I Was Completely Wrong ...

Lifebuoy was a luxury toilet soap compared to hard soap! Had a wrapper and was rounded. Didn't know it was born!

During a dry-docking in North Shields, yet another Storekeeper included in a list of items stolen from his Steering Gear Store a few cases of 'Liveboy Soup'. Has to be said that his English was a lot better than my Arabic.
 
They used to sit round on a wood and canvass hatch top, shooting the breeze and paring hard soap into flakes. Hard soap came in bars 2" x 2" x 12", all gnarled and twisted, burn the skin off your hands.
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Still being at sea Bechet I have to say we really are a bunch of namby pambies out here now. Take away the dhobi-dust and mutiny is on the horizon and any lesser than a bar of 'Lux' and the 'hygiene' screaming is louder than the engines . Mind you I do recall those days when a bar of Lux had more monetary value than the local money itself in some parts of the world.

Pre-oils? I have to admit I do like them although I am not sure about the claim on the Clarins which says 'use alone'.
 
Been in the oil industry side for the past 23 years and presently on a platform construction dive boat out in Mexico. Seven years this way. Prior to this, European coasters and started off on general cargo with Bank Line.
 
Bank Line! I suppose somebody had to! and then rock dodging. I started with Port Line and worked my way down the social ladder, all deep sea. Ended on a high, though - sort of - ashore. Hard to remember thinking of work as being important!
 
Bank Line. Indeed. The only officers who were accepted by British ratings being as they were considered worse. I did love my days with them and never a regret.

39 years a seaman now and still enjoying my days at sea
 
Oh! the joys of British crews! You reminded me. Two 'amusing' anecdotes both involve fire axes. Without having the vaguest idea what I was doing, as a newbie 2/E I 'helped' a Fireman dry out - until he chased me round the accommodation with said fire axe, convinced I was The Devil. A large glass of whisky sorted that one out. Two Stewards fighting each other with fire axes for the privilege of chopping open the new Cabin Boy's - well, cabin door to start with. Amazingly, I talked them down from that - and noticed the cabin boy was smiling a lot a few days later.

Union Rule Book! Oi vey! I learned to quote that backwards, forwards and inside out - of necessity. Sadly, no more British Merchant Navy hardly.
 
Sadly, no more British Merchant Navy hardly.
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Indeed true. It has been many a year since I last sailed with the red-duster at the stern. It is a changed world out here now and probably worse than ever in most respects.

Still, I have my DE and all the shaving paraphernalia so I can still look forward to a relaxing shave......oh and my pre-shaving oil because someone was wrong.
 
Beware shave oils! Well, they're all good except the one that's eaten my face. I'm fairly convinced it was Pinaud oil wot did it, Guv - but have yet to prove it. Might have been a new soap I used the same day.
 
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