Oakley,

As you can see I have acted one yours and Dorries advice and plunged kicking and squealing into the drivel pool. The job is done,there will be no need for the soothing hands and ointment as you suggest and no doubt meant kindly. Bye the bye,could you bring with you tonight the ear dewaxing candles if you have any left, I am slightly bunged up in one ear.

There will be a small prize for the first one to correctly identify the origin and meaning of my mudcat name.

peter,

matelot, pronounced matelow, is simply the french name for a sailor (you have led a sheltered life)the ranks in the royal navy and mercantile marine, such as bosun's mate, gunner's mate,first mate etc. are derived from this.