sandrewn

cems and jake31dublin, be welcome as official Mark fan club members. May these be but the first of many Likes to come your way. The first is always the hardest. Looking forward to your future posts and reviews. Sandrewn

I'd like to think of myself as being part of the first group mentioned. As we count down to post time, I found three clips of interest (at least to me anyways). Two are about HMS Victory and one a letter from Lord Nelson. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-30926084

Yes ditto, like Mr Patience said. With a bit of time left, here is something that caught my eye. This lady was quite amazing, I hope you think so also. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K08yOZ2X00

Since the monkey bailed on me, I have been reduced to trying to find videos to distract you. It would seem we have need of some (distraction) at this point in time. The first,is to give you a happy face ( ) The second, I have never been to the Islands and I like rainbows (R.I.P. Israel) The last one, well, it is a ' Finale '

Did you turn your clocks back 1 hr ?. This article has little to do with our story. It does mention the Portsmouth Naval Dockyard and HMS Victory. It is about the HMS M33, the last remaining Allied warship of the Gallipoli campaign. Lest we forget How the last Gallipoli gunboat was saved PHOTO: Dogboy, Wikimedia CommonsM33 undergoing restoration in Portsmouth Naval Dockyard in 2010. by Tom Rowley, The Daily Telegraph Originally published: 2 days ago Share Comments Email She was a pretty dismal ship that fought a pretty dismal campaign. But now, a century after she was commissioned by Winston Churchill, HMS M33 is set to play a central role in commemorating one of the most shambolic episodes of the First World War. The gunboat, which bombarded the Turkish coast during the disastrous Gallipoli campaign of 1915 and 1916, is to undergo a $4.3 million restoration in time for the operation’s centenary next year. Restoration work is underway in a dry dock at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. She is one of the few remaining warships from the First World War, and the only one to have served at Gallipoli, where 50,000 Allied servicemen died without gaining an inch of soil. Researchers have unearthed crew members’ diaries, as well as original logs and captain’s reports. Financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund and other donors, the National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth will restore some of the interiors before opening the 570-ton ship on August 6 next year, exactly a century since she first saw action. She is expected to take part in official events to commemorate the campaign, due to be outlined by the Government next week. Historians hope that the permanent exhibition will raise awareness of Gallipoli. “We can’t just remember the war’s successes – we have to remember the failures,” said Duncan Redford, one of the museum’s historians. “We want to lift people’s views from the mud of the trenches to the whole world. The Great War was far more than the Western Front.” In fact, the campaign was designed to end the trenches stalemate, by destroying Turkey as a fighting force and opening a line of communication with Russia, uniting the Allies. British, Commonwealth and Empire forces, with the French, would seize the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli before advancing on the Ottoman capital, Constantinople. Gallipoli became the largest amphibious operation of the war, and its least effective. Historians have blamed its failure on poor planning, insufficient artillery and inaccurate maps and intelligence. The M33 was one of five monitors, or gunboats, commissioned by Churchill, first lord of the Admiralty, and John Fisher, the first sea lord, in March 1915. Rather than risking state-of-the-art battleships in what they knew would be a risky campaign, they ordered monitors, specifically designed to be expendable. Equipped with 6-inch guns but with a very shallow hull, they were able to maneuver close to the shore and bombard the coastline. A battleship carried up to 1,000 men, but monitors only had room for 67, meaning that each assault would put fewer men in danger. The campaign had begun by the time the Admiralty placed the order, so Harland and Wolff in Belfast had to build M33 in just seven weeks. She had many flaws. She was made so quickly that the workmen who built her called her a “whippet,” but not for her speed: she could barely reach 10 knots. She was also unstable: a crewman complained that even “some of our modern sons of Neptune [were] wonderfully seasick.” She struggled in strong currents and had to be towed to Malta, which she reached on July 14, 1915. She spent the next three years in the Aegean, targeting Turkish forts with around 50 rounds of gunfire a day. “She was not designed to be maneuverable or to be a ship that fights other ships,” said Matthew Sheldon, who is spearheading the restoration at the museum. “She was about attacking forts, and was designed around her guns.” Even though the crew did not return home until Armistice Day, November 1918, there were no casualties, despite a few “hairy moments”. The other monitors were not so lucky: one sank in 1916 and another two years later. But the crew of the M33 endured other hardships. Unlike soldiers, they had no leave for more than three years. Conditions were cramped, with 44 men sleeping in hammocks in a small room where temperatures could top 38C. There was no refrigeration, so the men often survived on ship’s biscuits. Even so, diary entries state that the crew organized fancy dress competitions and adopted a small cat they named Miss Muggins, who grew fat on tinned fish and was forever getting lost. Henry Mulligan, the ship’s leading signalman, wrote his diary throughout the campaign. On August 7, 1915, he wrote: “Fired 59 rounds today. Don’t think Mr Turk likes the look of us.” Related stories: A perilous gap in Armenian history First World War battlefields reveal stories 100 years later in large photo exhibit in Paris Photos: Life in the trenches Images: Remembering Unknown Soldiers from the Great War After the war, the ship was sent to Russia as part of the White Sea Squadron, to support counter-revolutionary forces fighting the Bolsheviks. She was hit twice, and her hull still shows the repair after a Bolshevik shell struck in 1919. Miss Muggins suffered a burnt tail. M33 was saved from the scrapyard when she was converted into a floating workshop during the Second World War. She was bought by Hampshire County Council in 1990, which carried out emergency repair work – but a plan to open her to the public could never be realized. Until now. Today, she stands in a dry dock propped up by sodden timber. Workmen are on site to see she is ready by next August. Ironically, this old workhorse sits in the shadow of HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship. Yet, she has her own appeal, says Sheldon: the speed she was built, and the good humour with which her crew endured life aboard. “She shows what British industry could do in just seven weeks,” he said. “It was incredible.” .

