This morning when I turned the key in my car ignition nothing happened… I was reminded that on Friday the car had been a bit sluggish starting and that I had taken it for a bit of drive on Saturday to boost the battery.
Now I was in a bit of a dilemma. How was I going to get to work on time? I considered a taxi but I thought it was unlikely that one would be available straight away at that time in the morning. I prevailed on the services of Mr C, although I had to wait for him to finish getting ready for work. I was a little hassled when I arrived at work with moments to spare.
I was left wondering how to go about arranging to get my car checked and fixed as I wasn’t entirely convinced the problem was the battery. Mr C checked the car when he got home and he decided it wasn’t a battery problem. That left me with two obvious choices to try; phone the garage for them them to pick it up and check it over or check my RAC cover. I did the latter and as I suspected I hadn’t opted for the home cover option. I chose to upgrade to the home cover option and a very nice gentleman appeared on my doorstop in less than an hour.
He asked me when I last drove it and I mentioned my Saturday drive and that it had been popped on and off the drive the day before (Mr C had been shuffling cars after visitors). Straight away he said your engine is flooded and then proceeded to fix the problem and tell me all the technical details of what causes the problem. Within ten minutes he had gone and I was left to decide what I might like for dinner…
Tags: Car, Fabia, Life, Problems
We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it – we are going back from whence we came.
John F. Kennedy
Tags: Cherie's Place Thought, Portsmouth, Portsmouth Dockyard, Vacation
Warrior’s original figurehead has ended up at Fleet HQ, Northwood, London, only to crumble beyond repair sometime in the 1960s. The new ’spirit of Warrior’, carved by two Isle of Wight craftsmen, weighed 2 tons and like the original was almost 4 metres (12 feet) high. In February 1985, it was hoisted aboard and attached to the stem-piece. *
*From the HMS Warrior guidebook
Tags: Defence Matters, HMS Warrior, Portsmouth, Portsmouth Dockyard, Vacation
HMS Warrior was the world’s first ocean going, iron-hulled, armoured warship – the largest, fastest and most powerful of the time. Launched on 29 December 1860, Warrior rendered all other warships obsolete overnight. She never fired a shot in anger, simply because she was too powerful for any other ship to think of challenging her. Indeed, her deterrent value contributed to Britain’s Security.
Forgotten for a century, restored to her original condition, and now moored in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, HMS Warrior is the only surviving embodiment of the most revolutionary changes to take place in the long and distinguished history of the Royal Navy.*
The Upper Deck
The Bridge
The Gun deck
Warriors main armament consisted of 26 68-pounder guns, loaded from the muzzle (front), capable of firing shot or shells nearly a mile and a half (2.3 kilometers). They were reliable and effective, being a larger version of a tried-and-trusted design. Not so reliable were the ten new Armstrong 110-pounder breech loaders, fitted as a trial. These had rifled barrels for greater accuracy and fired cone-headed shot or shell almost double the distance of the ‘older’ guns. However, the trial was unsuccessful because the new guns had a nasty tendency to overheat and blow out the breechblock or just jam up.*
*From HMS Warrior 1860 guidebook
Tags: Defence Matters, HMS Warrior, Portsmouth, Portsmouth Dockyard, Vacation
Third rate 74-gun battleship, launched in Portsmouth in 1781. Took part in the battle of Saintes (1782) and Nelson’s victory at Copenhagen (1801). Broken up in 1857.
This is the oldest figurehead in the Museum’s collection – and one of the oldest warship figureheads in the world.*
*From an signboard next to the figurehead.
Tags: Defence Matters, HMS Warrior, Portsmouth, Portsmouth Dockyard, Vacation
…18 November 1781
The 74-gun battleship Warrior is ready for launching in Portsmouth Dockyard. The completed hull is supported by a few last shores, while alongside, men are preparing the ropes that will secure her to the dock.
The traditional flags are flying from short poles where eventually her masts will be placed. These include the distinctive red flag, with the fouled anchor of the Admiralty Board and the Royal Standard.*
*From a sign next to the model ship
Tags: HMS Warrior, Portsmouth, Portsmouth Dockyard, Vacation
This is HMS Vernon’s version of ‘Monopoly’. It includes missile-shaped pieces and locations like the main gate and Isle of Wight Ferry.
Tags: HMS Vernon, Portsmouth, Royal Navy, Vacation
