All About Oldroyd
by Sue N.

> >>NAME: Andrew Martin Oldroyd

> >>LIVING ARRANGEMENT: with the other ratin's, for'ard in the Indy, on a
'ammock near Styles an' Matty

> >>FAVORITE PASTIME: Skylarkin' on deck or in th' riggin's. Used t' be a bit
o' gamblin' in th' cable tiers, but not since Mr. 'Ornblower let us know 'e
wouldn't stand fer it

> >>FAVORITE BOOK: I've seen Mr. 'Ornblower an' Mr. Kennedy wi' some real
pretty ones, but I ain't never looked inside. I'd say th' one wi' th' nice blue
covers, though -- Navy color, that is!
>
> >>THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD IS: Bein' wi' me mates, knowin' we got th'
best ship an' th' best officers 'n cap'n in the fleet. An' takin' on them
Dagoes 'n Frogs 'n sendin' 'em to th' bottom!
>
> >>THE WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD IS: Bein' 'elpless on La Reve was awful, an'
bein' in that Spanish prison was e'en worse. But I think th' very worst feelin'
was bein' on that damned bridge in France, jus' waitin' t' be killed by Frogs
an' knowin' there wouldn't be no 'elp comin' fer us.

> >>FAVORITE SMELLS: Cook fryin' pork or beef in th' mornin', the sea jus'
after a rain, the Duchess' perfume on La Reve, Matty's pipe (it's a comfortin'
smell. When Matty's smokin' it, I know all's well wi' me world.)
>
> >>BATTLE: SCARY OR EXCITING: Mostly excitin', better'n swabbin' th' decks.
But on that damned bridge, when all them Frogs was firin' at us -- that was
scary. Panicked Mr. Kennedy, an' didn't do me no good, either!
>
> >>FAVORITE FOODS: I remember me mum's steak 'n kidney pies... best I ever
ate!
>
> >>CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA: Chocolate, I reckon. I've 'ad 'ot cocoa a time or
two, an' it were awful good!
>
> >>STORMS, COOL OR SCARY: Don't much care fer 'em. Ship tosses awful bad,
makes it 'ard on us. There ain't nowt worse 'n bein' sent up t' th' riggin's
while lightnin's flashin all about ye!
>
> >>FAVORITE DRINK: Me grog!
>
> >>IF YOU COULD CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD IT BE: I don't
reckon a bloke like me's got much say about such, but I wouldn't mind if more
officers were like th' ones we got 'ere, officers what cares fer their men 'n
treats 'em like men an' not like animals. Reckon a man jus' wants t' be treated
like a man, after all.
>
> >>IF YOU COULD CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE: I wish I
could be 'alf th' sailor Matty is. What 'e don't know about th' sea an' ships
ain't worth knowin'!
>
> >>HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE: I seen a few women in Portsmouth I wouldn't
mind lovin'!
>
> >>IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL: Wot? Styles been pinchin' me grog
again?
>
> >>WHAT'S IN YOUR ANXIETY CLOSET: Ain't got no closet, jus' a bag wi' me
clothes 'n a few other things in it.
>
> >>WHAT'S YOUR LOFTIEST DREAM: T' serve wi' Mr. 'Ornblower 'n Cap'n Pellew fer
th' rest o' me life!
>
> >>WHAT'S YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE: T' serve wi' another bastard like Simpson.
>
> >>WHAT DO YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOU THAT YOU FEEL THEY DON'T: That I
ain't as much an idiot as they think. I c'n think, too, it mebbe jus' takes me
a bit longer than most!
>
> >>WHAT OTHER HH CHARACTER WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ANSWER THIS
> >>QUESTIONNAIRE: Truth is, I'd like t' see Finch do it. That'd mean 'e were
still alive an' wi' us.