The first month on board
Life on board is full of surprises. This morning I dived for a spoon that had fallen into the water. The Spree is less than two metres deep here, so it's quite easy with swimming goggles. I found the spoon again - and also one of my deckchairs.
I had always been convinced that I would have bought four of them. Boat builder Helge said - just as convinced - that we only had three of them on board. We were both right. Now we have four again. I hope we manage to get rid of the shells and the dirt that has accumulated on the chair.
It's now been over a month since I moved onto the ship. Most of the boxes are unpacked - except for many boxes of books in the seminar room - because the shelves in which the books are to be stored later are simply still missing. The office is also still pretty improvised. It is still raining in through the roof. The walls are not yet panelled. But there is electricity, an improvised desk and equally improvised shelves for files and everything else you need.
Boat builder Helge has a big job in Flensburg at the moment, so there has been a break in construction for the last two months. That was really good for me. No dust, no buckets of paint, just time to arrive here and settle in. Getting to know my neighbours, the security service, the site and the surroundings here, which are full of surprises.
Schöneweide was one of the most important centres for innovation and technology at the beginning of the 20th century. AEG established its company history here with a state-of-the-art power station and cable works. The electrification of Berlin contributed to the city's upswing. It is extremely exciting to study the evidence of old industrial history.
About 500 metres away from me, in the conference room of the vehicle factory in 1928, the then King Amannulla Khan of Afghanistan, who had led the country to independence, signed a contract for the purchase of 20 lorries. However, this did not go particularly well for him. In 1929, he was overthrown by conservative forces who opposed his modernisation course. How would the history of Afghanistan have turned out if he had only ordered five lorries?.
The first coaching guests were also on board and received help:
- in processing the worst traumatic experiences
- in sorting out future prospects
- in the concrete consideration of how to proceed professionally
I am delighted that the ship is already a place of blessing in many respects, even though it is not yet finished. People meet here, find help and encouragement. Or simply to relax. Helge will be back on Wednesday and some helpers will also be coming over the next few weeks - together we will continue to build properly. The seminar room and entrance area will be finished so that larger seminars and events can finally take place here. Then the office, the ventilation, the stairs downstairs. The hot water solar system...
Even though I still have a few months of building ahead of me, I would like to start paying back the loans I took out at the beginning of the construction period step by step so that it doesn't drag on until I retire. My plan is to pay off 500 euros a month. That's very ambitious. That's why I'm looking for sponsors to help me:
- Take on one month of debt repayment (500 euros)
- Take over one week of debt repayment (100 euros)g
- Take on one day of debt repayment (20 euros, once or every month for a while)
That would take a big weight off my shoulders. If you'd like to take part, just let me know.
