Living with Dementia

 H.M.S. Bossington went to sea in the August for the big exercise, it lasted for just over three weeks, without mishap when they needed to take on fuel, that was done in Golden Bay with a small tanker coming alongside them, also in Golden Bay the ship took on stores and mail, again done by both ships going alongside each other to make the transfer, the weather was very good, and the sea was flat calm so that with fenders over the side, both ships could do what was needed without any problems. Mike was on the bridge whilst all this was going on, he again was duty bridge messenger and the skipper needed him to be ready to pipe if needed.

Once Mike's duty was over he went down to his mess, on the table, all in little piles was the mail for the lads in the mess, in Mike's pile, were ten letters, going to his bunk he lay down and read all the letters, one by one. In all of them, Nann was saying the same things, how much she loved him and missed him, but also about the new baby, every time she went to sit at the table to write to him, little un would kick her something chronic, like she wrote, its almost as though she knows what I am doing, and it's her way of saying mention me as well. Shinner was sat at the table, and every so often he would giggle, he also was reading his letters from Anita. On watch that night, both of them on the bridge, they compared notes, and both men were happy, they knew that all was well at home and that both their girls were looking after themselves, but also each other while their husbands were away.

Baby Debbie, was born on the 16th September at five thirty, exactly nine months to the day and hour of Mike and Nann's wedding day. It seemed crazy, but at five thirty on December the 16th Mike and Nann had consummated there marriage, and as Mike remembered with a cheeky grin on his face, not just the once. Now almost to the minute of there pleasure, Nann was holding her daughter in her arms, and baby Debbie was taking her first taste of mothers milk. Nann looked up at Mike and smiled at him, she looked a little tired but said she felt fine and very happy, as Nann held her daughter to he bust, she knew in her heart, that she now had everything she had ever wanted, Michael as the boy who, she smiled to herself who had taken her virginity, Michael, the boy who had put an engagement ring on her finger, Michael who had loved her, cared for her, and after some time apart came back and married her, now, as she lay there on the hospital bed, looking down at this little child in her arms, she knew that she now had everything she had ever wanted, all her dreams and wishes had come true. Shinner poked his head around the door of the room that Mike and Nann were in, he had this huge grin on his face, and when he spoke he just couldn't get the words out, tears were running down his cheeks, he put his hand over his mouth, "Mate." he said through his fingers. "I'm a dad, my beautiful lovely wife, has given me a son." Mike went over to Shinner and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Congratulations Shinner, you deserve it." then looking around at Nann who was still breastfeeding Debbie. "The wife and I are very happy for you, give our love to Anita." Shinner left the room and headed back to his wife. Mike went back to the side of the bed and leaned over and kissed his wife. "Would you like to hold your daughter," she said. Mike picked up Debbie and held her, she made to cry out, but as with his sister, Mike held his new daughter and very quietly talked to her, telling her how much he loved her and how she was his to look after and the life he planned for her, Nann looked on, not with jealousy, but with admiration, she was very happy, but also very proud of what she and Mike had planned and worked for, well she had worked for.

When Nann and Mike finally got back to the flat with there new baby, there were cards and flowers everywhere, flowers from Mike, some from the Palmer's and some from the Taylor's, and of coarse the cards, though both mums would have liked to be there for the birth of there new grandchild, they both demanded pictures as soon as possible. Over the coming weeks, Mike took Nann into town and bought her a new wardrobe, during her pregnancy, she had tried to wear the clothes she had, making where possible some alterations with Anita's sewing skills, they both wore smocks over there enlarging busts, and skirts which with the help of buttons and elastic could be warn very easily. Nann came in from the bedroom on the day they had gone shopping, she stood at the lounge door and coughed, Mike looked up, what he saw, took his breath away, his wife looked beautiful, she had lost the tummy, and the only part of her in his eyes that was still big, were her breasts, but as he knew, they were like that for a reason, the reason being his daughter. "Darling," Nann whispered. Debbie is asleep, would you like to come with me." Mike followed Nann into there bedroom she lay on the bed, then raising her arms to him she said." Do you remember when we were living with mummy and daddy's flat, you would make love to me very slowly so as not to wake them up, please my darling, make love to me now, like you use to?" Mike heard Debbie crying, Nann was still coming down from cloud nine, Mike got up and walked into Debbie's room, picking her up he spoke to her, and the crying stopped almost right away, as he took his daughter into where Nann was, he kissed her cheek and handed her to his wife, she took Debbie and held her to her breast, and allowed Debbie to drink her fill.

