I'm at sea - no really at sea. Writing a blog as the ship rolls from side to side is an interesting experience....We left Tenerife at 13.00 with banners waving and a trumpeter playing his heart out. It was quite an emotional time but also very exciting. My longest voyage before today was from Harwich to Denmark overnight. Already have been up in the bow (the front bit) with some others and watched a magnificent sunset which has it dropped below some clouds radiated beams both above and below the cloud. Who else but God could paint the sky in such a glorious way.
The sun was shining and many of us spent the afternoon in companiable times, reading, chatting and drinking tea. Gosh, it's a hard life but someone has to do it! But then it is Saturday and a day off anyway. Be that as it may I did manage to go for a short run this morning before the 8am shore leave deadline. Just to cap off a wonderful day the Starbucks cafe was opened at 7pm. Tomorrow is definitely another day and I shall be catching up with a few things - like re-stringing my guitar. Then I'll be able to make good use of the super little (or not so little) present I had from friends at church - a songbook. Thanks guys, really appreciated your generosity and I'll be using it during devos.
Saturday, 31 January 2009
Friday, 30 January 2009
Friday January 30
Life has been busy for the last 3 days. Items of note include purchasing new equipment for the department and my cabin tying down equipment in the department so that during the voyage, should it be rough, all the kit stays in one piece. This is no easy task for us as we have expensive operating microscopes to care for amongst all the other equipment. Anaesthetic machines and carts, stools, trollies, operating tables all required tying down. Scrub sinks are full of rubbish bins and other odds and ends. it's quite a sight really. I have taken a few photos to show the scene.
Then Esther, the anaesthetic team leader and I have been working on writing a new manual for anaesthetic nurses that come onboard as well as needing to write a manual for how to change the bellows over on the anaesthetic machines (we don't have the latest model machines) and also how to change from the compressed oxygen supply that comes via the usual pipeline to using an H sized cylinder with 4-6- hours of oxygen supply. We have had to do this in the past when the compressed supply has failed and it's a fiddle.
However there has been a little social life too. I went out for dinner on Wednesday night with 3 colleagues from OR and we were directed to a restaurant which served an excellent chicken curry. Yesterday evening I walked into town with a few friends to see the gardens in Santa Cruz. There were delightful double orange camiliae and burgonvillia making a wonderful canopy over a large roof. The sculptures were interesting - one was rather like Mr Universe but with oversized hands.
But now the ship is being made ready to sail. The captain hopes that we shall be leaving tomorrow morning or by afternoon at the latest. I have moved cabins as I am not allowed to sleep on deck 2 during the sail. I am sharing a rather nice guest cabin which also means I have a porthole to view the horizon. It has also meant that I have had to pack up firmly anything that I don't want broken on the voyage. Those years of moving around as a student nurse came to the fore as I packed crockery and other breakables. The ship has actually been moving quite noticeably today and we are stilled moored. The weather forecast is not brilliant for the next 24 hours but should improve by Sunday afternoon. The ship has had various inspections all of which it passed, in fact one inspector commented on how professional the crew were and then found out that we all volunteers. He was stunned.
Tonight I'm on call as the "crew nurse". Basically the first point of contact for anyone who is unwell or injured. So far all has been quiet and I'd love it to stay that way for the night.
Then Esther, the anaesthetic team leader and I have been working on writing a new manual for anaesthetic nurses that come onboard as well as needing to write a manual for how to change the bellows over on the anaesthetic machines (we don't have the latest model machines) and also how to change from the compressed oxygen supply that comes via the usual pipeline to using an H sized cylinder with 4-6- hours of oxygen supply. We have had to do this in the past when the compressed supply has failed and it's a fiddle.
However there has been a little social life too. I went out for dinner on Wednesday night with 3 colleagues from OR and we were directed to a restaurant which served an excellent chicken curry. Yesterday evening I walked into town with a few friends to see the gardens in Santa Cruz. There were delightful double orange camiliae and burgonvillia making a wonderful canopy over a large roof. The sculptures were interesting - one was rather like Mr Universe but with oversized hands.
But now the ship is being made ready to sail. The captain hopes that we shall be leaving tomorrow morning or by afternoon at the latest. I have moved cabins as I am not allowed to sleep on deck 2 during the sail. I am sharing a rather nice guest cabin which also means I have a porthole to view the horizon. It has also meant that I have had to pack up firmly anything that I don't want broken on the voyage. Those years of moving around as a student nurse came to the fore as I packed crockery and other breakables. The ship has actually been moving quite noticeably today and we are stilled moored. The weather forecast is not brilliant for the next 24 hours but should improve by Sunday afternoon. The ship has had various inspections all of which it passed, in fact one inspector commented on how professional the crew were and then found out that we all volunteers. He was stunned.
Tonight I'm on call as the "crew nurse". Basically the first point of contact for anyone who is unwell or injured. So far all has been quiet and I'd love it to stay that way for the night.
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Tuesday January27
So I didn't get to the shops on Monday.I was too busy helping to tie down equipment for the sail at the end of the week and having discussions with the OR supervisor about the forthcoming outreach. As always , in operating department there is a balance between surgeons patients and staff which we try we to achieve.
It's no different for us on the ship. We are also hoping to create new teaching materials for staff so that when they come onboard there is an easy "how to" guide for various different aspects. One eventuality that we have to cover is how to change over from the compressed air to the big cylinders that are located in each operating room. In an land based western hospital we would not even need to think about what we would do but hre on the ship any issues like that have to be dealt with differently. We have enough to do to keep us busy on the voyage and beyond.
