Sailors use this term synonymously with the points of sail below a beam reach, (But we all knew that) since the wind direction is generally the same as the sea direction. Therefore, the phrase “Fair winds and following seas,” implies that a vessel will have good winds, and not have to pound into the waves.,
It is also used when a shipmate is departing a ship, due to transfer, or at a Seamans funeral and very often written on a Sailors headstone.
“Fair Winds” means; a smooth ride and “Following Seas” means a swift journey.
With me, it means that due to my failing eyesight, hearing and other health issues I must stop writing for LiP on a weekly basis. I also suffer from asbestos on my lungs and now tire easily. But otherwise, I’m doing fine. (LOL) the weekly articles have sapped my energy.
Over the past few years I’ve given up, beer and rum under the orders of well-educated people, but people who never the less have never gone to sea., Out of the kindness of their hearts; once a week I am allowed two to three beers with lunch with friends, I seldom finish the second beer and have absolutely no hard Spirits at anytime. Age 71 years and suddenly no more rum, I’m never again able to splice the main brace. (That’s one you’ll have to Google) But thank the lord I don’t live in the Caribbean anymore the home of rum, or I’d have to move. I never drank Bacardi because it was made by well, Bacardi. Yes, it is made in Puerto Rico, but the number one Rum there is Don-Q. It and I in the past were good friends with that rum. I never will touch that swill called RHUM (Again you may Google that too)
I have explained my reasons to Sir Bob Martin as to why I must cut back my participation to only once a month. Now that Bob has so many new contributors to the site, who are writing interesting and informative articles, my input is not as important. So I know he is in good hands with each of the new contributors.
I will post an article once a month from October on. It will be posted on the first Saturday of every month, for as long as I can. I have very much enjoyed writing for LiP all these past years and enjoyed the great comments from the interesting readers who follow Bob Martin’s enjoyable and long-running Website.
Henceforth I’ll see you all the first Saturday of every month. Fair winds and following seas!
Hi Paul,
Mondays will never be the same without my dose of Thomson humour. Will look forward to reading your monthly contributions.
Take care and look after yourself
. All the Best. Marjorie
Marjorie:
Thank you, there comes a time when we must slow down (Except with Grandkids) I’ll miss my weekly deadline with Sie Bob.
Paul, you have been a mainstay on this site for many years now, and it has been greatly appreciated. Appreciated by both me and by the thousands of readers who come every Monday morning to see what Paul Thompson has to say, and believe me, they do come every Monday. You are as much as part of LiP as I am.
Thank you for your service and devotion to the site, Paul. You are welcome here anytime you have something to say, even if it is just an article to say “hi” to everybody.
Don’t be a stranger!
Bob;
As always I must thank you for allowing my musings on your site. It has been fun, Maybe if I post once a month I’ll make less grammatical errors, we’ll wait and see. (LOL) I look forward to the first of every month to stay a part of the LiP group. Thank you Bob!. .
You will always be part of LiP, Paul!
Thanks Sir Bob.
I am one of those who look forward to Monday’s because I always find humor and sensibilities in what you write Mr. P I will miss your weekly musings but will look forward to your monthly one. Take care and God Bless.
Geze’
Thank you, that was kind
Paul – I’ve only been reading for about 3 years, but like many of us you’ve become almost like a close friend here. Thanks so much for your many contributions here coupled with your great sense of humor! I wish you all the best and will look forward to seeing you here again every month!
Steve;
Very kind of you to say that I’ll be around every month.
Paul,
We’ve never met but I feel as though I know you from reading your weekly missives for all these years. No one captures what it feels like to be a married gringo expat in the Phils as well as you do, and very few expats manage to adjust and thrive in the culture as well as you have. I’ll miss the weekly posts and look forward to the monthly ones, and join all your other readers in praying for your sustained health and energy.
Jack in Davao
Jack;
I love it here, but I also know that like any place on earth, it is a bit flawed, if perfect we’d hate it. (LOL)
you will be missed
Dennis
I” still be here just less often,.
Paul your humorous take on life will be missed. I look forward to your posts in the future. Fair Winds and Following Seas, Senior Chief….
Greg;
Thank you Shipmate,Splice the main brace!
Stay well, Paul. Now you can relax na and enjoy the sunsets in Subic Bay more. I have been reading you since 2009, and since that time you have outlasted many writers on this site. Yours maybe an era in LiP that may never be replicated, not only for its longevity, but for the down-to-earth insights on life in the Philippines [and in Puerto Rico LOL] you continued to churn out week after week. My hat is off to you with respect and admiration!
John;
Believe it or not, your comments and corrections when I got my facts wrong have been a great aid to me, I also want it noted thaat you never corrected twice on the same subject. I look forward to our monthly get together vice weekly.!
Hi Paul,
Thanks for all the years of your articles which I have been reading since this website began. As I remember there were only about 3 new articles a week back then and now I think it is up to 7+ including yours. I appreciate all of the information, humor and wit in your articles and who knows, they may still be around for years as re-runs LOL. I will be looking forward to your once a month articles in the future. Thanks again and best luck to you and your family.
Bob NY
And the videos of you singing the Jolly-bee songs in Tagalog have caused me some great times here on LiP, I’ll see you here next month.
Paul, thanks for all you have given of your time and effort all theses years. I have read and enjoyed your articles for many years now. Providing great information and serious comic relief at times. Wish you the best in your new role retired/retired again. Will still look forward to catching an article now and then.
Steven;:
Over the years all I’ve ever tried to do is explain to all travelers on this wonderful ride living here is to never take it that serious and stop and enjoy the laugh as long as it is respectful.I tried to make the point that the rose colored glasses will become scratched if you don’t learn to laugh or at least smile.