Well I'm only late by a day and a couple of minutes. Still my young fellow Libran I am sending you this note, for your sepecial day, so.... Peter Piper Hoping you had a Great & Happy Birthday And since mentioned them, here is a video for you. Sandrewn

Hey I am getting better, I am only a little late with yours. Just wanted to drop a fellow Libran a short note to say to you..... BumbleBee I hope that you had the best day possible and belated Happy Birthday Wishes to You Sandrewn

I have been away for the last few days, so this is a tad tardy. It appears that we both like to travel and really like COFFEE! Plus we are also fellow Libras and members of GA. What more is needed, so...... zaf89 I hope you had a fantastic & really great Happy Birthday!! Since you are an author and I couldn't figure out what kind video to download for you. Here instead is something an author might ponder on. “Words have a magical power. They can bring either the greatest happiness or deepest despair; they can transfer knowledge from teacher to student; words enable the orator to sway his audience and dictate its decisions. Words are capable of arousing the strongest emotions and prompting all men's actions.” ― Sigmund Freud Sandrewn

I just got back, so this a bit late (only 9 days). 28 aunts and uncles, WOW! As a fellow Libran I am sending you this after BD wish. So..... Eric29 Hoping you had a really great Happy Birthday !!! And here is a song for some easy listening. I have always enjoyed this one, hope you will also. Sandrewn

To late for me, I already finished off my six pack of Baby Duck(one of the few select wines that come with twist or bottle top). These be dark times for us, fellow shipmates. This famine will end soon (fingers & toes crossed). To help pass the time here once more is our unofficial series theme song. Be brave, me hearties!

The only good thing about a really windy day is that what usually follows is a Bright Sunshiny Day. So my fellow Libran, here is hoping you.... Dark Have a really Great and Happy Birthday I tried to find something for you that had DARK in it. The closest I got was the following. I picked this one because while I like seeing S & G, this video was just a bit more (read one hell of a lot more interesting to watch) and listen to. All my best. Sandrewn

In keeping with my pledge to be a better person, having enjoyed some of your stories and being a fellow Libra. Please accept my hope that you... Lilansui Have the Best Birthday ever Sandrewn

Fifteen years old, going on fifty. I was always jealous of those wunderkinder I crossed paths with in my life (I know, get over it). This has all the marks of another great tale in the making. I so look forward to it. Thanks in advance for the adventures to come. A great chapter, thank you.

