蜜芽传媒

Part 2.
Jan 24th.
Got up at 8-30AM. No one to call us, so had shower and shave then went down to hotel caf茅 and had breakfast. Ham and waffles and coffee. Cost 53c. Then went to British Consul to fill in forms to get a U.S. Coast Guard pass, Consul signed the forms, so proceeded to U.S. Coast Guard, where all particulars were taken finger prints and photo, told to be ready on Thursday.
Free for the rest of the day, so mucked around shop, met a woman named Mrs Archer, a British woman, invited us out home for a meal. White and I accepted. She took us to shop and introduced us to another woman in shop who fixed us up for buying, so bought Kay some stockings (hope she鈥檒l like them). Also sent off Air Letter to Kay should arrive in a fortnight. Then back to Hotel for lunch, Soup, fish and jelly and milk, cost 60c. Spent rest of afternoon in bar (open all day here not bad) time now about 5-00 PM am getting ready to see Mrs Archer. Caught tram, arrived there, she was not in, so went to Lone Star owned by an Irishman had a few and one on the house. Everyone seemed quite chatty after about and hour phoned Mrs Archer, she was in, so we went on up, quite a nice place had a son in R.A.F. stationed at Banbury, England. Two of her friends came in (two old maids) funny but one used to live in Chadwell Heath the other near Epsom. Left about 10-30 walked home with two dears took us in and gave us a drink. Arrived back at hotel about midnight so turned in.

Jan 25th.
Up at 9-30 had breakfast was raining dodged between drops in and out of shops. Hotel for lunch. Then went to Washfield to see a stage and cinema show. Quite good. Spent a few hours in Cocktail Lounge. Evening went to the Backstage, a dump got stung for photo, did not turn out good, proceeded to International Settlement, good fun, took Chateau with us, good company, midnight went to MidNite show, no dam good, got back about 1-30.

Jan 26th.
Up at 10. White and Chateau went to get Coast Guard passes. I stayed in Hotel. Crawled up to lounge, and had a fine beer, beer and more beer seemed to be rolling up from nowhere. About 3PM Chateau and I went to a news cinema. Then 4-30 picked up tickets for train journey to Los Angeles. Met Purser and mates in lounge of Hotel had a few drinks and Purser (Pateman good scout) suggested going to a floor show, so left about 9PM for Bal Tavern, saw show had a meal all excellent got back and turned in at midnight.

Jan 27th.
Up at 6 packed and got taxi to station at 7-10 on route for Los Angeles. Left 8-15 on Daylight Train meal about 12-30, and arrived L.A. dead on time. Met by agent, put us on train for Wilmington, awful dark, met by taxi, which took us to the Don Hotel. Had meal in caf茅 then turned in about 10,

Jan 28th.
Up about 9-30, whilst dressing phone rang, 2nd (mate) wanted us down to see the tub, so hurried down to Consolidated Steel, got passes to go in, met rest of crowd.
Had a shock when first saw tub No. 357, could not make much of her, too many people working around. 12-30 went out to canteen, had a few sandwiches and carton of milk, then went back to ship. Stayed till about 3-15 came back to hotel. Had shower and sent uniform out to clean. White and I went to L.A. in evening, went to Clifton鈥檚 marvellous place. Then went out to Hollywood Canteen saw one or two stars (Marion Maxwell, a blonde) but no one I鈥檝e heard of before. Left about 11, and arrived at Don (Hotel). About 1-30AM.

Jan 29th.
Up about 8. had breakfast arrived ship about 9-15. Beforehand bought a boiler suit, cost $5. stayed till 12ish then came back to Don Hotel washed and went back to L.A. had a good meal Turkey etc. Then went to Burbank Burlesque Show quite good. After which we came straight back about 12-45 turned in.

Jan 30th.
Slept in till 9-30, White and Juniors went down to ship. I hung around hotel, had lunch about 13hrs (1-00PM) then went to Hollywood. Tried to get into Paramount Studio got inside gate that鈥檚 as far as all was closed no one working, being a Sunday.
So went in Yacht Club had a few drinks, then went to Band Box, Lou Costello owns the place, supposed to get a lot of Stars in but none turned up, eventually arrived back a Hotel at 1-45AM.

Jan 31st.
Had to get up at 6-30AM to be down at dock by 8 for trials, was feeling pretty worn out, still managed to survive, had first meal on ship. Quite good, then went out for harbour trials we did not have anything to do just stand around and watch, got finished about 4PM so came back and had a shower etc. went out about 7-30 for a meal, had bacon and eggs, came in and wrote to Kay and Mum then turned in, feeling hellish tired after long tiring day at shipyard.

Feb 1st.
Up at about 8. Breakfast, then arrived at ship about 9-30 walked around till lunch at 12. Left about 3.30 for Hotel. Met Chateau in L.A. had a few drinks and a meal, then went to Follies (very good) arrived back about 12-45 so turned in.

