FRESH BREAD

[Ken Hoey]

HOW MANY OF THE SAILORS OUT THERE TO-DAY CAN SAY THEY HAD FRESH ROLLS FOR LUNCH AND FRESHLY BAKED BREAD ON A DAILY BASIS. SUCH WAS THE CASE ON SUPPLY. I CANNOT REMEMBER THE LEADING COOK, BUT HE WAS A MASTER AT PRODUCING THE DAYS QUOTA. SOMETIMES HE WOULD PRODUCE A FANCY SHOE PASTRY FILLED WITH MOCK CREAM. WE HAD IT TOUGH. I CAN STILL REMEMBER ON-WATCH - LIFEBUOY SENTRY WITH THE SMELLS OF BREAD BAKING WAFTING ACROSS THE QUARTERDECK,. MADE THE OLD STOMACH GRUMBLE. THE ONLY TIME WE HAD THE COMMERCIAL BREAD WAS AT THE START OF A DEPLOYMENT AND IN FOREIGN HARBOURS. I CAN REMEMBER THE TRIP TO RIMPAC IN 1972. THE BREAD DELIVERED WAS TASTELESS AND YOU COULD PRACTICALLY SEE THROUGH IT. SO MUCH FOR YANK BREAD. I THINK IT IS A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS THAT ALL THESE SKILLS HAVE BEEN LOST OVER THE YEARS DUE TO MANY CAUSES.

ALL THE BEST
YOGIBEAR