Chapter 20
At one o clock the four of them we sat around the table eating roast chicken, stuffing, roast potatoes, cabbage, carrots and mashed swede, with lashings of Oxo gravy. And once again the wedding was the topic of conversation. Roger said that he would look out for a flat, and Grace said she would sort out the dresses and the food. Roger said he thought that the reception could be held at the Manoel Island club, Nann also thought that they might be able to use the Manoel Island church. In the end, Roger got a piece of A4 paper and plans were put into operation. After some time, Mike had checked his duty rota and a date was set, the second Saturday in December, and Nann and Mike would have words with the vicar, to see if the wedding could go ahead on the date planned, and get sorted out with the marriage service. Roger said he would have a word with the N.A.A.F.I. manager with regards the reception, sitting back, he said. "There is a way we can do it, as long as the reception finishes by six so that the sailors have their club back for there Saturday night drinking. So, if we have the wedding at ten in the morning, then that would give the wedding guests some seven hours to enjoy the reception. Mike looked at Nann. "Well love, what do you think," he asked. "I think it's wonderful," Nann said. "The only thing is, you haven't asked me to marry you yet." Roger looked at his daughter, his mouth open, a look of shock in his eyes. "Hang on madam," Roger said. You have been sleeping with this man for, I don't know how long, and you now tell us this man has not asked you to marry him. What about that day at the beach, when he put that ring on your finger. I was there, remember." "Yes daddy," Nann said. "I remember that day very well." she put her left hand on the table. "I still wear that ring, see. But Michael." she looked at him. "You have never officially asked me to marry you." Mike threw his head back in exasperation. "Oh boy," he said.
Mike stood up, then looking at both Roger and Grace, he said. "Mr and Mrs Taylor, I would deem it a great honour, if you would allow me to marry your daughter." Roger looked at Grace, then back at Mike, he smiled. "My boy," he said. "My wife and I would be honoured if you would take our daughter as your wife, we give you our blessing." Mike then looked at Nann. "Maureen," Mike said getting down on one knee. "I would deem it an honour and privilege if you would consent to be my wife." Nann looked down at Mike, she started to giggle."We are supposed to be taking this seriously." she said."But I do accept." "Thank God for that," Roger said. "I thought we were going to end up with egg on our faces." Grace looked at her daughter, then said. "Had she not said yes, I think I would have taken a leaf out of Dorothy and Ken's book?" "Oh," Roger said. "What leaf is that sweetheart." Grace smiled. I would have dragged her kicking and screaming to the alter." Everyone was in fits of laughter, even Nann saw the funny side of that.
After there fantastic dinner Mike and Nann went out onto the balcony, it was just after 3 and Shinner would be picking Mike up in less than two hours. "Michael," Nann said. "I wouldn't have said no, I love you too much to do that to you." "I'm glad," Mike said. "After all we have been through, and what we mean to each other, it would seem a bit crazy to toss it all away now." Grace came out onto the balcony with two cups of tea. "Everything ok out here," she asked. "Yes mummy," Nann said. "Everything is wonderful." "Good," Grace said. "By the way Maureen, have you packed Michael's bag for work." Nann put her hand to her mouth. "Clean forgot about that, back in a mo love." and she was gone. Grace smiled. "Give her time son," Grace said. "Giver her time, she's still having trouble with your shorts." Mike laughed. "I know., I found creases in my underpants yesterday, as for the shorts, tell her to turn them inside out, iron the pockets then with the shorts the right way, put the creases in." "I know," Grace said. "She's trying to make things perfect so that her man always looks smart on board ship, but I promise, I will have a word with her." Nann came back onto the balcony. "Your bags in the hall, all ready for you love," she said. Mike finished his tea and Grace took away the two cups and left them to there own devises, as Grace left them, she said." Your dad is laid on the bed, I think I will join him." Mike and Nann stayed on the balcony alone, there was a bit of a breeze up the creek, but it was still very warm. As Nann stood in front of Mike, he put his arms around her waist, she gave a sigh. "What was that for," Mike asked. Nann leaned her head back into the nape of Mike's neck. "I'm so happy, so very happy." then turning in his embrace, her back against the stone rail, then putting her arms around his neck, she said. "Michael, when you go to sea, I won't be lonely, I have all the wonderful memories, the things we have done, and the things we are planning to do in the future, so I won't be lonely at all. And neither will you my love, you will have something special of me.
Mike heard the car horn, looking over the balcony he saw Shinner looking up at him. Mike looked at his watch, it was almost 5, Mike kissed Nann and said. "I'll see you at the cafe, just after 1." then he left, picking up his bag in the hall as he went through the front door. At the car, Mike looked up, Nann was still on the balcony, he blew her a kiss and then jumped in beside his workmate.
