Been Busy

A week to go, can't wait for shore leave. I'm only off for two weeks then I have another 28 day trip. Better be worth it. Actually it is.

Had some success today, proof positive that our system will actually work. I saw data on my lovingly crafted screens from a platform 10 km away. Time to celebrate but there's no beer! Ah well, I'll post some drivel instead.

Here's me on my old friend, the infernal contraption. Half a sweaty-puffy-panty hour every other night, whether I want to or not.

Arty daybreak shot.

Me in my kit.



Pramote - or to use his name for himself, the special guy. An absolute star, and completely insane.
In other news, I took some video of my journey from the accommodation block to the office I work in - well I've walked it 8 times a day for 3 weeks solid so suck it up, land lubbers. Anyway I converted it to WMV format and stuff me, it's rotated 90 degrees. This makes it a pain to watch unless you're lying down. I'll fettle it and post it soon, bet you can't wait.

Will somebody post some news from the real world? I can't be arsed surfing on this dog slow connection. What happened in Gaza? Are Liverpool still top? Are Labour still in? Is it still winter? What does my missus look like? Am I married? What pub was I in?

Be good.

Spooky

Just watched a partial eclipse through a welding mask. Cushty.

Rusty Old Tub

Just a note to say, and in recognition that this is not a particularly auspicious moment, that I'll be off this rusty old tub in a matter of 12 days, give or take a few hours, minutes and seconds. But who's counting?

I've taken more photos and some video. Coming soon to a computer near you...

Be good

Photos from Benchamas

17 Days to go. Seems like a flipping age. I've taken some illicit photo's, but there's nothing much to see around here.

Work-mate and room-mate, and IT guru extraordinaire Bartimus Maximus.


I forgot my beard clippers so I've gone commando for a few days.


..Gosh what a fat chin I have.


Couple of arty/moody snaps.



Some Thais playing footy on the Millenium helipad - only possible on mill-pond days - other times there's a three-metre swell. The Millenium is a barge moored alongside us for extra accommodation and storage. Hate to be staying on there overnight.



Sometimes the water looks so inviting.


More arty stuff.




Choper landing on the roof - my bus home in another 17 days.


Bart posing by the infamous gas flare.



This is how you get on and off, if you don't have a chopper booked.






..and finally a typical piece of Oil & Gas safety procedure - the flashing must have been keeping someone awake..

Twenty five percent done

It's Friday 16th, I've been here on the platform for a week. Only three weeks to go then...

I was typing nonsense as usual in my noisy little cubicle the other day, and all of a sudden there was a click and everything went off - lights, computers, fans, air conditioning, the lot. I sat in total darkness wondering if it was my fault, bless me. Quite scary really. The total silence, shocking in itself, was soon replaced by an ominous whoooshing sound, as the gas burnoff unit (you know, the flame you see on any oil or gas site) began venting 80 million cubic metres of gas. The flame was about four metres long and quite close to the container I work in. We beat a hasty retreat to the main living quarters and waited for another evacuation to swing into action. Alas, it was only a generator failure and curse them, they started the spare within 15 minutes and we were all free to carry on regardless. Apparently if the blackout had lasted much longer we could have been in danger, as all the surrounding rigs push oil and gas to this one for storage, and pressure would have built up quite quickly...

Lubiloo, if you're still reading this, I've been to the gym and used the bike three times in this first week so that mountain bike ride is looking a distinct possibility when I get home. You better be ready girl. That of course goes for anyone else reading this who fancies being shown up by a wheezing 50 year old on a rusty old nail. Grant, you there fatty?

And another thing - I want a long walk organised for sometime between 13th and 21st Feb. I favour the walk from New Mills along the Sett to Hayfield, then over to Edale. Done it once and would like to try it again weather permitting. Food in the Nags Head is fine, and there's a train home - whoopee.

And another thing - I want parties organised. Trips to the pub. Barbecues. Actvities. Yes I know it'll be February but use your imagination(s).

I have taken some pics on the rig (naughty me), but they are all a bit oil-rig-ish if you know what I mean - an emphasis on rusty iron and miles of open water, with the occasional boat/helicopter to break the monotony. I know you're all dying to see them so as soon as I figure out a way to transfer them onto this PC I will publish and be damned.