In early November Bossington sailed for Gibraltar, she was going to take part in a big exercise in the Atlantic and western Med, she was going to be joined by ships from all around that area, plus a couple of aircraft carriers, one out of Portsmouth, and one out of Devonport. Bossington would be away from Malta for about six weeks, Nann wasn't worried, Mike had left her to her one devices loads of times in the past, however, this had been the first time she had been alone with Debbie for more than one day, but like she said, "If I have a problem, I can contact Anita, as she can contact me if needed, so we can look after each other, so go and play at being sailors, I will be fine." Mike was still a watchkeeper, only now, he was the quartermaster, not the bos'n's mate, his opposite number was now Shinner, Mike had a new bos'n's mate to work with, as did Shinner. Both Irish Spooner and Marty Martin had flown home in the October, with Leading Seaman James the week after, Irish was going back to take his Leading hands exam, and Mary, well Marty was just going home. The two lads replacing them were both ordinary seamen, so the skipper gave both the new boys to Mike and Shinner. 

Leading Seaman James relief also arrived at around this time, and it didn't take them long to settle in. Leading Seaman Allgate came from Devonport and answered to the name Jan, the two O/Ds were called Bell and Mcgee, so within minutes were answering to the names Dinger and Jock. Dinger was told he would work with Shinner and Mike would have Jock working with him. As the two new lads got themselves settled into the ships routine, both Shinner and Mike realised that these two lads wanted to try and be the best they could be, and were going the right way to doing just that. Mike was also moved to first loaded on the 40/60, Dinger became second loader and Jock, the boxman, he had to remove the lids from the boxes of ammunition and hand it to the second loader who in turn handed it to the first loader, in this case, Mike who was stood in the left hand side of the gun placing the clips of ammo into the breach. Jan was the aimer and sat in the control seat.

It was a four day run to Gib for the Bossington, and once in harbour and alongside the wall she stored ship and took on fuel, plus the all important mail. In Gibraltar, they also lost there captain and Jimmy, both men had joined the ship together and their time was up, their replacements were waiting on the jetty when the ship came in, they also took on a new midshipman, Midshipman Baker had been promoted, he was staying with the ship until the end of the year, he was flying home just after Christmas. On the Friday morning, the changes were made, the ship's company was stood on the forecastle and was addressed by the new captain and his second in command.

For Bossington, the exercise was a complete shambles, the ship's company did there best, but the new skipper was trying to be the skipper of a battleship, and treating Bossington as one, but with a small crew like she had, you had to be like a father figure, watch what was going on, and if it worked, leave it alone. Mike was down in the wheelhouse, through the voice pipe, he could hear the shouting going on on the bridge, the skipper was having a right old go at somebody, Mike was ordered to starboard ten, as he turned the ship's wheel to starboard, and the ship responded, everyone on board heard a ship's hooter, it wasn't there's, but someone very close. Mike was told to stop both engines, then full astern both engines, Mike waited, he gripped the wheel tightly with both hands waiting for the bang, and the sound of breaking timber. Bossington was being bounced around like a cork from a bottle, it was like the old canoe, except that Nann wasn't with him at this time, just his helmsman holding on to the telegraph and looking very worried. 

