Hi Ted, It sure is a small world??? and you are right it was not yesterday?? All the Best Mauri

Lookiing forward to seeing a TV show tomorrow night about the Esso oil tanker "Exon Valdez" which went aground some twenty five years ago while leaving a port in Alaska, what will be real interesting is the former Captain is going to take part he got fired after the incident as an investigation revealed that he was in his cabin after turning the watch over to the inexperienced 3rd Officer in a highly congested and tricky shipping channel
I know most of you will probably find this boring but for an ex seaman like myself who served on numerous oil tankers I wouldnt miss it for the world.
Exon is the American prefix name for Esso tankers as opposed to the British "Esso" which prefix's British flagged Esso ships Esso London,Esso Westminster,
Esso Brixham to name the ones I served on. Whue there were obviously some decent Captains there were also some real *******s who were lucky they didn't dissapear overboard during the voyage amd Icould tell a few stories about some of them.?? Mauri

Hi boys and girls!
I've returned to this thread, as it has so many views.
I didn't know Gerald Murray well. I have just received a message from the Murray family site, inviting me to send an e-card for his 78th birthday next month. If genuine, I am very pleased that the best runner in Lisburn Boys School is still alive. I am not 'into' birthday cards, e or otherwise, but Gerald, if you are still around, WELL DONE for getting this far, and for your life achievements. I even remember you as a good gymmnast.

Barney: I've always been an 'observer'. I remember Gerald, along with the Skelton brothers, perform remarkable feats on the 'horse' and the parallel bars,and running for glory at the school sports. (I could barely see over the horse, and yes, they DID make it smaller for me) :-)

On Wednesday a guy came and picked my computer up to take it away for servicing. The next day they phoned me to tell what was wrong and what it would cost to repair. I gave them the OK and on Saturday they phoned me to say it was ready to be picked up. When I enquired as to why they couldn't deliver and set up as promised the answer was because it is a Holiday week end (Thanksgiving) they were short handed so I picked it up myself on my way to dinner.

Was just wondering what the computer servicing is like in the various places that you all live, I know where we live there is intense competition from the different computer companies for business. Next year I think I will buy a new one and expect to have a lot of fun negotiating a price, never pay the first price quoted??
Mauri

Mauri
I'm fortunate in that I get my computers from my sons, and that if they had problems - the computers - there's a fair chance that they - my sons - could mend them, or would know a man who could.I think I have hackers or viruses, or both, but I have nothing to hide from hackers, and the viruses don't stop me writing rubbish.
While writing now, I am also watching a brilliant movie about drug smuggler Howard Marks.
Mauri, your stories are almost as interesting as his.

Mauri, I bought this new laptop from PC World in Lisburn. I must say their after-sales service is first class. Any time I have a problem I just take the computer to them and they fix it immediately. Most of the problems are trivial things but even so. They check the computer for viruses and scams, clear up all the junk for me and set any types of programmes I ask. AND they have yet to charge me. Probably think, "Silly old fool".

Dabbler, Who was Howard Marks?? I know you said drug smuggler but where?, One night in Hong Kong I was sitting in a Hotel bar along with a friend both of us in uniform. We were approached by two Chinese guys who offered to buy us drinks which we refused and they then asked us if we would take some packages back to Australia for them and again we declined despite the offer of a large sum of money. To this day I believe they were part of a drug smuggling operation which was uncovered in Australia several months later. Another time on a BP Tanker we arrived in Belfast for dry docking after over six months running between the Persian Gulf, India and East Africa. When the Custom Officers searched the ship in Belfast they found a lot of drug package's in the Engine Room, we were prohibited from leaving the ship untill another bus load of custom officers arrived and just about tore the ship apart looking for more drugs untill finally we got the OK to go and I and another shipmate called a cab and headed for Lisburn. Mauri

Jaysus, Barney, the mind boggles at you jumping the horse at full speed without the springboard. Could you do it, now, eh?

Barney, I couldn't do that, but I DID exaggerate my inefficiency for a laugh.
Mauri, Howard Marks is just about the most famous drug smuggler in British history. A film was made of his biography. Mr Nice, it was called. A Welshman who was, through drugs, involved with the IRA, his life story is fantastic. If not easily shocked, I highly recommend it.
Ann, you and Pat - definitely not.

Dabbler, not getting to the library to return my books, today I bought a magazine. Cost me £3.99. It was a good read, mind you, but now that I've read it, it's of no further use. Better with a good book. Might get to the library on Thursday Couldn't hold out to the cost of magazines but it was nice for a change.

Ann, my post has thrice been rejected as spam. 'They' appear to object to me writing about my son having once featured in a woman mag as an eligible bachelor.

Dabbler, eligible no more I take it. That was a great boost to be chosen as an eligible bachelor. How long ago was that?

I didn't get up to the library today. Spent this wet day cleaning, polishing and cooking - in that order. Maybe tomorrow!!!!

Ann, he has grown two children, a moustache and a beard since then.

