Sunday 4 November 2012

Storytelling Sunday: ...and i'm not looking forward to the journey home neither.

It's that time again, Sian is hosting Storytelling Sunday here.
Do you remember that advert? It was for Carling Black Label, an old fisherman staggered into a bar from a storm and said he ‘wasn’t looking forward to the journey home neither’ in a broad west country accent. When he had had his pint he went back out and rowed across a boating lake.
Our family loved that advert, my Dad drank Carling, and yes he did use to say “I’ll have a Carling darling” at the bar. So sophisticated :)

The worst storm I was in was very wierd, it was during the 1994 World Cup. I worked at sea for P&O and we wanted to watch a game so we were in the crew mess. Obviously this was in the dark ages of satellite and it was intermittent once we got halfway across the channel. So we knew that we would probably lose the signal but suddenly the lights went out as well. There were howls of frustration, but once we saw that not only the signal had gone but the power as well we were intrigued. The power going out was a big deal. We poured out onto B deck to look at the sea, the generator kicked in with it’s lurid greeny-yellow light. Now there were very few people working at sea that were not obsessed with the sea, the way it changed every hour or so was magical and we always felt the need to get out on deck to feel it, not just watch through the portholes or windows. Even though we were used to unusual sea scenes we were amazed at what we saw. We could see the storm riding across the sea and it was green, a beautiful spooky green and flashed through with electric lightning, the salty smell was muted as there were no waves, it is so difficult to describe but it was eerie. 

Sadly I do not have a photo of this so I will leave you of one with my Dad. This was a night he came over on the ferry to see me. It was known as a round-trip when a passenger would go out one-way, go shopping in the turnaround time and come straight back. My Dad was a huge sea traveller, he went around the world twice as a merchant seaman and he was proud of me becoming an officer, I was the accommodation officer, they didn’t let me steer :D I got on well with the Captain, ‘JW’ and so he got a Bridge visit as well and this was us having a drink in the bar afterwards.

This layout is ancient, I have just dug it out of an album in the wardrobe and smiled to see some of my old layouts.

I do miss him. 

Carling, Darling. Really?

23 comments:

  1. Aw, Jennie, this story has it all - the eerie atmosphere and a smile or two and that wistful ending to make us all stop and think. It's perfect! I bet you could run Storytelling Sunday every week of the year with your stories of life at sea, eh?

    Thanks Jennie. I love it.

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  2. Just what story telling Sunday was made for .. hope you can enjoy the memory as well Jen xxx

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  3. Just what story telling Sunday was made for .. hope you can enjoy the memory as well Jen xxx

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  4. You tell such a wonderful story, Jen ... when will you start that book, eh? Look at you in your uniform! I miss my dad, too.
    Sue xxx

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  5. What a wonderful layout you found again about your dad and your time at sea. Love the colours. Storms at sea are scary but can be wonderful too. You have described yours perfectly!

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  6. What a great story.....I'm glad I've never been in a storm at sea....I'd be terrified.

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  7. A fab story Jen. I'd have been scared witless but I suppose you're out there and there's nothing you can do.

    Love the photo of you and your Dad, you look like a little girl lol!

    Thanks for sharing.

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  8. A wonderful story, so evocatively written ... It was clearly amazing to be there in the dark/half-dark. I love your page, with its soft colours too. Nice photo of you in uniform with a man who clearly was very proud of you. :)

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  9. Wonderful story - I could just visualise it, wow! (Though I suspect I'd've been pretty sick...)

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  10. This is a lovely story Jen. I am terrified of being on the water after being in a frightening storm that has jumped in to my memory this very moment! how weird. Any how I also wanted to say what a lovely photo of you and your father. Off to write my memory, thanks.

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  11. I love your stories, your ancient layout and best of all the pic of you in uniform!

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  12. Oooh get you in your uniform! Storms at sea are so powerful in a magical way aren't they? I think when you experience a "good" storm like that, it makes you realise how vulnerable and out of control we really are in the world.

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  13. I bet the storm was magical but scary too. Your dad sounds like a real joker but also really caring.

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  14. Your ancient LO made me smile - I remember those papers :) Great story, lovely description of the electric storm at night and how lovely to have the mention of your Dad too. Carling Darling - true class, I remember my FIL saying that :lol:

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  15. I've really enjoyed your story today - excellent!

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  16. Great story! Thanks for sharing.

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  17. Love the page of you and your Dad and also your tale of the sea

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  18. That's a lovely photo of you and your Dad:) I love your stories Jenny, I've just spent half an hour absorbed in your blog! Sarah x

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  19. Super storytelling ... so many facets to this tale. Great to see your page too - happy memories should be celebrated!

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  20. I would have loved to have seen that storm, it sounded beautiful. Thanks for sharing your story. I love STS and they collection of short stories I get to read.

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  21. The storm sounds like a sight to have seen...but I would have to have watched it from shore..you wouldn't get me on a ship for love nor money!
    Alison xx

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  22. Lovely to see your dad Jen, these are great memories. xxx

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Aren't you lovely, you have made me smile =)