When is it time to retire the ensign

Nostrodamus

Nostrodamus

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www.cygnus3.com
My ensign has faded to a very dull red, frayed around the edges and is starting to look not too good.

Then again, it was new when we set off three years ago, has been our constant companion day AND night and is like an old friend.

Eventually I want to frame it as a reminder if there is any left.

I am starting to get worried though as yesterday we got asked if we were Australian by Spanish and if our ensign meant I was in the marines by Dutch.

I know at some point my old friend is going to have to be put out to the pastures but not yet...

How long have you had your ensign and what state is it in?

Do you also find that nobody understands our flag.. not even Brits?
 
Nostrodamus said:
My ensign has faded to a very dull red, frayed around the edges and is starting to look not too good.

Then again, it was new when we set off three years ago, has been our constant companion day AND night and is like an old friend.

Eventually I want to frame it as a reminder if there is any left.

I am starting to get worried though as yesterday we got asked if we were Australian by Spanish and if our ensign meant I was in the marines by Dutch.

I know at some point my old friend is going to have to be put out to the pastures but not yet...

How long have you had your ensign and what state is it in?

Do you also find that nobody understands our flag.. not even Brits?
Click to expand...

Just one question, how has your red ensign faded so much that its turned blue? Australian is blue, Marine one is also blue (defaced).

Ours is CA one, several years old, faded but not tatty :)
 
It isn't very respectful to display a tatty flag...Few nations (except the `brits, who once used to be proud of their nationality) will do so.

(in some countries, Turkey for instance, you'll be told quite sharply to change your courtesy flag if it is even a little bit bit faded, and they mean change it or else)

Why would anyone "not understand" a flag? What is there to understand?
 
Well SWMBO has this sewing machine you see and every winter the frayed bits get trimmed off and the end neatly hemmed. Until last winter I gently suggested that it was nearer square than rectangular. So this year it has sprouted a new bit of red cloth of almost the same colour restoring the original shape.

So it would appear that the answer to your original question is "never". It looks like ours will last as long as Trigger's broom.
 
SamanthaTabs said:
Just one question, how has your red ensign faded so much that its turned blue? Australian is blue, Marine one is also blue (defaced).
Click to expand...

No, the Australian marine ensign is red, not blue.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Red_Ensign

Although 'smaller (i.e., less than 30 tons) pleasure and fishing craft could fly either the Red Ensign or the Australian National Flag but not both at the same time'.

(I'm currently in Canberra and was racing in Sydney harbour the last two Sundays.)
 
We've found ours gets tatty and needs replacing after about three years. We've tried trimming and sewing but it soon goes again so we just replace it every three years.
 
The horrendous bill for bunting was the reason Samuel Pepys as Secretary to the Navy Board instigated the business of lowering flags at sunset. What was the point of flying the thing if no one could see it...

The same consideration makes me take the ensign down at night and in gale conditions. The posh blue one costs £75, so it's worth looking after. I've never understood the pride in allowing it to become a tatty rag; maybe people think it shows "experience".
 
MASH said:
Why would anyone "not understand" a flag? What is there to understand?
Click to expand...

Why people get so het up about them.
Why people even bother with them.
Why they are not treated with respect.
Why the rules change from country to country.
Why some countries have more than one.
Why some countries have multiple colours.
Why some countries get annoyed if yours is faded and others don't give a s**t.

and..... Why some anorak is about to give answers to all the above questions, irrespective of whether we know them or not.
 
DJE said:
Well SWMBO has this sewing machine you see and every winter the frayed bits get trimmed off and the end neatly hemmed. Until last winter I gently suggested that it was nearer square than rectangular. So this year it has sprouted a new bit of red cloth of almost the same colour restoring the original shape.

So it would appear that the answer to your original question is "never". It looks like ours will last as long as Trigger's broom.
Click to expand...



Outstanding work, DJE.

I have gone one step further and eventually cut off the sewn section of two clapped out flags. I now sandwich new red bunting between them as required. I always make the flag long to allow for trimming.

I think I take the tightwad crown, thank you.
 
BelleSerene said:
No, the Australian marine ensign is red, not blue.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Red_Ensign

Although 'smaller (i.e., less than 30 tons) pleasure and fishing craft could fly either the Red Ensign or the Australian National Flag but not both at the same time'.

(I'm currently in Canberra and was racing in Sydney harbour the last two Sundays.)
Click to expand...

Blonde moment! Doh, was thinking New Zealand.
 
…and on broadly the same subject…:rolleyes:

What do you use to prevent books from flopping about on the half-empty shelves, in rough conditions? An accordion is terrific fun if your guests are nervous types.
 
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