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“The postings on this site are my own and don't represent Maersk Group's position, strategies or opinions. All views are my own”
  Monday 1st of September 2014 and we had left Fujairah anchorage C behind when I woke up dead tired @ 07:15. Not much sleep, of course, on morning you go to bed at 5 and the next morning you're supposed to wake up at 5 o'clock. The crew will be busy during the day to put up razor wire and to “hardening” the ship preparing for  entering the HIGH RISK area.
So there is stuff for the crew to do on deck and I'm busy in my office. Hot like hell on deck and it is not cool in my office. But at least, it is a more comfortable temperature inside. And a have a box of bottled water just next to me. And most important, I have the music, good music  blasting high on the Richter scale. So I'm in a pretty good mood. On the deck it is heavy lifting and it is heavy thinking  in my office. There are always important stuff to be done around my office.
I started to sort out our samples and I prepared sample receipts for discharge ports. I prepared a discharge plan for Dar es Salaam as we will only discharge 2 tanks there isn't any option but one. So this will  be an easy task.
Filling ballast to get a wee bit more aft trim and more important paper  work. And of course, inspecting the progress of the work on deck. So time passed pretty quickly. I spent most of the lunch break walking around the accommodation trying to lose weight.
 Hmm, thinking of it, I haven't had any constitutional  for a long time now.
We had a meeting on the bridge after the coffee break in the afternoon and it was almost time for dinner when we were ready on the bridge. Our internet kicked in and I managed to book me a ticket to  Copenhagen on the 19th of June with Thai Airways. Arriving to Copenhagen on the 20th and I have a day for relaxation before we take off for the Polar Bear Quest on Svalbard. Better off having a day in case of delays, I really don't want to miss the flight to Svalbard.
There was also an e-mail from Germany, yes, the same guy who asked about the Charisma Man tune a while ago. He sent me a link to CNN's web page where there was a story about some armed
Well, this is not the kind of armed guards we have in Maersk Tankers, so far it have been professional British soldiers. But please, go ahead and read more from CNN about Hero Captains, drug addicts and Pirates. There is no end to it: Crewman's e-mail gives harrowing details of hijacking - April 2009 Hero skipper ignored pirate warnings, crew says - May 2010 Pirates target the Maersk Alabama again - March 2011 Well, they don't give up. So it is good that we have the armed guards on board and we will stop to pick them up outside Muscat tonight and we will continue towards new adventures. +++++++++++++++
Tuesday 2nd of September 2014 and I was dead tired when my alarm went off at 07:15 a hot shower and a wee bit of my vim was retrieved.  Vitamins and the lemon flavoured magnesium “FIZZ” drink and I was off to the mess room for my breakfast.
The crew continued with the painting on deck and our Pump Man got started with the purging of our cargo pumps. I started to test our loading computer. I have a few cases and I will need to fill up  all the data tank by tank, compartment by compartment. Then I need to compare it with the approved cases to see that our loading computer work as it should.
So this takes quite a while and I had done 2 cases when our 2nd Engineer reminded me about some pictures. He told me yesterday that he needed some pictures of our connection between the tank cleaning line and our “anti pirate”scan jets. Of course, there were misunderstandings when 2nd engineer looked at the pictures and I decided to have our Pump Man to set up the connections on one tank cleaning line after lunch and I got a few good pictures. 
 the bridge deck showing our ABs how to wash deck. Yes, sounds like a story I just made up. But you can't make  up stuff like this. But time turned quick and it was soon time for the coffee break and the following drill/ information with the armed guards.
