I think that the background of Skypak makes quite an interesting story. The seeds of the Company started in Japan, by two Australians. One had arrived in Japan as a member of the Australian occupying forces after the defeat of Japan and had remained after the formal end of the occupation in 1952. His command […]
BOAC I joined BOAC in 1969 and in 1971 an Act of Parliament merged BOAC with BEA to take affect from 31 March 1974, which would create British Airways. The UK had joined the Common Market, as it was called then, in January 1973, so the merger of the two government-controlled airlines made sense. BOAC […]
I think that the background of Skypak makes quite an interesting story. The seeds of the Company started in Japan, by two Australians. One had arrived in Japan as a member of the Australian occupying forces after the defeat of Japan and had remained after the formal end of the occupation in 1952. His command […]
This blog is a follow on from my earlier blog, ‘The Silver Grey Sea’ on the 30th September. In addition to tank cleaning we were expected to keep up with our studies, via a correspondence course, for the examination for a 2nd Mates ‘ticket’. Certain certificates were required before we would be allowed to sit the examination […]
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; Landaura – 9,750 dwt Launched in 1946 and was named after a very small village in Chandigarh in northern India. As much as I enjoyed my leave, I found that I had changed, whereas my Birkenhead friends had not, other […]
To read too many books is harmful’ according to Mau Tse-Tung. Yokohama, in Tokyo Bay, was our first port of call of our Japanese coastal trip. If I thought Singapore and Hong Kong were foreign, Yokohama was really ‘foreign’ The people were different from Chinese, very friendly, but different. Fortunately at that time the exchange […]
Blackman’s Swamp in 1870 We had five nights in Cowra and planned to have three nights at Blackman’s Swamp. We left Cowra on Friday, but after we received a phone call that Maureen was booked into hospital on Tuesday we decided to cut our visit to Blackman’s Swamp to just two nights. Just to make […]
Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tuol Svay Prey High School or is it . . . . Look closer and you might see barbed wire . . The above picture was taken in side the ‘school’ grounds. Cells for the prisoners. How small is each cell From an exercise pole to a pole of torture. There are […]
Travel often pops up in various conversations and those who know me have suggested that I should put down some of my experiences. At first I was reluctant, because I didn’t think people would be interested in the travels of an unknown traveler. When my grandchildren started to ask questions I thought perhaps I should […]
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky In October 2022 it will be sixty years since I first went to sea. I had eight days to pack and join my first ship, did I have everything . . . I had only been to Woodside station once […]
Blackman’s Swamp in 1870 We had five nights in Cowra and planned to have three nights at Blackman’s Swamp. We left Cowra on Friday, but after we received a phone call that Maureen was booked into hospital on Tuesday we decided to cut our visit to Blackman’s Swamp to just two nights. Just to make […]
” we had the satisfaction of finding the finest harbour in the world, in which a thousand sail of the line may ride in the most perfect security…” — Governor Arthur Phillip, 15 May 1788. Today we know it as Sydney Harbour – the above picture shows North Head as we sail in to the harbour […]
I The Calcutta & Burmah Steam Navigation Company was registered in Glasgow in 1856. One of the first ships of the company was Cape of Good Hope, built in 1853, (420 gross tons). She was a steamer, but also rigged as a brig. At 190 feet long, she still managed ninety days from Southampton to Calcutta to […]
The food market – many foreigners come here, just to stroll around and perhaps taste some of the local food. Would you like a white strawberry – not sure of the weight, but the box will cost you about AUD $56.25 Pre-packed lunch boxes, which reminded me of bento, which is a Japanese packed lunch […]
