The Old Sea Dog

 At the end of the passing out parade, Mike went home with his mother and father to spend his final weekend in England with his family, they had a great time, but the first thing Mike did once at home was to write to his beloved Nann telling her that he had been assigned his first ship, and once he had gotten to her, he would write to her giving her the name of the ship, and his new address, so she should not worry if she didn't hear from him for a few days. Mike then headed for the local post box and mailed the letter. He also got his father to get off a signal to Roger telling him that Mike was going to be joining Bossington at the end of the week and that he had made some sort of plan to surprise Maureen. The weekend went very well, the family went to Portland Bill on the Saturday and did a few hours fishing off the rocks, then on Saturday night the whole family went to the local cinema and watched the latest film when they came out, they went to the local fish shop and walked h...

                                                      Chapter Fifteen Wednesday was sunny and warm, it was the sort of day that said, Mike, you're going to miss weather like this. At the airport, the main luggage had gone, and the Palmer's were waiting to go into the departure lounge. Mike and Nann were saying there last tearful goodbyes, and both families looked on as they kissed for the last time. As Mike looked back before going through the doors Nann had her mothers arm around her shoulder, she was still crying, and her mother and father were doing there best to console her. Mike ran back, they held each other for a brief moment, and as Mike rejoined his family he called back."Love you, I will write as soon as I get home." The doors closed behind him. The flight back to England was in a brand new Vickers Vicount 800, she looked beautiful on the tarma...

 After the meal, Nann excused herself saying she had something to do. Mike gave her the nod and sat on the sofa to read the paper. Nann was not gone that long, in fact, to Mike, it seemed like only moments. Nann walked into the lounge in her dressing gown, and Mike wondered what was going on, looking at this beautiful woman who he was very much in love with, he wondered if she was alright. "Are you ok my sweet?" Mike asked her. "If your tired, then get your head down, I won't mind." Nann walked over to Mike on the sofa and sat down next to him, as they snuggled it to each other Nann sat so that her back was against Mike's chest, as she raised her feet onto the sofa Mike watched as the side of her dressing gown opened and fell to the floor, Nann was now showing a large expanse of thigh, and Mike wanted so much to touch her there. Nann turned in his embrace, kissing his mouth she whispered. "Michael my darling, we have little time left before we are parte...

                                               Chapter Fourteen The weeks just flew by, Mike was learning more and more from the buffer, and it was agreed, that the last week Mike would do a full review of what he had learned, there would be tests and exams, both written and practical, and at the end of the week, someone would have a word with him. Father got the family together a couple of Sundays before they were due to leave Malta, and told them all, they would be flying out, a week on Wednesday, that gave them ten days to pack up everything ready to fly home. The V.W.beatle had already gone some six weeks earlier, it had been filled with some of the bulkier items, and then with the help of a crane lowered onto the port side of a cruiser heading back to Portsmouth. The rest of the bulky items had been crated up and sent back to the U.K. by troopship that was calling...

 Grace was out of the flat within twenty minutes of her pep talk to Mike and Nann. She told them she was going into Sliema to meet up with Roger, have a bite to eat, do some shopping, then meet the Palmer's at the mess. As Grace made to leave, she came up to Mike and Nann who were still sat at the table, put her arms around the two of them. "Thank you," she said, "thank you very much." "For what, "Mike asked. "For giving us grownups piece of mind," she said, then kissed them both on the cheek and walked out into the hall. Mike and Nann heard the front door open, and just as it closed Grace called out. "Have fun kids, see you." Nann picked up the crocks from the table and headed for the kitchen, putting hot water in the bowl she placed the crocks into the hot water with the liquid and allowed them to soak, then taking Mike by the hand she lead him to the bathroom where they showered together. After drying off they went to the bedroom...

 On the Friday morning, Mike went to Msida to meet up with Nann. In the flat, they were alone, Grace had gone to Valletta to meet up with Dorothy, so Mike and Nann had a full day together. Nann made two cups of coffee and the pair of them sat at the table. They were kissing and Mike had his hand under the table on Nann's thigh, she was wearing brown trousers and a V neck white jumper, as Mike looked at her over his coffee cup he had a twinkle in his eye, the more he looked, the more he wanted to drink every last drop of her. But as Nann said, "save it till later." As they sat at the table, Mike told her about the canoe, and that he had bought it, and wanted her to look after it. Nann was over the moon, "of course I will look after it," she said, "I love that canoe, we have had so much fun in it, and done so much in it as well." Nann sat back in her chair, her eyes slowly glazing over. "Do you remember when we made love in it for the first time pro...

 All the coming week's Mike was put through his paces, he learned to march properly, to salute, they even gave him a rifle and taught him rifle drill, and Mike loved every minute of it. He was given two sets of number 8s to wear, one on and one in the wash, and he was told he had to wash his own kit and iron it as well, not let mother do it, however, she did wash it for him, and his father taught him how to iron it. He was also given the loan of boots and a cap so that on Manoel Island he looked like one of the lads. As the weeks progressed he was taken on board some of the ships moored in Sliema creek, he was shown how to set up the rig for a jackstay transfer at sea, he was shown around the gun turret, the gun director and the 275 sight above the bridge, this was Mike's favourite, this was a pair of binoculars housed in its own unit, it was used to look for enemy targets, aircraft and shipping when spotted, you pressed a trigger and both director and gun swung round on that b...