[jambutty]

Going out to SA on the Stirling Castle we had a traditional “Crossing The Line” ceremony.

Where the victim was ‘captured’, tried in King Neptune’s court and the sentence was usually being daubed with flour and water, the odd bottle of tomato ketchup, force fed a tot of rum or whiskey and thrown in the pool where the ‘sharks’ lay in wait to dunk the unfortunate soul three times. On warships you got thrown over the side.

The ‘victims’ were supposed to be in fancy dress. So I got out my sailor’s tropical suit and went as a sailor. Not very imaginative but that’s all I had.

You won’t believe the number of offers I had from women onboard to wash the kit afterwards.

Coming back on the Athlone Castle the ceremony was for kids only.