m/v Africa Mercy update no. 5 - 30-09-05

m/v Africa Mercy update no. 5 - 30-09-05

Wow, 8 weeks, that's like 2 months - see my math skills have definitely improved since being here! It feels like I have been here much longer. I have made so many new friends, had so many new experiences and hopefully attained a few new skills along the way too.

Well first of all lets get on with what I have been up to the last 2 weeks work wise:
It's still the medical gas installation mostly. We have got almost all the high level pipework completed and brazed up now ready for pressure testing. Yesterday we started getting all the sterilisation equipment into position. It was another one of those occasions of having doorways only just bigger than the equipment. Things can never be easy here can they?!?!

Everyone here has been side tracked by the whole visa issue. Well we received great news today. One of our crew popped over to Rome (it was the cheapest flight around) and came back and they converted her visa into a unrestricted Seaman's Visa. So now everyone is booking flights out to Rome and Geneva for a couple of days and then coming back and having their Visas changed. Its cheaper that way rather than paying £350 per visa to be transferred by the Government, we pay £100 for a return ticket out the country!! Stupid how things like that work! So the ship is going to be pretty empty over the next few days as the Americans and Canadians go on their little jollies. Unfortunately things aren't that easy for our Ghanaian and Filipino brother and sisters. I am not sure of their exact situation but things have to be worked out slightly differently with them.

Right now for updates of what I am up to outside of the ship.
I have got involved with a great Church and met up with loads of great guys, who are really supportive with the Mercy Ships thing and are always asking what I have done that day and are excited to hear what I am doing. I have got involved with their Student events and am DJing at their "Chill" night on Saturday which will be very entertaining.
I am also really involved with a Youth Outreach called "Upper Room". It is a coffee shop based on the 5th floor of a deserted building in the City Centre. The Coffee Shop itself is a great place to hang out and is there for Rock/Mosher/Goth youth. The place is rammed full on Saturdays and pretty busy on Friday nights too. It is funny that I have been brought back to this scene once again after working with the St. Mellons (Chav/Sporty) youth for 3 years. I can get away with wearing baggy trousers and jumpers without people shouting "MOSHER!" at me.

On a final note:
I flew over Cardiff on Saturday and Monday as I popped back home and to see Vicky, who left for France on Sunday :-(. It was great to see what I call my home city again, but it made me remember how much I miss the place. As we were taking off from Bristol, we were so low that I could see St. Mellons and my old house so clearly, but I guess I'll have to get used to not being there now.

right, sorry for a long one today - it is 4:30am, I am on night shift and I got lots of free time!!

As Busta Rhymes would Say "Woo-Hah, I got you all in check!"
Keep safe People, let me know how you are doing.

To all the guys going to Deb's Wedding, I'll see you in two weeks! How exciting is that! The wedding - not just seeing me!!

Vaya Con Dios

Paulus
The Blue Striped One - oh yeah that reminds me I got the photos on my Blog now so check them out if you like!!