Dan Milmo, transport correspondent
The Guardian, Friday 3 April 2009

Ryanair's service levels are so bad that an increasing number of passengers
would prefer to take a three-hour boat trip across the Irish Sea, one of
Europe's leading ferry operators said yesterday.

Stena Line reported a 10% increase in passengers on its Dublin to Holyhead route
in February and claimed that passenger dismay at air travel conditions was a big
contributor to the shift. Gunnar Blomdahl, Stena Line chief executive, said his
business had ramped up service standards while Ryanair, the dominant carrier
between London and Dublin, had gone in the other direction with its "insulting"
staff.

"I think we have benefited from all the trouble you have at the airport. First
you are insulted by a Ryanair person, then you have to get through security," he
said. "We have gone the other way and made it easier. The ferries are also much
better than they were four or five years ago."

The Dublin-Holyhead crossing was an often notorious experience for the vast
majority of travellers who could not afford the high fares on Aer Lingus and
British Airways. Rough weather and drab facilities made it an arduous journey,
but Blomdahl said Stena had improved its boats beyond recognition over the past
five years. He added that public rumblings over add-on charges and service
standards at Ryanair had coincided with a concerted effort by ferry operators to
win back business.

Asked about reactions to Ryanair's charging regime, he said: "Everybody is
talking about it, so there must be an opinion that it is not fun. They have gone
the other way when it comes to improvements. We have improved our product."

A Rynair spokesman said the airline was unaffected by the Swedish company's
revival. A spokesman said: "Please ignore the ramblings of Stena Lines's Captain
Hook. Ryanair carried more passengers to and from London in February than the
entire ferry industry carried on all routes to and from Ireland. Ferry travel is
simply for those transporting bullocks." Michael O'Leary, the Ryanair chief
executive, often cites the dramatic fall in London-to-Dublin fares as one of the
airline's proudest achievements.

Blomdahl added that a sharp drop in freight traffic on Stena ferries had allowed
the company to offer discounts and more capacity to leisure passengers on its
Ireland vessels. A 15% reduction in freight traffic has resulted in more space
for passenger cars, he said. Stena had lost about 5% of its business to airlines
on the Irish sea route over the past five years, he said, but he claimed that
the company had now clawed back some of those passengers: "In bad times people
tend to use the ferries more. It is cheaper to take the family in a car than to
fly."

Blomdahl was speaking as family-owned Stena announced an operating profit of
272m Swedish kronor (£23m) last year, down from Skr612m in 2007 as high fuel
prices and the recession took their toll. The Stena boss said freight traffic on
its ferries in Britain and Scandinavia was down 15%, in line with global trade
figures. However, he added that there were some signs of recovery on the
Holyhead-Dublin route, which is showing less serious declines from trucks
carrying consumer goods.

"The Irish sea route was first into the crisis and, because it is recovering a
bit, maybe we are seeing the first one out. But I still think that 2009 will be
a tough year." Blomdahl added that there was still no sign of an uplift in
freight demand on its Scandinavian services.

Stena Line press release:

Stena Line Announce Tonnage Changes On Its Central Corridor Route

LEADING ferry company Stena Line today announced positive changes to
its Central Corridor Services between Holyhead and Dublin Bay.

The Company is pleased to announce that the existing dedicated
freight vessel, the Stena Seatrader, will be replaced with a more
modern and faster Ropax vessel, the Stena Nordica, which can carry
both freight and tourist guests.

Vic Goodwin, Stena Line's Route Director for the Central and Southern
Corridor said: "We are delighted that the Stena Nordica will be
joining the Central Corridor. The vessel is much faster than the
Stena Seatrader which means crossing times will be quicker and in
addition to providing additional capacity for freight, the Stena
Nordica will also provide an attractive alternative to our tourist
guests. The vessel will have a range of facilities for our onboard
guests including Stena Line's executive lounge, Stena Plus. The
vessel currently has a passenger capacity of 400 but we are looking
at plans to increase the passenger capacity of the vessel".

"Whilst the Stena Seatrader only performed one round trip per day,
the Stena Nordica could provide the option of double tripping if
required and will therefore provide greater flexibility for refit
cover on both the Central and Southern Corridor Routes.

The Stena Nordica will transfer to the Irish Sea on the 4 November
2008 from the Company's Route between Sweden and Poland. Initially
the vessel will provide refit cover on the Fishguard – Rosslare
service and will then commence service on the Holyhead – Dublin Route
on the 12th November 2008 .

