[Doctor Robert]

Ok, I was just 18 and a commie-winger for one voyage only.
It was in 1st class in NZSCo's Rangitiki from Sydney to London in Feb/Mar 1947.
Now please don't write me off, it was the only way I could get
home to Blighty. Much to the hilarity of the crew, my scouser mentor
swore he was the finest ******* steward in the Merchant ******* Navy, and that I should make the most of his ******* tuition. Well I decided to take his advice. It was a mega-steep learning curve! Especially with a mysterious shortage of cutlery.(all tossed away - to avoid burnishing it seemed, on arrival back at Tilbury!) But I was soon given my own sitting - (probably so he could scive off) Wish I could remember his name.
In my dotage now, I re-live those 6 weeks with great pleasure, one of the highlights of my life. But I so wish some kind soul would remind me of the galley-speak that I had to quickly grasp if I was ever to service my 'Bloods'?
All I can recall is 'schooners' for sausages I think, but we had some terrific menu dishes and everything had to be shouted in galley lingo.
Come to that, is there anyone left who was on that particular voyage?
My nickname was 'Rosy' (after the waste bin) because I used to finish off all the grub my bloods hadn't eaten before I went through for the next course orders. (I grew up with London blitz rationing)
My nickname probably came all the easier because I had long hair - when the fashion was def. crew-cuts, so they all had me down as a shirt-lifter. It was a voyage they'd well remember - we had the Duchess of Glos. and the Princes aboard, and the 'Tiki's engines were shut down and a fores'l hoisted
in a mid-Atlantic super storm.
Now I'm a rookie all over again, having only recently discovered SN -
and I love it to bits.
Cheers, guys.
AB.

[ALAN TYLER]

Originally Posted by Doctor Robert

Ok, I was just 18 and a commie-winger for one voyage only.
It was in 1st class in NZSCo's Rangitiki from Sydney to London in Feb/Mar 1947.
Now please don't write me off, it was the only way I could get
home to Blighty. Much to the hilarity of the crew, my scouser mentor
swore he was the finest ******* steward in the Merchant ******* Navy, and that I should make the most of his ******* tuition. Well I decided to take his advice. It was a mega-steep learning curve! Especially with a mysterious shortage of cutlery.(all tossed away - to avoid burnishing it seemed, on arrival back at Tilbury!) But I was soon given my own sitting - (probably so he could scive off) Wish I could remember his name.
In my dotage now, I re-live those 6 weeks with great pleasure, one of the highlights of my life. But I so wish some kind soul would remind me of the galley-speak that I had to quickly grasp if I was ever to service my 'Bloods'?
All I can recall is 'schooners' for sausages I think, but we had some terrific menu dishes and everything had to be shouted in galley lingo.
Come to that, is there anyone left who was on that particular voyage?
My nickname was 'Rosy' (after the waste bin) because I used to finish off all the grub my bloods hadn't eaten before I went through for the next course orders. (I grew up with London blitz rationing)
My nickname probably came all the easier because I had long hair - when the fashion was def. crew-cuts, so they all had me down as a shirt-lifter. It was a voyage they'd well remember - we had the Duchess of Glos. and the Princes aboard, and the 'Tiki's engines were shut down and a fores'l hoisted
in a mid-Atlantic super storm.
Now I'm a rookie all over again, having only recently discovered SN -
and I love it to bits.
Cheers, guys.
AB.

This all takes me back a bit.. How about, Burgoo....Porridge, Sealed Orders.....Cornish pasties, Tab-nabs...Cakes, Covered wagon...Steak pie or steak&sidney pie, Plum duff....steam pudding. Hope this helps your memories. Alan T.

[kevjacko]

What about Merchant Navy (GRAVY) Ruby Murray (CURRY) Babies Heads (STEAK & KINDNEY PUDDING) Jockies whips (CHIPS). Hope these help stimulate the grey matter. Regards

[Doctor Robert]

What a pity I didn't write them down at the time, but I guess they wouldn't exactly make a best-seller, although it's amazing the little books there are on the weirdest of topics these days. Many thanks guys, but clearly jargon changes over time anyway, and Kevjacko my day would be a tad early for Ruby! But are punters still called 'bloods'? Probably Health and Safety's put a stop to all that now.
AB.

[degsy]

Originally Posted by kevjacko

What about Merchant Navy (GRAVY) Ruby Murray (CURRY) Babies Heads (STEAK & KINDNEY PUDDING) Jockies whips (CHIPS). Hope these help stimulate the grey matter. Regards

Burma Road = Rice Pudding Burma Road with Landmines = Rice Pudding with Sultanas

[Highwayman]

A bowl of baked beans with rashers of bacon on top covered with BROWN SUGAR !! no wonder most of my teeth dropped out ??

[John Williams 56-65]

A good old scouse name for Curry and Rice was Duck S**t and Hailstones.

