On Monday, March 12, 2001 8:49 PM, Huw Porter wrote:

> >Many years ago, on the Sunday evening of a week-end leave in London - and
> >prior to catching the midnight train back to where the ship was berthed -
a
> >civilian mate of mine insisted on buying me a beer or ten in one of the
> pubs
> >in a bad part of town.

> Chelsea?  Kensington? <g>

Brixton - in the 'sixties!!!!!! :-)

> >At some point in the evening a group of blokes
> >started making disparaging comments about my uniform in particular and
the
> >Navy
> >in general.  I ignored them.
(snip)
>>I wound up with skinned
>> knuckles,
> >a broken jaw, a couple of missing teeth, a few cracked ribs, and some
great
> >bruises! :-)

> Aaaah, a fun night out in 'lahndahn'!

The mark of (1) a good run ashore was: (2) to get laid; (3) get pissed; (4)
lose your I.D. card; (5) get filled in; (6) and to wind up in front of the
Captain's table! :-)

Translation:
1) Run ashore:  Being allowed to mingle with civilians in a land-based
environment.
2) To get laid:   Meeting an attractive young lady who shared the same
interests in literature as one's own!
3) Get pissed:  The act of trying to equate the amount of money in one's
pocket with the amount of beer in a publican's cellar and seeing who was
going to run out first!
4) I.D. Card:  An identity card that contained vital details about the
bearer and that was regarded as being on a par with the Holy Grail as far as
access to sensitive areas was concerned.
5) Get filled in:  The act of coming second in a two-(or more)-sided contest
involving fisticuffs!
6)  The Captain's table:  The place where bad boys - flanked by the Shore
Patrol - received swift Naval Justice!  :-)

(snip)

> >And the point of this tale?  There isn't one really!  Other than that
both
> >parties in a disagreement will usually find their cause better served
when
> >they learn to act rather than react to a situation.  :-)

> An excellent and poignant tale - thanks Strike. :-)

Mate!  Did I ever tell you about that cell door in Singapore?  :-)

Strike