Coinciding with this change Goodwin added: "Everyone is aware of the
negative impact of high fuel prices and the economic downturn on the
transport industry. Whilst the HSS Stena Explorer is extremely
popular with all our customers on the Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire
route, unfortunately the operating costs of the craft remain very
high. Consequently we have decided to reduce the HSS operation to one
round trip per day with effect from the 10th November 2008 except for
the Christmas and New Year Holiday period when the vessel will double
trip."

Following the 2008 Christmas/New Year Holiday period the HSS will
undertake its annual refit from January 2009 until the middle of
February 2009 and the service will recommence on a revised one round
trip timetable, with the Company retaining the flexibility to
increase trips of the HSS as and when required.

Commenting, Vic Goodwin said: "Whilst the business continues to face
many challenges, we believe the unique combination of the HSS Stena
Explorer, the Stena Adventurer and the Stena Nordica is the best
solution for all our customers. We can provide all our guests with
frequency of sailing times, a choice between fast craft and
Superferries and high standards of service. The fleet changes also
provide the company with the greatest flexibility to meet any future
challenges ahead."

I was an A.B. on the Duke of Lancaster when she was on the Heysham to
Belfast service.

I have been down to Mostyn to see her twice and both times have come
away with tears in my eyes.

She really is a beautiful ship and if anyone is going to try to rescue
her, then count me in.

Dave

I used this service many times. There was only one sleeper car
attached to the boat train, complete with attendant in starched white
coat. I never used to book. It was always possible to get a berth,
usually in a compartment to yourself. I suppose that says it all and
explains the demise of the service. I know this is about trains, but I
have posted it because I think it makes the point that "seamless
travel" existed long before the phrase was coined. A pleasant sea
journey from Dun Laoghaire on the St.Columba leading into a civilised
and comfortable journey to London with efficient use of one's sleeping
hours. How different to the hustle and bustle by air nowadays. Arrival
at Euston with tea and biscuits in those big green railway cups! Oh
the memories.

Such a shame Justin. She is a very British looking vessel, and
elegant at that. I remember from my old Harwich-Hoek travel days
that the day boats of the Netherlands Zeeland Steamship company
looked more modern and sleeker than the John Brown built s.s.
Amsterdam. However it was the British night boats on the crossing
that exuded old fashioned charm. They were design icons in their own
right.--- In sealinkuk@yahoogroups.com, "Justin Merrigan"
<justin@...> wrote:
>
> Sad to say Mark, I see no future for her other than dismantling
where
> she lies.  Hard to believe, but she has been in this location now
for
> longer than her entire seagoing career.
>
> There is a group keen to see her preserved and while their
endeavours
> are commendable it is difficult to see any positive outcome.
>
> Meanwhile, her owners remain silent as to their intentions for the
old
> girl and so the once proud Duke continues to rot away.
>
> Regards,
>
> Justin Merrigan
> www.sealink-holyhead.com
>
>
>
> --- In sealinkuk@yahoogroups.com, "mark" <marcskoda@> wrote:
> >
> > I travelled to Ireland by train some time ago and saw "The Duke
of
> > Lancaster" in North Wales, looking rather forlorn. What is the
future
> > for this vessel. She's a great looker.
> >
>

Sad to say Mark, I see no future for her other than dismantling where
she lies.  Hard to believe, but she has been in this location now for
longer than her entire seagoing career.

There is a group keen to see her preserved and while their endeavours
are commendable it is difficult to see any positive outcome.

Meanwhile, her owners remain silent as to their intentions for the old
girl and so the once proud Duke continues to rot away.

Regards,

Justin Merrigan
www.sealink-holyhead.com



--- In sealinkuk@yahoogroups.com, "mark" <marcskoda@...> wrote:
>
> I travelled to Ireland by train some time ago and saw "The Duke of
> Lancaster" in North Wales, looking rather forlorn. What is the future
> for this vessel. She's a great looker.
>

I travelled to Ireland by train some time ago and saw "The Duke of
Lancaster" in North Wales, looking rather forlorn. What is the future
for this vessel. She's a great looker.

A milestone for the Sealink-Holyhead website which today passed 100,000
hits!

Thanks to all for your support, here's to the next 100,000 and my
continuing to learn how to put these things together!!!

