I sailed with a guy from the Orkney Islands once. Probably the most peculiar person I ever met. He was a sailor through and through though. As if it were in his genes. But I happened to get rather seriously injured on the trip, and i was then the ship's medical officer, but I wasn't that much help to myself.

How did you manage medical stuff in the USMM? We had a system whereby the Mate or the Old Man had a first aid certificate, some Band-Aid and a blunt spoon and that was about it

If you had filipino crew you surely had a witch doctor as well?

I have sailed with Filipino crew and the nearest we got to a witch doctor was a cook who was Mister Nice Guy until he got pissed when he decided that us Europeans needed to be knifed. The Bosun (a hero from Metro Manila) explained the error of his ways

I regret to inform you that the UK is in serious trouble in the Falklands.

Sean Penn has come out on the side of the Argentinians.

____________________________________________________

'Britain is colonialist, ludicrous and archaic': Sean Penn blasts UK for refusing to hand over Falklands to Argentina

Left-wing U.S. actor said he is 'firmly' on the side of the South Americans

Explosive comments on day he met Argentine President Cristina Kirchner

Tensions between Argentina and UK running high after Prince William's deployment to disputed islands

Tory MP: 'He shows complete ignorance of the issue if he comes out with nonsensical statements like that'

By IAN DRURY

Last updated at 1:47 AM on 15th February 2012

Read more: http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz1mQJr0zDD

OK, it's the Mail...so sue me.

I regret to inform you that the UK is in serious trouble in the Falklands.

Sean Penn has come out on the side of the Argentinians.

____________________________________________________

'Britain is colonialist, ludicrous and archaic': Sean Penn blasts UK for refusing to hand over Falklands to Argentina

Left-wing U.S. actor said he is 'firmly' on the side of the South Americans

Explosive comments on day he met Argentine President Cristina Kirchner

Tensions between Argentina and UK running high after Prince William's deployment to disputed islands

Tory MP: 'He shows complete ignorance of the issue if he comes out with nonsensical statements like that'

By IAN DRURY

Last updated at 1:47 AM on 15th February 2012

Read more: http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz1mQJr0zDD

OK, it's the Mail...so sue me.

Sean Penn? Oh well, that settles it!

Ian Drury - going solo? Where's the Blockheads?

(Anyway, I thought Ian died a few years back. Not sure, 'cos I travel around a lot)

This gives exact details of the competing claims, free, as far as I can tell, from bias on either side.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17045169

Well if Sean Penn says it should belong to the Argentinians then it must be so. Since Anna Nicole Smith died, he's the head of the Hollywood intelligencia.

After Anna Nicole and Sean, I would ask the people living there; they should have some say. Other than completely not wanting a war, I doubt that the penguins care too much.

Well if Sean Penn says it should belong to the Argentinians then it must be so. Since Anna Nicole Smith died, he's the head of the Hollywood intelligencia.

Indeed.

No chance......the Argies by their own admission don't have the military capability to take the Falklands, I saw a quote by one old Argie soldier who said " What are we going to do? Shoot arrows at nuclear subs?".

On top of that the Argies know that they would be condemned for attempting to invade again, so it's just a flannel scare story!!

However!! We have lost too much of our naval capability, far too much.

Ian Drury - going solo? Where's the Blockheads?

(Anyway, I thought Ian died a few years back. Not sure, 'cos I travel around a lot)

Yes, he died.

Ian Drury - going solo? Where's the Blockheads?

(Anyway, I thought Ian died a few years back. Not sure, 'cos I travel around a lot)

Yes, he died.

No, that's Ian Dury

SC

Ian Drury - going solo? Where's the Blockheads?

(Anyway, I thought Ian died a few years back. Not sure, 'cos I travel around a lot)

Yes, he died.

No, that's Ian Dury

SC

That's who I meant.

I was just playing with the name of the original article reporter.

Argentinian President Christine Kirchner has told the UN that Argentina wants 'negotiations' on the Falklands. Of course she does!

The Falklanders, who were represented at the UN meeting, want self-determination. Of course they do!

Whose side are you on? Having lived for many years in a British territory which was NOT allowed self-determination, I'm all for the Falklanders. Of course China, which took back Hong Kong, was a tad more important than Argentina.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18453372

I'm a big fan of Cristina Kirchner. 'Nuff said.

