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MAY 1936

28 THURSDAY

We are still sailing up and down waiting on a favour
able wind and getting no closer to our destination. The second
mate and "Alf" had a few words today when "Alf" was sent to
the uppermost point on the mast for no apparent reason at
all. The outcome of the argument was that "Nagel" threatened
to give the mate a hiding when we arrive on neutral ground.
The food is now getting very poor and the potatoes are full
of worms and one has to be very careful or a mouthful of
worms is the result.

29 FRIDAY

We have all been forced to shift all our belongings out of the
foc-stle today as it is to be chipped and painted so we are
now all sleeping under the poop on the after end of the ship.
The wind has not yet changed and it looks as though we
will soon be becalmed as the wind is dropping rapidly.
A steamer named the "Granville" passed astern of us early
this afternoon and was only about 200 yds from us and we
would have all liked to have been on board of her as we
are rather fed up of staying in the one place all the time.

30 SATURDAY

The chipping and painting was completed today after about
14 hours continuous work, and the foc-stle now looks much
better than before. The wind has now dropped entirely and
the sea is as smooth as glass. This is rather exasperating
when 5 days of good winds would be sufficient to take
us ashore. There has been a great many porpoises and black
fish about all day but we have not yet been able to
spear any of them.

31 SUNDAY

There has been an occasional puff of wind today and
we have had to brace the ship many times in endeav
ouring to get the full benefit of them.