The Sealink-Holyhead web site has had some recent updates and is ready
for your perusal!

----- Original Message -----

From: j.r.clague

To: sealinkuk@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 10:43 PM

Subject: Re: [sealinkuk] Re: Blowing a Hooligan!

Justin

 

I'm intrigued by the title of this thread as I'd never heard the expression used this way. Is it an Australian one?  I'd have thought you would have preferred the Irish "HOOLEY" which is certainly a commonly used in northern England in this context (albeit a Hooley is an Irish Gig) .  As in :

"It's blowing a HOOLEY", comes from when steamship captains were unable to sail up the Hooley River (in India), because it was really windy, too windy to sail up river."
from: http://edit-x.com/editx-clients.html

 

To be fair "blowing a hooligan" also comes up in Google searches in a similar windy context (but not a river!)  - albeit a HOOLIGAN is someothing rather different.

 

Looking at the wind maps it looks as if last night's storms hit SW England, Wales and passed south of IOM. The forecast for Tuesday night/Wed is actually worse for the northern Irish Sea.  I suspect this will not help attemepts to refloat RIVERDANCE later in the week. (sorry this is going ogff topic!).

 

cheers

 

Dick

---

I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users.
It has removed 256 spam emails to date.
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The Stena Adventurer did indeed sail early from Dublin, allowing them
to get in to Holyhead and provide shelter on the berth for the Ulysees.

The irish ship still parted ropes and had to keep engines on
throughout. She got her cargo on asap and when the Adventurer was ready
to go, Ulysses left the berth and lashed her cargo in the anchorage.

The Adventurer left the berth, SE 52 - 68 knots! 30 mins to complete.
Managed to get off eventually.

Ready to pick up again tonight.

Stena Adventurer away from Dublin early tonight so they're at sea for
the worst of it.

For Irish Sea they're giving for midnight Sly 50 - and then for 0300
sse 70!!!

Just added a number of pictures of the interiors of Sarnia and
Caesarea to my website. Here is a link for anyone interested in taking
a look at them.

http://www.caesarea-sarnia.co.uk/page_458252.html

Dee, If you look in my Caesarea/Sarnia photo album, you will see a
couple of pictures showing the area of the window you mention (B deck
forward - Smoke Room). As you say,it is missing on Sarnia. Note also
the difference in decor between the two ships.

Stephen, you really are a gift from heaven! What a wonderful website
dedicated to my two favorite ships. Thank you so much for that. The
first time I have seen any interior of the vessels since I made my last
trip on Sarnia in 1977. I did have a seating plan for the ships at one
time, unfortunately lost over the years. It was the same as the ones
adorning the wall in the St. Peter Port ferry terminal lounge, although
their versions were on yellow paper, mine on white. Maybe someone out
there has a copy for your website?

Yes, there were one or two other external differences and many more
interior ones. Two different design teams were employed when it came
to fitting them out, resulting in Caesarea appearing dark and very
1950's looking, whereas Sarnia was much brighter and had a more modern
appearance - for that time.
I have just obtained a number of photographs showing the insides of
the ships and these will hopefully be added to my website in the next
week or two.

Stephen

http://www.caesarea-sarnia.co.uk/

Correction - I should have said that the Caesarea has the extra port on
both sides, Sarnia only on the starboard.

I've just been looking at the excellent Scandinavian shipping website
(can't spell or even pronounce it!, but the links are below). A while
ago, I noticed a subtle difference between the former C.I.- Weymouth
sisters Sarnia and Caesarea. Photos on the website proved my suspicions
to be correct. At the extreme for'ard end of B-deck there are five
square ports. On the Sarnia there is an additional smaller port only on
the starboard side. On the Caesarea the same is true only on the port
side. I wonder whether this design difference was intentional, should
the ship's name ever be changed maybe, or purely incidental. There were
some striking internal differences of course, the most noticeable being
the choice of wood panelling lining the main stairways on Caesarea,
whereas Sarnia had floor to ceiling mirrors. Anyone know of similar
examples on other ships?
Links:
http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/sarnia_1961.htm

http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/caesarea_1960.htm

February 28th, 2008

NEW SAILING TIMES FOR STENA ADVENTURER ON IRISH SEA

STENA Line, Europe's largest ferry operator, has announced details of
new sailing times from Holyhead Port for the Stena Adventurer
superferry service to Dublin.

