There must have been many occasions when something unexpected prevented you from joining a ship or sailing on ther next voyage. I was on the British Hawthorn maiden voyage up around Sweden and areas when on return we were informed she was to go deep sea to N.Z. I had sustained a hernia loading ships stores, my story, and the skipper told me I could not go as there was no doc onboard and he thought I might develop complications. Paid off and could not get another berth until passed as fit by the pool. Any interesting stories from anyone?