Staff onboard Irish Ferries were brilliant and gave us a 3 berth cabin free of charge for the three hours so we managed to crash out. Hot shower in there was amazing. We arrived in about 6 then an hour and a half later were in the port of Dundalk. It was a lovely sunny morning and very quiet around town. It was easy to find the port which is small and there were two cargo ships there one of which was MV Racel Corrie. Around 8am Jenny emerged one of Free Gaza members and we asked all about the plans. The ship was to be inspected in a few days in order for it to be able to set sail to the Med. Free Gaza had the use of a warehouse near the ship so donations could be unloaded. We went to town to grab some breakfast then to start work to unload. When we got back a large lorry had arrived and various large hospital hardware was being unloaded. This was Dr Hassan who had come from Scotland with his son Adam. Another vehicle also arrived from Dublin and a little later from Cork. Additionally Niamh also Free Gaza in another van.
We spent the rest of the day putting the items onto pallets and wrapping them tightly in large cling film to secure and proteect them. We also labelled the goods to decribe what was in the consignment and record destinations when they had been donated particularly for a certain project. For example a woman Yael had come to my flat the day before with a box of artists materials destined for a particular project in Rafah, I had several boxes of new trainers donated by Tufty of Public Nuisance fame and these are going to the Camps Breakerz. Dr Hassan's medical equipment is going to Al-Haifa Hospital. We had some office equipment destined for the Local Initiative in Beit Hanoun. Much of the other items were generally donated medical items such as tubing, syringes, swabs etc. All the items Abid had driven to Cork the previous weekend from Gloucester were also brought from there including wheelchairs and frames for walking.
It was a really good day. We met local sub-aqua rescue men who are also firemen and report for the local radio station - I was briefly interviewed for Dundalk local radio on behalf of Slough / London team. There was a Norwegian documentary maker present who had been with Free Gaza for several days - he filmed us packing.
The trip was rapid turnaround - at 7pm we headed back to Dublin port to catch the ferry back to Holyhead. Departed at 20.55 and again the crew gave us a berth - angels. The van was low on diesel and we headed off the ferry at midnight with the intention of stopping at the first service station. Unfortunately this was not soon enough.. so we ran out of gas around 20 minutes out of Holyhead. Oh dear, in the dark in North Wales at 1am. A car passing by stopped for us and I went with them to the nearest petrol station. At the garage there was a police car dealing with a minor incident so the driver of the car asked the officers to take me back to the vehicle with the can of diesel. I was duly returned to Tox and Hasna and we waved the officers good bye... somewhat prematurely. We couldn't start the van as there was air in the system now. Had to resort to calling out the AA.... Anyway they eventually got us going and we were on the road again - even if two hours delayed. Tox was a trooper and drove us all safely home to London. We talked and talked! We covered most topics you can think of from art to afterlife. Hasna must have wondered if we were mad. However she herself is mad as today she is jumping out of an aeroplane for sponsorship money for Gaza. So fair's fair.
On Wednesday 12th May I got a call from Babu in Bolton who was on the convoy. Unfortunately they had not been able to get their vehicle full of donations (dental units, baby incubator, dialysis machines) to Dundalk to load onto the MV Rachel Corrie. Therefore the items need to be taken to Istanbul if possible. Can I do it? Well this is my last week at work so I will be available very shortly. Babu reckons we need to leave on Friday. I need a co-driver. Weds is our Hackney Palestine Solidarity Campaign meeting. I make it to that and hope that Joti who was on the convoy may be able to step up. She's at home tonight not far from the meeting so I go and see her afterwards and we look at the options. Joti is now back at work part-time therefore she needs to be back by Tuesday morning. Online it looks just about do-able, Googlemaps says its a 34 hour drive....
On Thursday afternoon Babu calls again - not quite sure if it will be ok for me to go with the items. There is concern over trying to get there too quickly, for us as lone females being safe etc.
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