They test fired their rifles and I was off for a shower and a bucket of tea in my cabin. Yet another day to put behind us and if we keep it up like this the month of September is soon behind us. And the sooner the better, I got my quotation from Siyabona Africa and I'm ready to take off to Africa. Victoria Falls and gaming drive at the Chobe National Park. So this is something I'm looking forward to now. So I will hopefully be  able to do both the Indian and African safari during my next holiday. We will see what happens and we will see when I'm coming back home, but two VISA runs means two safaris, right? But main priority is to be back home in time for the Northern adventure next summer. Thai Airways POLAR EXPRESS leaving on the 19th of June 2015
  Pictures by Roger Nilsson©
I won't bring much luggage, well, my Russian fur hat and a pullover for the cold polar nights. I might have to take the train to Nisse's Herrmode in Malmö. Depending on the success with my  diet, but Nisse's Herrmode is having the JUMBO sizes as they are aiming at the “Large & Handsome” customers.
I'm allowed to carry 50 kg of luggage and as I don't expect much luggage I can do some shopping in Skåne before going back home. So I guess that there will be some Skånsk Falukorv in my bag going back home to Bangkok. A few falukorvar in the fridge always come in handy +++++++++++++++
Wednesday 3rd of September 2014 and yet another morning when I woke up dead tired. But I managed to get out of bed and I was kind of full of vim when I went for my office and the crew.  Painting all the yellow spots on deck is top of the list.
We got red top coat in Fujairah and they started to paint yesterday. But the sea is a wee bit choppy so we have spray on the forward part of the deck. Well, if we can't continue the painting tomorrow the crew will continue the chipping on the poop deck. It was OK from the morning up until lunch when we started to roll a wee bit. Not much movement  but it was enough to be annoying during my lunch break constitutional
The afternoon was worse, gloom and grey for as long as I could see and it was almost too wet for painting. Well, we will see what it is like tomorrow. Chipping or painting? And  hopefully no one crying because they have to work in the rain. Then nothing will happen. Well, we changed almost all the deck crew in Fujairah and it  seems like we got on board a bunch of “Ass kickers” and that's what we need.
I got e-mail with a updated quotation from Siyabona Africa. And it looks like I will cancel my trip to Tanzania with Serena. I will see, but I decided to ask them for 2 more safaris in Botswana. I'm booked for a safari in Botswana, 100km from the Victoria Falls. Chobe National Park in Botswana and I will try to cover the below areas: • The Serondela area (or Chobe riverfront) • The Savuti Marsh area • The Linyanti Marsh Click HERE for information about Chobe National Park from Wikipedia. Chobe National Park, in northern Botswana, has one of the largest concentrations of game in Africa. By size, it is the third largest park of the country, after the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and the Gemsbok National Park, and is the most diverse. It is also the country's first national park. And when in Botswana I can as well take the opportunity to see the Okavango Delta (or Okavango Grassland) and Kalahari Game Reserve. According to information this should be 2 of the best gaming safaris in the world. So I sent an inquiry to Siyabona Africa to see if they can set me up with something. And 2 gaming parks in the Area around Victoria Falls: • Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia with the falls and The Wildlife Park • Victoria Falls National Park and Zambezi National Park, Zimbabwe with the The Game Park - Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Leopard and White Rhino (the Big Five)  But it was not only good news with the quotation from Siyabona Africa: As far as I am aware you are not allowed to swim in Devils Pool as there was a accident where a guide died unfortunately. He misjudged a step. +++++++++++++++
Thursday 4th of September 2014 and yet again, dead tired when my alarm went off. I'm tired in the evening but it is impossible to fall asleep. I eat my cancer preventing Aspirin in the evening instead of the morning to alleviate the “restless leg” syndrome. Hmm, maybe it is because of all the tea I'm pouring down my throat in the evening.
I had a shower and I checked my e-mail while drinking my lemon flavoured magnesium “FIZZ” drink and eating my vitamins. A new quotation and there was a glimmer of hope: Sometimes when the water is low you can swim in the devils pool but you can discuss this with your guide while going into Zambia on your trip to the falls.
Video from www.devilspool.net
Well, the weather had deteriorated during the night and we had a force 6 to 7 blowing in from starboard bow and painting was impossible. So I had a few of my top guns to start chipping on the  poop deck and our Pump Man got started with some of our monthly routines.
