Saturday June 21

Longest day today/tomorrow and I won't even notice as we're too close to the equator for it to make any difference. In Liberia it's always dark by 7.15pm. Not sure what time it gets light but it's always light by the time I see daylight in the dining room at 6.30am. With a cabin on the second deck I'm just above the engine room on the 1st deck and so there are no portholes. At least I can't make a mistake and open it and let in sea water!

The craft market and Water St market were the focus of my attention this morning. I'm hoping to get another scrub top made before I return. There is a local tailor who turns things round quickly and doesn't charge much. He has a good reputation for producing accurate work and doesn't need much in the way of measurements. I might even get him to make some theatre caps - alternatively those of you who know me and sew - watch out when I return. I even managed to find somewhere for coffee, but not Starbucks - the only one in Africa aprt from Africa mercy is in somewhere like Cairo - just a bit too far for this mornings coffee!!

We called into a supermarket on the way back so I'm hoping to bake cakes tomorrow. Lemon drizzle and a form of chocolate fudge cake. Thinking quickly in the supermarket as to what I could use as alternative ingredients was a slight challenge. But someone bought ice creams which were just perfect as the vehicle was very warm.

Having been to the markets and seen the buildings it's easy to see why Liberians could be forgiven living with out hope and yet in the midst of the obvious lack of care the new government is trying hard. Apparently fewer potholes wreck the cars and more people are seeking and finding employment. It did remind me of Kampala in Uganda with the street vendors sat by their stalls, vendors coming up to the vehicle when it was stopped. No-one has come up with food though as they do in Uganda.

After lunch on the ship I went off to the beach for a couple of hours with a girl who had taken photos of fishermen 3 weeks before at the same beach and as she is leaving tomorrow she had printed them and gave the copies to the fishermen at the beach today. While at the beach I dained to get my feet wet and the rest of me as I had fun with the waves again. Didn't go out quite so far as I was on my own at that particular depth but was still very visible from the beach.

The football game was held with camaraderie as we have both nations represented on the ship. Just a shame that Holland lost. The ship has been very quiet today as a large crowd went off to the Bong mines. Having missed out on today's trip, I've had help to organise another for next weekend. It's on my last full day so I'm hoping it's fun. So all in all a fun day.