6:30am, waiting for our ride

Just thought I would let you guys see what i look like at 6:30 in the morning!!!
This is us waiting for the Minibus to take us to work.
From the Left is: Amy, Isaiah, Me, Terry, Robert and Andy
Amy is a Carpenter from Canada
Isaiah works with me in Projects and he's from El Paso, Texas
I am me.
Terry is my boss and Isaiah's father.
Robert is my housemate (adopted Dad) and is a Welder from Texas.
Andy was my roommate for a week before Christmas, poor guy.

I'll put more photos up as and when I get them.

Paul

Some pop art for you folks

A really cool one of Leia and some stormtroopers
Check out some of these paints that I found on t'internet, specifically Ebay.
Bullit
A storm Trooper - obviously
and A funky looking Han Solo

I am getting into this whole pop art thing - yes its 3:20am and I have nothing else better to so on my night shift.

Keep safe peeps.

Paulus

m/v Africa Mercy update no. 10 – 05-01-05

m/v Africa Mercy update no. 10 – 05-01-05

Okay Peeps, guess who’s now Late-Mid-Twenties!? Yes me, turned 27 yesterday. Had a cool day, well it was a very ordinary day, except for we went to the local public house in the evening, Me and some really good friends from Newcastle and some close friends from Mercy Ships.

Welcome to those of you who recently asked to receive my newsletter, hope you enjoy.

Right back to the usual update subjects:

Ship News
The Main Generators are being tested and seem to be working great with all their previous issues resolved and we will probably be working 12 hour shifts for a week mid-January when they get load tested.
The shipyard have started back working on the ship after a 5-6 week interruption. Theres still a long way to go on most of the cabin furniture and the kitchen but we hope to get some major progress in the next few weeks.

What have I been doing?
We installed the washing machines and driers for the Hospital then this week we have started installing the major plant for the medical gas and have began pressurizing the refrigerant system – this is the system that everyone on the ship wants me to get right, because a ship in Africa without air conditioning is not a nice ship to live in – remember ships don’t have openable windows!

What else?
I got to go home for Christmas and New Year which was great as I got to catch up with loads of my family and friends and even popped back to Cardiff for 3 days for NYE. But my main trip back to the fair city in Wales will still be on the 19th-22nd January, so keep your days free Cardiff-types. I am free to be cooked for anytime over those days!! Hehehe. Venue for party still yet to be organised. As soon as I find out you will find out – please remember – it’s gonna be a pirate party so get your eye patches and parrots out and practice your best Johnny Depp “... drink up me hearties, yo ho ho" and “hazaa!!” (for Chantille)

Alls that’s left to say is that I hope you all have an amazing 2006, it’s sure going to be a new adventure for me and I hope for you guys too.

Have the best time till I speak to you next.

Paul of the Waldron Clan
Mercy Ships

m/v Africa Mercy update no. 9 - 14-12-05

m/v Africa Mercy update no. 9 - 14-12-05

Hey people and welcome to another instalment of Paul’s little (but getting bigger!) trip away.
I hope everyone is keeping up with the goings on and not getting to bored of my consistent badgering of emails every fortnight.

Things are going really well here and I have had a great last two weeks. As you all should know by my multiple emails last week, I have been offered a place on the ship when it sets sail – hopefully April 2006. This offer comes on the condition I stay on the ship at least 18 months to 2 years and do a Segue (pronounced Segway) course. This is a 6 month class where I will get taught the basics on how to help change a society with regards to health and sanitary practices and other such helpful things that we try and teach the nations where we go.

Thank you to all those that responded to my previous email with congratulations and specially to those who have offered to support me with this expedition I am on.

Another item of great news, the day has finally come, where there are no leaks on the gas systems, they have been fully tested and now all complete! I can’t tell you how happy I am that I finally can stop going round squirting washing up liquid type junk on all the pipework connections!! We still have some brackets to add and some other minor things to finish but it’s now 95% complete. Now to begin installing the rest of the Hospital equipment, finishing off the Galley and all the other jobs we get to try our hand at.

Outside Mercy Ships, well, I have started a new sport! Its called Free Running or Parkour. If any of you saw the TV show “Jump London” or “Jump Britain” then you’ll know what I am talking about. It basically involves a cross between Rock Climbing and Running and Skateboarding-ish! Running around in an urban environment and jumping around obstacles. Sounds simple. Do some research (www.parkour.com) and find out it’s not so simple! Plus you don’t need to buy any equipment, it’s good exercise and it’s free to do! Lets see how long I can keep this sport up.

I am on night watch Duty again this week, which really confuses my brain and body about how much time I am sleeping and about when I should eat and how much. But also means I can catch up on paperwork and communicating with people. Also I got to play around with the Generators, replacing some of the bearings, with the engineers who were working late. So doing some 'proper' Mechanical Engineering.

Oh of those people resident in Cardiff I will be making a flying visit back to my favourite City on the weekend 21st January where me and Marv will be having a shared bday party. Venue yet to be arranged, but the theme is Pirates. I look forward to seeing you all there (well the Cardiffians anyway!)

Keep safe my friends.

From your ever obliging Messenger

Paul Waldron