I was in quite a good mood after the news about the Devil's Pool. But there is also dark clouds on the light blue sky. Ebola and my Victoria Falls Adventure have grown from 2500 US Dollars + flight from Bangkok to Victoria Falls. Well, The Bangkok to Jo'burg will hopefully be cheap.
I buy a monkey class ticket and I have a free upgrade voucher for Thai Airways Safari Express. And for my safari in India, I have points to cover a two way business ticket to Bombay, so this  will be cheap. But the Victoria Falls adventure have grown from 2500 US to 12 to 13,000 US. But then we will cover some of the most beautiful places on earth. 3 huge gaming parks in Botswana, Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Kalahari, one  million square kilometres.
Okavango Delta, like the Eden, the paradise with unbelievable gaming on land and on water. And the world famous Chobe National Park. Chobe National Park is so big I will have to change the hotel to be able to cover the 4 main areas of the park: The Serondela area (or Chobe riverfront) The Savuti Marsh area The Linyanti Marsh The hinterland Between Linyanti and Savuti So this year and next year will most likely turn out with some fabulous wild life experience in Africa, India and up North. Of course, I could have bought me a new Audi or two for the same price. But who the foock wants to waste money on a car?
And of course, I have booked a private car and guide. Will cost more, but I can spend the whole days on the “fiel.”. As she wrote from Siyabona Africa: If you prefer a vehicle by yourself at all the lodges (depending on availability) you can take lunch with you if you  want and do game drives during the day.
Yes, I have seen the jeeps full of people going for gaming. Now I can go where I want and no need to waste time going back to the hotel for lunch break. And no need to sit with all the people, especially the one with 2, 8 meters between the back pockets taking up 3 seats. You really don't want to end up with a bus load of Thai people. At least not according to Coconuts Bangkok. Read an interesting article about THE FATTENING OF THAILAND here Well, this is yet another adventure I'm looking forward to. Ebola, well, we will see how this turns out. Now they say it is out of control. Have they ever had it under control? So I'm not sure I can take off for my African adventure. But I cross my fingers and hopefully!
 The wind spraying the water over deck
 The wind spraying the water over deck
The crew is chipping on the poop deck and I have one AB to do the greasing. Late afternoon and it  looked like the wind was decreasing and if we're lucky we can do some painting tomorrow.
Otherwise there is always more chipping to do. Time passed quite quick and it was almost time to go for  dinner when our 2nd Engineer saved the day.
No action pictures during the day and I caught him doing some electrical work in the kitchen. We have received a new fridge in Fujairah but we needed to change the plug to get European standard and we had our best Engineer on the job. And I could get today's “action” pictures at the same time. And the old fridge, maybe   we can get swap the fridge for a few kilos of mangos or papaya in Mombasa. No more pineapple in Mombasa as it wasn't sweet as we like our pineapples.
I got a few pictures and I was off to see Captain in his office before I went for my cabin and a shower. And I got hold up in Captain's office with some important paper work. And of course a chat.  Our Hero in action
 Our Hero in action
 Our Hero in action
10 days to go to the election in Sweden and I found the latest results on the internet.  Sverigedemokraterna 11%, can they make it to 15?
I got an e-mail from Germany the other day. A guy that understood my attitude towards immigrants. They are hard workers and just a few of them lives on welfare. Well, correct back in the 60's and 70's when there were jobs for them. Today, no jobs, unless they come to work for free lured to come here by promising millions. When here they just discover that they are fooled. There are no milk and honey for them, just hard work and no salary. So who is going to pay for all this, who pay tax? All the people and companies calling me  xenophobic and Nazi? No, the companies don't want to pay tax and they move to third world countries with cheap labour. Of course, not slave labour because they have a minimum salary. And is it like you're not a slave as soon as you get paid, no matter how little.
