The Virtual Pub
Come Inside... => The Snug => Topic started by: Barman on November 11, 2008, 07:56:36 AM
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The QE2 ran aground on a sandbank as it came into Southampton for the final time.
Five tugs were sent to assist the 70,000 tonne liner which hit a sandbank at about 0530 GMT at the entrance to Southampton Water.
Solent Coastguard said the ship was pulled off after about 30 minutes and docked without further incident.
Source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/7720966.stm)
How sad...
I remember seeing the QE2 on her maiden voyage - I had stamps of it in my collection along with Concorde and other British engineering 'miracles'...
I remember going 'plane spotting at Heathrow (couldn't do it now of course, you'd be arrested) with my mates and a large proportion of the aircraft were made in the UK...
Now the UK manufactures almost nothing and they can't even manoeuvre the QE2 on her final voyage without getting the bloody thing stuck...
And to add insult to injury her replacement was made in France FFS! noooo:
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Unfortunately, thanks to the almost total destruction of our manufacturing industry and the balls up that our education system has become the sad fact is that most things are built cheaper and to a higher standard overseas.
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One of the reasons I left Southampton was the demise of the passenger shipping.
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What's the betting the QE2 goes up in flames before its final departure date to the middle east, or am I just being cynical? whistle:
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That usually happens once the ship gets to its destination, sits there for several months and the "financiers" discover that they have invested in what is turning out to be a bottomless money pit with far more work being needed that first thought ~ then they up the insurance and only then does it catch fire.
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One of the reasons I left Southampton was the demise of the passenger shipping.
Not so many pockets to pick eh...? whistle:
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Something like that ::)
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turning out to be a bottomless money pit
Presumably bottomless ships don't have to be set on fire?
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drumroll:
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I've just been watching her leave the port live on BBC, apparently many thousands turned up to Mayflower Park to say goodbye bringing the city to a standstill. There were more fireworks than there was on bonfire night. Once the whizzes bangs and flashes stopped, QEII said goodbye by sounding her horn and hooters... I was surprised that I found it slightly touching
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I've just been watching her leave the port live on BBC, apparently many thousands turned up to Mayflower Park to say goodbye bringing the city to a standstill. There were more fireworks than there was on bonfire night. Once the whizzes bangs and flashes stopped, QEII said goodbye by sounding her horn and hooters... I was surprised that I found it slightly touching
I'm surprised they still worked... noooo:
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Leaving port from this Sceptred Isle can be an emotional experience. I'm fortunate to have done it many times and the emotion comes from one's awareness of history IMHO, a history of a maritime nation that for better or worse once marked the map of the world with the imprint of their thumb. Leaving landfall behind there is nothing but wild sea, the unknown, adventure, mishap, fortune, romance ahead of you... A heady mix cloud9:
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Leaving port from this Sceptred Isle can be an emotional experience. I'm fortunate to have done it many times and the emotion comes from one's awareness of history IMHO, a history of a maritime nation that for better or worse once marked the map of the world with the imprint of their thumb. Leaving landfall behind there is nothing but wild sea, the unknown, adventure, mishap, fortune, romance ahead of you... A heady mix cloud9:
Part of the "Romance" of living in Southampton. When it left so did I ~ but then I've said that before.
I come from a seafaring heritage. Grandfather was at sea for years, Great Uncle was Cox of the Shoreham Lifeboat and also Harbour Master at Shoreham, His son was a Titanic crew member. Another Great Uncle was drowned when he fell off the gangplank, pissed of course, boarding his ship at Dover. Records have that side of the family "all at sea" for centuries.
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My father and grandfather were in the Navy... cloud9:
Now half the navy is mothballed in port and the other half goes to sea with weapons systems disabled to save costs... noooo:
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My father and grandfather were in the Navy... the other half goes to sea with weapons systems disabled
Good job Opa and Papa didn't have theirs disabled or we wouldn't have our favourite slaphead to mock. whistle:
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My father and grandfather were in the Navy... the other half goes to sea with weapons systems disabled
Good job Opa and Papa didn't have theirs disabled or we wouldn't have our favourite slaphead to mock. whistle:
"Favourite" cloud9:
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My father and grandfather were in the Navy... the other half goes to sea with weapons systems disabled
Good job Opa and Papa didn't have theirs disabled or we wouldn't have our favourite slaphead to mock. whistle:
Agreed, it would be wrong to mock our favourite slaphead
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