Welcome To This Sunday
With Special Thanks To Cdr. Collins RN For The Photographs
Mid File...Who's going to take me home?
Memories of Rickshaw races, around the China fleet club
Of war games played with that friendly sub
Of Russian spy trawlers sailing within our wake
Forming character within the soul, as a man it will make.
Memories of test flights enabling us to rise above
The cold grey sea into the warmth we all love
To rise way above the clouds and into blue skies
A contrast of colours, for I'll tell you no lies.
The sight of vapour trails formed by turbulence at the wing tips
Of "G" forces, … rapid breathing and very dry lips
To catch the glint of the sun as it strikes the surface of a wing
Three dimensional movement makes your whole body sing.
Burn off fuel on one engine to achieve landing weight
Conserve on the other in case our "Charlie time" is late
Line up with the mirror as we fly along the wake
Hit the pitching deck hard for it ensures you are awake.
Both throttles fully open in case we miss the wire
An adrenaline surge sets your body on fire
Back to the cold 40 knot wind across this strip of steel
Tis moments like this … that you really can feel.
During the de-brief you are conscious of the sea swell
With that constant motion and kerosene smell
Disregard the constant noise as propellers turn sea into foam
For this is the war canoe … that will take us all home
There is only one way to say
"I Love You "
But there are thousands of ways to demonstrate
Steve..Aka.."The Old Sea Dog"..2001..©