Of course, the minimum salary is set by the people making billions from this, corrupt officials and manning companies. 12 hours a day for 2 dollars. So yes, pretty much slave labour. And these people have to stomach to call me xenophobic and Nazi! I cringe! So who is going to pay for all this? They say we make so much money from each immigrant, right? So why do we pay tax then. Now we have so many we should be exempted from paying tax. Immigrants are Sweden's treasure chest, like Norway have their black gold, the oil. So get out of your sofa and go to vote!  +++++++++++++++
Friday 5th of September 2014 and I was tired when my alarm went off at 7 fifteen. But the older you get the easier it gets to get out of bed. A shower, a long shower and I had no time for my  lemon flavoured magnesium “FIZZ” drink. I had to dash off to the mess room for breakfast.
Still windy on deck and the guys continued with the chipping on deck. Our Pump Man did monthly routines and I did an inventory of the medicines in the MOB and life boat with our 2nd Officer. Made an requisition for medicines and it was soon time for the coffee break. Well, the coffee break was almost over when I arrived to the duty mess and I poured out more than half of my tea. What a waste, of tea. There were no time to waste and I left the duty mess for more important works. We had planned to test our portable tank cleaning machines after lunch. Our Pump Man had put a TC hose on deck and we will connect the machines one by one to test them. But as the weather  left a wee bit to wish for we decided to do it tomorrow instead.
So our Pump Man and I tried out our FRAMO manometers that we will use for the performance test. Upcoming dry dock and we will do a performance test to see if we need to do any work on the FRAMO pumps. We will see if we do this on Monday. Poop deck is chipped and I hope we get some nice weather tomorrow so we can start the painting on the poop deck. And while the painting take place I will  have the boys to chip on tank deck again. Most of the port side is ready and we got red top coat in Fujairah. Will she look like a Swedish ship?
I started to do a tank cleaning plan and I will complete the plan tomorrow when we know how many of our portable tank cleaning machines that are working. Actually, this was so fun it was past “shower” time when I discovered that it was time to go “home” for the day. Yet another day behind us. Time turns quick and arrival to Dar es Salaam on the 12th but berthing looks to be on the 16th. I don't mind waiting a few days. So back in Fujairah, earliest beginning of October.   Back in my cabin and I turned on my kettle. E-mail from Siyabona Africa and my “almost” ready quotation for the Victoria Falls and Botswana adventure. Now I will make my own final itinerary, I will add a night at every place for more gaming opportunities. +++++++++++++++
Saturday 6th of September 2014 and I was almost dead when my alarm went off at 07:15. 30 minutes in a very hot shower helped a wee bit. A quick lemon flavoured magnesium “FIZZ”  drink and vitamins before I went to the mess room for our Cook's excellent homemade black bread.
Well, the bread is very small so I have to eat 4 slices risking having to pay 1000 US as my allowance is only 2 slices, no matter the size. I was off to see the crew in my office at 8, nice  weather so we can paint on deck.
Our Pump Man and I will try our portable washing machines today so I can complete the tank cleaning plan. And we got started right away, 5 machines tested before the coffee break and 5 out of 5 machines were working. Good, I need 4 working machines for the tank cleaning. But these old portable machines always run in to trouble so if we have a few “spares” it will make me more at ease and comfortable. I had expected there to be problems with the tank cleaning machines, they have not been used for many years and I know from back in the days that these Toftejorg could be hard to get running, But this went very good and I was in a pretty good mood. We completed the test after the coffee break, 6 out of 7 portable machines are working so I'm happy. I finished the tank cleaning plan (draft) just in time for lunch, or well, 10 minutes past lunch time. Cauliflower and some meat, and I start to feel the difference wearing my clothes by now. About foocking time I start to lose weight!  We see that the washing machine is working
 We see that the washing machine is working
 We see that the washing machine is working
 We see that the washing machine is working
 We see that the washing machine is working
One machine not working and our Pump Man started to dismantle the machine after lunch. A plastic worm wheel was destroyed and we had no hopes of finding a new one on board. I don't know if  these tank cleaning machines have ever been used. And if they have been used it is a long time ago.
We made a requisition for the Worm wheels and 2 minutes' later I was in for my second pleasant surprise for the day. Pump Man found 2 spare Worm wheels and we could cancel the requisition. We had also tested our manometer set from FRAMO. We will do a performance test on Monday, weather permitted. And we need to connect a manometer to our pump to see the hydraulic pressure. And this worked out just fine and we are prepared and we know how to do so it should hopefully be  like a walk in the park on Monday.
