Oh! Aye David,would this caption be more suitable------ Ee bar gum Lad 'twas just pulling out’ot Bowies yard in 'Barra for’t trip down 'tut Warehouse at Thurrock ! Cheers Dennis,PS We were fairly sophisticated,even in those far off day’s David,and I dare bet that Bowaters distribution operation ran a ■■■■ sight smoother then than how the B.S. firms in later years ran it !! Cheers Dennis.
The cracks very good Dennis, But I think it is time to forget double hitches for the moment & go on to the double whiskeys, becaused the bloody winter is here now, welll it is here at Ponteland, So Im taking the proper action & adding the correct levels of anti freeze, But I must say it comes from Scotand with full instructions on how administer it to the correct level, Oh Dear ive blown it before it got started, Im sorry for my incorrect behaviour, I must be getting old or out of contrrol, Well just pour me another malt & I will settle down waiting for the re-fil, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
The cracks very good Dennis, But I think it is time to forget double hitches for the moment & go on to the double whiskeys, becaused the bloody winter is here now, welll it is here at Ponteland, So Im taking the proper action & adding the correct levels of anti freeze, But I must say it comes from Scotand with full instructions on how administer it to the correct level, Oh Dear ive blown it before it got started, Im sorry for my incorrect behaviour, I must be getting old or out of contrrol, Well just pour me another malt & I will settle down waiting for the re-fil, Regards Larry.
Sounds like you’ve got a Butler,or a servant Maid in your conservatory Larry,or is it just your Lass indulging the Owld lad !!! probably get a “crack round the lugs” next time,well I know I would !!!Cheers hic!hic! Dennis.
Aye Dennis, your most likley right, she [that is the wife] has just come into my Conservetery, That is because I spend a lot of drinking time in here, she has just informed me that I can have one more whiskey before she gives me my instructions for Thursday, Well now what shall I do, ■■? submit or rebel, Well I must admit Ive allways been the rebellious type, So If it means Her indoors goes off sullking , Larry lives to drink another day,[Or Bottle perhaps} I will just have to take my chance Eh, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Aye Dennis, your most likley right, she [that is the wife] has just come into my Conservetery, That is because I spend a lot of drinking time in here, she has just informed me that I can have one more whiskey before she gives me my instructions for Thursday, Well now what shall I do, ■■? submit or rebel, Well I must admit Ive allways been the rebellious type, So If it means Her indoors goes off sullking , Larry lives to drink another day,[Or Bottle perhaps} I will just have to take my chance Eh, Regards Larry.
Crouched 'aback of the setee no doubt I bet !!! Cheers Dennis.
Ha Ha, Dennis Im under starters orders all the bloody time, But mind you Im well looked after, that is IF I behaves myself, which is a bit diificult at times , My taste buds are seasoned tro the finest malts that money can buy, My good Lady rations the pocket money that Im allowed each week, So if I dont spend it , she trhinks Im getting too much , So she just tops it up, I just love my Malts.in moderation of course, But I must admit i cheat sometimes on the measures, like to-night, Anyway Im going to have another one just to make sure the bottles empty brfore it goes in the recycling bin, Regards Larry
Lawrence Dunbar:
Ha Ha, Dennis Im under starters orders all the bloody time, But mind you Im well looked after, that is IF I behaves myself, which is a bit diificult at times , My taste buds are seasoned tro the finest malts that money can buy, My good Lady rations the pocket money that Im allowed each week, So if I dont spend it , she trhinks Im getting too much , So she just tops it up, I just love my Malts.in moderation of course, But I must admit i cheat sometimes on the measures, like to-night, Anyway Im going to have another one just to make sure the bottles empty brfore it goes in the recycling bin, Regards Larry
By what you describe Larry I think thee and me could swap places,and if we had our eyes shut we probably would’nt notice the difference.!!! Cheers Dennis.