Feb 2nd.
Up at 8. Breakfast and down to the ship, stayed till just after 3, came back had a rest, and meal then saw a film, finished about midnight, so turned in.

Feb 3rd.
Slept in till 9-30 arrived at ship at 11 had a look round took few things aboard, then lunch and slowly made our way to San Pedro, as today we are taking over ship, which was towed down from Ship yard, joined her about 3PM, and 4-30 handing over ceremony was performed, woman who launched her was there (not much in it). Ran around everywhere doing this and that eventually got turned in on ship at 12.15.

Feb 4th.
Called out at 6AM to fire galley equipment up for breakfast, managed to have breakfast at 8 quite good bacon and eggs, all day have been running about, am on watch tonight, other 2 electricians ashore, don鈥檛 know much about job yet, but am hoping things will go O.K. being my first night alone on this box of mystery.

Feb 5th.
Up about 7-45 spent all day on ship, never got ashore, as leave was cancelled at midnight. Todd took his wife home, so I stayed on board all night turned in at 10-30, ship not going bad.

Feb 6th.
Up about 7-30, getting things ready to leave at 12. Got away about 12-30, cruised around testing compass etc. all clear, about 4-30 had not gone far before distiller started leaking so old man decided to go back, anchored about 7, and waited for shore people to come and fix things, had shower about 9-30, read for a while then turned in.

Feb 7th.
Up about 7-15. Still anchored, shore people came aboard said nothing was wrong, so after a lot of talking we up anchored and away about 2-30PM, had bit of trouble on windlass, started off at 75 RPM, not running to bad, had a quiet night.
Feb 8th.
Up at 7-15, spent day sorting out spare gear, weather lovely, kept watch at night, nothing wrong turned in about 10-30, ship rolling slightly.

Feb 9th.
Lubricants, oil separator motor, packed up, had to repair same, said more holy words about it than I have for a long time, not in love with Yankee gadgets, alright when working O.K. but hell to put right when wrong. Got dressed in uniform first time since going, did some washing and then read for a while, would like Kay with me, feeling a bit down.

Feb 10th.
Sea very calm, weather dam hot, worked all day, hellish ship in warm weather, on watch in evening. Nothing to report.

Feb 11th.
Same as yesterday changed into whites in evening, bed about 11ish.

Feb 12th.
Had word of a gale. Sprung up about 4PM, ship rolling about like a tin can. Weather slightly cooler, did not feel so good in evening am wondering what she鈥檚 going to be like in Western (Atlantic Ocean), calmed down about midnight.

Feb 13th.
An aircraft came out flew round a few times then away, weather turned warmer, spent day doing odd jobs, did a lot of washing in evening, then had a beer by myself in evening and turned in.

Feb 14th.
Sea calm, very hot, not much work, had a few drinks in evening with Todd and turned in.

Feb 15th.
Still calm and hot, sighted land in morning, believe it was an island, ship still doing well. Ship expected to arrive off Panama early hours of morning so turned in early.

Feb 16th.
Stand by ring went about 5 o鈥檆lock. I got out about 7ish, anchored until 12-30, then picked up armed guards and proceeded to locks for entrance to canal. Went through 3 locks ship rose up about 80 feet, marvellous lock system. I was on forecastle watching operations, dropped anchor again at 6PM at the Colon end of Gatun Lake, after very hot passage through. Left anchorage about 8-30PM for passage through Gatun Locks, was down engine room all time. Tied up about 11-30PM, and started to take on oil. Turned in about 12 midnight.

Feb 17th.
Called out at 6AM for 鈥楽tand By鈥� to leave. All clear 7-15AM making way through Caribbean sea, ship pitching and rolling very badly, towards evening waves were coming over bow and foredeck was awash, went on all day and night. Turned in early.

Feb 18th.
Still rolling around like hell, discovered the fore deck locker was full of water, about 60 tons, everything in locker floating around, had to slow right down, and all hands made an attempt to pump water out. Tried fire pumps on it but no good, was a lot of oil in locker and this all came out of drums, one hell of a mess, the men down there salvaging gear looked like those in the film 鈥淚n which we serve鈥�. I got wet through, dam big wave broke over bow and drenched me. After spending all day they gave it up battened down and opened up engines. Am wondering what our windlass gear which is on locker is going to look like after oil and water has finished splashing it. It鈥檚 one hell of a ship, can鈥檛 give Yanks any credit for it, everyone wants to know when she鈥檚 either going to turn over or break up, not looking forward to voyage across the Atlantic. During evening, in between keeping myself from being thrown around did some reading. Up till now clocks have been advanced 2 hours, now 5 hours behind G.M.T. I am wishing I was snug in bed with my Blue Eyes.

