Feb.15, Sat: Got up early and went to the office to do some drawings. Also went shopping for a raincoat and an extension cord, and was unpleasantly surprised not to be able to buy "TIME' because this issue had been banned for political reasons. Talked with Dave from 13:00 to15:00, mainly about beaches, surveys and Erik's good idea to use air to lubricate the caisson. Stocken is
responsible for probing several hundred lines. Dr. Waters is under the influence of Dr. Murray.
Dave loaned me his copy of Bascom's "Waves and Beaches", which I read enthousiastically later that evening after a late afternoon siesta, bath, and Italian dinner and before doing my IRS taxes. I cancelled our planned dive and agreed to be picked up to-morrow by Captain Cook.
Feb.16: Got up late, wrote and read and was annoyed by domestic noises. The weather was muggy. Captain Cook picked me up at 11:15 and we drove around a while searching for a chicken, fruit, and Pete in the harbor. He then took me to his home and introduced me to his charming wife and lovely daughter Brigida. We had a fine lunch, then copied some of his classical tapes. Later that afternoon we drove to False Bay where Brigida took a swim - it was too cold for
us "elderlies". We went back home for drinks, music and a brief dinner. They then took me home, where I gave mother Cook a Dutch beaker and Brigida a pair of wooden shoes. All in all a splendid day!
Feb.17, Mon through Feb.20, Thur: Started the week writing draft report for ADK and replotting water depth data.
Interview for secretary and arrangements to evacuate our "office" to serve its original function: Boardroom for Anglo meetings on Tue and Wed, so we put a drafting table in the luxurious bathroom. On Tue, Dave returned to Oranjemund and I met with recently arrived and now bearded Dick Ladd and his new family in the Mount Nelsen Hotel. Although we had arranged dinner with the "gang from Long Beach, the other three failed to show up, so Dick and I went to a steakhouse where he regaled me on stories about the many contacts - with both genders - he had already made. Also heard that I was to go to sea again next week, and so would Prof. Simpson. On Wed, I called UCT and found out we could keep using their Ekman current meter; tel. to Norway to order rather expensive balls for the UCT meter and to Japan to order two meters for our own account. Also meeting with Dr. Fuller re sediment parameters, statistics and evaluation. On Thur, I started working on the N.Concession report. Put Rolly Thompson to work and discussed in detail geologic requirements aboard the "Rockeater". Came up with the idea to put a portable geo lab on board. OSESA might buy the "Norseman" from Derman; I proposed also looking into the 42 ft type Trimaran which Brock and his group are having built for some R13 thousand. Dinner and drinks with Tatum, followed by Diving Club meeting where I met the rugged and reputed female diver Val Harting - now with an American boyfriend. Instructor Johnny offered me a regulator and several members enquired about job-opportunities.