"Alright Peddler, me old mucker. "Shinner said. "Have a good day off." "Not bad," Mike said. "Not bad at all. by the way, how would you like to be my best man." The car mounted the curb missing the road sign by inches, Shinner regained control of the vehicle. "Say that again," he said as he tried to concentrate on keeping the car on his side of the road. Mike repeated what he had said. Shinner put his hand on Mike's shoulder. "Peddler mate, it would be an honour, when's the big day," Mike told him that the wedding would be on the second Saturday in December and that Mike would be requesting the day off for the pair of them, but he had worked it out, if all went well, and they stuck to there duties as they were at the moment, they would be off from six in the morning. "You have done your homework mate," Shinner said. "Ok let's go for it, by the way, whats the rig." I reckon number 1s." Mike said, "Saves buying a new suit." "I agree," Shinner said. "All we have to buy from slops is some white tape." "White tape," Mike said. "Why white tape." "Because old son," Shinner said. "You always wear white tape with your uniform at a wedding, its naval tradition." "What about the white tapes from our 6 suits," Mike asked. "No way," Shinner said. Always brand new tape for a wedding."
By now, the pair of them were at the ship. The first thing they noticed, was, they were now the outside ship, the Bronnington had gone. Shinner was talking to Bungy and was told that Bronnington had sailed at around 10 on Saturday morning heading for Gibraltar, she was going to be replaced, but no one knew when, the rest of the squadron would be sailing a week Monday for the big exercise, with other ships in the Malta area. Mike went down to the mess, on the table was an envelope, inside was a signal, it was from Mike's father saying he now had a baby sister called Penny who had been born just 24 hours earlier, and to let him know, that both mother and baby were doing well. Mike thought for a while, then said to himself, he would arrange a bunch of flowers when he was in Valletta next. Then he went to find the officer of the day and arranged to send a signal to his dad at H.M.S.Osprey, once done and Mike had thanked the O.O.D he headed back to the mess. Shinner was sat at the mess table, on the table were two mugs of tea. Mike told Shinner his good news, Shinner smiled at him. "Good on you Peddler, I hope your parents have many sleepless nights." then laughing said. "Come on mate, we have a 12 hour duty ahead of us.
The watch went well, Shinner and Mike kept a good lookout and also spoke about the wedding. Shinner told Mike to have a word with the ship's chef, seemed he was a dab hand at cake making. Great idea." Mike said. "I would like to get the ship involved if possible, and I would like to invite as many of the lads as I can." Shinner asked where the reception was being held." Mike said. "All being well, the Manoel Island club." "Great venue," Shinner said. "And they will have the bar open, so you don't have to spend a fortune on booze. In fact, your best bet is to give everyone a glass of bubbly, then let everyone buy there own drinks from the bar." Mike was taking a mental note of what Shinner was saying, then when he next sawRoger, he could put the ideas to him.
Just as Mike and Shinner were due to be relieved, they heard someone calling. "Ship ahoy," Shinner called back. "Boat ahoy." "Guard officer." came the reply, Shinner stood to attention and saluted and the boat carried on down the creek. Shinner took the logbook from the desk and wrote in it, Guard officer hailed at 11-55. As he was in the process of putting the log back in the desk, both Irish and Marty came up to relieve them. "All's quiet," Shinner said. Oh, and the guard officer has just been, so you can have a quiet watch. good night." Mike and Shinner went down to the mess and got there heads down, now that Bossington was on the outside, and not shielded by another ship, she was moving on the water a lot more, and as Mike lay in his bunk, the rocking motion made going to sleep a joy. Where they were, any swell in the sea outside of Sliema creek, became a slight swell inside the creek, they were birthed almost inline with the entrance of Sliema creek and the open sea. As Mike closed his eyes, he felt at peace with the world, and life it's self, and the motion of the ship helped him drift off into the land of dreams.
Mike was shaken by Marty. "Come on Peddler, it's just after 5, the chefs in the galley and there's a bloody good breakfast if you're interested." Mike went to the bathroom, had a shave and then a quick shower, back in the mess he dressed into his whites, Mike headed for the galley to get some breakfast. He returned to his mess with a plate of eggs on toast, sausage and beans, plus a cup of tea. Whilst at the galley, Mike had tried to have a chat with the chef about the wedding cake, but he was very busy with cooking, so said he would come up on deck when he had some spare time, and needed his ten minutes of fresh air.
"Well," Shinner said. "Seems the wedding plans are taking shape, I've just been to the galley, and our chef is over the moon about being asked to do the wedding cake. At just before six, both Shinner and Mike took over the watch, there opposite numbers stepping over the gangway to enjoy some shore time. Mike and Shinner went through the morning routine, and at about nine o clock the chef came onto the gangway with two cups of coffee. "Here you go lads, have these on me." He sat on the Q.Ms stool. "Right Peddler, tell me more about this cake you want me to make." Mike looked at Shinner for help, and Shinner said. "Right chef, we need three tears, fully marzipanned and iced, bottom tear 18 inches, middle tear 12 inches, and top tear 6 inches, what do you say." "Yes, no problem, can I get the chefs in the rest of the squadron to help." Mike smiled. "No problem chef, and tell them they will get an invite to the wedding as well." Back on the gangway stores were coming on board, by the time they had finished, and due to go ashore, both men were wringing wet. In the mess, they had a rub down with a towel, then a dry shower, this was a case of rubbing baby powder over your body before putting your clothes on. Dressed in civvy clothes Shinner took Mike to the bus stop at the end of Manoel Island road and told him, he would pick him up at 11 on Tuesday morning at his flat. "Cheers Shinner, see you in the morning," Mike said, getting out of the car.
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