They got back to Gibraltar and tied up alongside the jetty, once everything was finished with wheelhouse wise, Mike went down to the mess, sat at the table, Dinger walked in with a pot of tea, as they were sat drinking, the story came out as to what had happened on the bridge. It seemed, that Mr Baker had blown his stack, and had told the skipper his fortune, they had had a right old slanging match, Mr Baker had told the skipper that if he didn't pull his finger out, he would make a full written complaint to those concerned. While all this was going on, a rather large tanker was bearing down on to the ship and she had to take evasive action, it was the Jimmy who saved the day, he had heard the commotion on the bridge and went up to find out what the bloody hell was going on, what he saw was, was the skipper with his fingers wrapped around Mr Bakers throat, and this huge commercial tanker bearing down on the ship, it was he who called down to Mike, and it was he who pulled the skipper and Mr Baker away from each other, telling the captain, "I have the ship, you will go to your cabin." It seemed that now that the Jimmy had control, they were able to sort out the problem, but like Jock had said, he was on the bridge at the time. "When I saw that tanker bearing down, I thought we were done for, I tell  you when she passed us we were only yards away." Mike looked at both Dinger and Jock. "Don't you worry lads, this ship has had its accident, it isn't planning to have any more." he laughed and the rest of the lad's laughter with him, they all knew what he was on about.

Bossington left Gibraltar as planned, however, the skipper was not on board, the Jimmy had been given temporary command for the run back to Malta, with Mr Baker as his number one, the run back was fantastic, every evening g the ship stopped and bobbed about on the calm water whilst the whole crew were allowed to swim for an hour, the crew were happy and life on board was as it used to be. Two days out of Malta Mike was called to the captain's cabin, The Jimmy asked Mike what he had heard from the wheelhouse. Mike said, that Mr baker had told the captain to back off with the heavy handedness of the crew, he told him he was not God, and should not rule with an iron fist, he was the ships dad and as such should treat every member of this crew as his own children. "And do you believe that Palmer." the Jimmy said. "Yes sir, I do, the last captain we had ruled with respect, as did the old Jimmy, and that's what they both got back, this ship's company would bend over backwards to make this ship the best in the squadron, and she was. But now, well sir if you want the truth, and off the record, this crew is all washed out, they wouldn't pee on the new skipper if he was on fire, and that's the truth." The Jimmy let Mike say his piece, he didn't interrupt him at all. After Mike had spoken, the Jimmy said."Palmer, you are one of the ships top Able Seamen, I have read the report about the Loch Leven and as someone on the lower deck, and what you have told me I feel is very true, I need to know, to understand, what if anything  I can do to put things right and bring some normality back into the life of this crew." Mike was silent for a short time. "Do we have to have the old skipper back," he asked. "Let's be honest, under your command, coming bach to Malta was great, and I feel sure, with you as captain, the crew would follow you through almost anything." the Jimmy laughed. " would they pee on me if I was on fire," he asked. No sir, we have buckets, and loads of seawater for that." "Ok Palmer, thank you for what you have told me, when we get back to Malta, we will see what happens, but if I may, I would like to send a signal to Malta with your comments, I think the Admiral will be most interested, Ok Palmer, you can carry on.

Back in the mess, Mike was talking to the lads about his conversation with the Jimmy. Shinner looked up and said." yes, I reckon he would make a great skipper, let's face it, that last idiot had no idea how to run a ship this size, I bet you, that once back in Malta, we would have had captain's rounds every week, and he would have worn the white gloves." the rest of the lads in the mess roared with laughter. What they didn't know, was that the Jimmy was at the hatch ladder listening to what was being said, and taking it all in.

Bossington arrived at the pontoon at ten in the morning, on the jetty was the old Admiral that Mike had met after the jackstay incident. Mike was duty Quartermaster, well until twelve, when he would be going home. As Mike manned the side with Jock and they both made to pipe the Admiral on board, Mike was eyeballed by the Admiral, and before he could blow the Admiral looked at him. "Ah, it's let me think, yes, it's Palmer, isn't it." "Yes sir." " And how are you, glad to be back." Mike nodded. "Mmm." the Admiral said, then seeing the Jimmy he went and shook his hand, then together they went below.

At eleven forty five Mike and Jock were again manning the side for the Admiral, as they were about to pipe, the Admiral came over to Mike and stood in front of him, talking quietly he said. "Palmer you're a good seaman, your honest and true to the navy, I hope you will look after your new captain, as you did the last one." As Mike and Jock went to pipe the side, the Admiral said. "Please, this was a social call." and headed across the small square and into his car.