Mac's Bar - Our Virtual Cafe
Forum rules
Please familiarise yourself with our Board Rules and Guidelines
Please familiarise yourself with our Board Rules and Guidelines
- morag
- Mega Heid Poster
- Posts: 11337
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 12:29 am
- Location: Stevenston. now in S. Cal
Re: Mac's Bar - Our Virtual Cafe
This time of year is always a wee bit emotional for me, come Feb 5&6 I'll raise a glass to lost ones. I miss Mac's posts....so I'll raise a glass and a wee silent to him too.
"You don't have a Soul. You are a Soul. You have a body."
C.S.Lewis
C.S.Lewis
-
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 242
- Joined: Mon Jan 03, 2005 9:15 pm
- Location: Brantford, ON, Canada, Formerly Stevenston
Re: Mac's Bar - Our Virtual Cafe
I have a glass of wine in my hand. Cheers to Mac.
- Hughie
- Administrator
- Posts: 11138
- Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2004 12:42 am
- Location: Australia Formerly Ardrossan
- Contact:
Re: Mac's Bar - Our Virtual Cafe
Was reminded of Mac when I read this post yesterday about submariners escaping certain death off Ardrossan. To my mind you'd have to be a very brave person to be a submariner - that was our Mac. RIP
- morag
- Mega Heid Poster
- Posts: 11337
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 12:29 am
- Location: Stevenston. now in S. Cal
Re: Mac's Bar - Our Virtual Cafe
My dad was RN, then merchant navy, but at one time, war years likely, he spoke of submarine duty. He said the constant 'ping, ping, ping' drove some crazy. He didn't talk much about the war years, but every so often he'd open up.
"You don't have a Soul. You are a Soul. You have a body."
C.S.Lewis
C.S.Lewis
Re: Mac's Bar - Our Virtual Cafe
Visited a Russian submarine that was on show in long beach California. It wasn't claustrophobic I just hoped that beans were off the menu.
Re: Mac's Bar - Our Virtual Cafe
I also visited one in Hamburg, Russian as well cold war era. I was the opposite found it very claustrophobic.
Those wimin were in the nip.
- John Donnelly
- Mega Heid Poster
- Posts: 2955
- Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:31 pm
- Location: The Netherlands
Re: Mac's Bar - Our Virtual Cafe
I visited one in Ardrossan; it must have been in the early 50's. I was far too young to know what claustrophobia was.
That visit was mentioned here on the ttt's some time ago.
I'm having a glass of Captain Morgans tonight; - just for a wee change.
I know it's one of Morag's favourites. C'moan Morag. Let's raise one to Mac and all our other freens who have gone on ahead to blaze the trail for us..
JD.
That visit was mentioned here on the ttt's some time ago.
I'm having a glass of Captain Morgans tonight; - just for a wee change.
I know it's one of Morag's favourites. C'moan Morag. Let's raise one to Mac and all our other freens who have gone on ahead to blaze the trail for us..
JD.
- morag
- Mega Heid Poster
- Posts: 11337
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 12:29 am
- Location: Stevenston. now in S. Cal
Re: Mac's Bar - Our Virtual Cafe
It'll have to be whisky or wine (or both) Here's to oor Mac, and any other 3tooners that have passed, slainte!John Donnelly wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2018 10:06 pm I visited one in Ardrossan; it must have been in the early 50's. I was far too young to know what claustrophobia was.
That visit was mentioned here on the ttt's some time ago.
I'm having a glass of Captain Morgans tonight; - just for a wee change.
I know it's one of Morag's favourites. C'moan Morag. Let's raise one to Mac and all our other freens who have gone on ahead to blaze the trail for us..
JD.
"You don't have a Soul. You are a Soul. You have a body."
C.S.Lewis
C.S.Lewis
-
- Mega Heid Poster
- Posts: 19110
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:46 pm
Re: Mac's Bar - Our Virtual Cafe
I don't come in here often but I do remember visiting a long time ago when MAC recited the following poem:-
THE OLD MAN AND THE SAILOR
He was old and worn and a bit forlorn as he ambled through the park,
He spoke to me and I could see that his eyes had lost their spark.
His gait was slow and his voice was low as he asked to sit with me,
And I answered him with a friendly grin, The sittin’ here is free.
