m/v Africa Mercy update no. 4 - 16-09-05

Well I think this bi-weekly/fortnightly Waldrons news update could be the shortest it has been so far, you can all hope. We'll see how it goes.

First of all lets see what I have been up to:

The main thing I have got up to on the Ship is trying to finish the Medical Gas installation. It's all up in the voids now, just got to braze all the joints and thats the main distribution done then. Over the next few weeks we'll (Mark and Me) will begin to install all the lower level pipework and the distribution to all the beds in the wards.

Next week the X-ray and sterilisation equipment are coming from the States, they are currently in 4 containers somewhere in South England. So I am sure I'll be busy getting all that equipment installed.

Today I have been doing something that really only my old work buddies will understand. Record drawings. Yes drawing my own record drawings for all the medical gases installed. Don't see what Subbies have a problem with. Back doing the CAD stuff. Steve C, don't worry I got the layers correct, but think these guys could do with some help with their x-refs!

So now to what has been happening on the whole ship. We have had problems with Visas (not the credit card type) as all the non-Europeans on the ship require them to work on the ship but they all finish in 30th September, so we could lose all the Americans (not such a bad thing -hehehehe!! - Joke!), Canadians Filipinos and Ghanaians that are most of the work force here. I am not sure of the exact route and steps that need to be taken but I keep hearing about something called Articles that will save the day if we get them in time. So people, please pray that the Articles get sorted and that British Immigration are cool with everything that is going on.

I think thats probably enough this time around.

Next time I'll update you with the Youthwork I have got involved with, if I remember.
Thanks again to all those that reply to my emails with happy thoughts and encouragements. Sorry I can't reply to all of you but I'll really make more of an effort over the next few weeks to get back to you all. Mainly as I have to work night shifts on the ship security team for 4 nights, so will have plenty of time to try and email people between walking round the ship at stupid o'clock in the morning!

Oh yeah I'll try and upload a current photo of myself to my online diary as somethings have changed recently - lets just say hair dye, clippers and a lack of shaving have been utlized!

Keep safe you guys and girls.

Paulus
The Blue / Blonde Striped Boy