From Monday March 3, the Adventurer will depart from Holyhead at the
later time of 13:50 with a new arrival time in Dublin 15 minutes
earlier at 17:05.

Stena Line Freight Commercial Manager Frank Nieuwenhuys believes the
new timings will help Stena Line's freight customers increase their
efficiency.

"The changes we've made to the Stena Adventurer timetable might seem
small but they will make a big difference to our freight customers,
allowing them to make better use of an integrated Stena Line network
as part of a continuous through-flow from continental Europe," said
Frank.

"Not only does this give our North Sea customers more time for the
journey from Killingholme and Harwich to Holyhead but it also allows
additional time for operators travelling from other locations in Great
Britain to reach the port. The early arrival in Dublin of this sailing
was very popular with our customers and with a small adjustment of
just 15 minutes this has been maintained whilst easing the pressure on
the journey time to Holyhead to catch the first available afternoon
sailing to Ireland.

"Stena Line will still be the first ship to arrive in Dublin Port from
Holyhead and this means that many of our freight customers will be
able to make deliveries on the same day and enjoy the benefits of
arriving at their final destination sooner than before.

"Our new morning departure time at 08:20 from Dublin, introduced in
January has also been popular with our freight customers, he added.
"This service will continue to operate at 08:20 with the benefit of a
10 minutes earlier arrival in Holyhead".

On the Irish and North Sea, Stena Line Freight offers customers a
choice of over 46 daily sailings across eight routes. These include
Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire, Holyhead to Dublin, Fishguard to Rosslare,
Stranraer to Belfast, Fleetwood to Larne, Killingholme to Hoek van
Holland, Harwich to Hoek van Holland and Harwich to Rotterdam.

For more information on routes and services available, call Stena Line
Freight on 0870 850 3535 or click on www.stenalinefreight.com.

[ends]

Good Grief!!!  Popular the, this son-in-law, Mark?!! ;o)

Justin

--- In sealinkuk@yahoogroups.com, "mark" <marcskoda@...> wrote:
He had had a few pints on board and had fallen asleep in the
> disco, rolled into a ball he had managed to enter the back of one of
> the speakers and a piece of black fabric had hidden him from view of
> three search parties. All in the normal day of a cross channel ferry!
>

I have posted quite a few pictures of ferries including Irish ones.
Not Sealink I know, but part of the overall picture none the less. I
have also posted details of a British Railways brochure given free
onboard the s.s. Amsterdam. There was one in every cabin. This one I
found on ebay. There were other versions for the s.s. Arnhem and s.s.
Duke of York. I don't recall seeing a version for the s.s. Avalon, but
I may just have had memory failure.

I had just moved back to the U.K. having lived in Ireland for
several years and having acquired an Irish son-in law, Kevin. He and
I were returning a Dublin registered 7.5 tonne self drive furniture
van to it's depot. I had slept on the crossing to Dun Laoghaire, and
Kevin went off to the bar and played gaming machines etc. I was
awoken by the tannoy announcement that all drivers should go to
their vehicles. There was no sign of Kevin. No sign of him either
when I had to start up and drive off. I thought I would see him come
off as a foot passenger. I waited in the parking space outside the
terminal, and waited, and waited , and waited. Everyone had
disembarked, and still no sign of him. I went to the Port Office,
actually the Harbourmaster's Office if I recall correctly. The
Harbourmaster ordered a search of the ship from top to bottom, and
when there was no result, a second search was carried out. Still no
result. He said to a colleague that if a third search was
unsuccessful then he would call Brawdy. I took this to be R.A.F.
Brawdy the British helicopter base. Memeories are a little hazy, and
I must stand corrected if I have the wrong base name, but it was
definitely a British base, which I thought a little odd, as the
Irish would not allow the Red Arrows from Valley on Anglesey to
perform at the Baldonnell Air Show.
The third search produced no result, and the Harbourmaster lifted
the phone and told me that he was ordering a sea search.
At that very moment with the receiver off it's hook, Kevin emerged
from the foot passenger exit with "not a bother on him" as the Irish
say. He had had a few pints on board and had fallen asleep in the
disco, rolled into a ball he had managed to enter the back of one of
the speakers and a piece of black fabric had hidden him from view of
three search parties. All in the normal day of a cross channel ferry!

