England Expects, While Wales Regrets.

Today October 21 among the fanfare of Bullshine and Historical Revelry commemorating Admiral Horatio Nelsons epic victory* over the French and Spanish fleets, on Monday October 21, 1805. culminating in a 75% casualty rate - both dead and wounded, which also included Nelson himself dying on his flagship HMS Victory, will be overshadowed by a disaster occurring Friday October 21 1966 in the tiny mining village of Aberfan in Wales when torrential rain caused a mountainous coal slag heap to move so fast that it engulfed most of the village and the whole yes whole generations of the village schoolchildren. The story can be unfolded by googling 'ABERFAN DISASTER'. ...................................................................................... At the time of the signal "England expects every man will do his duty" in 1805 many children too lost their lives it was well known that 11 year old powder monkey's as they were called - served on British Naval ships while among the upper class were young midshipmen - future officers age thirteen. However, the situation had improved by the time of WW2 When I joined the Royal Navy as Boy 2ND Class at the ripe old age of 15 years six months and twenty days on Jan 7, 1942 and on my first ship as Boy ist class at 16 plus. ....................................................................................... Vice Admiral Sir Bernard Rawlings a Vet of WW1 in a dinner speech on his flagship HMS King George V in Tokyo at the end of Hostilities in that rather nasty Pacific war(read about it) said to his American Admiral guests. "Our ship has been in this commission for just two years and has served in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean the Indies and the Pacific, The average age on my ship right now is 19 - mere children. On 'KGV' V J Day Aug 14 1945 Able Seaman Vest daily gaggle was 19.08 years of age. ....................................................................................... Today's Quote. Suffer little children to come unto me. Vest...... Back soon.

Worlds Oldest Father.?????

NEW DELHI. An Indian man supposedly has become the Worlds oldest Father, so the yarn goes. although any male person can still be the oldest father in the world at the maximum possible age, what these Indian Fakirs are saying is the bloke in question has simply knocked up this 54 year old Indian sheila at the age of 96 and boasts a previous birth by same person at 94 he being the Sire on both occasions. ....................................................................................... Although I doubt God had a hand in it, the assumed father Ramjit Raghav speaking from his home near Delhi said" what can I do this is all gods wish, he wanted me to have another son. Ramjit said neighbours were jealous of his sex drive, kept strong by a daily diet of almonds butter and milk,. Ramjit a farmer all his life says he is healthy and virile and can go all night if asked. ....................................................................................... I believe that old geezer is not quoting the true gospel unless his local years have less endurance than Gregorian years. By the time a bloke gets to 90 or before, his testimonials give up the Ghost and coming to attention rarely goes beyond a state of flaccidness. I have a sneaky notion that his hired Ploughman sneaks into his wife's bed when he gets up early to milk the oxen. I tend to take that story with a pinch of curry. ....................................................................................... Reminds me of a song, going back a bit. AN old man of ninety got married, His bride was so young and so bold, They went on his yacht honeymooning, She married the old man for gold. A year later she had his baby, So at Ninety he still had the Knack, Then he took one look at the baby. And then gave the captain the sack. I rest my case, Vest.... Back soon.

History plus The Royal Australian 'Joyless' Navy.

On this day in 1604, King James 1 of England and as James 6 of Scotland Who detests the ever increasing habit of smoking, imposes a tax on the imports of tobacco. This new tax will be used to feed the Royalist's war chest for use in later years. ....................................................................................... Smokes fags baccy DF's for Jolly Jack are heading toward extinction in the Joyless Royal Australian Navy, Oh you can still choke on fag smoke but you will pay the full quid for them. Not sure if the Royal Navy still allow this unwarranted privilege and I doubt by now few Matelots presently serving in the RN will remember the grog issue, One eighth of a pint of rum watered down two to one. As a young sailor in the RN, I was not permitted to smoke until I was Eighteen and punishment was a severe thrashing if caught.However my first action station on the ADP meant you would get all the smoke necessary to choke you from the two huge Funnels (Stacks) and more so in a stern sea. It seems the RAN and the RN are now committed to a fit and healthy Bored totally shitless workforce, Or are there other bodily pastimes replacing the ancient mariners world of Rum Bum and baccy, seems unlikely. Today' sailors are a different breed and have to stay healthy and alert at all times one person describing the RAN as a 'Joyless' service focused on political correctness. And why do the Navies of the world retain the ancient comical sailors uniforms, I believe the RAN and RN uniforms go back to the 19Th Century. Most sailors would agree they are a pain in the ass. "Up Spirits, Stand fast the Holy Ghost" Vest..... Back soon.

History and the 'Carbon Tax'.

History. On Saturday Oct 13 1986. A former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser gives a speech at the Memphis Country Club and leaves for a drink. He is found the next morning wandering around minus his passport, his wallet and trousers. An antique song "Donald Whares yer troosers" made a short lived come back. ....................................................................................... Being frugal with power usage over the past Quarter, you know the usual things like remembering to turn off from the power point and turning off when last out of the particular room, has actually reduced our consumption of electric power. However, despite our efforts to reduce the carbon emissions and save the blessed planet, we were Shocked to receive a power bill which exceeded the previous one by 27%. A jocular MP recently suggested that a punitive tax on Beer, Baked Beans, Port Wine and Pizzas should be imposed due to the fact that the consumption of these aforementioned products create flatulence and carbon emissions, those were only a few mentioned in the food chain. Further to the list of taxable carbon producers were wood fires, barbecues and bringing back the ancient chimney tax. I suppose when nothing else can be found to tax, there will be no alternative than to tax SUN usage, say Fifty bucks a month on each 10x5 Solar panel. If you are an Aussie reading this post maybe your intellectual input regarding this sudden gouge in the cost of electrical power can impart an explanation to which I have failed to comprehend. Let him that would move the world first move himself. Back soon ... Vest

When Spring gets Sprung.

We are in the Australian Spring where I live in Eastern Australia, Summer will be here in six weeks. Yet six days ago the Midday tenp on the Central Coast topped 35 C, today in Budgewoi NSW 90 kilometers from Sydney the temp topped only 9 C. Is this the Global Warming warning we can expect in the future? Last week I wore a sweaty singlet, today one needed an extra pair of globe warming pants plus a woolly outfit and jacket . really doesn't make sense. The local Pawn Broker had his sign covered overnight , 'Just in case'. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-12/snow-falling-across-eastern-australia/4308904 - Shared using Google

Historical events on this day Oct 3.

1906: The 'Morse Code' letters S O S,or dot dot dot dash dash dash dot dot dot are adopted as the international distress signal at the Berlin Radio Conference, replacing C Q D. ................................................................................... 2009: An asylum seekers' boat disappears on its way from Indonesia to Christmas Island, with 105 Hazaras on board presumed drowned after an Australian delay in passing on a distress call..SOS? ................................................................................... It seems it is near impossible to land a small boat on Christmas Island without a mishap or without assistance. The Illegal immigrants are compelled to call for assistance on the high seas. By giving these criminals entry to Australia is illegal by any standard. ...................................................................................... People who attempt to enter Australia via the International Airports are usually held in custody until the next available plane back to whence they came. Our present Federal Govt is condoning this illegal activity, no other country would allow illegal entry to their territories. Our ineffective weak Kneed Govt is turning a blind eye to Illegal entry into Australia. ..................................................................................... Actually my first visit to Australia from Great Britain saw me arrive without a passport, however, that is another story. Our imagination is the only limit to what we can have in the future. Vest..... Back soon.