I will miss the weekly dose of philosophy, but am looking forward the continuing monthly installments!
Your opening with those nautical phrases reminded me of an experience I had on a sailing ship. The historical site I was working for was making an educational film about an indentured servant going from England to Virginia. They tapped me to portray the indentured servant. For the scenes about the voyage, they hired the Maryland Dove, a recreated wooden sailing ship based in Saint Mary’s City, Maryland. I had visions of clamoring around the rigging, helping out as best I could.
As soon as we were underway, the captain started shouting orders, and the sailors jumped into action. He was speaking English, but I had no idea what he was talking about. My grandiose visions were dashed. I sat back against a wall and tried my best to simply stay out of their way.
Take care,
Pete
Pet;
To add to your confusion on ships, there are no walls, only bulkheads.A hatch will slow you to travel up and down between deck (And tweens) a door will allow you to pass through bulkheads on each deck. I took a few vacations on the Windjammers in the Caribbean and went to the bar during all rigging maneuvers. (Splicing the main brace or having an adult beverage).
Paul readying your inputs on a Monday has become a way of life.For years.I know our sessions of beer and rum are behind us.
Really enjoyed your weekly write ups.Sure I will enjoy your monthly write ups.
Relax Paul and enjoy the time with Mayang.
Frank;
You retired guys always have the best advice!
Greetings Paul.
From now on Mondays won’t be the same, but thks to God Almighty, I & others’ll continue reading yr good articles every 1st of the month.
May God Almighty give u health & happinness all along.
Cheers & Fair Winds to u & to yr family.
Mohamed;
I thank you for your fine sentiments, but I think I’ll miss LiP more than Lip misses me! Stay well sir.
Hi Paul. I’m a relative newcomer to the site but have enjoyed reading your articles. I have a friend from Saudi who used to participate in the forums years back. When I said I was now posting on LiP the first thing he said was “that’s the site that Paul Thompson writes for”. Fame indeed!
Will look forward to your monthly articles. Take care.
Peter:
As they say, we all have 15 minutes of fame, out of my 71 years that’s kinda good. ‘I’ll miss writing on LiP, over the years it became fun.
Know your situation well, Shipmate. Never thought that writing articles and staying healthy would become an “either-or” option. Stay healthy.
Thank you Paul; Tax season is over we need an article from you! (LOL)
Paul,
It’s a sad day in the annuls of LIP not seeing a article written by you every Monday morning. Now we will have to cherish every monthly article that you post about life through the eyes of a retired expat. Stay well my friend and enjoy every minute with your Grandkids. You will be remembered every Monday even though you are not posting an article.
My granddaughter turns SIXTEEN burkas (WED) albeit a pool party will be held on Sat. fro a cast of thousands. I had no idea her whole school was attending? Dear god what will he 18th birthday cost? (LOL)
Thanks for all the past articles. I’m glad you will still do monthly and are not completely ready yet to drift off into the sunset.
Steve W.
I like to sail into the mystic, far more than the sunset. (Van Morrison fan) But thank you for your comment.
Monday’s without a Paul-ism? Say it ain’t so! I will be looking forward to your monthly articles Paul and thanks for the many laughs!
Kevin during my monthly articles, I promise to work harder on better ISM’s
The sun is over the yardarm, stand easy.
John:
If you remove the mast and lay it on deck, you will find the sun is over the yardarm from dawn to dusk.! (LOL)
As a fellow Navy vet (YN3), I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your articles over the years and wish you fair winds and following seas, shipmate.
Jerome:
Thank you very much, my title in the MSC Fleet was a Yeoman/Storekeeper what ever that meant. But in the Navy I served with many a Seaman.
I really loved reading your articles Paul, thanks very much for the entertainment those past few years. I look forward to your monthy’s. Take care and the best of luck.
Regards
Jack
Jack:
you are very welcome and thank you for being a LiP reader. Without you,I’d be stuck on Facebook. (LOL)
Paul: I will continue to look forward to your articles and will miss your Monday morning input. Please continue to comment on other’s posts. Your insights are always entertaining and note worthy. Be well, Rob
Rob;
I’ll be here as LiP and Bob have been part of my enjoyment of living here.
Maybe if I ever make it back up Subic wayone of these days, I can help you finish that second beer. Take it easy old friend.
Randy:
I’ll look forward to that.
Paul, I have greatly enjoyed your articles. They have informed me on many issues that helped my life here and yet were able to make me smile and at times laugh. I will continue to read you monthly. Like you, my Doctor has been pushing me, gently so far, to stop some of my bad habits. Mainly a couple of sips of Jack Danials a week. He is ok with a small glass of wine once in a while since I do not care for beer. I never developed the taste for it. So I guess I am walking the same path, just a few steps behind. But then we are the same age, so I guess it stand to reason.
Hey Paul, I am still reading your posts, lost you and alot of other people on Facebook, but managed to find a way over to this site. It has been a good many years since San Clemente island. But I will tell you, when I am sitting near the ocean, and watching the waves hit the shore, it always takes me back to those nights you would come by sickbay and we would make your famous (although decadent) popcorn. When I am alone I always make myself some just to remember the delicious taste! I will still follow you, although I am making a bit of a life transition myself, I am married now (to a woman) go figure, and we will be making our home in Sedona Arizona. I have become a physician after a long road, and I am semi-retired, but still working to keep busy. Anyway, just thinking of you shipmate, I wish you well, and of course “Fair winds, and following seas”. Dianna Mendoza (Heath)