I still use ferries regularly, having bought a farmhouse in the Czech
mountains a couple of years ago. I always use Norfolk Line. £14 per
crossing for a car and five passengers, and this fare is freely
available on "selected" sailings, usually 2 or 4 a.m. That suits me
fine. I can be home in 12 hours from Dunkerque. This shipping line has
the most beautiful ferries on the Channel. Polish is heard on board
more than English. It's blinding good value. They let you change
sailings at Dunkerque, even to more expensive ones with quite a few
hours difference! Dover check-in is more structured and it's not
possible there. Seafrance and P+O can't compete.

It rather begs the question as to why the Irish Sea is so expensive to
cross. Do I hear the word "cartel" muttered in the background?

What's all this got to do with Sealink?, I hear you ask. Unfortunately
Sealink is no more and this is about the present, so please excuse the
intrusion.

I am a bit of a computer virgin. It will not happen again (I hope!)

Excellent stuff Mark!

Just a little housekeeping comment - may I ask members that when
replying to a post, the previous message is deleted from the body of
the reply.

This will just make it that little bit easier to read comments and also
keep everything tidy for those who have elected to receive messages by
email.

Many thanks!

Justin Merrigan
www.sealink-holyhead.com

--- In sealinkuk@yahoogroups.com, "Justin Merrigan" <justin@...>
wrote:
>
> Thanks again Mark - looking forward to the next instalment,
> especially those Irish Sea memories!!!
>
> Regards,
>
> Justin
> www.sealink-holyhead.com
>
>
>
> --- In sealinkuk@yahoogroups.com, mark young <marcskoda@> wrote:
> >
> > I always preferred to travel on the s.s.Amsterdam. It was the
most
> modern of the three night service vessels, the s.s. Arnhem being a
> few years older, and the s.s. Duke of York being considerably
older
> and noticeably less comfortable than the other two.
> >
> >   Dawn broke and we passed along the great breakwater at the
Hoek.
> The vessels seemed to have a handling agent in The Netherlands,
> called Hudig and Pieters, with officials in smart uniforms. It was
> noisy and busy at the Hoek. The trains to destinations all over
> Europe were all lined up. The orangey red colour of the TEE train,
I
> think it was called "The Lorelei", contrasted with our more
> standard  "Harz Mountains Express. We had a couple of carriages
> destined for Warsaw, and one for Moscow, so what the TEE had in
> chic,  we had in mystery.
> >
> >   The train departed on it's 8 hour journey making only moderate
> progress, and stopping at stations such as Rotterdam, Almelo,
> Hengelo, Deventer and Bentheim. (Not necessarily in that order)
All
> stops being met by vendors shouting "Koffie", and railway
employees
> with squeegees cleaning train windows to new heights of sparkling.
> >
> >   All so different to Blighty!  Customs formalities were carried
> out near the German border, on the train, with us sweating about
> whether our ample supplies of coffee would be discovered. (They
never
> were). 4 in the afternoon and we pulled into Hannover
Hauptbahnhof,
> tired but exhilerated.
> >
> >   Our beautiful ship was far behind us, but we had the reverse
> sailing to look forward to in four weeks time. Which ship would it
> be? Hopefully the "Amsterdam". Failing that the "Arnhem".
Preferably
> not the grand old "Duke of York". Always hot and rough.
> >
> >   Sometimes we took the car on holiday, when Dad's work allowed.
> The old Humber Imperial was loaded to the limit, but with it's
drop
> down cocktail cabinets and wicker picnic basket in it's special
boot
> holder we ate well on the long journey from Salisbury to Harwich,
the
> road following the railway route. Chelmsford, Tiptree, Marks Tey,
> Maningtree, Mistley, Wrabness.
> >
> >   The car was driven along the dockside and onto a wooden board
> with rope sides, ready for lifting into the hold. Nothing like
today,
> but oh so much more romantic and thrilling.
> >
> >   More soon. Mark
>With adolescence behind me and my 23rd birthday approaching, I met
and married my Irish wife Nuala. For the first year of our marriage
we were frequent visitors to Ireland, nearly always flying over to
Dublin on an old Viscount airliner of Aer Lingus, from the tiny
Elmdon airport Birmingham. With the arrival of our first child we
took our first trips by ferry from Fishguard, and more frequently
from Holyhead. These short sea routes were always rather expensive
and we had no brand loyalty. Whatever was cheapest was booked. Hence
we travelled on a variety of ferries both B+I and Sealink. I
remember the "St. Columba" with some affection, but I also liked
the "Leinster" and "Munster" of B+I. On all these ferries there was
a quiet lounge, free of the standard crackling T.V. and invitations
to purchase overpriced goods and meals. I have noticed that the
H.S.S today is one huge fast food "opportunity". Very noisy.

