Part 1..... How it Begun

I had arrived at the ripe young age of mid 20's and all that came to my mind was,
( Now move on )..
My apprenticeship was behind me, 5 years in her Majesty's Royal Dockyard,(Portsmouth,UK. ) learning my chosen trade for, hopefully, a bright future, ( Marine Engineer, Fitter/Turner ).
This is the field of study I undertook, working in the classroom, also on Destroyers,Frigates,Submarines,Tugs, basically anything that floated on water.

It was mid Summer 1967, I wrote to and contacted P&O Lines, London, a major world wide passenger and cargo shipping company.
With the hope of being selected and hired as a young Engineer Officer.

### This all started around the age of 15 years, when the very popular film ( Mutiny on the Bounty ) starring Marlon Brando who played Fletcher Christian, was showing in most cinemas in the UK.
I went to see this film every night during it's showing in Portsmouth, it was at this moment in time that my decision was made, my wanted career chosen, to put it in other words.

Seeing all these young beautiful bare breasted Tahitian girls infatuated me as a young man, at the time not realising that this was a Hollywood style Movie.
I had to go there and see the Island, Hence, Find a ship !!!!.###

After many interviews, medical, I was hired by P&O as a 3rd Refrigeration Engineer an appointed to SS CHUSAN a white hulled passenger ship with a very large yellow funnel.
I spent 2 Weeks running around specialised Tailor shops, who sole intention was to equip' you with everything Naval, a uniform down to buttons and badges, blues and whites.
Eventually, equipped and ready to go, I arrived at Southampton Port, passed the security guy guarding the entrance gates, and made my way down the Quay.
Look at these monsters, I thought, these ships all looked like overgrown Swans,WOW.

SS ORCADES, she was the first in line, SS ARCADIA followed, SS ORIANA the newest and latest in the P&O fleet, now she was beautiful with a very sexy rear end ( STERN VIEW ).
Then, there I was, as the foot of the gang plank of SS CHUSAN, my very first passenger ship.
Beautiful in her own right but not as nice as the Oriana, well ( BEGGARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS AS WE SAY ).
I hauled my suitcase aboard, presented my self to the Master in Arms and then I was directed to the Chief Engineers cabin.
After a short discussion with the Chief, I was appointed my cabin, told to settle in and when ready, report to the Chief Refrigeration Engineer.
My cabin was about 4 yards long and 3 yards wide with an alley leading to a porthole and wash basin etc, isolated by a heavy drop down curtain.
A cupboard, bed, bunk type ! but comfortable and quite large, a large chest of draws by the side of it, which was also convenient as a high bedside table.
One chair and table.
This was going to be my world for the next 7 months.. as I had previously been told we were to visit at least 70 ports from leaving Southampton in September 1967 and arriving back in Southampton in April 1968.
All I had to do now was see the Chief Refrig Eng' find out what my duties are and what roster or shift I would be working from Southampton to Sydney.
Then ..............................This is it...........May my life commence....