Just broke open my porcelain bottle of " Nelsons Blood", rum from Guyana & Trinidad, labelled as Royal Naval Rum. Poured one for myself, one for my wife. Had it for some time, needed an occasion to crack it open. On the 2nd January, we have been married for 39 years. For the first 10 years of that, I was in the Navy. I was between Australia & Hawaii, when our first child was born. For most of that ten years, my wife carried the weight at home. I was mostly at sea. I have to say, she did a magnificent job, on her own, raising our children, at the time. [ the only reason I'm sharing this rum, BTW.

] Our last child, our daughter, has graduated from the A.C.U., as a teacher. Starts in the new school year at Gayndah. Good enough reason to break the seal, I reckon. I'll share something with you, while I am coherent enough to do it.
Royal Navy Traditional toasts
Monday: our ships at sea
Tuesday: our men
Wednesday : ourselves[ as no one else is likely to concern themselves with our welfare
Thursday: a bloody War & quick promotion
Friday: A willing soul & sea room
Saturday: Sweethearts & wives, may they never meet
Sunday: Absent friends & those at sea.
But the standing toast that pleased the most was:
The wind that blows
the ship that goes
and the lass that loved a sailor.
I am fortunate to have such a lass. The drink we are sharing is called a Cuba Libre, taught to me by US Marine NCO's in the Marine NCO Bar, Subic Bay, during the Vietnam War. A shot of rum, twist of lime, then your choice , straight or with something, our something is coke. This is Bob, signing off, I will have a headache in the morning, Bob

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