Done a lot of roping and sheeting over the years.At wh malcolms in the 70s we would give each other marks out of ten for a well sheeted load. the sheets covered the load and the bit of space at rear of load to keep the deck dry, rope every hook or every other depending on load,all ropes exactly vertical, all hitches same height and loop pointing the same way.cross on the front , dundee on the back ,put the skin or bottle sheet on ,tie at front, pull to back with hitches to tighten . hitch all ties, another cross on front ,one on back , maybe even another dundee, could have drummed a tune on tight sheets.great with dry sheets and ropes in summer, whole different challenge in winter.great with a flat load the secret was to be able to do it with odd shaped uneven loads.
ardennes:
Done a lot of roping and sheeting over the years.At wh malcolms in the 70s we would give each other marks out of ten for a well sheeted load. the sheets covered the load and the bit of space at rear of load to keep the deck dry, rope every hook or every other depending on load,all ropes exactly vertical, all hitches same height and loop pointing the same way.cross on the front , dundee on the back ,put the skin or bottle sheet on ,tie at front, pull to back with hitches to tighten . hitch all ties, another cross on front ,one on back , maybe even another dundee, could have drummed a tune on tight sheets.great with dry sheets and ropes in summer, whole different challenge in winter.great with a flat load the secret was to be able to do it with odd shaped uneven loads.
After we put the back cross on we then used to thread the rope over the where the ropes actually crossed and then hitch that down making the cross even tighter,We referred to this as putting a “Scotchman on”,I know,I know, meaning “As tight as a Scotsman”,and thats tight 
Bewick.
If I had a high-ish load, I would put a double cross on the back, forming a diamond shape in the middle.
Bewick:
ardennes:
Done a lot of roping and sheeting over the years.At wh malcolms in the 70s we would give each other marks out of ten for a well sheeted load. the sheets covered the load and the bit of space at rear of load to keep the deck dry, rope every hook or every other depending on load,all ropes exactly vertical, all hitches same height and loop pointing the same way.cross on the front , dundee on the back ,put the skin or bottle sheet on ,tie at front, pull to back with hitches to tighten . hitch all ties, another cross on front ,one on back , maybe even another dundee, could have drummed a tune on tight sheets.great with dry sheets and ropes in summer, whole different challenge in winter.great with a flat load the secret was to be able to do it with odd shaped uneven loads.After we put the back cross on we then used to thread the rope over the where the ropes actually crossed and then hitch that down making the cross even tighter,We referred to this as putting a “Scotchman on”,I know,I know, meaning “As tight as a Scotsman”,and thats tight
I can remember a driver coming over to me one day many moons ago and showing me how to do that very thing mr bewick 
Telekonsteve:
Bewick:
ardennes:
Done a lot of roping and sheeting over the years.At wh malcolms in the 70s we would give each other marks out of ten for a well sheeted load. the sheets covered the load and the bit of space at rear of load to keep the deck dry, rope every hook or every other depending on load,all ropes exactly vertical, all hitches same height and loop pointing the same way.cross on the front , dundee on the back ,put the skin or bottle sheet on ,tie at front, pull to back with hitches to tighten . hitch all ties, another cross on front ,one on back , maybe even another dundee, could have drummed a tune on tight sheets.great with dry sheets and ropes in summer, whole different challenge in winter.great with a flat load the secret was to be able to do it with odd shaped uneven loads.After we put the back cross on we then used to thread the rope over the where the ropes actually crossed and then hitch that down making the cross even tighter,We referred to this as putting a “Scotchman on”,I know,I know, meaning “As tight as a Scotsman”,and thats tight
I can remember a driver coming over to me one day many moons ago and showing me how to do that very thing mr bewick
Aye and if you double hitched the “Scotchman” it was tighter than a crabs arse at 100 fathoms 
Cheers Mr. Bewick.
I like most people in the 70’s started out Roping & Sheeting then along came Tilts. Tautliners, & Boxes although it made life much easier there was something nice about seeing a good Rope & Sheeted, (with a Fly Sheet) load. ■■■■ Matthew (R J Matthew Transport Sittingbourne Kent) Heres one of my lorries with a sheeted load in 1985.
Flyingrabbit:
I like most people in the 70’s started out Roping & Sheeting then along came Tilts. Tautliners, & Boxes although it made life much easier there was something nice about seeing a good Rope & Sheeted, (with a Fly Sheet) load. ■■■■ Matthew (R J Matthew Transport Sittingbourne Kent) Heres one of my lorries with a sheeted load in 1985.