Everything was set up, and we had our FRAMO case with the manometers. We had been looking for the manometers when the FRAMO guy was on board in Fujairah. We didn't found the case, neither on deck nor in the engine room. Not strange, I don't think they have ever been used. 
I found our set a few days ago and today our 2nd Engineer called me. - Do you have your FRAMO set? - Yes - I found one case in the engine as well I told him to bring it to the CCR so we could see if it was the same set. They were identical, even the cases and we took the opportunity to have a picture in my office. We had a drill after the coffee break in the afternoon and I was of for a bucket of tea and a shower when we were ready. Looking forward to yet another evening to kill in my cabin. +++++++++++++++
Sunday 7th of September 2014 and the weather was better today and I hope we can have nice weather from now on so we can complete the painting on deck.
I started to feel bad during the afternoon, but this will hopefully be better tomorrow.
+++++++++++++++
Monday 8th of September 2014 and I was tired when my alarm went off. I was tired when I went to bed yesterday but it was very hard to fall asleep. I had the crew to continue with the painting  and our Pump Man and I will do the cargo pump performance test.
We did 11 pumps during the day, 4 pumps remaining that we have to take tomorrow. We had a management meeting after the coffee break in the afternoon, otherwise it would have been ready today. Well, we need to have something to do tomorrow as well. I have 90 cans of snus remaining, a wee bit more than expected and I'm slowing down. To help me keep track I started to mark my cans yesterday. Time when I start the can and I will see how many cans I use per day. I booked all my trips and as my safaris and Northern Adventure has come to a grand total of  60,000 ++ I need to give up my snus in order to stay within  budget. To cancel is no  option and it would be a failure to go still using snus. Of course, I can go still using snus. But that means that I will have to carry all the snus around and I will have to live on the streets or under a bridge after having foocked up my budget.
Well, and yet another evening to kill in my cabin awaiting a new exciting day to kick off tomorrow morning. I took the time to read the Danish news. And they are worried in Denmark, with all  right. When Sweden had bleed out it is just to cross the bridge to Copenhagen, Denmark. Now it is their turn to pay for driving licenses for all people coming over the border
And when 5 million Danish tax payers  have paid through their nose and Denmark is brought back to the stone ages it is time to move on, of  course, as a Swedish citizen you will be welcomed everywhere. But for how long? For sure, no time to lose so get out of the sofas and go vote now!
In Sweden we call it an asset that will provide gold, milk and honey for the country. In Denmark they see it as a cost and now they are worried about all these people coming to Sweden. They get citizen ship in a jiff and they are free to move on to Denmark where they can be on welfare from day 1. So of course they are worried.  +++++++++++++++
Tuesday 9th of September 2014 and I woke up quarter past 7. After 10 hours of non-stop sleep! Well, I woke up 2 times, I was worried for a minute if I could fall asleep again before falling  asleep again. So I was quite happy to get out of bed. Shower and my vitamin fizz surprise and I was earlier than usual in the mess room.
I wasn't feeling all that good and I had to throw away one of my cheese and black bread sandwiches. In my office and we had the crew to start the painting and as soon as we were ready on the poop deck they were going to start greasing our winches. Our Pump Man and I were going to get busy continuing the performance test of the cargo pumps and we kept ourselves busy until lunch break. The pump results looked quite OK and our Pump Man purged the pumps after lunch and I sent everything to FRAMO. I was on the fo'c's'le checking our guys when they did the greasing and I could hear a bird. I expected to see a bird on deck but it was some blue beaked seagulls flying around us. And thinking  of it, I had not seen any birds since our other passenger, the big bird left us before Fujairah.
