Crossing the Line or When I Grow Up, I Want …
In days gone by, like every young boy, he smiled at those who worked for joy.
“That’s what I want”, to work- each smile, would say, something different day by day.
He did the usual stuff at school but ended up with nothing cool.
Until he said ‘I saw a job for me’ , in blue suit surge - the Royal Navy.
He joined and trained and worked, made friends, many days at sea, many “make and mends”.
Went far and wide, he often sought, that girl to find in every port.
Got a medal or two then left to find, something close to that job he left behind.
Now a “strawberry” some call him, it’s “Jack” for Civvy,
Look – that’s just rhyming slang for “Strawberry Mivvi”.
He loved those ice creams, his ice cream suit, tropical shoes in hot sun to boot.
Learned all he called “flex ops”, could even work a lathe, he relished the pipe - when they called “hands to bathe”.
Crossing the line or even the ice, the job he said “he is proud ,
He said “It was nice” ...
So when kids are deciding a career at fourteen, just remember old grandad and where he has been.
For he saw the world, at Uckers he’d cheat, days of “field gun bunnies ”, and creeping the reep.
Heard “Chinese whispers”, he got a C.126, for losing his hard hat on 706.
Getting “blue liners” with stamps placed in his pay book, met three badge stokers and chefs who could cook.
Yes he must have upset draft, as he moved him, and closed, his comfortable time at RNAS Culdrose.
But he still had the joy, of MASU and Lee, although this life’s not for everyone, some went RDP.
He remembers his home port, the ships and abroad, he laughed in the messdeck and shouted “Upboard”.
Although left the Andrew and that great life so fine, he said, “please pass this message on to you, yours, and mine.
Believe in those early smiles and the joy time after time and remember grandad and crossing the line.