m/v Africa Mercy Update August 2006

Well I thought my blog was due a textual update, enough of fun photos of friends and ship.

I have been working in paid employment now for 2 months. It’s been quite weird, going back to working for money rather than for what I enjoy, mind you is hasn’t been that bad. My first job in the factory for 4 weeks was pretty bad – I really was only going in for the money – but my new job working for a local Council I actually quite enjoy. It is mainly doing design work, helping them with a few different projects, from redesigning the gas network in High Rise flats, to a complete refurbishment of about 700 houses to a cooling system in a Golf Course Shop to a feasibility study for refitting a School Kitchen. The guys I work with are great and fun and days come and go quickly, but I am really missing work on the ship at the moment. I feel guilty about being away whilst there is still lots of work left to do, that I am not involved in. So yeah I am looking forward to get back up to Newcastle early/mid September to get back in my overalls, boots and hardhat (and don’t forget safety goggles) and be climbing the gangway once again back into ship life.

It’s been nice living at home though as well. I have managed to catch up with most of my friends who are still around the Redditch area and seen a few old school friends, some whom I haven’t seen in 8 years. It’s also been great to make some new mates whilst I have been around here to and get involved in a great Church here.

I have also got addicted to the myspace phenomenon, which has also been a great way of catching up with friends that I haven’t seen for a long while and I haven’t managed to catch up with in my trip down south and to Wales. Hope you guys are doing well.

Well I’ll have more ship updates once I get back and get involved in the day to day ship life again, but one cool bit of news. Next Christmas (not this Christmas) the ship will dock in the Canary Islands for about 4 weeks for the ships annual dry docking (which means a few weeks holiday for us- well we’ll need it after 12 months with out one!) so only another 450 days till I get to go on holiday!! It’s seems like I’ve missed out on going this year again! Poor old Paul!! Get out a little Violin!!
On that self absorbent note! See you guys, keep in touch and if you don’t know my email address, leave a comment with your email address on it (for Blogspot Users) or send us a message (for MySpace users) and I’ll get back to you. I’ll now be leaving Blogs at Blogspot and MySpace.

More Africa Mercy Photos

The aft (back end of the ship) during engine tests (hence the wash coming out the back). Churning up the Tyne did not smell great either.

Rachel W and Rachel C, my two buddies who have both now left me (Rach W has headed to the Anastasis and Rach C has gone to Medical School in London).

It's me doing some work. Honestly, I am the one in the yellow hat (it says Paulus on the back to prove it was me) we are installing Mark (I think that was his name!) are installing the Head X-ray equipment. I wouldn't use it if I were you.

Finally some colour to my blog

I have finally got round to posting some photos to my rather text filled Blog. They are mostly of my last few days in Newcastle before I left to come back for the summer


As you have guessed, yes this is the front of the Africa Mercy looking up at the Bridge. I could end up working the mooring lines on this deck or the Aft deck when coming in and out of dock, and no we are not allowed to do a De Caprio and Winslett "I'm the king of the world" scene. Yes I am in pain on this photo, some one would be poking my ribs and sweezing my touche. From left to right, Sam, Me, Debs, Dave and Daniel - my roommate.
This is happy Mercy Ships Crew. Matilda (Finance), Joe(Deckie), Isaiah(Projects), Rach W(Healthcare), Anique(Engineering), Me (in my comedy Cowboy shirt - only worn on 'special' occasions), Marcel (IT) and Daniel (Carpenter).
Beardy Daniel, Breaker Sam and Big Dave all posing and strutting. who could say no to any of these specimens?

Official Word on the AFM about leaving dates

This is what has been released officially about the Africa Mercy and about how the work is going:

"As with any large construction project, the final work phase is always the hardest to accomplish. The main contractor is experiencing a number of difficulties including specialist equipment supply problems, additional demands from regulatory authorities, subcontractor delays in testing and certifying critical safety systems, and low manning levels in certain high skill trades. This has proved to make completing the last 10% of this project very difficult. We are all frustrated by these delays; however, until all statutory work complete, we cannot accept redelivery of the ship.

While we are waiting for the contract work to be completed, we are effectively utilizing the time and our own Mercy Ships crew to accomplish other less critical ship upgrades that we were not planning on doing until the ship was operational. This will save down time later on.

Stepping onboard the Africa Mercy today, you will see the huge amount of work that has been accomplished with the installation of updated navigation equipment, new cabins for the 460 staff, 6 Operating theatres, a 78 bed ward, lab spaces and all of the large pieces of equipment including a CT scanner, necessary to run a modern world class hospital. We are excited, knowing we are almost there and are in high hopes that we can be operational by the end of this year, and ministering to the people of West Africa early in the New Year."

So here we have it I should be in Africa in "early 2007".

Well I am hopefully going to continue working for my current job till 8th September then move back to Newcastle the following week. I was hoping to take a little break before I go back as I haven't had any downtime myself since I got back to Redditch but hey, maybe they'll let me have sometime off for Christmas.

My current plan is to work for Mercy Ships for 2 years when I go back in September. So probably working till September 2008. This may change dependant on my financial situation at that time but we'll see how it goes when I get there.

I'll have to post some photos soon, this blog has way too much text in it.

Keep safe guys.

Love ya all

Paul

temporary email: the boy waldron@ hotmail (dot) com (remove the spaces!)