Author Topic: The tears started rolling  (Read 10463 times)

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Offline cunardqueen

Re: The tears started rolling
« Reply #15 on: Feb 03, 2009, 08:41 PM »
Quote
a heart full of memories. Thats all I'le need.

And let no one take that away from you :'(.

 For when you arrive back in Southampton at the end of your voyage,
you arrive back much richer than when you started
For riches shouldnt be counted in money, but rather in memories
And memories are the greatest thing we can possess
Something QE2 passengers will hold ever dear for the rest of their lives


And that phrase was used at the end of the Ocean Pictures 1984 video, Inside the QE2, before her extended refit was thought about, and remains true to this very day 
From the moment you first glimpsed the Queen,
 you just knew you were in for a very special time ahead.!

Offline Andy F

Re: The tears started rolling
« Reply #16 on: Feb 04, 2009, 02:31 AM »
Great shot Stoway and from what I remember, I was aboard White Scene (the one in the foreground), standing down below at the stern.  I've a feeling that's me you can just see 'hanging off' the back. That's where I can usually be found and I don't believe it was any different that day! 

Here's the collection of shots I took that day:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/andyfitzsimmons/sets/72157608279052078/

Matt - nice words and your emotion is perfectly understandable.

Cunardqueen - nice words and how right you are!
Start every day with a smile and get it over with

Offline Twynkle

Re: The tears started rolling
« Reply #17 on: Feb 04, 2009, 09:14 AM »
Hi Andy

Were you on the White (Wight??) Scene in the evening?  We might have been standing in nearly the same pl;ace same time. with just the 'floor' in between!?
The tears still rolling...

Offline Stowaway2k

Re: The tears started rolling
« Reply #18 on: Feb 04, 2009, 07:46 PM »
Great shot Stoway and from what I remember, I was aboard White Scene (the one in the foreground), standing down below at the stern.  I've a feeling that's me you can just see 'hanging off' the back. That's where I can usually be found and I don't believe it was any different that day! 



Hello Andy

This is for you...



« Last Edit: Feb 07, 2009, 12:08 PM by Rob Lightbody »

Offline Andy F

Re: The tears started rolling
« Reply #19 on: Feb 04, 2009, 09:42 PM »
Thanks for that Stowaway and much appreciated. 

As I said in my Flickr notes accompanying the shots from that day, this was the culmination of one of those 'perfect' days, you rarely have but never forget.  I was staying overnight in Southampton and dragged myself out of my warm bed at 5am to get down to Hythe to catch her return from the 806th & final T/A.  With an air temperature of around 4C, it was very cold standing around but worth every minute.

Later on, and having watched QM2 depart at mid-day, I caught the Blue Funnel boat to watch the Sailaway at close quarters.  It was unusual to see QE2 berthed on her starboard side but even more surprising was how she was turned.  I recall some years back that she would often berth Stbd side to but would always be turned in the Lower Swinging Ground.  This time however, she was swung astern around Dockhead and into the River Itchen. In all the years I have been watching this great ship, I have not previously seen this manoeuvre but it was certainly most impressive to watch, particularly as I was no more than a couple of hundred metres away on one of the Blue Funnel boats at the time. Of the 3 BF boats running that day, ours was the last to return, having followed her up river for as long as possible before turning for home. The great weather and even greater atmosphere made for a simply amazing experience and one I felt privileged to be a part of.   

Sadly this was to be the final time that I would ever witness the departure of our beloved Queen in daylight but as I silently said my farewells to the other Lady in my life, who has been a large part of me for more years than I care remember, I admit to getting a little misty eyed and make absolutely no apology for that!

Start every day with a smile and get it over with

Offline Twynkle

Re: The tears started rolling
« Reply #20 on: Feb 14, 2009, 06:43 PM »
http://nega.colorgreenfray.com/2009/02/14/end-of-an-era/

This was posted today, St Valentines Day...

Offline hollihedge

Re: The tears started rolling
« Reply #21 on: Feb 14, 2009, 06:45 PM »
Thanks for posting Twynkle
Gill

Offline Andy F

Re: The tears started rolling
« Reply #22 on: Feb 14, 2009, 08:15 PM »
Agree, thanks Twynkle and one can never tire of reading about her final day
Start every day with a smile and get it over with

Offline highlander0108

Re: The tears started rolling
« Reply #23 on: Feb 22, 2009, 05:41 AM »
On the round UK voyage last year, in the Yacht club and reasonably sober, and watching the screen  that was in position with the name of the band and "QE2 Farewell Cruise" kept flashing up, it struck a chord and l really had to be outside on deck, and for a short while l felt really quite stupid, here was l a grown man crying over  a ship. Strangely enough such moments came like a thunderblt with no warning during that voyage and the crossings.
Greenock was a bad day, l had my parents and sister onboard for the day so they could say goodbye, during the day l did hold back some emotional moments, but in the cabin after all was quiet and feeling the throb of the engines, watching one of the QE2 videos on the tv, and the flood gates opened, it was the only time l had ever wished for a cabin mate to be there so l could tell him to leave me alone...