The vessels never excited in me the feelings I had for the old
Harwich - Hoek steamers. I think ro-ro was to blame. Vast numbers of
cars and over organised boarding and disembarking all seemed rather
impersonal.

Occasionally something out of the ordinary would happen, like the
acquisition by B+I of the Smyril line ferry Norrona on the Dublin
Ferryport to Holyhead service for a few months several years ago. I
was very disappointed at the rather poor state of repair and
cleanliness of that vessel. Not at all what I had expected from a
Scandinavian/Icelandic company. Over the years I have also travelled
on the "Jonathan Swift" and "Ulysses". All good in their own way,
but rather impersonal at the same time.

My Irish mother-in-law became ill with Alzheimer's disease in the
1990's. My wife moved to Dublin to be with her in her final years
and I travelled to Ireland from the Midlands by train and ship,
every weekend for two years. More of this in my next missive. The
single carriage sleeping car to Euston, Virgin's new service and the
new terminals at Holyhead, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin Ferryport. More
of all that later. Best wishes to you all. Mark Young.

Thanks again Mark - looking forward to the next instalment,
especially those Irish Sea memories!!!

Regards,

Justin
www.sealink-holyhead.com



--- In sealinkuk@yahoogroups.com, mark young <marcskoda@...> wrote:
>
> I always preferred to travel on the s.s.Amsterdam. It was the most
modern of the three night service vessels, the s.s. Arnhem being a
few years older, and the s.s. Duke of York being considerably older
and noticeably less comfortable than the other two.
>
>   Dawn broke and we passed along the great breakwater at the Hoek.
The vessels seemed to have a handling agent in The Netherlands,
called Hudig and Pieters, with officials in smart uniforms. It was
noisy and busy at the Hoek. The trains to destinations all over
Europe were all lined up. The orangey red colour of the TEE train, I
think it was called "The Lorelei", contrasted with our more
standard  "Harz Mountains Express. We had a couple of carriages
destined for Warsaw, and one for Moscow, so what the TEE had in
chic,  we had in mystery.
>
>   The train departed on it's 8 hour journey making only moderate
progress, and stopping at stations such as Rotterdam, Almelo,
Hengelo, Deventer and Bentheim. (Not necessarily in that order)  All
stops being met by vendors shouting "Koffie", and railway employees
with squeegees cleaning train windows to new heights of sparkling.
>
>   All so different to Blighty!  Customs formalities were carried
out near the German border, on the train, with us sweating about
whether our ample supplies of coffee would be discovered. (They never
were). 4 in the afternoon and we pulled into Hannover Hauptbahnhof,
tired but exhilerated.
>
>   Our beautiful ship was far behind us, but we had the reverse
sailing to look forward to in four weeks time. Which ship would it
be? Hopefully the "Amsterdam". Failing that the "Arnhem". Preferably
not the grand old "Duke of York". Always hot and rough.
>
>   Sometimes we took the car on holiday, when Dad's work allowed.
The old Humber Imperial was loaded to the limit, but with it's drop
down cocktail cabinets and wicker picnic basket in it's special boot
holder we ate well on the long journey from Salisbury to Harwich, the
road following the railway route. Chelmsford, Tiptree, Marks Tey,
Maningtree, Mistley, Wrabness.
>
>   The car was driven along the dockside and onto a wooden board
with rope sides, ready for lifting into the hold. Nothing like today,
but oh so much more romantic and thrilling.
>
>   More soon. Mark

--- In sealinkuk@yahoogroups.com, "Dee Sharisse" <deecardiff@...>
wrote:
>
> Enjoyed reading your recollections, Mark. As you say, it was so much
> more romantic in those days with ships looking as nature intended,
> rather than the "blocks of flats" or "Thunderbirds" we have today.
Oh
> for the days of the old mailboats!
>
Thank you Dee. I will post some recollections of the Irish sea routes
soon.

Enjoyed reading your recollections, Mark. As you say, it was so much
more romantic in those days with ships looking as nature intended,
rather than the "blocks of flats" or "Thunderbirds" we have today. Oh
for the days of the old mailboats!