OK! This actually is post nr 3000. What the hell happend?
This is where it started. On firda's sistervessel, at "birth" called "Coaster anny", it was the first ship i ever sailed on. We loaded paper at the now laid down union paper mills.
I was nearly six years old, and my grandfather, now departed into the eternal ocean, was able seaman onboard. I was about to come along on a trip to england and holland, just him, me and granny.
As me and my parents drove the one hour trip to skien, the stomach got a bit unsteady, i really really longed for this trip, but how would it be like beeing away from the parents?
Soon enough i would find out, and the stomach surely got a big bit more unsteady.
Arriving in skien, i immidiatly saw her. Then she had a mustardy yellow hull, white superstructure, and was the prettiest ship in the world, off course. When you are six years old, and nuts about the sea, it was heaven. But it also was a bit noisy and scary heaven, at once. Up the ladder, with my tiny tiny suitcase, and there grandfather stood! The deck was full of cargo, wood, containers, you name it. This was the final loadingplace, before departing overseas.
In the comotion it was nice to have a hand to hold. Thanx mom, for beeing who you are.
Well. My parents stayed until the ship had to leave, and i remember it so clearly, how sore it was, the first time i would be separated from them so long. Belive a couple of tears ran down my cheek, hehe! Oh well. I got invited up on the brigde, witch was extremly cool, sat there quite like a mouse for half an hour, then it was dinner! Chicken. I ate much! And asked politely for the skin, of those eating who did not like it, heeh.. Well. Soon we passed the brevik-brigde. I really remember that my parents had parked on that bridge, and that they where waving as we passed, but they both denied it later on.
It blew quite good. And as soon as we got outside the bridge, the damn ship started ro rock'n roll. And the chicken came up again in express-speed. Was sick for a couple of days, then it turned out nice! I had a new knife i could have in my belt. Somewhere there are a picture of me and my grandfather standing on deck, both with arms crossed, and me smiling allmost around my head. In england we where in four ports, i had the time of my life. In kings lynn we had to run like hell from city to port, the ebb and tide played a trick on us. I was allowed on a pub at the tender age of six, i knew some english words, and charmed the locals pretty bad, i think, hehe.. Well. the voyage home was special. Nice weather, and i sure enogh longed for my mother and father! They came and picked me up at the same place. The chef onboard cooked chicken in my honour. I must have been strange all my life, because i held a speech under that very same dinner, where i thanked everyone onboard for a fantastic experience.
Oh well. I took farwell with the master and my grandfather at the dock, saying (with tears in my eyes, again...)
"A sailor goes ashore".
Goddamn, getting chills inside.
I called the "coaster anny" "The pearl of the ocean" for many years. then new ships come. But i will never forget the coaster anny. Will never forget my grandfather/grandmother.

So it was very special to see one of her sisters again. The memories came to me! Thanx for every post, every pm.
Tomas
Post number 3000

Forgot to link picture of coaster anny herself, here as:
Modana