What do you think??

[AlanF]

Well a New Year is upon us. When I found this Website I was delighted, when I read some of the stories I was beginning to feel the nostalgia rush through me.

I have now reacquainted myself to some very good mates, people whom made an impact upon me in either a small or to a greater extent. For this I am thankful.

When I joined here I was struck by a sense that not enough way being done to remember the days gone by. As a middle aged person now I am aware that the past is very important and I am so pleased that so many of you have joined me in a quest to remember some very special days from all our past.

I would like to think as an Ex-Service man that my time spent in the Naval Service was not wasted and I want to remember the good times with fondness as well as reacquaint myself with those of you who I served with whether it be at Sea or on the Base.

No matter what, my time in the Naval Service was special to me, something I am proud of and something that I will always hold dear.

I am especially delighted with the publication of long forgotten pictures being displayed here, I know for me they really do get the brain cells working overtime trying to remember names and also the story behind the pictures. So to those of you who have contributed a big thank you.

For me this is what this Forum is about, remembering, and maybe an educational tool for the people too young to appreciate life in the NS prior to 1990.

So to all my old comrades. A Happy New Year.

Alan Finan

[Test Pilot]

Well said, Al. A happy New Year to you too.

[Goldie fish]

Well a New Year is upon us. When I found this Website I was delighted, when I read some of the stories I was beginning to feel the nostalgia rush through me.

I have now reacquainted myself to some very good mates, people whom made an impact upon me in either a small or to a greater extent. For this I am thankful.

When I joined here I was struck by a sense that not enough way being done to remember the days gone by. As a middle aged person now I am aware that the past is very important and I am so pleased that so many of you have joined me in a quest to remember some very special days from all our past.

I would like to think as an Ex-Service man that my time spent in the Naval Service was not wasted and I want to remember the good times with fondness as well as reacquaint myself with those of you who I served with whether it be at Sea or on the Base.

No matter what, my time in the Naval Service was special to me, something I am proud of and something that I will always hold dear.

I am especially delighted with the publication of long forgotten pictures being displayed here, I know for me they really do get the brain cells working overtime trying to remember names and also the story behind the pictures. So to those of you who have contributed a big thank you.

For me this is what this Forum is about, remembering, and maybe an educational tool for the people too young to appreciate life in the NS prior to 1990.

So to all my old comrades. A Happy New Year.

Alan Finan

I have to make one point Alan. This site is not just for discussion of the past. The majority of the membership here are not members of the Navall service, sure there are a few current and past members registered, as well as many serving NSR members, but if we had too many threads about the good old days, after a while, the younger members on the site who wear the greenish uniform will become alienated.

We need to have a balance. I am delighted that this section has become a meeting place for many former NS members. But I also want to keep the discussions up to date and relevant to the matters concerning the Naval Service of Today and Tomorrow. To stop those discussions from wandering off into fantasy land, I need the current and ex NS members to bring the over enthusaistic younger members down to earth.

It is my intention, once I get approval, to create a Naval sub section here, to act as a contact point for all the ex members, even though I know that I would be duplicating the work that the ONET website does. This will allow the current discussions to continue, and not distract from the many new threads remembering the NS and NS people of the past that you have created since you joined.

Keep in mind that the Majority of the users on this site are under 30.

[hptmurphy]

Given that the contributers here have put more life into the past through pictures and memories I think that the naval memories subsection is a good idea and would be elavent.

It is important for those posting to rememeber to keep their memories to such a threadas GF says while we may enjoy the reminisicing it may not be as exciting to thers andmay create the impression that the forum has become a historical site as opposed to a discussion forum
its all good and too much has been forgotten. If it all gets posted in the one area it becomes a living tribute to those who have passed along without having haqd the oppertunity to spin their yarns

[fred the red]

Have to say i enjoyed reading about the old days in the naval service fair play to you Alan F.Its good for young people to hear what life in the DF was a few years ago not just the naval service but accross all the services crap accomidation worse food most of us remember the glen in a snowey november or december lads down with hypothermia and they were sleeping in the billits.But one thing about all those years ago was the craic you had the freinds you made some of them not with us now.So hopefully goldie gets that thread sorted and we can read some more stories of the old days.

[pym]

I've really enjoyed reading the stories of times past, they make great reading for anyone interested in the defence forces. It'd be great to see them collated into a book, perhaps that's an idea for the future.

As GF says the other great aspect of this forum and not just this section, is the discussion about the present and future of the defence forces, and i enjoy reading and learn from the educated points of view of people who are serving and know a lot more about the organisation than I ever will.

[Goldie fish]

Hope the new layout meets with your approval lads.

[hedgehog]

Even though I am not Navy nor am I under 30

I really enjoy reading the Navy stories

You Navy lads have a very close bond which you should be proud of

(maybe its from all the time you boys have to spend in the barrel)

[Test Pilot]

You Navy lads have a very close bond which you should be proud of

(maybe its from all the time you boys have to spend in the barrel)

I agree with you Hedge, this bond needs to be experienced to be understood. I'm not sure where one would get it nowdays, but it comes from being 'lumped in' with one another, and having to deal with your issues, putting up with everyone elses, and not being able to get off at the next bus stop. A real learning curve in life! Not always easy, but great none the less.
And yes, as you say,we would be proud of the bond!