I finished the discharge plan for Dar es Salaam in the afternoon and now I only wait for information from Mombasa so I can finish that discharge plan. But I know that we won't get the discharge plane before we're alongside. And that means that we will have to wait with the discharging until I'm ready with the plan. Well, last time, if I remember it right, we had to wait for several hours before we started the discharge last time. All fast at 14:00 (about) and start discharging 12 hours later, all rest hour regulations out the window. But I'm looking forward to get back to Mombasa, excellent mango and papaya. Will there  be time to go ashore for a nice dinner?
Maybe go to White Sands this time instead of Serena? Or stay on board continue my by now successful diet? We will retard ship's time by one hour tonight. That means that I have an extra hour to kill tonight. Doing what? Internet is down and most of my upcoming holiday plans are ready.  Updated itinerary including Alang and Agra with Taj Mahal. Just the dates to be finalized when I know when I’m back home
And of course, updated with Thai Airways as I don't want to fly with Jet Airways. I have miles to pay for a business class with Thai Airways so this will be a cheap trip +++++++++++++++
Wednesday 10th of September 2014 and I was not jumping out of bed at 7 fifteen when my alarm went off. I use my phone as alarm clock and I thought it was someone calling. I stayed in bed waiting for them to give up calling. I was soon realizing that it was my alarm clock.
Well, anyway, we had retarded ship's time by an hour during the night so it was like sleeping until 08:15 and I turned cartwheels down to the mess room after my shower and my vitamins with the lemon  flavoured magnesium “FIZZ” drink
I was off to my office and the crew, the ABs and our OS continued to brush and paint the poop deck. We have chipped for 3 or 4 days in the rain and now we have sunshine so we can finish the job. There  was a lot of rust so it is almost 50 % of poop deck that is chipped. So we can imagine how much time we have saved by doing the chipping in the rain instead of spending the time staring out in the blue.
Our Pump Man started to remove pipes to our anchor winch forward as we have to repair a pipe. The pipe have been there for 10 years so it was impossible to remove without destroying the bolts. So we went to the ECR to have a conference with the Fitter and 2nd Engineer.  Our hero explains important things on the white board in the ECR
 Team “Hydraulic pipe” is ready to kick ass
 But first, it was the 2nd Engineers turn to play Teacher at the white board
We decided to make a cover for the pipe and this was soon turning out to be impossible and we got started to remove the pipes again. This time we decided that it was never mind if the bolts were  destroyed and the Fitters had soon removed the first 4 bolts.
Then we ran in to trouble and we tried with 2 flanges, the bolts didn't move a single mm and that's even though we had 82 kg Chief Officer hanging from the wrench (with extension) So we had to move our efforts to the third flange and luckily enough there was galvanized bolts and we could remove the pipe. Well, almost, the pipe was lose but by now the pipe, 2 pieces together was too long and we will have to remove a pressure pipe tomorrow. But this is a stainless steel pipe so this will be quick. By now it was almost dinner and I just had time for a very quick shower and I was in the mess room at 17:45 for my dinner.  By now we had all of our TOP GUNS on the fo'c's'le
 By now we had all of our TOP GUNS on the fo'c's'le
Well, I'm looking forward to kill another evening in my cabin. Not much to do, maybe time to open my Thai boos and to have a look at the Learn Thai with Mod and the Alif Silpachai videos. I have not spend any times learning any Thai so it is about time.  +++++++++++++++
Thursday 11th of September 2014 and yet another morning when I did NOT swung myself out of bed. The crew got started with the painting and cup brushing on the poop deck. Looks like there  might be rain, but they got started and we were lucky.
Our Pump Man and I was on deck most of the day checking for stuff to put on the dry dock list. It was almost time for the afternoon coffee when we were back in from deck. I spent the rest of the afternoon with our dry dock list and the pictures we had been taken. A quick shower and a change of clothes and I was off to the mess room for dinner and tea. We had been very lucky with our oranges in Fujairah, they are like eating orange juice. I never buy oranges as you  should be very lucky to get good ones. Most oranges are full of pips and it is like chewing on paper that grows in your mouth. But these are OK and I had 5 for dinner.
