it's time
Okay, I think I'm now at a point where I'm willing and able to tell people about this.
I've had a bit of a rough few days, but maybe I should start from the beginning.
Flew up to Brisbane on Easter Monday, and got picked up from the airport by one of my bosses. They've just implemented a new 'progress report' thing and I was overdue for my 6-month one anyways. Hard to believe I've been working here almost 8 months now.
The outcome of it was that everyone's extremely happy with my work and I've exceeded expectations. I not only got a raise, but as an additional incentive they're now going to cover my flights to/from Brisbane. Was much rejoicing in my head. We also discussed where I was going to go within the company from here and some diversifying of my roles. This would include being a trainer and working on other sorts of wells.
Jen had recently gotten some rather bad news, so the planned picnic had been cancelled. So I called Nathan and Sean to organise a carpet picnic at home for Jen. I grabbed some Kentucky Fried Chicken and headed over. It was great to catch up with Jen, Nathan, Nate, Sean, and Janessa. And I think the afternoon did much to aleviate some of Jen and Nathan's stress. I then left and drove to my parents house.
Caught up with my brother and his fiancee and saw their new house plans, and saw my younger sister and her son (they grow so fast). Was quite nice. Called Mum and Dad from there to pass on the news. They were up with Grandma Ashmore (mum's mum) who's now in high-care at what's basically a nursing home. She hasn't done well in the last year. They put her on the phone though and she was quite lucid that day and we had a short chat. Her hearings not good either. Her condition makes me feel unhappy and nervous and I haven't visited her in a while. I don't want to see her as she is now, I want to remember the vibrant woman who made the best beef stew with dumplings and chased us and the dog around the yard.
I eventually left and came up to Dalby and checked in etc. Started work on Tuesday. Of course, all the other rigs and the site supervisor etc. started Wednesday so it was a bit of a scrabble to get some things organised.
I was later advised that I'd be getting a trainee on Thursday. Graham's 59 and had previously worked with oil rigs but has been out of the business for almost 20 years. He has a reasonably idea of what's going on and has picked most things up quickly. He's not so crash hot on the computer/spreadsheets yet though.
All went well until Saturday. I think it was Saturday, my head hasn't been right since. My Great Uncle, which happens to be my afore-mentioned Grandmother's elder brother, died that afternoon. I'm not intensely close to him, but have always had a particular affinity for that side of the family. His name was Clive Richard Drew, known as Uncle Dick. Some may kind of recognise the name. I based much of the original backstory/history on him and his father, Richard Charles.
It really threw me at the time, and afterwards went to dinner and drank 3/4 of a bottle of an '03 Taylor's Shiraz. I've been told that work will give me time to go to the funeral on Friday, that someone will cover the rig. But atm it looks like that will be a drilling day, so I'm going to be needed for chip-logging. We'll see.
I started feeling a little more chipper this afternoon, and back to a reasonable semblance of normality. My back muscles are all tense from the stress, but at least my head's a bit cleared.
I better go, I've typed for too long and need to have a shower before dinner.
c
I've had a bit of a rough few days, but maybe I should start from the beginning.
Flew up to Brisbane on Easter Monday, and got picked up from the airport by one of my bosses. They've just implemented a new 'progress report' thing and I was overdue for my 6-month one anyways. Hard to believe I've been working here almost 8 months now.
The outcome of it was that everyone's extremely happy with my work and I've exceeded expectations. I not only got a raise, but as an additional incentive they're now going to cover my flights to/from Brisbane. Was much rejoicing in my head. We also discussed where I was going to go within the company from here and some diversifying of my roles. This would include being a trainer and working on other sorts of wells.
Jen had recently gotten some rather bad news, so the planned picnic had been cancelled. So I called Nathan and Sean to organise a carpet picnic at home for Jen. I grabbed some Kentucky Fried Chicken and headed over. It was great to catch up with Jen, Nathan, Nate, Sean, and Janessa. And I think the afternoon did much to aleviate some of Jen and Nathan's stress. I then left and drove to my parents house.
Caught up with my brother and his fiancee and saw their new house plans, and saw my younger sister and her son (they grow so fast). Was quite nice. Called Mum and Dad from there to pass on the news. They were up with Grandma Ashmore (mum's mum) who's now in high-care at what's basically a nursing home. She hasn't done well in the last year. They put her on the phone though and she was quite lucid that day and we had a short chat. Her hearings not good either. Her condition makes me feel unhappy and nervous and I haven't visited her in a while. I don't want to see her as she is now, I want to remember the vibrant woman who made the best beef stew with dumplings and chased us and the dog around the yard.
I eventually left and came up to Dalby and checked in etc. Started work on Tuesday. Of course, all the other rigs and the site supervisor etc. started Wednesday so it was a bit of a scrabble to get some things organised.
I was later advised that I'd be getting a trainee on Thursday. Graham's 59 and had previously worked with oil rigs but has been out of the business for almost 20 years. He has a reasonably idea of what's going on and has picked most things up quickly. He's not so crash hot on the computer/spreadsheets yet though.
All went well until Saturday. I think it was Saturday, my head hasn't been right since. My Great Uncle, which happens to be my afore-mentioned Grandmother's elder brother, died that afternoon. I'm not intensely close to him, but have always had a particular affinity for that side of the family. His name was Clive Richard Drew, known as Uncle Dick. Some may kind of recognise the name. I based much of the original backstory/history on him and his father, Richard Charles.
It really threw me at the time, and afterwards went to dinner and drank 3/4 of a bottle of an '03 Taylor's Shiraz. I've been told that work will give me time to go to the funeral on Friday, that someone will cover the rig. But atm it looks like that will be a drilling day, so I'm going to be needed for chip-logging. We'll see.
I started feeling a little more chipper this afternoon, and back to a reasonable semblance of normality. My back muscles are all tense from the stress, but at least my head's a bit cleared.
I better go, I've typed for too long and need to have a shower before dinner.
c