I was ok coming off at the end of the Farewell crossing and held myself together whch surprised me, But when l made the journey down on the 11th to see her off and was able to get onboard for a few hours, l had the time planned out to go  visit a few old haunts, a final turn round the boat deck, Nothing turned out the way l planned, spoke with various room steward/ess from past voyages, a look at my very first cabin were it all started 22 years ago and then the memories came flooding back of Hal and Daphne the room stewards, Mark and Peter the waiters from the Tables of the world, onto  the Queens room for my last afternoon tea, what is always a jolly affair turned out to be a disaster, sat back in one of those high backed chairs with my little plate of sandwiches and cup of tea and just bawled my eyes out that the end was so close, mercifully nobody noticed, the waiter was a gem and l will never forget what he said " Tough isnt it" and he didnt mean the egg sandwich.... when the time did come to disembark, it was from the Yacht club down G stair along 2 deck, guided by the few folk in front the gangway did seem longer than normal and the little lady shoreside could see l was in a bit of a state and comforted me with "Dont worry your not the first son"

 In someways with hindsight l really wish l handnt made that trip, the atmosphere onboard was l found quite strange, l did mention this to a fellow passenger l knew from the year before, and his reply that " Well we are taking QE2 out to Dubai to die" while it was true did throw me. l saw my QE2 is a way l never imagined, and she probably saw me in a way she never imagined she would.

 Heck even now simple things can set me off, watching the videos from October for the first time, really bought it all home.
 Usually by this time of year my QE2 cruise is booked, the cabin carefully chosen, the deposit paid and the countdown started, Sadly this year the Cunard brochure remains firmly closed,there isnt even the hint of a cruise anywhere on the horizon and my glass rather than being half full. is lm afraid half empty,

 And if anybody dares suggest again Oh you really should try the QM2 or the QV l think l will hit them. >:(
For me QE2 was and always will be a very unique and special ship, filled with memories to treasure and share with like minded souls. and to see her tied up in Dubai, passengerless, she is like a fish out of water, slowly dying.

Myles,  I just read your post.  The tears just started rolling here. What a time we had.  I had to take all my Final Farewell to the UK pics finally off my laptop.  I would torture myself lookng through them and remembering what fun we had and how much alive the ship was as compared to now.

KenM
"There will never be another one like her" QE2's last Master Ian McNaught
My Blog:  http://qe2-prideoftheclyde.blogspot.com/

Offline cunardqueen

Re: The tears started rolling
« Reply #24 on: Feb 22, 2009, 09:21 AM »
Ken
 You can take comfort in the fact that the Round UK was much more fun than the crossings, the people were more friendlier and everything l thought was just better than the crossings...
  Myles
From the moment you first glimpsed the Queen,
 you just knew you were in for a very special time ahead.!

Offline NomDePlume

Re: The tears started rolling
« Reply #25 on: Mar 02, 2009, 01:32 AM »
I watched her leave New York for the last time after disembarking that morning, with you and Matthew on board, and all I could think was "wait for me"...

M-L

Offline Kindlychap

Re: The tears started rolling
« Reply #26 on: Mar 03, 2009, 10:13 PM »
I watched her leave New York for the last time after disembarking that morning, with you and Matthew on board, and all I could think was "wait for me"...

M-L


So why weren't you with us? Seriously, it was sad to see those I knew get off at New York, which made it more of a watershed. I didn't want milestones at that point. I wanted time to stretch out to infinity.

Matthew
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 - Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

Offline caledonia

Re: The tears started rolling
« Reply #27 on: Mar 13, 2009, 09:34 AM »
The tears got to me on a couple of occasions on the last transatlantic crossing - the first occasion was the lecture by Stephen Payne - he stated at the end that he got through it without the emotion - it then got me when i realised that this was the end - my last ever voyage on her.
The 2nd time was that wonderful moving half hour when the QM2 closed up to us on the last afternoon off the coast of Ireland at 4.00pm - they emotion then was too much - the passengers on both ships cheering to each other , the many, many blasts on the horns, the farewell message from Cpt McNaught and the realisation that this was the last time THE two Queens would ever be at Sea together. I still well up now when i remember that wonderful half hour - I'm so glad i was there to witness a great moment in the long history of Cunard and the wonderful beautiful lady - my beloved QE2.

Offline Twynkle

Re: The tears started rolling
« Reply #28 on: Mar 13, 2009, 04:36 PM »



On her way up the River Mersey.....Thanks to Claire Gray
 

The tears started.....and haven't stopped....
« Last Edit: Mar 13, 2009, 04:39 PM by twynkle »