+++++++++++++++
Friday 12th of September 2014 and the only perks with getting old is that it is easier to get out of bed in the morning. My alarm went of as usual and I was tired. But it was not that bad and I was a wee bit earlier in the mess room than usual.
They continued with the cup brushing and painting off the pre-chipped spots on the poop deck. This will soon be ready and I can move the guys back to the tank deck. Port side almost ready, it takes a long time with all the pipes under the cat walk so it won't be ready next week.  Our OS is painting on the poop deck
Our Pump Man and I pressure tested the new manifold valve on 3 port. We tested the new pipes to the anchor winch forward. I checked our oxygen bottles in the hospital. It is strange how I forget  what we have done during the day when I'm back in my cabin with a bucket of tea in front of me.
I got busy with an e-mail from our new provider of gas detection equipment. The bill was on 10500 US Dollars and I sent them an e-mail. A wee bit hefty and I asked if they had made a mistake with our Gastec tubes. The bill was soon 4700 US and we had saved almost 6000 US dollars for the company. I'm pretty sure they had sent the 10500 dollar bill  to the company and as they get plenty bills they would just have paid.
Now imagine if it would have been the same for all 100 vessels, well, I think I will have an extra orange tonight. Or why not two? Our 2nd Engineer came to my office and he was going to measure our hydraulic pipes, the one we will change. He asked if I wanted to join him. I told him that I would join him as soon as I had instructed the ABs on the painting. Now it is important that we get this right and we might be able to completed most of the poop deck tomorrow. We leave some spots and we will have to paint them tomorrow and we lose a day waiting for the paint  to dry before we can paint next layer.
Don't use your finger to check if the paint is dry! I asked on AB why he was painting the grey spots. - The paint is dry - What will happen if you take a rag with thinner and rub the paint? - The paint will come off! - Yes, so the paint is not dry - But that is with thinner not paint! - What is paint? This paint we need 4 hours between the layers and the old paint 8 hours. I usually take 8 hours, but now we do it in 4, at least. Or the thinner in the paint will solve the first layer and it will be  the same as painting one layer ONLY.
Our 2nd Engineer was soon on the poop deck measuring hydraulic pipes. I went in to my office to make a “GOOD MORNING” list of jobs for the crew for tomorrow. Then I went to my cabin for a bucket of tea before the dinner. Strange how (maybe) the best oranges in the world have turned funky over night. Full of pips and it was like chewing paper. Never mind, I had an extra bowl of salad. Then off to my cabin trying to kill yet another evening. Delays, we will arrive tomorrow, but estimated berthing time, now on the 18th. Changed from the 16th so we will have to see when we come along side.  +++++++++++++++
Saturday 13th of September 2014 and it came as no surprise that I was tired when my alarm went off at 7 fifteen. We were approaching Dar es Salaam anchorage when I came down in the mess  room for my breakfast.
Our ABs started to paint the poop deck and they will make 2 anti-piracy dummies when they are ready. Our Pump Man was on the fo'c's'le painting the new hydraulic pipe to the anchor winch when we dropped our anchor at Dar es Salaam just after 10 o'clock. And we were surrounded by small boats with people trying to sell stuff not long after we had dropped the anchor. Fish, crabs, pineapple and all kind of things were on offer. The boats were full of big empty drums and they wanted to swap things for gasoline and diesel. Well, that is the same as stealing form the cargo and that can mean very big problems. This is nothing you want to get involved with.  Dar es Salaam
 Anchored outside Dar es Salaam and it didn't take long b4 we were surrounded by business men
 Anchored outside Dar es Salaam and it didn't take long b4 we were surrounded by business men
 Anchored outside Dar es Salaam and it didn't take long b4 we were surrounded by business men
 Anchored outside Dar es Salaam and it didn't take long b4 we were surrounded by business men
 Anchored outside Dar es Salaam and it didn't take long b4 we were surrounded by business men
 Anchored outside Dar es Salaam and it didn't take long b4 we were surrounded by business men
 Anchored outside Dar es Salaam and it didn't take long b4 we were surrounded by business men
 Fishing boat
 Fishing boat
 Fishing boat
I got an e-mail and we will have 4 Surveyors coming on board around 12 o'clock for sampling. Good, then we won’t have to waste time on this when we're finally coming alongside. Now it is  changed from 17th to 18th. And Mombasa is also changed to the 28th of september. So we might ending up spending a lot of time here in Africa.
