Ken and Dorothy were invited to Mike and Nann's flat, to join them for dinner. As they all sat around after being given a guided tour of the new flat, Dorothy wanted to know why these two young people had fallen so deeply in love. "I don't know," Mike said. "We just seemed to click." Nann looked at her new husband. "Not quite," she said. "It is true, you took my breath away that first morning on the bus going to school, but what did for me, was the fact you loved water, and of coarse the canoe." "So," Ken said. "You fell in love with the canoe before Michael." "No no," Nann said. "I started to have feelings for Michael from day one, but when he showed me the canoe, and I had to do the swimming test, I realised that this man here." she put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. "Was a boy who could be trusted, he looked on my safety as paramount and I knew that in his care I would always be safe." Dorothy had a smile on her face. "You know Maureen, I'll be honest with you, at first, I thought you were a bit of a gold digger, but, and I mean this most sincerely, as time went by and Michael told us how he felt about you, and I saw the way you were with him, I realised, that maybe, just maybe you could both work it out. Plus all the things your mother wrote about what was going on, made it very clear to Ken and myself that what you were doing your very best to prove that you were good enough for our son."
Sat around the table, they were all looking down at there plates, in front of them was roast leg of lamb, potatoes, carrots, cabbage and runner beans. Ken said very little until his plate was empty, then he looked at Mike. "Tell me, son, do you eat like this every day." Mike looked at his father a smile on his face. "More or less," he said. "We normally sit down at about six for our meal, and yes, I suppose in all honesty, Maureen does a cooked meal when I am at home." Ken looked at Maureen. "My dear," he said. If you are looking after my son like this, then I have no fear, this marriage will last a lifetime." The pudding was a sort of jam sponge with custard, and again Ken gave praise. both Ken and Dorothy left Mike and Nann's flat at around ten havings, as they both said a very pleasant evening.
Mike and Nann went to the airport with Ken and Dorothy, Roger had made arrangements with his C/O for the lone of a minibus so that they could all see the Palmers off together. That Friday night was beautiful, although it was December, it was warm, the sky was cloudless and Malta as always was the way it should be. As they all shook hands and said their goodbyes, Grace and Dorothy hugged each other, then Dorothy went up to Maureen and whispered something into her ear, they hugged and both were giggling. As Ken and Dorothy went through the door into the departure lounge, the rest of the group went out onto the observation balcony, they stood and watched as Ken and Dorothy boarded their aircraft, as they both climbed the steps into the aircraft, they looked back, saw the small group standing together and waved. With the propellers turning the aircraft made its way to the end of the runway, then with the engines at full throttle, she sped along the runway and left the ground into the darkening sky.
That Christmas was the best ever, Mike and Shinner had the day off from six in the morning, and Roger and Grace were packed up ready to go back to England, so it was agreed, they would spend the day with Mike and Nann's. After a beautiful Christmas dinner cooked by both women, the two men made their way into the kitchen to do the washing up, as Mike said. "You girls do the hard work, we can do the cleanup." With Mike and Maureen sat on the sofa and Roger and Grace sat in the two easy chairs, they all relaxed letting there dinner go down, at around four, Anita and Shinner joined the party and stayed for tea, all six had a great time, and Grace gave both girls Dorothy's recipes for homemade ice cream, her curry, and macaroni cheese. As they were all sat around talking and drinking wine, Shinner said. "By the way peddler, have you told everybody what the skipper gave you as a Christmas present." Maureen looked at her husband. "What's this," she said. "You got a Christmas present from the captain of Bossington." Not really." Mike said. "It's just, well if you must know, I have been rated up to Able Seaman." Nann looked at Mike, then her face lit up, she pulled him towards her and kissed him. "You clever old stick," she said. But wait, does that mean more money." Mike nodded. "Well done son," Roger said. "That will make life a lot easier all round." he looked at Grace. "I can go back to the old country without worrying whether these two can make ends meet." "I know Dad," Mike said. "I wasn't due to get rated up until June, but the skipper was able to pull a few strings and was able to bring it forward by six months, so, I start getting my Able Seamans pay as of the first week in January." "I'm glad son, very glad." He had a huge smile on his face. After a beautiful supper of ham on the bone, jelly and fruit and of coarse Christmas cake baked and decorated by Maureen, as she said. "My first attempted everyone felt not only happy but full up.
Roger and Grace headed back to there flat at around nine saying they were very tired and that the young ones should be left to there own devices, but after they left, the party broke up and Anita and Shinner made their excuses and headed home. Shinner told Mike he would pick him up at five the following day for work.
