to me. Hundreds of gaily, daintily and plainly dressed people hurrying about or just waiting. A thriving mass of bodies. That’s what it was. And worst of all none of them would stop for a chat! The train for Exmouth waited for the London train at Exeter and I could hardly believe my good luck as I was traveling along the beautiful track running along the eastern bank of the River Exe. I was nearly home and how green the fields looked to me. It was very nice to be rid of the ugliness of the city. A taxi from outside Exmouth railway Station brought me home at 5.45 p.m.

Great Welcome
I was welcomed home by Mum, Will, Anne, Dave and Ed. It was great to be back. The twins unpacked my big suitcase very adroitly and were delighted with the skins and souvenirs which I had. Leaving a difficult Dave at home the rest of us, left for an enjoyable evening at The Northcott Theatre in Exeter. We all traveled in Will’s van and “The Dragon” was quite a clever play which showed the weakness of human nature, amongst other things, in a fairy tale form. Appealing to both adults and children alike. After having a lunch with Will with whom I chatted I crawled into my sleeping bag that Mum had laid out on a mattress in Ed’s room. Sleep at last.

Sunday 5th July…The weather is nice and I have a lot of talking ahead with the family, Neighbours friends and teachers. I have a lot to talk about as well!

Wouldn’t Have missed it for the World
Maturity is what I have gained the most from my year’s experience abroad. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world although at times it was difficult.

NAIN DIARY & EXTRACTS

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http://porthopesimpsonchallenge.blogspot.com
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http://porthopesimpsonsdevelopment.blogspot.comincluding ORAL HISTORY as recalled by Mrs. Kathleen Mina Squire (formerly James, known as Bunty James) interviewee, who lived in Port Hope Simpson in 1935 as a guest of her life-long friend, Katie Doreen Williams, daughter of J. O. Williams. Interviewed by Llewelyn Pritchard in the company of John (grandson of J.O. Williams) and Sheila Illsley;11 January 2003
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