I'm a big fan of Cristina Kirchner. 'Nuff said.

Quite enough!

I'm a big fan of Cristina Kirchner. 'Nuff said.

Quite enough!

Maybe not. She does it for me. I love her. If she's for something, I just can't help it but say Yes Ma'am! This means so much more to Argies as a whole than Brits as a whole. In the fullness of time, I think the Argies get the islands.

I'm a big fan of Cristina Kirchner. 'Nuff said.

Quite enough!

Maybe not. She does it for me. I love her. If she's for something, I just can't help it but say Yes Ma'am! This means so much more to Argies as a whole than Brits as a whole. In the fullness of time, I think the Argies get the islands.

So you would make a political decision for the Argentinians simply because Kirchner is a great lady? So now we know how much to value your political insight.

It's not about "Argies as a whole and Brits as a whole". It's about 2,000 or so people who've left their original homes to build up a community on a pretty desolate group of islands, and made a success of it. It's all about what they want... or don't people count any more? Sadly, I think they probably don't.

Argentinian President Christine Kirchner has told the UN that Argentina wants 'negotiations' on the Falklands. Of course she does!

The Falklanders, who were represented at the UN meeting, want self-determination. Of course they do!

Whose side are you on? Having lived for many years in a British territory which was NOT allowed self-determination, I'm all for the Falklanders. Of course China, which took back Hong Kong, was a tad more important than Argentina.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18453372

To be fair, the New Territories were only on lease, and it would have been hard to hang onto Kowloon South of Boundary Street, or to set up border controls in the cross-harbour tunnels, unlike the Falklands, which are pretty well isolated and self-contained little islands quite remote from anywhere.

SC

SC

I'm a big fan of Cristina Kirchner. 'Nuff said.

Quite enough!

Maybe not. She does it for me. I love her. If she's for something, I just can't help it but say Yes Ma'am! This means so much more to Argies as a whole than Brits as a whole. In the fullness of time, I think the Argies get the islands.

So you would make a political decision for the Argentinians simply because Kirchner is a great lady? So now we know how much to value your political insight.

It's not about "Argies as a whole and Brits as a whole". It's about 2,000 or so people who've left their original homes to build up a community on a pretty desolate group of islands, and made a success of it. It's all about what they want... or don't people count any more? Sadly, I think they probably don't.

There's the rub. I disagree with you. I do think the passion of Argentianians as whole does matter on this issue which is why I predict they will win the islands eventually. But not anytime soon.

It would seem to me the residents of the Falklands should have the final say over their own destiny. I understand there is a referendum pending on that issue so let the voters decide.

It would seem to me the residents of the Falklands should have the final say over their own destiny. I understand there is a referendum pending on that issue so let the voters decide.

That's not the way that the West was won...

SC

Argentinian President Christine Kirchner has told the UN that Argentina wants 'negotiations' on the Falklands. Of course she does!

The Falklanders, who were represented at the UN meeting, want self-determination. Of course they do!

Whose side are you on? Having lived for many years in a British territory which was NOT allowed self-determination, I'm all for the Falklanders. Of course China, which took back Hong Kong, was a tad more important than Argentina.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18453372

To be fair, the New Territories were only on lease, and it would have been hard to hang onto Kowloon South of Boundary Street, or to set up border controls in the cross-harbour tunnels, unlike the Falklands, which are pretty well isolated and self-contained little islands quite remote from anywhere.

SC

SC

My concern was with the people of Hong Kong, who were given no options. Many of them (3.25 million) had had their British citizenship whittled down until nothing was left. My own partner was born in 1950 with the full right to live in Britain if he wanted to; he was deprived of this by successive British governments.

What the Argentinians want is the oil rights. They don't really want the islands, except incidentally, as the oil seems to be offshore. And they don't care a dam_n about the Falklanders.

It would seem to me the residents of the Falklands should have the final say over their own destiny. I understand there is a referendum pending on that issue so let the voters decide.

That's not the way that the West was won...

SC

I presume you are speaking of the Western part of the US?

If so, are you then proposing the Falklands should be taken in the 21st century by the same method the West was taken in the 18th and 19th century?

