Well, Horse was changing his bed sheets earlier, and at the same time complaining and getting really angry about basically having to sleep on such a crap mattress. So we decided it would be a good idea to illustrate the size of our beds. So here is Horse, laid out on his mattress on the floor. It's like sleeping on a big fishfinger.
We've been having a lot of interesting chats over the last few days actually- well, me, Horse, Sid, Olly mainly... about life, the mess, what we want to do in the deployment, what we're gonna do after we get back etc...
So basically, the ship anchored just off Port Stanley (the world's smallest capital) on Thursday, and it was 50% leave all weekend until today (monday). The ship had set up some locals with boats to run a ferry service between the ship and shore. On thursday night, Me, horse, Olly, Sid and Wan went out for a spot of dinner at Miller's bar, where we also played darts, until a local team turned up and kicked us off. So we went to Deano's bar just up the road, but only half the bar was open because the other half was being used for.... darts. Yeah, it didn't take us long to realise that in the falklands, everyone drives 4x4s and plays darts. Oh and pool too. It's a great pub life!We all got a round in each (5 drinks for £7... great!)- and then realised we were out of cash, and there are no cash machines in the falklands at all. All they have is a bank which opens for about 10 minutes on a wednesday morning. (Well, I've never seen it open...) -So, there was only 1 thing for it. a deck of cards, and an evening of playing poohead, Cheat, Rummy and er... snap. And a few card tricks too. 2 para's from the regiment staying in MPA came over and tried to join in with us- they proceeded to start a wild card-drinking game, despite us telling them we had no drinks... there was a bizarre moment of confusion where they couldn't quite believe we were in the pub- nor comprehend the lack of drinks, or the fact we had no money... but after Sid had successfully hammered home the message that this card game was doomed from the start, they walked away completely demoralised... We could forgive their stupidity though, they'd just completed a 100km tab round the falklands- which included a few guys from our ship- raising money for charity. After that, Sid took my Camera and went on a mad photo-expedition of the pub. I've put a few of them below. And that was our thursday night.
The next day we were duty, and the other watch went ashore (we're all on Starboard watch, all of us that were out on Thursday- the other half of the ship's company are Port watch). On Saturday, we went ashore, and did a bit of gift-shopping. Stanley doesn't have that much to offer- just 4 pubs, 1 restaurant, a few hotels, BUT it has 10 gift shops! I have stocked up on as many fluffy or magnetic penguins as possible, so I had a content shopping experience! And I now have a lovely fluffy emperor penguin in my pit to keep me company while I'm down here. Though I really wanted the microwaveable one...
On saturday, aswell as the gift shopping, we found the local tattoo parlour... (I didn't choose to go there... ok, so maybe I did...)- but as you can see, we didn't rate it too well after seeing it... besides, there were some other sailors already qeueuing up, desperately shouting "Just write m'nickname. Cheapest writing. Anything'll do!!"Later, we went to a popular local bar called the Globe Tavern. There's not much to it, but after about an hour, every sailor on starboard watch was in there! We had a lot of money down on the pool table. And a fair bit went over the bar too.
So to Monday, and after doing a little afternoon maintenance, we hit some more gift shops, and I ran into Paul Elsy, a killick Weapons engineer, who until this point, I hadn't realised was so good looking... Or is that just a fashion faux pa? Anyway, thanks Gemma for that hoody- if this is the only time I find someone else with it- I can live with that!
After that, we hit Miller's again for some much needed dinner and darts (again) until we got kicked off because it was darts night (again). Below is a couple more shots of Stanley cathedral, with the whale bone arch, and the coast road which runs all along the waterfront in Stanley.
In other news, there is now a report on my escapade through brazil on HMS Gloucester's news filter on the RN website. Also, the captain congratulated "Poo-shoot Posse" and presented us with our crate of beer in an official presentation in the hangar- the photos I've been unable to track down so far!
And, as you can see, my beard now requires careful grooming. I would be grateful to anyone who could send me a comb in the post!
Posts
Can we all have fluffy penguins like in the photo for Christmas...please... O go on.... we wont tell who sent them
Anonymous
12/8/09 07:50
Doug
great seeing your shipmates in the photos. At last we know who really runs the ship.
Keep the photos coming.
Dad
Anonymous
12/8/09 07:54