More later. Be good.

NoNewsFlash - urgent

Nothing has happened.

I'm a bit busy to blog at the mo - stuck on a rig until Feb 6th, but might get time to witter on later in the month.

Be good

Crossword 3

Yes very tense. Sorry I seem to have had a hard time counting how many letters this time around - how many words for that matter. I bet the Daily Telegraph doesn't have this problem.

Sandy, get the rest to save your honour. You can't win but show your character now - or else let her make you feel totally inadequate by supplying the remaining answers. (I know my daughter)

Sandy 31 answers
Alex 39 answers



Clues:

ACROSS:
6. For geeks - any value other than zero.(4)
48. Encourages or supports an action.(5)

DOWN:
15. Insect.(3)
33. Part of the throat.(5)

Crossword 3

Huge contributions from Alex, leaving Sandy struggling to keep awake at the back of the class.

Alex, no it's definitely present tense but I see why you asked.

You had 20 across, 24 across and 42 across wrong, also you spelled Canape wrong but I gave you that one for effort. by the way your answer for 24 across was much better than the actual answer - wish I'd thought of it.

Scores:

Sandy 12 answers

Alex 30 answers

Clues:

ACROSS:
6. For geeks - any value other than zero.(4)
9. Surname of a famous British loony politician.(4)
13. (Topical) The Man of the Moment.(5)
18. Ancient unit of measurement.(3)
24. Victim of a famous horse.(6)
27. Seize and retain in legal custody.(7)
35. At the correctly ordered time.(2,4)
37. Original lottery advertising slogan.(6)
48. Encourages or supports an action.(5)
49. Aafrican language.(5)
51. Pocket of liquid.(3)
52. Very small.(3)
58. Hip-shaking entertainer.(5,6)
61. Gearge W Bush proclaimed an evil one.(4)

DOWN:
8. Flow in circular fashion.(4)
9. Can be sweet, sweat or work.(4)
12. Move aimlessly.(5)
14. Dedication to a task.(11)
15. Insect.(3)
17. Uniform.(4)
25. Piece of cloth.(3)
26. Radio 4 comedy show.(4,1,6)
28. Outstanding, as in debt.(5)
29. Kernel.(3)
33. Part of the throat.(5)
36. River, NW UK.(6)
44. Slogan of 13 across.(7)
50. Bite.(3)
60. Spot.(3)

Early Morning

Got up at 3.40 due to being wide awake. Slightly miffed that nobody's had a go at my lovely new crossword, but happy to wait for the regulars to drop by. Maybe they've all faded away due to poor quality blogging? The content has been fairly weak lately. Hmm, must find a way to pull in the punters.

I know, what about personal revelations? They are usually good for the freak show/sympathy vote. Here's some:

• I don't hate George W Bush. Wacky eh?




• Having said that, the shoe-throwing footage makes me chuckle every time.




• Having said that, the things that were probably done to the shoe-less one afterwards make me stop chuckling immediately.




• I think that saying "St Pancreas" when talking about St Pancras station is hilarious.

There you go. Not very personal, and not very revelatory, but it's 4am and I'm lucky to be awake.

More when I feel less like breakfast.

Lumpini Walk

I've discovered that the walkway I can see from my pool, which is alongside the canal, goes all the way to Lumpini Park, one of the greener parts of the city. Therefore when I noticed after lunch that I was having trouble keeping my chin off my chest, and having heard from some or other quack that sunshine is good for jetlag, I decided to take a little stroll.

Some photos were gleaned, but mostly I just got footsore in my sandals. Also I'm still jetlagged.

These two are meant to show how hot it is in Bangkok, just to wind you all up a bit..

I did plenty of walking...














View of Lake Green from the Klong...



..and the back view, showing the pool area on the 15th floor...



..and what, we're supposed to cycle up that? Bloody hell, glad I was walking.



Having said that, I do love a challenge. Maybe I'll get myself a bike and ride to the park regularly...

Getting down would be fun.

No more photos I'm afraid, it turned into the usual epic find-your-way-home scenario and if it hadn't been for the nice security guard on the church gates on Soi 10, who let me through onto Soi 8 instead of schlepping all the way up to Sukhumvit and back down, I'd have ended up with bleeding feet. As it is they are just sizzling a little. All in all a rewarding stroll. Got some sun on my head too.

