Ship - Review: The last three months

2014-03-31 14.54.39I’ve had a busy week full of meetings and work. I’m listening to some relaxing music and looking back over the last three months.

We have published a number of new titles, some of which are already available and others which will be available shortly:

  • Non-violent communication
  • Albert Schweizer
  • Coco Chanel
  • August Hermann Francke
  • Slim and fit
  • Small groups

I have spoken at a wide variety of events. These have included several women’s events and a training course for people who run ‘School of Life’ courses.

And I’ve coached quite a few people. Some just once, others over a longer period – such as a man who hired me to help him tackle his 40-kilo weight problem – which, of course, doesn’t happen overnight. But he’s already lost the first 7 kilos. His zest for life, on the other hand, has increased significantly.

Busy months. On the ship, too. It was a real rollercoaster ride.

  • We are deeply grateful to the many volunteers from Berlin, Stralsund, southern Germany, Ghana, Portugal, France, the USA…
  • It was incredibly frustrating because so much of the preparatory work hadn’t been done properly – and we had to redo a lot of it.
  • Gratitude for everything that has happened
  • Sadness at not having got further yet.
  • The hope that the ship will soon be ready and able to serve people
  • Gratitude when I see that people are already finding inspiration and experiencing change through the ship.

Milestones on the ship

  • The underside has been completely derusted, painted and insulated.
  • I repainted the bilge in the sleeping area just to be on the safe side, as I didn't trust the previous coat of paint.
  • The tanks have been derusted and painted.
  • Door frames cut into the steel for the guest area.
  • Composting toilet installed
  • The fresh water tank has been rewelded and put back in place
  • Flooring laid in the guest area
  • The engine room has been partially repainted and insulated.
  • The wheelhouse has been cleared out, painted, insulated and loaded.
  • New door frame installed in the wheelhouse
  • Portholes installed below deck
  • Roof derusted and painted

That might not sound like much – for three months. But on a ship, many tasks are far more complicated than they are on land. Hardly any surface is flat; every single plank has to be measured and cut to size individually. Every corner has to be carefully derusted – in short, there’s a mountain of work to be done. I’m longing for it to be finished soon, but there’s still a long way to go for me and my friends. I’m still delighted to have anyone help out for a few hours or days – or contribute with a donation so that I can have the work carried out by professionals.

 

Similar Posts