sandrewn

You certainly got our attention. The boys are going into harms way (that's an understatement) and things don't look good for them or the habitat(s). If they survive this, the AIs will have to become a lot more proactive with their defence / security systems. Hopefully good will over come evil in the end. Let us pray the cost is not to high. Have a great trip, take lots of pictures. Enjoy your family, when and while you can.

HMS Valiant will have will have a substantial increase in broad side weight over HMS Indefatigable. HMS Indefatigable 44 guns 26 x 24 lb cannon (range up to 2150 yds) 12 x 12 lb cannon 06 x 42 lb carronade (range up to 1170 yds) HMS Valiant 44 guns 26 x 24 lb cannon 16 x 42 lb carronade 02 x 68 lb carronade (range up to 1280 yds) We never heard of how effective the water collector was on Bacchante, maybe having one up each mast might help with their water/ballast problem. Will they be able to openly rig up the boat davits there or have to wait till once at sea. The waist covers they created for Bacchante would be so much easier to make while in a port with wood supplies. I also, would like to know who the new middies will be. I wonder what the Figurehead is or will be.

Benedicte Bonjour et bienvenue sur le site. Making the effort is what counts. Happy to have you with us. Sandrewn

I will not even try to comment on the abilities of the various royal and private naval yards (way beyond my pay grade). However I thought some of of my fellow Grangerites might like to see what HMS Valiant might in the end look like. Both of the following are references to HMS Indefatigable. The first is more pictorial. The second I found to be of real interest as it explained many questions I have had on sail terms and construction. Also for the comparison between cannon and caronnade, especially with regards to their ranges. Along with a variety of other points of interest. PELLEW, EXMOUTH - HMS INDEFATIGABLE The Illustrated Companion to Nelson's Navy - Nicholas Blake, Richard Lawrence - Google Books

I did say a red herring, didn't I, oops! This eating of crow is getting to be a bad habit of mine (did you know that crow meat is almost black in colour,tough and gamey). His new command will indeed be an impressive one. The first one of her class to be razeed was HMS Indefatigable, click below to see how accomplished a career she had.Take special note of her armament as a frigate, HMS Valiant should have the same, once finished. Trust Mark to figure out how to reward George for all he has done, without posting him to a ship of the line. If frigates were seen as the wolves of the sea,Valiants' claws will truly be feared, what grand adventures await us. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Indefatigable_(1784)

Thank you for this new book and the great foundation chapter to build on.

Wowsers, directed asteroids, real habitat busters. You couldn't make it any more serious than that! What have you gotten our boys into now? How the heck did the AIs miss this possible scenario? Great chapter. P.S. We need that next chapter ASAP, please.

I just knew it, things were going along to swimmingly. couldn't allow that now could we? Thanks for yet another cliff hanger! Good job.

Variety, the spice of life (your so good at it). A walkabout, killer whale and throw in 9153 new immigres. Good onya, geat chapter, thank you.

Is it just me or what? Packing up and moving, a seven second to two and a half hours time lag is no small distance. Very laid back. You never cease to amaze me, great chapter, thank you.

The quiet time was okay, but the excitement in this chapter was much enjoyed. The birth(?) and saving of a new AI, way cool. Great chapter, thank you.

It is easy to forget what kind work load all four of them are constantly under. This chapter reminded us of it. So that trip they had was a needed break and much appreciated time out and yet at the same time a learning experience. Your building us for some thing, I just know it. A great chapter, thank you.

What a funtastic ship. I think after this trip, instead of thinking of them as the trio and Sonic. They are more like the four musketeers, all for one and one for all. What an easy reading and enjoyable chapter, thank you.

What I gave above, was something I heard thirty plus years ago at a Black Watch (RHC) mess diner. The Guest of Honor had been a member of the Devils' Brigade. The closest I could find to match it is: Slàinte maith, h-uile latha, na chi 'snach fhaic! (Good health, every day, whether I see you or not!) (Particularly appropriate for e-mail only friends?)

Happy Anniversary, it was your stories that drew me to this wonderful site, thank you. It is your ninth and my first, darn it Heinz, I mean Mark, I'll just never ketchup ( ) to you.

I speculate that ' Valiant ' is a red herring. It looked more like a frigate. Now, ' that's rusty nails ' is of interest. A rusty nail , is an excellant drink: two shots of Scotch Whiskey, one shot of Drambuie (real men don't use ice) and for scurvy's sake a twist of lemon skin / with no white (white would make it bitter), oh and stir with a finger, sticks are for kids.. Slainte mhor a h-uile la a chi's nach fhaic. or Rusty nails could also be the result to a frigate that caught fire and was doused with sea water (corrosive stuff that). Said frigate then had to go in for extensive and lengthy repairs (a year or two ?). Can anyone guess its name ?

