General Chat

Hello everyone - except Sylvia ;-)

Tec - thank you for that information. I will copy that for my brother as he is interested in any military history involving the British. I wasn't really sure why it was closed although I do remember my father telling me that it was closed due to a conflict in the area.

What a charming most that is Tec

I am home after an uneventful journey. I had a nice day with Esme, she was settled and smiling at me, pity she will have forgotten me by the time I go back

Sue - The Suez Canal would have been closed in 1956 due to the British invasion of the Canal Zone.

President Nasser of Egypt announced he was nationalising the Canal, which until then had been administered by the British, and French.
Royal Navy ships were sent to the area, and the Prime Minister, Anthony Eden had troops parachuted into Port Said, and Suez.
Fighting ensued in the streets of Port Said, but the British pulled out with nothing achieved, which proved the downfall of Eden.

I first went through the Canal in 1959. There were still evidence of sunken ships at the entrance to the Canal, and in the Bitter Lakes along the Canal.
I saw an effigy of a British soldier in uniform hanging by its neck from the steeple of the Anglican Church.
There was still great hostility to the British, and we were spat at in the streets of Port Said.
Going along the Canal in convoy, the Egyptians spotting a British ship would come to the banks of the Canal, lift their dress and defecate into the Canal while shouting obscenities - nice. :-0
Also alongside the Canal was what appeared to be a huge airfield, with hundreds of war planes. I later discovered that these were actually inflatable mock ups of aircraft.
That was of course prior to the Six Day War when Israel invaded Egypt.

Huia,

If you Google Panama Canal there are many interesting books on the building of the canal. Some available in Kindle format if you have a Kindle.

I am not sure how you would find out more about your Gt. Grandfather's involvement. Many men died of accidents and disease during its construction.

Wikapaedia sp also gives many interesting facts.

I have travelled through the canal many times, and it is amazing. I believe they are widening the canal to allow bigger ships to pass through.

Incidentally, I have a cocoa nut wood walking stick, with a gold finial and collar inscribed "Panama Canal 1898"

Hello Berona. My gt grandfather is said to have worked for de Lesseps on the building of the Panama canal. I wish I could find out more about it, something to confirm it.

My first trip overseas took 4.5 weeks. 1953. We went through the Suez Canal, although it was closed soon after our ship went through. I remember my poor grandmother worried out of her mind that I would not get back and would have to stay over there forever! Two years later, I returned via the Panama Canal and New Zealand, so I've seen both Canals - both very interesting - particularly the Panama.

Hi Sue


:-D :-D :-D

Must be off. Sleep well my friends <3 <3

Goodnight Tec, it is late so I will be off as well, have a good day Sue

Linda :-D :-D :-D

I have always been ambitious :-)

I have to go to bed now,

Have a good day Sue, enjoy breakfast.

Sleep well Linda, have a good journey home.

Tec :-)

Don't you think skipping is a bit advanced

That was scary Linda, and I am not usually a nervous passenger - had my eyes shut a lot.

I did very well on the parallel bars - they were quite impressed and said I can skip the next session on them.

Yes they issue a parrot that swears, and the eye patch.

Hoping to get a part with Johnny Depp in the next Pirates of the Carribean. :-D

Oh dear Tec, that sounds like a bad journey

How did you mange the parallel bars

I would love to have you join us for breakfast :-)

Sounds like a scary trip :-0.

And so the process begins. Have you found a parrot yet? Oh and the eye patch of course :-D

Sue I think you probably went out on the Fair Sea, or the Fair Sky, those ships would probably have taken about seven weeks - and no air conditioning.

When I emigrated with my parents in 1956 we went round the Cape as the Suez Canal was closed due to troubles in the area. I'm not sure how long it took but it would have been awhile. It was the last voyage for the old lady as she had done her duty through the war as a troop carrier.

Pancakes with fruit sounds nice - can I come? :-D

The manufacturing process of my wooden leg has started. Today the took a plaster cast of what is left of my leg.
Then they had me on the parallel bars using an artificial leg.

The driver that took me there and back was a nightmare. Not once did he have two hands on the wheel, not even on sharp bends.
At one time passing six cars at once at 80mph towards a blind bend - a white knuckle ride :-0

Sue - I didn't realise that Coast Australia was already being shown there.
I don't much care for Tony Robinson.

When I first went to sea it took six weeks from here to Australia :-D and even longer if we went round the Cape.
Quicker to walk :-D

We're off out for breakfast this morning with my brother and SIL. The cafe we go to does a wonderful breakfast. I'm thinking pancakes with fruit :-)