Feb 19th.
Weather calmer, so tried small petrol pump on locker, started pumping O.K. until wave came over and wet the mag (magneto) so stopped the engine. Skipper would not hold ship up any longer so left it, sea a little worse ship started to roll. Turned in 10-30.

Feb 20th.
Sunday, day of rest mucked around in morning, had sleep in afternoon, washed for dinner, then washed some shirts, 3 in all. Hell of a game this washing, seem to be doing a lot, maybe because Kay insists I wash my socks more often. Read in the evening. Clock advanced 陆 hour.

Feb 21st.
Sea very calm, ship steady passed through Mona Passage into Atlantic. Got both petrol pumps rigged up on locker and pumped most of water out. Terrible lot of gas, fumes from engines and creosote, practically passed out. I packed up at one feeling sick and hell of a headache. Turned in during afternoon. During evening felt little better, still had headache. Ironed shirts made a good job of them, then turned in early.

Feb 22nd.
Felt O.K., started dismantling windlass, washed 3 more shirts, ship pitching again, Clock advanced 陆 hour. Hope to make Bermuda in morning. Read some of 鈥楲ast Train from Berlin鈥�.

Feb 23rd.
Weather fine, did not make Bermuda as expected ship late, nothing new for P&O navigation, mucked about on windlass all day, job too far gone for us to repair. Have not had a drink for 3 or 4 days now. Ironed 3 more shirts. Turned in about 10-30.

Feb 24th.
Ship still steady, 鈥楽tand By鈥� went about 8-45, tied up at the Naval Dock Bermuda about 12-30, could not anchor. Oiled and watered, shore people came on board and looked at damage, wanted fortnight to repair same so they just left it, pulled out about 5PM for home, last lap, received four Air letters from Darling and 3 from home, was pleased to receive mail, but felt sorry to think that I could not just pop off and see my love, do so want to be with her, been away long enough. In Convoy now, one other ship and 3 frigates escort. Ship rolling like rocking horse, dam awful, expect to get this all way over, hoping to make it in 12 days.

Feb 25th.
Ship still rolling, heading due east, hoping to get home in 10 days, not much to say turned in early.

Feb 26th.
Seemed to be a bit calmer, not much. Saturday today so had afternoon off, read and slept, did some washing in evening, clock advanced 陆 hour at 10PM. Turned in about 10.

Feb 27th.
Sunday, day of rest, had wireless on all morning did some more washing, read and slept in the afternoon. Clock advanced 陆 hour 10PM.
4th mate came round and had a chat.

Feb 28th
Sea getting rougher, still getting along O.K., did some work, spent afternoon repairing Kay鈥檚 match holder and reading and had a beer with White in evening. Clock advanced 陆 hour at 22hrs.

Feb 29th.
Still rolling not very pleasant, makes one very tired. Not much doing still in convoy. Clock advanced 陆 hour. Had sub attack did not get him.

March 1st.
Still rolling, did a bit of work in morning, slept in afternoon. Started writing Kay in evening. Had chat with 4th mate. Clock advanced 陆 hour.

March 2nd.
Up at 7-30. Weather getting cold. Air (sky) has been dark for days now, worked all day. Just started to have a bath, only a towel on and action stations went, had to dress and get to my station which is in the engine room. Over in about 10 minutes, so started to bath again. Action stations went again, so dressed and went down. It finished in about 10 minutes. (Why the hell can鈥檛 Jerry wait until I鈥檇 had my bath?) Escort dropped charges but no luck. Had beer before dinner. Now smoking pipe of peace.

March 3rd.
Weather still rough, rolling around, not much doing, so read in the evening and turned in early.

March 4th.
Weather a lot better, still jogging along making good headway, not very far from land. Wrote to Kay, clock was advanced 1 hour, so turned in early to make up sleep.

March 5th.
Sunday, sea like a pond and sun is shining, lovely. Hoping to arrive Greenock early next morning, passed two large convoys.

March 6th.
Arrived for pilot just after 6AM, was called out to take standby, went up to Greenock and tied us up to a buoy, expecting to stay so for a long time, was very misty. Towards evening had our first black out, something wrong down below, should have got things away but engine kept on stopping, found water in oil. Started typing for the old man, wants hell of a lot doing. Had beer with Marconi鈥檚 then turned in about midnight.

March 7th.
Left Greenock at 8AM for Glasgow, went right up river as far as we could go, only 10 minutes from town. More typing, 1st leave went away so after settling down typed letter to Kay and home. Had some supper and turned in about midnight.

March 8th.
Up at 8, did few odd jobs then went up town after 4, had my hair cut and phoned Mrs Johnson and my Darling. Got back to ship about 6-45 had meal and typed letter to Kay. Packed my bag ready for next week and turned in.

- End of Journal -

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