As that old “Listen with mother” wireless programme back in 1950 used to ask all tiddly-winkers: “Are you sitting comfortably – then I’ll begin.”

I am ashamed to admit it, but when it comes to my present day work routine, I have become a bit of a slob, and I am a bit concerned as to why.

Have I just become lazy, or am I going through another one of those difficult life phases we poor males have to suffer?

Maybe my previously well organised, disciplined work nature, indelibly instilled into me during my 30+ years in the civil service and banking, has subconsciously rebelled, turning me into some kind of hippyish, anti-methodical misfit. My chums at the Mercury must be saints to put up with me!

If there are any “work psychologists” out there, please give me a bell. I think I may be ready for your couch!

This week, foraging through my ever increasing desk pile, I found an indecipherable note that I had scribbled down after receiving a call from Edna Golding, who rang a few months ago to say that if I ever include the trawler David Ogilvie in TRM’s fishing memories, would I mention that her dad Dick Damant had been chief engineer on it.

I am grateful to Edna, not only for getting in touch, but also for helping me decipher my scrawl, and at last, after a plethora of false starts, here is the David Ogilvie – and as an added bonus, as well as the trawler pic, I have also included a snap of the crew (courtesy of Stevo) along with some of the names. I am sure you will recognise at least one of them.

Bosun Harold Smith; 3rd hand F E Blowers; Deckies Bob Lincoln, Jim Evans and T O’Sullivan; Chief Eng Dick Damant ; Mate John Utting; Skipper James Hastings; Firemen Roy Boswell and ? Bozanowski; 2nd Eng R James.

And here are a few details about this steel-sided oil burner which was built by J Lewis & Son in Aberdeen in the late 1940’s.

In Sept 1948 she was bought by T J Jenkerson & D G Jones, The Docks, Milford, and two of the listed Skippers were Tom Donovan DSC and James Hastings.

Fishing news cuttings from West Wales Guardian reports included the following : “May 1950: Five trawlers from the West African grounds landed over £24,000 worth of hake at Milford. They were the Milford Marquis (Skipper Harry Rich) 645 kits £4791; Milford Duchess (Jimmy Jobson) 758 kits £5533; Milford Duke (Albert Saunders) 847 kits £6110; Maythorn (Gilly Beckett) 520 kits £3747; David Ogilvie (T Donovan) 611 £4040”.

Six years later, when the long established Milford trawling firm T Jenkerson & Son went out of business, the David Ogilvie was sold back to the port of Aberdeen.

As I have said umpteen times before, it’s always nice to get feedback on my TRM’s, particularly when it embellishes one of my tales. Like Eddie “Setts”, who kindly reminded me of the history of the “Chapel” fruit and veg shop on Robert Street corner, which I had mentioned a short while ago.

Tommy Williams had built his shop around the old chapel, then when Norman Williams of Dorman Carpets bought it, he completely refurbished the place, removing all the old chapel fittings. Ed’s sister Barbara then bought it and ran it as a gift shop. Now, of course, it is a block of flats. I am grateful to Ed for his welcome contribution.

Don’t talk to me about SatNav’s. My Oz cousin Ian travelled down to see me from Nottingham and, due to an accident, had to leave the motorway. They lost three hours, and I had frantic phone calls from towns they should never even have been near to!

Before going back to Oz they are heading for the USA – they will probably end up in Mexico!

Right, time for me to skedaddle – but before I do here is one for all you canine lovers: Which side of a dog has the most hair?

See you.