June and July Posts

The times they are a changing - The Noughties working man

This is offshore, advertised as the most hostile toughest working environment in the world. The roughtiest toughtiest bunch of glass-eating hardheads in the world. There is macho and then there is offshore! This is surely the best melting pot in the world in which to gauge how culture changes. Listening in on coversations at the dinner table and in the tea shack you can get an amazing picture of what you can and can't talk about if you are a bloke. This week the Roughnecks(the roughest toughtiest bunch out here) are talking about the nutritional value of penut butter. The conversation usually starts with, "I can't believe your eating that shite!" "How(pause), I'ts full of protein." "There's more fat than protien in that, whats the fat content?" "Aye your right, but there is 25 grams of protein in it." "Is that per 100 grams?" "No(pause as the label is read), it says per serving." "Its still shite!" Food nutrition is something that we all took for granted until the food standards agency decided that we could all be better educated about what we eat. But what is recommended is always an average. Everyone is different and everyone requires a different amount of nutrition daily. The information helps and it is remarkable that we all take an active interest in how much of everything we eat a day. I think the roughnecks need a better idea of the nutritional value of Jock Pie, beans and chips. And the catering crews need alot more training in nutrition and eating healthily on a budget.

Downtime and WOW (waiting on weather)

The Fog......... The peep peep peeeeeeeeep, of the fog horn every 4 seconds is heard everywhere on the rig from the Galley to the Helideck, from the rig floor to the warm cosy place that you are curled up in thinking "I'm going off today?" The helicopter flights start to slip every where and instantly all turn to the internet to surf to the scotia or bristows website. "Has there been any flights lifted from town yet?" "Nah, there's no vis in Aberdeen." "are you on the first or the second flight?" "The second, why do you think it will get bumped?" "No chance! Thats the crew change flight and the OIM's going on holiday tomorrow. I think you'll be safe the first flight will get cancelled first!" "peep, peep, peeeeeeep. peep, peep, peeeeep. peep, peep, peeeeep." And as always we will just have to wait on weather.

The Offshore Medic Your own personal doctor....offshore. The perfect partner for any hypochondriac. These guys and gals are fantastic. Nothing surprises them they are always there to help from a sniffle to a fatality. They don't really get enough praise because they are only every needed when it all goes wrong. I have been medicated and stuck back together by these people and they are they best. Offshore workers are the healthiest workers in industry and this along with the medical very 2 years keeps us that way. If you are feeling at all unwell get to the doctor.