ELIJAH, I am sending you this note for the following reason(s) .We have two things in common, first we are both Libras (Libras Rock) and second we are both members of GA. So, hear is wishing you, ELIJAHmakesCOOKIES The Happiest Birthday Ever Now, by my calculations, I am just about 4X your age (ouch). That just means I have had all that time to make more mistakes than you could even image possible. So for advice, I am unfitted to do so. I would however ask you to listen to the song below (humer the old guy). Had I heard it when I was your age, it just might of made a difference. Sandrewn

01001000 01100001 01110110 01100101 00100000 01100001 00100000 01100111 01110010 01100101 01100001 01110100 00100000 01100100 01100001 01111001 00101100 00100000 01101000 01100001 01110000 01110000 01111001 00100000 01100010 01101001 01110010 01110100 01101000 01100100 Gee whiz, okay, okay if you insist we'll do it the old fashioned way. I thought binary code would be acceptable. Ghostboy Have a great day, Happy Birthday Sandrewn

Running and winning would be great, but it is the trying that is the achievement to strive for. Sending you this Happy Birthday wish today and a best of luck for tomorrow. Solarmaxx Happy Birthday Sandrewn

I'll give the gist of what Faxity said, 'Happy Birthady to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear French Canadian, Happy............'. Sound familliar? I am really late with mine but mean it just as much. French Canadian Sandrewn

I made a promise to myself to (try and) be a nicer person. You are my first step. Its late, but sincerly ment and the 24th made it a double celebration, congrats and best wishes. Rustle

The British only recaptured the island in November of 1798. I don't think there would have been time to set up anything too sophisticated. Perchance, O'brian and a small cabal of like minds stumbled across something already on going. There is nothing I could find historically on any such doings going on there at that time. The Regiment and its Col appeared spotless up to this point. Having said all this, let us wait and see what Mr Meurice is able to find out and go from there. Anything that would not change history or a destined outcome and since we need filler in this quiet time period? Well, Mark is rather good at making things up(creative writing), to suit the occation. A bit off topic, while I was looking through the 89th history, I came across the following. It brought to mind something from Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series. When Richard Sharpe requested to lead the forlorn hope at the siege of Badajoz. At the siege on Malta, the 89th Regiment Of Foot was assigned role as the forlorn hope, the "first ones in the breach". To everyone's surprise the Ensign was happily going to be the first man in the breach. He knew it was a cetain death sentence but he was doing it for his regiment and his country. As he ran into the breach in the northwestern wall he gave a "GOD SAVE THE KING!". Ensign William Moore was killed when he set foot into the breach, but inspired by his brave charge, the rest of the men followed suit and played a major role in the taking of Malta. -Journal From Captain Thomas Clayworth, Officer In The 89th.

Thank you for no 1 and now no 2 and for the anticipation of seeing a no 3 in the future. The first took place around the galaxy, the second mostly on board ship. Both left nothing to be desired, except of course the arrival of no 3. Thank you.

I realize as George goes up in rank it is becoming harder to create chapters for him. With the advent of the new century and the sparse pickings to choose from, I am still confident you will find ways to regale us, we your followers. This was a great chapter, thank you.

So with no ships to fight (French, Spanish or Dutch) and the Bey of Oran still rebuilding, it looks like George had no option but to find something else, smuggling won't you know. I don't think the 89th as a whole is involved, nor its Col (unless Mark says so), a small group with Capt O'Brian, possibly in cahoots with the guild and maybe even known to Lady Elgin. Okay, that last one might be a stretch. She does only have here and the next port of call left, to pull something off. In that case, some blood, the odd casualty, but please don't off any of the midshipmen. I wonder if Iggy will be at the last port of call and if he is involved in any way? Trust Mark to add some new excitement in addition to all the on going intrigue.

Libra Daily HoroscopeYou have a talented and impressive personality which will get highlighted in front of everyone today – including both your well-wishers and people opposing you! Pay heed to the advice of the former ones and ignore the rest. Your elders will be there in your support and will guide you well to regain your focus on certain very crucial goals of your life. Wishing you the Best of Birthdays today . As a fellow Libran I take horoscopes with a grain of salt, but yours seems apropos today.

For one week in 76, I was a patient in the Polish hospital in Ismailia, Egypt. I was surprised to find out that they had four meals a day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. Breakfast and dinner the main ones, lunch and supper more like snacks. I never had the munchies while there, now that was food for thought.

Her agenda is now known and Lord Elgin will now be his ally. Since history says he got to his embassy posting, I guess will they succeed. However there are still two ports of call to go, what does she have up her sleeve? The guild is international and not without resources. Great chapter, thank you.