And speaking of Bells, (below) to kick off our weekend, starting with the 'Basin Trials' 
in Bells Hotel, Woolloomooloo, Friday afternoon (joined shortly afterwards by Dave Maxwell,) are (L-R)... Pete (Red) Williamson, Helen Williamson, Ellen Kelly, Rick (Hippy Chippy) Pengilly, Col Kelson, Denise Cocks, Polly Shepherd, John (Chippy Ned) Kelly, Steve (Shep) Shepherd, Brian (Charlie) Staples...
I'm sure there'll be a number of candid pics sent to me for posting, but in the meantime, to add to our gallery, the traditional Harbour View Hotel 'family shot' under Sydney Harbour Bridge's famed arches...
As expected, due mainly to
a somewhat smaller (but still happy,) group of 13 this year, 
we have (L to R:) Col (Pussasan) Kelson, Pete (Red) Williamson, John (Ned) Kelly, Helen Williamson, Polly Shepherd, Denise Cocks, Steve (Shep) Shepherd, Dave Maxwell, Rick (Tricky) Pengilly, Mark (Mobes) Mobley, Ellen Kelly, Brian (Stroppy) Mackenzie, Brian (Charlie) Staples...
Now, if something caught your eye in the 'family pic' above,
it might be that a number of participants are wearing the same clobber... 
Yes, at great effort and expense (and not just a little persuasion,) 
"The Pirates of the Central Coast" arrived for Saturday's 18th Annual RAN Skilled Hands Sydney Rocks Xmas Pub Crawl Smokey, resplendent in their matching Pirate shirts, imported all the way from Hong Kong, specifically for the occasion...!!!
After overcoming initial resistance, all five of us were delighted with the barrage of response we all received as we wove our way through the gathered throngs at The Rocks, with offers to buy the shirts off our backs, and being repeatedly recognised and acknowledged by various groups of people as we move from pub to pub...!
Not only a great success
but a lot of fun, setting a new benchmark/ challenge for others (Southerners ? 
Mexicans ? 
Westerners 
maybe ?) 
for the next run...! 
"The Pirates of the Central Coast", awaiting lunch at "The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel" comprised the following: (L to R) "The Budgewoi Buccaneers" Helen and Pete Williamson, ...................."The Buxom Barbary of Buttaba"
Denise Cocks, "The Lake Munmorah Marauder" Rick Pengilly and "The Rathmines Renegade" Charlie Staples...
I reckon, from the number of admiring comments said to us from passers-by, the masses assumed there were at least 30 of us roaming The Rocks on the day...!!! 
At $25.00 apiece, incl. shipping from HK...
...I've gotta say, the shirts were a HUGE hit... ............................................................ ...in particular I love the attention to detail where
the printed images overlap the button area...
After raiding Ellen's and Polly's Facebook pages, 
I've collected another 20+ candid snaps 
I'll post later this afternoon... 
and I ordered one 'on spec', but the back print was the same as the front (if you scroll back up, 
I got a credit on the one I bought and swapped to the ones we all wore on the day... 
There's always next year, Smiley, I'm hopeful of seeing a couple of 'Westerners' 
...but here's the pics 
outside the old Finger Wharf, on their arrival for Friday's 'Basin Trials' 
Charlie Staples and Dave Maxwell temporarily missing in action... 
at the City Edge 24/7 Restaurant at Circular Quay... 
Enjoy... 
round of 
...then a leisurely drive 
back to the NSW Central Coast... 
S, all four of youse...! 
All I could do was gape at the pics 
new-found respect 
as I recalled the sticker on my fridge which reads: 