Be good.

Crossword 3

Here we go then...



Clues:

ACROSS:
1. Can be red, yellow, face or trump.(4)
3. Sliding compartment.(6)
6. For geeks - any value other than zero.(4)
9. Surname of a famous British loony politician.(4)
10. Optimist's motto.(5,3,3)
13. (Topical) The Man of the Moment.(5)
16. ---- Dunaway, star of Bonnie and Clyde.(4)
18. Ancient unit of measurement.(3)
19. These and the "outs" are what the hokey-kokey is all about.(3)
20. Can be salt, saint or blue.(5)
21. Such as Romeo.(5)
23. Can be conga, electric or jellied.(3)
24. Victim of a famous horse.(6)
27. Seize and retain in legal custody.(7)
30. (Chinese) Life energy.(3)
31. Twitch.(3)
32. Person under regular influence of narcotic.(4,4)
35. At the correctly ordered time.(2,4)
37. Original lottery advertising slogan.(6)
39. Pythagoras' favourite shape.(8)
42. Floor covering.(3)
43. Unruly gang.(3)
44. Both of us.(3,3,1)
45. Appetiser.(6)
47. Born.(3)
48. Encourages or supports an action.(5)
49. Aafrican language.(5)
51. Pocket of liquid.(3)
52. Very small.(3)
54. Big cat.(4)
56. To clean or smooth with beak or bill.(5)
58. Hip-shaking entertainer.(5,6)
61. Gearge W Bush proclaimed an evil one.(4)
62. Antlered animal.(4)
63. Magical drink.(6)
64. Can be gap, good or leap.(4)

DOWN:
1. Friend.(4)
2. Risk.(6)
3. Heavily seasoned.(8)
4. "--- Not ---", 80's band.(3)
5. Beam.(3)
7. Structures of coral.(5)
8. Flow in circular fashion.(4)
9. Can be sweet, sweat or work.(4)
11. Human facsimile.(7)
12. Move aimlessly.(5)
14. Dedication to a task.(11)
15. Insect.(3)
17. Uniform.(4)
22. Unoccupied.(6)
23. Magnitude, range.(6)
25. Piece of cloth.(3)
26. Radio 4 comedy show.(4,1,6)
28. Outstanding, as in debt.(5)
29. Kernel.(3)
33. Part of the throat.(5)
34. Make a noise by shaking.(6)
36. River, NW UK.(6)
38. "--- hoo", call to attract attontion.(3)
40. Short sleep.(3)
41. Official building.(7)
44. Slogan of 13 across.(7)
45. Slice, as in vegetables.(4)
46. Succeed in a subject.(5)
49. Break a promise or trust.(6)
50. Bite.(3)
51. Sword.(5)
53. Stops.(4)
55. Second hand.(4)
57. Back side.(4)
59. Drink using the tongue.(3)
60. Spot.(3)

Hel Bloody Sinki again?

What pub was I in?

With alarming speed the so-called holiday is over, and all I have to show for it is a spare tyre and a fading hangover.

I think this might be my last time in Helsinki, I will be varying my route from here on to avoid becoming boring. Oh shut up.

I only have half an hour to surf, then I´m on an overnighter to Bkk, Sunday off, then to work. Hopefully I will sleep the whole flight, avoiding the need to speak to anyone. That´s very unfriendly of me innit. Sod ´em.

See you all on the other side. Can´t say I will miss the cold.

Back to Black

Well, with my blog set back to a boring black background, we enter a new year. News this morning is not good, 61 feared dead in a Bangkok nightclub fire, economy in a tailspin, etc, etc. But here on Ferret Times I will continue to produce the kind of drivel my readers are used to.

I had a decent holiday, given trhat I spent most of it either working, shopping or eating. I did find three hours to take part in a squash tournament, which means I enter the new year with aching knees, stiff back, sore shoulder, all the things I have missed about the beautiful game.

I fly back tomorrow 2nd, in the office monday, off to the platform wednesday-ish. amusing anecdotes to follow shortly. Meanwhile happy new year to all. Let's see if we can get the hit count beyond the 5k mark this year. That will give me something to cheer about.

Be good.