It would seem to me the residents of the Falklands should have the final say over their own destiny. I understand there is a referendum pending on that issue so let the voters decide.

That's not the way that the West was won...

SC

I presume you are speaking of the Western part of the US?

If so, are you then proposing the Falklands should be taken in the 21st century by the same method the West was taken in the 18th and 19th century?

I was suggesting that that was what JT was saying; that the views of Argentinians regarding ownership of the Flaklands were as important, or more important, than the views of those that live there.

SC

Argentina, as a legal entity, has never 'owned' the Falkland Islands.

Here is a history :

http://www.falklands.info/history/timeline.html

There are also Wikipdia entries, which are rather jingoistic. I prefer non-partisan histories.

Argentina, as a legal entity, has never 'owned' the Falkland Islands.

and it goes without saying that islands, like the Malvinas located just off the coast of Cornwall, are British. why thousands of miles away Argentina lodges some ridiculous claim is beyond any logical thinking.

First, let's hear what the Falklanders themselves have to say in their referendum.

My prediction (it's contrary to what I want, but one has to be pragmatic):- the Falklands will be handed over to the Argentinians. The Falklanders will be offered resettlement in the UK, with substantial compensation paid by the British taxpayer. Thatcher's war will be seen to be a shocking waste of lives... oh, sorry, it wasn't Thatcher, it was Galtieri who started it, to shore up his failing popularity at home. So Galtieri's raid to grab someone else's property will in the event be condoned by the UN.

First, let's hear what the Falklanders themselves have to say in their referendum.

My prediction (it's contrary to what I want, but one has to be pragmatic):- the Falklands will be handed over to the Argentinians. The Falklanders will be offered resettlement in the UK, with substantial compensation paid by the British taxpayer. Thatcher's war will be seen to be a shocking waste of lives... oh, sorry, it wasn't Thatcher, it was Galtieri who started it, to shore up his failing popularity at home. So Galtieri's raid to grab someone else's property will in the event be condoned by the UN.

no <deleted> way!

First, let's hear what the Falklanders themselves have to say in their referendum.

My prediction (it's contrary to what I want, but one has to be pragmatic):- the Falklands will be handed over to the Argentinians. The Falklanders will be offered resettlement in the UK, with substantial compensation paid by the British taxpayer. Thatcher's war will be seen to be a shocking waste of lives... oh, sorry, it wasn't Thatcher, it was Galtieri who started it, to shore up his failing popularity at home. So Galtieri's raid to grab someone else's property will in the event be condoned by the UN.

no <deleted> way!

I sincerely hope you're right, Naam. After my experience in Hong Kong, I can't help being a bit cynical.

I sincerely hope you're right, Naam. After my experience in Hong Kong, I can't help being a bit cynical.

Yes! I was working in HK in the early nineties, when all this came up.

Many of the highly competent Chinese engineers that I was working alongside wanted to relocate to the UK, but were refused. Most emigrated to Canada, put down their quarter of a million dollars to get citizenship/passport and are now happily working in Hong Kong again, making money.

These were (and are) very entreprenurial people who would be a credit to any country, but in the UK we obviously prefer Albanian illiterates who sit and hold their hands out for benefits, rather than people who would create more jobs in the wake of their successes.

First, let's hear what the Falklanders themselves have to say in their referendum.

My prediction (it's contrary to what I want, but one has to be pragmatic):- the Falklands will be handed over to the Argentinians. The Falklanders will be offered resettlement in the UK, with substantial compensation paid by the British taxpayer. Thatcher's war will be seen to be a shocking waste of lives... oh, sorry, it wasn't Thatcher, it was Galtieri who started it, to shore up his failing popularity at home. So Galtieri's raid to grab someone else's property will in the event be condoned by the UN.

no <deleted> way!

I sincerely hope you're right, Naam. After my experience in Hong Kong, I can't help being a bit cynical.

Hong Kong and the Malvinas are two different pairs of shoes I-Birder. there was no other way than what the Brits had to agree to in 1984 and the face saving "50 years of a certain autonomy after 1997" was not something the British negotiators had to extract from the "Commies" because it was their idea to use HK as a guinea pig area for various capitalistic and democratic experiments.