My word, a top name really floats my boat
THERE was a great album called Songs from The Big Chair by Tears for Fears, which we renamed Songs from The Big Hammock, or in today’s case, Stories From The Park Bench.
And without doubt the best bench with the best views, not necessarily the best stories, is the first on the right at the Rocktober Pool looking up The Strand – glorious.
From this place in paradise you can watch the ships come in and marvel at their names, and really, who on the planet ( or off the planet) thinks of them?
Yesterday a car carrier came in named Morning Catherine. Who is Catherine?
Was there a huge board meeting at Eukor ( the shipping line) with the chairman and all of the board ( or overboard), sitting around the mahogany table, agonising over a name for their latest shipping acquisition, when in walks the boss’s secretary with the whiskey, and the chairman says “morning Catherine”, and that was it?
Other local arrivals include the poets’ Theresa Micronesia; the poker- loving Grand Ace ( or maybe it was named after our great city, and the P and L wore off); Smiley Lady, obviously named after a late night on Flinders East; Grey Man, which is about my boss’s wardrobe; and, also about the boss, Star Life.
Like hair salons, not that I’ve had any need to visit any for some time, there are great names for private vessels, like the infamous local boats Past Carin and Fringe Benefits, the little dog- loving Pug Boat, and the super- safe Zombies Cant Swim.
At Port Douglas I found the game- fishing boat In A Meeting and the clever She Got The House.
One of my faves is Kids Inheritance and no doubt it’s not the kids’ favourite at all. Another beauty is Unsinkable 11.
If I ever had a ship named for what I do, I guess the name would have to be Bullship.
And on another topic, our weekends have been truly amazing. Last Friday night was the extraordinary Light Up The Night for our mates who have blood cancer, and with 34 diagnosed every day, it’s so important we help out as much as we can.
Congratulations to the organisers and all who came, especially a few of the doctors who were there – simply incredible men and women.
It was so moving as the lanterns were raised for someone special. Let’s make it even bigger next year, though, of course, we wish there was not a need in the first place.
This weekend it’s something entirely different – the Glendi Festival, a taste of the Mediterranean, and also a mini ‘ La Tomatina’ fest, where poor souls have tomatoes poured all over them! Charming!
Whatever happened to the super- safe olive- spitting comp?
Maybe not that safe. I was the champion, so much so that air traffic control was notified after I landed one on the windscreen of the 11.45 Qantas. True!