Sweetness

I have fallen head over heels in love with this sweet 6-year-old boy, Garpueh. When he first came to the ship he barely said a word. I was his nurse for 4 shifts and spent as much time as I could with him. We colored while he was still on bed rest then progressed to playing on the floor with blocks. From the first day, I met Garpueh I felt like he needed a little extra love. It is so fun to see him get more talkative and playful as he recovers from his surgery.

He is on B ward where is Auntie who heard about Mercy Ships, has brought him through the whole process from screening to surgery. She faithfully sleeps under his bed on a mattress and even helps feed one of the patients who could not feed herself.

Both of Garpueh's feet were burnt in a fire when he was a baby. He had a contracture release with a skin graft done. Now Garpueh is scooting around the wards on his pint-size little crutches.

Today I was working on A-Ward and the door opened and little Garpueh came crutching in and he said: " I miss you so I come and sit with you." So Garpueh sat on one of the beds near the nursing station and he colored and I charted. He is just so darn cute I have to give him a ton of kisses.

Some Assembly Required...(hint, hint, Katy)

This Sunday we will have another go at Semi-Vegetarian Night.

What's a semi?  It's when you can eat the whole meal without actually choosing meat because it's an option to go with the rest of the meal. So you can still have a wonderful dinner without relenting to your carnivorous side. (but still, have that option).

Last Semi-Vegetarian Night we had a little confusion. Yes, the potatoes were baked in the oven, but no, I did not mean for them to be peeled. But sometimes it's too late when a mistake is realized, and apparently, I didn't use the English term 'jacket potatoes' otherwise they may have understood me quicker. But no worries...

The real confusion came at assembly.

Apparently, some people came thru the line oblivious to the fact that you should ASSEMBLE, that's right 'build' your potato up with toppings making a wonderful mountain of a meal, loaded baked potato style!!! And after seeing several other people's plates resembling a loaded baked potato realized what they were missing. But it was too late.

So this Sunday we will be having the Mashed Potato Bar with toppings (sorry no martini glass supplied), and side dishes of mixed vegetables and lentils cooked by our very own on-site vegetarian Michal. So just remember...

Some Assembly Required.

Sprinklers work in galley coolers...

Guilty.

** A crew member that allegedly hit the alarm with the corner of a schafing dish/hotel pan while entering the walk-in cooler is currently in custody being charged with 'creating more work that necessary' in the galley **

...accidents happen. Here's the story:

Bread

Yes, it's here...soft, fluffy, delicious bread!

Please give Eddie (our newest baker) your appreciation and compliments on the bread. I have heard many great compliments and comments on the bread already, and so has Peter.

So please remember to encourage your food service staff directly and remember to really appreciate them during their time here.

Response #8 / Signs

SIGN SAYS: When the doors are closed please do not enter. The floors are being cleaned. Thank you!!!

Comment: It would be usefull if the staff opened them after they have finished cleaning the floors.

Fair enough, so lets say that dining room doors are closed until 8:30pm after supper/dinner and you are expected not to enter or open the doors during this time UNLESS the dining room staff leaves the doors open?

A lot of our frustration comes not from what the circumstances are, but If we change the rule, will people actually feel inclined to follow it when they don't follow it now?

Please take into consideration that it takes awhile for the floors to actually dry after being cleaned, and it is a LOT of floor. In addition to that they have a real hard time actually keeping people out so that prolongs the cleaning period, which effects the drying time...

Patience (as in many other departments) is the key/virtue to waiting for the work to be done, and then you have to ask yourself...why do I really need in the dining room? ~ filtered water is available behind the cafe ~

JUST for fun, here are some of the top excuses for not following that particular sign/rule (which are unacceptable by the way):

1. I don't like the way the water tastes from the other filtered source
2. I'm on night shift/or shift worker
3. I'll only be a minute
4. I have a family
5. I am medical/nurse/doctor
6. I have a table tennis/ping pong match
7. I just want to watch the TV
8. I don't have a kettle for hot water to make my tea

*Unless it is a life or death emergency ALL of these excuses have no reasonable bearing for not waiting the 2 hours from 6:30pm to 8:30pm before entering the dining room.

And as always if you have approval by Peter or Ken ahead of time, then yes, it will not apply to you for that period of time. HR, for example has approved time in the dining room (either by Ken or Peter or both) for the new crew on Monday nights after their arrival.