P S I didn’t Rope & Sheet this load It came over from Belgium into Ramsgate (Sally Line) foreigners were never as good as us!
Wait to Dennis sees that he will have a fit !
Flyingrabbit:
Flyingrabbit:
I like most people in the 70’s started out Roping & Sheeting then along came Tilts. Tautliners, & Boxes although it made life much easier there was something nice about seeing a good Rope & Sheeted, (with a Fly Sheet) load. ■■■■ Matthew (R J Matthew Transport Sittingbourne Kent) Heres one of my lorries with a sheeted load in 1985.P S I didn’t Rope & Sheet this load It came over from Belgium into Ramsgate (Sally Line) foreigners were never as good as us!
Flyingrabbit:
Flyingrabbit:
I like most people in the 70’s started out Roping & Sheeting then along came Tilts. Tautliners, & Boxes although it made life much easier there was something nice about seeing a good Rope & Sheeted, (with a Fly Sheet) load. ■■■■ Matthew (R J Matthew Transport Sittingbourne Kent) Heres one of my lorries with a sheeted load in 1985.P S I didn’t Rope & Sheet this load It came over from Belgium into Ramsgate (Sally Line) foreigners were never as good as us!
Well it’s OK blaming the Belgiums but your motor is coupled to the trailer 
None of the Bewick drivers would have left the port before they had tidied the sheets up and made the load look respectable,what a ■■■■■■■ state, I bet it looked an even bigger mess when mobile 
One thing for certain “F.R.” you defo win the prize for the worst S&R effort on the thread so far,well IMO you do others may feel differently 
Cheers Bewick.
It’s so bad I thought it had come off Irish Ferries!
Bewick:
Flyingrabbit:
Flyingrabbit:
I like most people in the 70’s started out Roping & Sheeting then along came Tilts. Tautliners, & Boxes although it made life much easier there was something nice about seeing a good Rope & Sheeted, (with a Fly Sheet) load. ■■■■ Matthew (R J Matthew Transport Sittingbourne Kent) Heres one of my lorries with a sheeted load in 1985.P S I didn’t Rope & Sheet this load It came over from Belgium into Ramsgate (Sally Line) foreigners were never as good as us!
Well it’s OK blaming the Belgiums but your motor is coupled to the trailer
Quite right Dennis, I wouldn’t have left the docks with the sheets like that I mean to say if it were to rain look at the folds, They could hold a lot of water, & making the load heavier , & cause a lot of problems when removing them, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Bewick:
Flyingrabbit:
Flyingrabbit:
I like most people in the 70’s started out Roping & Sheeting then along came Tilts. Tautliners, & Boxes although it made life much easier there was something nice about seeing a good Rope & Sheeted, (with a Fly Sheet) load. ■■■■ Matthew (R J Matthew Transport Sittingbourne Kent) Heres one of my lorries with a sheeted load in 1985.P S I didn’t Rope & Sheet this load It came over from Belgium into Ramsgate (Sally Line) foreigners were never as good as us!
Well it’s OK blaming the Belgiums but your motor is coupled to the trailer
Quite right Dennis, I wouldn’t have left the docks with the sheets like that I mean to say if it were to rain look at the folds, They could hold a lot of water, & making the load heavier , & cause a lot of problems when removing them, Regards Larry.
CHRIST ALMIGHTY WHAT ALOAD OF ■■■■■■■■, Anybody that knows about traction work from the docks realizes what we had to put up with re import sheeted loads, I’v had loads come over with the sheets NAILED to the floor, you try re-sheeting low awkward loads like this with sheets designed for 15 feet loads. The load was perfectly safe & secure & their was no flapping, so before you go ■■■■■■■■ about other drivers Mr & Mrs righteous put things in contexts. PS I’v been roping & sheeting loads since I was 15 (now 65) so I will give any of you lot a competition anytime you like. I await more know all ■■■■■■■■ comments.
Dred to think what it would be like now with the people we have on our streets you would get up in the morning need new ropes and sheets every day because they had been cut to bits in the night.