Our Surveyors arrived in a boat just after 12 thirty and there were 4 of them. When they were on deck the girl pointed aft and I could hear them speaking about sharks. I looked aft to see if I could see any sharks. No sharks but two big whales. I tried to get some pictures, but I only managed to get one when they had dived. I got the fin just before they disappeared under the water never to be seen again. DARN! I should have had my safari camera around my neck!  Whale on the anchorage
The Surveyors started with some paper work in my office and then they left to take samples on deck, 11 litres from each tank! We were lucky there is only two tanks to be discharged  here in Dar es Salaam or we would have been busy taking samples for days.
2 tanks and I had time to go check out the progress with the dummies. We make two dummies and we place them on the bridge deck. Approaching  pirates will think it is the crew or armed guards detecting them. The pirates will turn around and foock off out of here. Our OS had almost finished one dummy when one of the ABs came to help him.
When I was down to check out the progress with the dummies they were ready and it was time to bring them to the bridge. Of course, I was there to take pictures. My best guys brought the dummies to the bridge, and they are not easy to carry around. We placed them on the bridge deck and I sent the guys to take a shower and to relax for the rest of the day.  Putting the last hand on the dummy
 Putting the last hand on the dummy
 Our OS with one of the dummies
 Bringing the first dummy to the bridge
 Bringing the first dummy to the bridge
 Bringing the first dummy to the bridge
The Surveyors left us just after 5 o'clock and I went for a shower before the dinner. Saturday and yet another week has come to an end. Sunday tomorrow and general election in Sweden, don't forget to vote. Will be interesting to see, but as long as SD get more votes than MP I'm happy.  +++++++++++++++
Sunday 14th of September 2014 and we had a pretty eventless Sunday at Dar es Salaam anchorage. Not even a whale was to be seen. Well, will be nice to start a new week tomorrow with some kick ass action. Trying to see how the Swedish Nazis did at today's election. Maybe later tonight or tomorrow, so far no information on the internet.
 Preliminary result when polling stations closed
 Preliminary result when polling stations closed
The Swedish Nazis the third biggest party!  Yes, we get more and more stupid is Sweden by the years. First time I voted for the Swedish Nazis they got about 5%. Last election and now they have double their votes, kicking Miljöpartiet's arse. They say that it is only stupid, uneducated, unemployed young males voting for the Swedish Nazis. I'm not unemployed or young and I vote for them. And what I learned from my last visit to Sweden is that they get more and more stupid. Hell, they don't even know how to tell the time and how many mm there is on a decimeter! And that's when they are 17 years old, next education level is the university. So for sure, they get more stupid! And Sverigedemokraterna has grown with more than 100% according to preliminary results. Or can it be that they only talk about the problems with the immigration but nothing is done, if you try to solve the problem you're a Nazi, racist and xenophobic. So the problems grow out of hand and now we cannot afford it any more. So people are voting for the Nazis as they are the only ones wanting to do anything about the growing problem. One wise man once told me that we should not accept more immigrants than we could take care of. Job and education giving them a chance to assimilate to the Swedish society. Work with Swedish people and get Swedish friends like the people that came here in the 60's and 70's  Preliminary result - 4731 out of 5837 electoral areas are counted
  Preliminary result in Skåne - 720 out of 757 electoral areas are countedFinal results tomorrow and I'm delirious with anticipations. So hang on! Click HERE for the results of the general election in Sweden 2014 And as it looks the Swedish Nazis got almost the double of votes than Mijöpartiet. This was the best ever. And FI never reached 4%, the limit to come in to the parliament. So I'm pretty pleased with the preliminary result.
    
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E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.
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