Roger and Grace headed back to England on the 28th December, there were a few tears, but as Mike said. "We are only a letter away, and we will be home ourselves soon. It's amazing how time flies when you're out here because there is so much going on." Mike and Nann went up and watched Roger and Grace's aircraft take off. The sky this time was partly covered by cloud, so as they stood arms around each other Mike and Nann watched as the aircraft lifted off the runway and was lost in cloud, then it could be seen again for a short time, then it was lost for good, Mike and Nann headed back to there little flat, now they were really on there own, each had to totally rely on the other, but they both felt, that they could do it, they were strong, their love was solid, and they felt in there hearts that for them both, life was going to be very good.
The canoe was moved to Manoel Island dingy sailing centre, Mike had been given permission to keep her there, Mike planned to use her again during the summer when off duty, but with Nann now very pregnant, it was unlikely this was going to happen, as Mike said. "You know my family comes before anything else, and I am not going to lose my child for the sake of a trip out in the canoe, plus the fact, what happened if you were, heaven forbid were to try and give birth in her. No, the canoe will stay put for the time being."
With the ship now having completed her repairs, the crew took her out for sea trials, the skipper really put her through her paces, and she passed with flying colours, then, the ship headed for Italy and Sicily, where they spent two relaxing weeks showing the flag, whilst in Italy on a shopping spree, Mike bought a very nice camera, he was able to take loads of photos of Italy and also when ashore in Sicily. They did have one bad moment in Italy, Mike and Shinner found themselves in this street full of bars and cafe's, as they walked past this one bar, they were propositioned by a couple of women stood in the bars doorway. One of the women made a grab for Mike pulling him towards her. "You, English sailor, you want good time with me, as she was talking, she opened the split skirt she was wearing and showed Mike the panties she was wearing, Mike took one look, as did Shinner, the smell was bloody terrible, Shinner Grabbed Mike's arm. "Come on me old mucker, you have enough prezzies to take back to the misses, you don't want to be taking back an extra one from her." Mike followed Shinner up the road and headed back to the ship. "What was all that about," Mike asked. "Didn't you smell it mate, she was riddled, and anyway, you're a married man, you cannot get involved with trollops like that. You my friend still have a lot to learn.
When the ship got back to Malta, it was almost Easter, and Mike really wanted to put the canoe back into the water again, as he said. "Just for old times sake." Nann was now three months pregnant, as was Anita, it seemed that the wedding had made both girls broody, and by what Shinner had said, when they had gotten home after the reception, Anita had almost dragged him into the bedroom. Now it would seem that both Anita and Maureen were neck and neck to, in naval terms drop there sprogs simultaneously, and if they did, it would be a first for this ship.
It was Easter Monday, both Shinner and Mike were off at six, whilst on watch, they had been talking about having a picnic on Mike and Nann's beach, the plan was for the four of them to travel in the car to Manoel Island sailing centra where Mike and Shinner would put the canoe into the water, the two girls would then head back to the beach and wait for the guys. With the canoe in the water, the two guys set off for the beach, they passed a couple of frigates moored to the buoys, at the bridge they found it was deep enough, so carried on under, then at the beach, both men dragged the canoe up the beach and Mike and Nann showed the other two how they made the shelter. Running down to the water they all went for a swim, then in the shallows, they played around splashing each other and enjoying good company.
Back under the shade of the canoe and large towel, the four of them had their picnic, Shinner asked Mike what he was planning to do with the canoe. "I don't know," Mike said. "We leave Malta next year, and with the baby due in September, I can't see Maureen and I using it very much, so I suppose we will sale it and put the money into the bank." "Listen, mate," Shinner said. "Thee and me get along fine, don't we, as do our wives. Well, I reckon for this year at least you should hold off getting shot of it. Lets you and I enjoy it, while our wives put on weight, and enjoy each others company." Both Nann and Anita had been listening to what had been said. "Did you hear that." Anita said. " we grow fat, while these two play at being sailors on there off times as well as there duty time." Nann looked at Mike, and at Shinner, then she looked at Anita. "Well, I'm over the morning sickness and at the moment I am more than happy to work every morning as before, plus the fact it will soon start getting hotter, so I think I will be more than happy to stay in the cool of our flat. So, if these two want to play around with the canoe, then all I can say, is go ahead." she then looked at Mike. "But woe betides you, Mr P, if you're not there for the big push." Anita looked at Shinner. "I agree with Maureen, you two have your fun, but once the waters break, you had better be close at hand." Both men agreed and promised that they would only take the canoe out on there long days off, that meant it would be one day in four, which as the girls agreed was for them acceptable, and they were happy to let the guys have some quality time in the canoe. Mike and Shinner even bought some fishing gear and spent long hours tied up to the old ringbolt catching fish. Mike didn't take his catch home preferring to give it to Shinner who would take it home to Anita where she would make Shinner some of the Maltese dishes he loved, as he said. My wife is a fantastic cook, she even took your mum's curry recipe and has turned it into a fish curry to die for."
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