When we reach Benin we have 10 days to set up the ship ready for surgery and also to help out with the screening days. These 2 days are when we begin to see the patients who will have travelled many miles because they have heard about the mercyship and that they may be helped by the teams of doctors and nurses there. Long queues form and people generally wait patiently to be seen. Once the patient is seen and a decision made that surgery is appropriate, the surgery is scheduled and the patient given an appointment card to return to the ship.
These days are long and tiring but essential for the work to carried out as efficiently as possible.
A small group of us went into town to buy up supplies both for ourselves but also more importantly for the department. Sometimes it's easier to hand in a receipt although ever mindful that the money we spend is given by others to enable the work to continue.
I shall be moving cabins at the end of the week as I normally sleep on deck 2 but maritime safety laws dictate that no-one can sleep down there on a voyage. Now I'm grateful that I didn't bring too much out with me. A 20kg allowance focuses the mind somewhat!
As people begin to return to the ship so life returns to normal community life. It has been very quiet, almost eerily so but the morning meetings are beginning to fill up. This mornings devotions affectionately known as "devos" was about 2/3rds of normal attendance. School has started on the ship although not all the children have returned. There are a couple of new teachers too. Tonight I am going to the airport to meet up with one of the returning OR staff and hope that she's not too tired to realsie that it's me!!
It's no different for us on the ship. We are also hoping to create new teaching materials for staff so that when they come onboard there is an easy "how to" guide for various different aspects. One eventuality that we have to cover is how to change over from the compressed air to the big cylinders that are located in each operating room. In an land based western hospital we would not even need to think about what we would do but hre on the ship any issues like that have to be dealt with differently. We have enough to do to keep us busy on the voyage and beyond.
When we reach Benin we have 10 days to set up the ship ready for surgery and also to help out with the screening days. These 2 days are when we begin to see the patients who will have travelled many miles because they have heard about the mercyship and that they may be helped by the teams of doctors and nurses there. Long queues form and people generally wait patiently to be seen. Once the patient is seen and a decision made that surgery is appropriate, the surgery is scheduled and the patient given an appointment card to return to the ship.
These days are long and tiring but essential for the work to carried out as efficiently as possible.
A small group of us went into town to buy up supplies both for ourselves but also more importantly for the department. Sometimes it's easier to hand in a receipt although ever mindful that the money we spend is given by others to enable the work to continue.
I shall be moving cabins at the end of the week as I normally sleep on deck 2 but maritime safety laws dictate that no-one can sleep down there on a voyage. Now I'm grateful that I didn't bring too much out with me. A 20kg allowance focuses the mind somewhat!
As people begin to return to the ship so life returns to normal community life. It has been very quiet, almost eerily so but the morning meetings are beginning to fill up. This mornings devotions affectionately known as "devos" was about 2/3rds of normal attendance. School has started on the ship although not all the children have returned. There are a couple of new teachers too. Tonight I am going to the airport to meet up with one of the returning OR staff and hope that she's not too tired to realsie that it's me!!
Sunday, 25 January 2009
Sunday January 25
it's about 10.30pm and I've rfinished unpacking. Thanks to my daughter everything arrived well packed and intact. Flight was on time and I was met with no problem. The ride to the ship took about 45minutes and it was lovely to see the ship again and to meet up with friends from previous trips. This time the access is on the starboard side of the ship and the steps up to the entrance are a little steeper - but actually much easier to climb. In Liberia they were very shallow and really needed to be taken 2 at a time.
I have a cabin on deck 2 and am sharing with Lorinda. She very kindly left me to unpack so that I would have a little m,ore spaceto move round. Everything has disappeared and I've found a home for everything. Tomorrow my plan is to walk into the town of Santa Cruz just to look round, well maybe have a coffee too!
I have a cabin on deck 2 and am sharing with Lorinda. She very kindly left me to unpack so that I would have a little m,ore spaceto move round. Everything has disappeared and I've found a home for everything. Tomorrow my plan is to walk into the town of Santa Cruz just to look round, well maybe have a coffee too!
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Thursday January 22
Just three more days and I'll be winging my way to Tenerife with Monarch Airlines. At least it's warmer there than here.
The spare is in there somewhere.....just a pile of things to be packed. Last minute coffee's with friends and that's about me all done...roll on Sunday
The spare is in there somewhere.....just a pile of things to be packed. Last minute coffee's with friends and that's about me all done...roll on Sunday
Thursday January 22
Only 3 sleeps left!!No I haven't packed yet but the spare bed is disappearing fast with all the things I would like to take.
What's more worrying is the "techie" stuff that I'm taking this time. I'm not a "technophobe" just not as quick to have all the latest gadgets.
Howevr I have got to the point where I now just want to go although there are still people to see and one or two minor things to sort. thankfully all the "big" stuff is done.
What's more worrying is the "techie" stuff that I'm taking this time. I'm not a "technophobe" just not as quick to have all the latest gadgets.
Howevr I have got to the point where I now just want to go although there are still people to see and one or two minor things to sort. thankfully all the "big" stuff is done.
Friday, 16 January 2009
January 16
Just nine days to go and so much still to do...I have everything important sorted it's just the stuff at work to finish off and hand over and one or two guiding bits.
Still once I'm on the plane it won't matter....
Still once I'm on the plane it won't matter....
Thursday, 1 January 2009
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