I wish you luck with a reunion, the last one in Lisburn in 2008 I think it was, only four (4) people showed up and one of those was Jim Collins and of course myself visiting from Canada

The couple of reunions held in Brampton Ontario Canada were more successful, and while I forget how many people attended there were quite a few including Pat and her daughter visiting from Ireland.

Don't get me wrong I think it would be great to have one provided it was organized properly with an indoor meeting place and sufficient notice given so that those of us who don't live in the UK and want to attend can make travel arrangements well in advance. Which reminds me I had better get my passport renewed????. Mauri

Ann, it is sad reading about the boys and girls, but death is something we cannot avoid. I just had a thought ,but it might be wrong, when you were a very wee girl did you live in Pipers hill, second house on the left looking up the hill?.there was a lad called
Malachy lived there but I cannot remember the surname. I don't want to put the wrong name in.
I lived in the forth house on the left for most of my young life
I remember most of the names mentioned and knew most of them, also the teachers who loved the cane,it was an incident in Mr Fitzpatricks class which caused me to go to Hilden school for my last four years, so I know a few from Hilden and the low road.

Leo, sorry to say I am not the wee girl you remember living in Piper's Hill. As you will see from my postings, my childhood and part of my adulthood was lived in the Low Road. I did have a brother called Malachy who unfortunately died in 1968. Maybe someone else will know who you are talking about.

Leo

Yes, me again. OurTown Lisburn video is on Youtube. Old Hill Street is on there,with a view towards Pipers Hill. A couple of girls are in the shot, but too distant for me to recognize. They come out of a house nearly opposite Bradbury's Buildings.
I get more out of watching that than a sex video = must be getting old.

Dabbler, Funny thing I too was surfing around the internet and brought up Lisburn via Nicholsons statue, and was very surprised to see the statue being lifted back on to its base but not where it usually stands, in fact it was where the old taxi stand used to be at the corner of Market Square and Cross Row. So maybe Ann or some other local resident could let us know what was going on, appartently this was back in April. Maybe General Nicholson got tired of standing in the one old spot and decided to take a walk.?????

Mauri

Mauri work has been carried out on the square. I should say work is on going. At present there are three huge monuments depicting needles and thread. Good choice because of the town's connection with the linen industry. General Nicholson had to be moved to the spot you mentioned. We are supposed to get a water feature in the square too but will have to wait and see. Should have mentioned about Nicholson when I talked about the work being done but cannot remember everything.

Dabbler, I don't know how to do the Youtube yet. the house on Hill street opposite Bradburys buildings was No 19 and Harry McVeigh lived there,he had a sister called Teresa and maybe an older sister but I cannot her name, she worked in the Picture house.
old age creeps up on us,I think you are a year older than me.

Nice to hear from you Leo. To find ANYTHING, including Lisburn video, just search Google. I was 79 last month. I knew Mousey, but cannot really recall his sister. Do you remember the Herrons and McAllisters of Hill Street? Or Spences of Bradbury's Buildings?

yes Dabbler I remember these names and a few more, the McAllisters lived at No 3 hill street,Vincent and Brendan. Brendan had a limp similar to Tommy Stafford. Paddy Murray lived at No5. John Herron lived at No9, his house was the first one in the street to get a tv us kids crowded round the window to watch the coronation.
the Spences of Bradburys Buildings,Bobby Jimmy Willy and Maisie. I read in a post about someone who had dived into the Lagan and went into a dead dog, there was a rumour that Mr Spence had done the same.
Also in Bradburys Buildings, the Kidds Edward Neville and Margaret,the Laverys Rosie and Sally. the Mc combs of Barrack lane, Robert Dennis Eric and Sally.
That will do for now, Im going to watch football on telly.

Leo,

Mary Mc Veigh was the older sister. I visited their house when we all went to the Convent School. I believe they came into Lisburn during the War or something. Pat

George McComiskey - yes, I know you read it here years ago - but what a character. I stood with a few mates at JD Martin's corner, watching George approach, and join, the state-of-the-art Teddy Boysleaning against Tam Brown's pub window. What in the name of the holy father was that poor man thinking?
Dressed in the same ragged clothes he wore as he rode with his family round the town in their cart, George sidled up to the elegant group who eyed him suspiciously as he leaned back and placed his elbows on the window sill. I cannot remember what happened next, but was highly amused, but not very surprised, some time later, to learn that George had started to rebel, drinking, and apparently helping himself to a fry-up, and smashing the crockery into the coalhole, where he believed it would remain undiscovered. Icannot be certain of the final tale, as it was told by that raconteur, Cyril McCurry, but it seems that when the men in the white coats came to get him, George was dragged down the hill shouting, 'You can't take me; I'm George mccomiskey'

Leo

Sally McComb had an older sister burnt to death when her clothing caught alight in front of the fireplace.

GEORDIE USED TO WALK TO BELFAST AND BACK REGULARLY WITH HIS HOB NAILED BOOTS ON