He gave a smile and we talked a while and his voice was rather weak,
But his mind was strong and it wasn't long till he began to speak
Of yesteryears and I saw the tears as the mem’ries flooded through
For he spoke of times and other climes as old men often do.
He smiled at me and I could see as he glanced at my Navy blues
That he’d earned his keep on the briny deep and paid his share of dues.
I asked if he would share with me some mem'ries from his career,
He said he might if the price was right, and the price was a can of beer!
I’ve shipped on subs and oily tubs, on battleships and cruisers,
Ten thousand mates and I can state not one of them was losers.
LST’s on foreign seas, from Tarawa to Leyte,
You name it, lad, I’ve been there, from Alaska down to Haiti.
Liberty ships of paper clips, balsa wood and glue,
I saw one break apart one time and lose her gallant crew.
Royal Marines I took ashore on Tarawa and Truk.
Oh what the Hell, for quite a spell, I've had my share of luck.
One thing more, he said, before I move along,
There ain't no air that’s quite as fair as the pipe of the boatswain’s song
And the place to be is on the sea riding a fair sea swell,
With mates like you in Navy blue who’ll follow you straight through Hell.
So here’s to you and your Navy crew who take our ships to sea,
You’ve fought and died and never cried throughout our history.
You’re heroes all and ten feet tall and your spirits never lag,
You’re the nation’s best and you never rest in defence of our country’s flag!
He rose to leave and I believe that he seemed to move much faster,
His eyes agleam like a laser beam and his skin was alabaster,
He glowed at first then soon dispersed in a cloud of misty cotton,
A dream at most, perhaps a ghost, but not to be forgotten.
THE OLD MAN AND THE SAILOR
He was old and worn and a bit forlorn as he ambled through the park,
He spoke to me and I could see that his eyes had lost their spark.
His gait was slow and his voice was low as he asked to sit with me,
And I answered him with a friendly grin, The sittin’ here is free.
He gave a smile and we talked a while and his voice was rather weak,
But his mind was strong and it wasn't long till he began to speak
Of yesteryears and I saw the tears as the mem’ries flooded through
For he spoke of times and other climes as old men often do.
He smiled at me and I could see as he glanced at my Navy blues
That he’d earned his keep on the briny deep and paid his share of dues.
I asked if he would share with me some mem'ries from his career,
He said he might if the price was right, and the price was a can of beer!
I’ve shipped on subs and oily tubs, on battleships and cruisers,
Ten thousand mates and I can state not one of them was losers.
LST’s on foreign seas, from Tarawa to Leyte,
You name it, lad, I’ve been there, from Alaska down to Haiti.
Liberty ships of paper clips, balsa wood and glue,
I saw one break apart one time and lose her gallant crew.
Royal Marines I took ashore on Tarawa and Truk.
Oh what the Hell, for quite a spell, I've had my share of luck.
One thing more, he said, before I move along,
There ain't no air that’s quite as fair as the pipe of the boatswain’s song
And the place to be is on the sea riding a fair sea swell,
With mates like you in Navy blue who’ll follow you straight through Hell.
So here’s to you and your Navy crew who take our ships to sea,
You’ve fought and died and never cried throughout our history.
You’re heroes all and ten feet tall and your spirits never lag,
You’re the nation’s best and you never rest in defence of our country’s flag!
He rose to leave and I believe that he seemed to move much faster,
His eyes agleam like a laser beam and his skin was alabaster,
He glowed at first then soon dispersed in a cloud of misty cotton,
A dream at most, perhaps a ghost, but not to be forgotten.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
- morag
- Mega Heid Poster
- Posts: 11337
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 12:29 am
- Location: Stevenston. now in S. Cal
Re: Mac's Bar - Our Virtual Cafe
My dad, and I think most of his family, were seafarers, I'm drawn to it myself, except, I'm an auld fart noo, wid probably be used as bait!
"You don't have a Soul. You are a Soul. You have a body."
C.S.Lewis
C.S.Lewis
Re: Mac's Bar - Our Virtual Cafe
Is there anyone on here who lives in Anderson Drive Saltcoats?
- morag
- Mega Heid Poster
- Posts: 11337
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 12:29 am
- Location: Stevenston. now in S. Cal
Re: Mac's Bar - Our Virtual Cafe
Enjoyed the poem, P.T.
"You don't have a Soul. You are a Soul. You have a body."
C.S.Lewis
C.S.Lewis