[paul rennison]

What about, Chinese Wedding cake, ( Rice pud finished off in the oven
with conny onny on top), China clippers (kippers), holy ghost, (toast), two on a raft (eggs on toast), snake & pigmy pie, bl, the sandwich mix we used to make for the bridge box, made from minced up bacon, eggs & sausage left over from breakfast, bit of tomato ketchup & a splash of tabasco, chief steward called it mock crab, we called it real crap!
cheers all
rennop

[David W]

Real "mock crab" was made from grating the hardest, whitish, cheese you could find and combining it with the strainings from a tin of salmon. At least it smelled authentic. Guess who got what ?

[steve d]

"**** on a raft" was Devilled kidneys on toast.

[G0SLP]

"Train Smash" - peeled plum tomatoes

[stevie burgess]

Glasgow cavier:mince.
Alsation flan:corned beef,beans & melted cheese(open flan).
Skinheads on a raft:beans on toast.
(may think of a few more yet)

[dom]

beans on toast/bullits on concrete thousand men on a raft

[trotterdotpom]

Baked beans - Texas Strawberries.
Oxtail - sh*tlids.

John T.

[JOSEPHAIKEN]

How Abt The Famous Rhyme .
A Mate From The Inner Hebrides On A Gem Line/robertson Coaster Used To Strike Terror Into New Mess Boys :- The Cook Is In The Galley And His Heart Is Full Of Joy He Has Got The Captains Permission To **** The Galley Boy .
Their Faces Used To Be A Sight To Behold.

[mcgurggle]

Originally Posted by Highwayman

A bowl of baked beans with rashers of bacon on top covered with BROWN SUGAR !! no wonder most of my teeth dropped out ??

'Boston Baked Beans'
McG

[Burned Toast]

Don't forget the favourites: Kromeskie a la Russe - Faggots in Onnion Sauce -Swansea Virgin -Sh** house Lids - Savoury Rissoles. and so forth

Ray

[bryanm]

Kidneys - piss strainers
Ox Tail - fly swatters

[M29]

Originally Posted by John Williams 56-65

A good old scouse name for Curry and Rice was Duck S**t and Hailstones.

John
Absolutely priceless
Busting a gut here laughing, never heard that one before!

Best Wishes

Alan

[Pat Kennedy]

Curried mince, which we often got for breakfast 'entree' in the China boats, was always referred to as 'mad woman's sh**e'

[Old Janner]

Originally Posted by kevjacko

What about Merchant Navy (GRAVY) Ruby Murray (CURRY) Babies Heads (STEAK & KINDNEY PUDDING) Jockies whips (CHIPS). Hope these help stimulate the grey matter. Regards

Kev when I was on th Jedmoor a new Runciman tramp, came round the cape in blue water for days, the cook had the biggest pot onboard, wedged into the rolling bars (not fiddles) half filled with an Irish Stew type mix then placed a big suet dumpling top over and it was called SEA PIE. Safe way of cooking in bad weather, only had to use it once in BP on the British Admiral and she was a big ship compared to the Jedmoor.
otherwise it was boiled eggs and tinned sausage in the steamer!

Spence.

[Old Janner]

Originally Posted by paul rennison

What about, Chinese Wedding cake, ( Rice pud finished off in the oven
with conny onny on top), China clippers (kippers), holy ghost, (toast), two on a raft (eggs on toast), snake & pigmy pie, bl, the sandwich mix we used to make for the bridge box, made from minced up bacon, eggs & sausage left over from breakfast, bit of tomato ketchup & a splash of tabasco, chief steward called it mock crab, we called it real crap!
cheers all
rennop

True paul! I used to make it just like you said for the bridge box or for the engine room fridge, I can't remember anybody complaining.

Spence.

[alan ward]

Originally Posted by Pat Kennedy

Curried mince, which we often got for breakfast 'entree' in the China boats, was always referred to as 'mad woman's sh**e'

I`ve heard that used to describe the mess in an untidy cabin`Everything thrown around like a mad womans s***e`

[Mick Spear]

Catering speak:Loop de Loop - Soup; dead horse - main course; Lillian gish - fish; Joe blake - steak; merchant navy - gravy; mills and boon - saloon; tin pan alley - galley; pen and ink - sink. I will try and think of some more.
Mick S

[jim jamieson]

A BP tanker I was on had chips on for dinner and tea.There was always other spuds available though. If there were no chips the lads moaned and as you can't please everyone some moaned about the chips!!!.
I was messman on her and one of the AB's had written on the messroom blackboard menu
GOODNESS, GRACIOUS CHIPS AGAIN
IT'S MORE THAN I CAN BEAR.
IT'S REALLY NOT SURPRISING THAT MY ASSHOLE'S TURNING SQUARE.
Yep thay don't write them like that any more !