Wednesday October 8th

Another busy day today. 13 eye cases to scrub for - just in my OR and with me the only one scrubbing. The connecting eye OR completed 17 cases with 2 scrub nurses and included patients having procedures completed under general anaesthetic.

Another 24 patients can see because of the surgery they have had today and an adult with double vision because of a squint will see straight tomorrow (when her eye patch comes off). Here in Liberia an operation like that can completely change a persons life as they can again look for work or simply be able to fulfill tasks that others have had to do for them because they couldn't see.

The other 3 operating rooms have been just as busy with plastic surgery and head and neck surgery. Huge goitres have been removed and large parotid tumours (one on an 8 year old girl).

I have again met some really good people here and am making more new friends fast including a couple from Nowra in Australia - a stone's throw away from some of my relatives. Mealtimes are never lonely. It's quite expected custom and practice to join a table if there's a spare seat. Thankfully English is the official language onboard but just how many versions are there - probably about 30 at present as that is how many nationalities there are onboard at present.

I missed out on the french lessons tonight. As the ship will be in Benin next year the crew are being offered the chance to learn french (no cost apart from time to attend the class). The walking to Benin project seems to have inspired some keen walkers of all shapes and sizes. I managed about 2 and a half miles tonight. It's more fun with a friend as the dock can be pretty boring especially in the dark. There is some street lighting which comes on when it is completely inky black dark. I'm sure the crickets have something to do with this as the cacophony of sound starts so suddenly Literally it's reasonably quiet then suddenly they all start and boy, are they noisy!!

I've arranged an afternoon out on Saturday so will buying supplies for cake baking - I have a reputation to maintain in taking cake to work each week. The onboard shop is just a little limited and being american has mainly cake mixes. It's more fun to try and buy the ingredients or think of substitutes. Golden syrup is not available but Hershey's chocolate syrup and maple syrup can both be bought. So it adds a different flavour to my usual fodder.

Tomorrow brings more eyes........