Greetings From The UK
Rough waters shake, your very
bones.
Men naturally think, of their homes.
Men naturally think, of their homes.
Having spent many months at sea in either rough waters such as these, or weeks on end caught in the "Doldrums" with no wind to exploit, it is not surprising that on entry into a port the average sailor expected to be paid.
With firm land beneath his feet and money in his pocket, the average sailor skips ashore on search of a social evening. Wine , Women and Song, being the order of the day.
It was common practise for the sailor to return to his ship, with the "Lady" of his choice. But even on his ship there was very little privacy.
The gun deck with its massive canons provided a hidden refuge for the inevitable sexual encounter that was to take place. The "Lady" would entertain until dawn or until the money ran out, whichever came earlier.
A ship in dock is not earning money so very soon it would be at sea and far away.
Months later the "Lady" would find herself giving birth to an illegitimate child. A child that had to be registered with the local administrative authorities, who would ask for the fathers name
The "lady" too drunk on the night of the encounter could never remember the name, even assuming introductions were made in the first place.
But the canon was imprinted in her memory, so the child would be registered as a "Son of a gun"
A polite way for your favourite very respectable auntie to describe a man that she really thinks is a right bastard
Not a lot of people knows that.... as Michael Caine would say
Odd how many expressions we have from our Naval past
With firm land beneath his feet and money in his pocket, the average sailor skips ashore on search of a social evening. Wine , Women and Song, being the order of the day.
It was common practise for the sailor to return to his ship, with the "Lady" of his choice. But even on his ship there was very little privacy.
The gun deck with its massive canons provided a hidden refuge for the inevitable sexual encounter that was to take place. The "Lady" would entertain until dawn or until the money ran out, whichever came earlier.
A ship in dock is not earning money so very soon it would be at sea and far away.
Months later the "Lady" would find herself giving birth to an illegitimate child. A child that had to be registered with the local administrative authorities, who would ask for the fathers name
The "lady" too drunk on the night of the encounter could never remember the name, even assuming introductions were made in the first place.
But the canon was imprinted in her memory, so the child would be registered as a "Son of a gun"
A polite way for your favourite very respectable auntie to describe a man that she really thinks is a right bastard
Not a lot of people knows that.... as Michael Caine would say
Odd how many expressions we have from our Naval past
Simply Steve