What a great way to start the week off. I don't suppose you would be so kind as to share the name with us, my good sir.

So I take it that a peer with a seat in the House of Lords could not also have a seat in Parliament. Cavendish however had a courstesy title and no seat in the House of Lords, thus he could hold a seat in Parliament. I wonder how many courtesy titled Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts or Barons held or stood for seats in Parliament. As only the eldest son (and his eldest son, etc) of a Duke, Marquess or Earl could be given one of his Father's subsidiary titles. I assume that the staff at Brentwood took to calling George's eldest son, Lord Ryde, due only to their fondness of him and not as a requirement and/or entitlement.

Whole grey mullet need the guts, scales and gills removed. Fillets also require pin-boning but (once scaled) the soft skin is usually left intact. Grey mullet has a distinctive, almost earthy flavour that is not universally loved. This earthiness can be reduced by the addition of robust and lightly acidulated sauces, dressings and marinades featuring lemon, white wine vinegar, capers and garlic. Grey mullet roe is a delicacy smoked and is traditionally used in taramasalata. I have tried them, not bad, but the cook did not properly pin bone the one I had and I almost choked on it. Oh, hold on a sec, you weren't referring to an actual mullet were you. Ricky, you (and some others) might find this interesting. These were the four major (sea) battles that Nelson was involved in or with. Two we have experienced to date. Hopefully that will also happen with the those yet to come. Note if you will, how Nelsons' 'Coat of Arms' changes and developes after each victory and elevation. http://www.whitelionsociety.co.uk/gallery/st-vincent.html http://www.whitelionsociety.co.uk/gallery/nile.html http://www.whitelionsociety.co.uk/gallery/copenhagen.html http://www.whitelionsociety.co.uk/gallery/trafalgar.html Westie, with reference to Preston and Haverleigh, I still haven't been able to find any historical ruminations on either one (so far). Sandrewn

I hope that Peter Chartley makes it back from the Far East, that would go far in making Georges' enforced wait for an exchange bearable. Ok, I'll fess up. The real reason for this post was to see if I change colours, if so, cool, green is my favourite colour. If not I'll just keep posting along in blue, my next favourite colour.

With the exception of the Duke of Suffolk (extinct), like the Earl of Bridgemont all seem to be fictitious. I can not even find a town of Haverleigh, the now named Barony. The others are scattered on/or near the coasts of the England (the two new ). I can find no reason for their being chosen (so far). I can find no reference to lands or on estate that comes with the Dukedom, will he have to build a county residence for himself. Will he take on the heraldic symbols of the prior Duke? Or does he get to create his own and keep his Bridgemont Blue? Not, I guess important questions, but to me interesting ones.

Georges' very first words in book one of this series were " I won't let you down Father ". His last words in Odyssey (at least to himself could have been " I kept my promise, I haven't let you down Father ". You can almost visualize a young George learning to play the flute just to please his Father. Well done and thank you Mark.

The sun has finally set on our 'Odyssey'. And what an ending it was. Georges' Father created a Duke, a life long dream. George himself being given special precedence to sit beside his Father to the Kings' right. His love for Caroline fully realized. Yet knowing he has a crew (well at least 100 men) also waitng for his next command. It is with a tear that darkness descends upon us, but as is in life (and as you have told us) there will be a dawn with a new adventure for our hero and that gives us cause to smile. Thank you Mark for every thing and of that yet to come.

As am I. Mean while the following are of persons and/or events from Odyssey. 1799 - 5 August - Admiral Howe dies. - 14 December - President Washington dies. 1800 - 2 July & 1 August - Acts of union 1800 to unite the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland. 1801 - 19 March - Ambrosio O'Higgins, Spanish Viceroy of Peru and Governor of Chile dies. - 2 April - Battle of Copenhagen, Nelson acts as he did at St Vincent. - 19 May - Nelson is created a Viscount. 1802 - 4 July - Just an interesting note. West Point opens. 1803 - 23 January - ( I like stout) Arthur Guinness dies. 1804 - 12 July - Alexander Hamilton from wounds in a duel.

Yes indeed, a great chapter. Two more old questions I thought of besides the one Ricky asked about Mr. Humphreys. What about his new Baronial house on the Isle of Wight and will George make good his promise to Calvert on the equal share of the prize money? Now begins my vigil of devotion ( and twiddling of thumbs).