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Doreen
hippies understudy
429 Posts
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 Posted -
20/12/2007
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19:12
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 As a teenager i lived for some years in the isle of mann, i was in fact a Manx nacional as
i had gone to school there was officialy accepted as manx.
I became part of the local merchant navy for a whole 3 weeks, in the early 70 s , well lets say i was abducted kidnapped.
My town was a port , Ramsey (Royal Ramsey) the manx steamship company used this port quite often, the names of thir ships were usually named after mountans on the island,
Ben Vooar , Ben Vallen ,Ben varrey ,there were more but i dont remember them all.
I had a boyfriend on one of these merchant ships who was so in love with me that he, left me sleeping in his berth , and when i woke up with the movement of the boat he rushed in saying for christ sake dont come up on deck or ill get the sack , lose me ticket.
I had no idea that we were pulling out of the port, and when i looked out of the porthole we were out at sea, i wasnt all that worried because i knew another girlfriend had been on ship for the short journey to another port in the island ,something that was not allowed but happened.
But when he came back again he asked me how i felt about going to Iceland?,
i said well its a bit late now , so i accepted it as an escapade,always the one to make the best of the situacion.
I was a stowaway, the only man on the ship that didnt know i was there was the captain,
all the rest helped cover up, i had to share acomodacion with four young seamen,had to wash and do in a small sink, untill we were in a port ,when the captain was on shore, then i was allowed up on deck in the only shower.
We went to Swansea , through the Hebridees, to Iceland,and back down to Ireland.
we came across some very rough seas, i remember being freightened when the boat went under water for an eternity time ,and time again,icould see we were under through the porthole, and the sounds of the ship dulled , being replaced by other sounds,muffled sounds , and creaking.
I wasnt at all happy about that but my shipmates all laughed and said ohh we are are all used to that now, dont worry about it.
Anyway nobody can say that i havent had experiences, and to cut along story short,
while we were in warren point Ireland, some IRA faccion put a bomb through a port hole
of another ship in the same steamship company, and i was rushed to the nearest airport
and flew back home.
Edited by - Doreen on 13/01/2008 7:48:53 PM
Dordygail 
always the one to make the best of things.
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 21/12/2007 : 07:49
Bloody hell Doreen! You've had your moments haven't you! They say I have had an 'interesting' life, but I've never been shanghai'd by the MN.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk  |
Doreen
hippies understudy
429 Posts
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Posted - 13/01/2008 : 20:02
1, Ben Vane at Ramsy quay.
2,Ben Varrey, at Douglas.
The Ramsey Steamship Co ltd, currently has 3 ships
Ben Ellan(2)
Ben Maye(2)
Ben Varrey (4)
Dordygail
always the one to make the best of things. |
Ribble Rouser
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Posted - 14/01/2008 : 16:08
Hey Doreen. What an amazing adventure. I doffs me hat to you.
What do the numbers mean after the names of the ships currently in the fleet? Ben Varrey (the fourth?)
it's bums that count 'ere; not 'ats |
Doreen
hippies understudy
429 Posts
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Posted - 14/01/2008 : 16:41
Yes the numbers are 1st 2nd 3rd 4th , so on, they liked keeping the
same names of the ships in the company.
Dordygail
always the one to make the best of things. |
Anni
Regular Member
634 Posts
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Posted - 15/01/2008 : 18:07
Fantastic story Doreen - a memory and adventure nobody can take from you. Thanks for sharing 
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Doreen ,and the merchant navy
