The first part of my crewchange went really well. I had an earlier flight from New Orleans airport and am now at the business class lounge at Houston International Airport. Flight leaves for Amsterdam around 7 tonight, so 5 hours to kill :-)
Hoping to post another blog when i am really at home!
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
29 November 2006 - Going home !!!
So Finally, after 5 weeks of hard work, I am going home tomorrow. I am packing my bags as we speak which is one of the nicest things to do here :-)
In my previous blog i mentioned my company is investing 1 billion dollar into a new vessel. Actually i was thinking, since there are around 810 fully employed people working for this company, what if they just gave that money to those people. Everyone would end up with over a million dollar and surely i would be ably to stop working! I'll keep on dreaming!
Anyway, for the people of this company it is really great news, since we'll own the best pipelaying cranevessel in the world, while actually, we own that one right now already, the one i am working on here!
Hopefully the crewchange goes well tomorrow and my next blog entry will be from my home in The Netherlands.
In my previous blog i mentioned my company is investing 1 billion dollar into a new vessel. Actually i was thinking, since there are around 810 fully employed people working for this company, what if they just gave that money to those people. Everyone would end up with over a million dollar and surely i would be ably to stop working! I'll keep on dreaming!
Anyway, for the people of this company it is really great news, since we'll own the best pipelaying cranevessel in the world, while actually, we own that one right now already, the one i am working on here!
Hopefully the crewchange goes well tomorrow and my next blog entry will be from my home in The Netherlands.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
The people that work here, I hate you
Where am I: USA - Gulf of Mexico (offshore). Sunny, 24C
Man that walks around like he has nothing to do all day: You have horrendous body odor. Not just a little bit, but when you walk into my office i feel like dropping dead!
Man that works here as one of the big bosses, I truely don't care that your wife can drive a car too, or where you spend your holidays. Did you know you have a very bad smell coming from your mouth? They have toothbrushes and chewing gum for that!
Little man that sits the whole day and has the body that shows for it! Don't think you need to check on me all the time since you lack all the authority. Get a life and stop talking to me!
The guy that i still don't know what he does here. You proud of yourself that you wanted to call me because i didn't wear a helmet inside the ship, but you saw me on a camera?
And then this guy that is so stressed out the whole day and even starts kicking machines when they don't do what he wants them to do! Don't you get it, oh no you are too stupid anyway, but machines do exactly what you make them do! There is no need to shout at people when they don't know what you need just by looking at you running their way.
For the rest, everything is just fine and I'm going home tomorrow!
Man that walks around like he has nothing to do all day: You have horrendous body odor. Not just a little bit, but when you walk into my office i feel like dropping dead!
Man that works here as one of the big bosses, I truely don't care that your wife can drive a car too, or where you spend your holidays. Did you know you have a very bad smell coming from your mouth? They have toothbrushes and chewing gum for that!
Little man that sits the whole day and has the body that shows for it! Don't think you need to check on me all the time since you lack all the authority. Get a life and stop talking to me!
The guy that i still don't know what he does here. You proud of yourself that you wanted to call me because i didn't wear a helmet inside the ship, but you saw me on a camera?
And then this guy that is so stressed out the whole day and even starts kicking machines when they don't do what he wants them to do! Don't you get it, oh no you are too stupid anyway, but machines do exactly what you make them do! There is no need to shout at people when they don't know what you need just by looking at you running their way.
For the rest, everything is just fine and I'm going home tomorrow!
Monday, November 27, 2006
27 November 2006
Where am I: USA - Gulf of Mexico (offshore). Sunny, 24C
Today I had a little arguement with our superintendent. Of course I lost and ended up apologizing. The good thing is he'll instantly pretend it never happened and business as usual.
The last few days have really been crazy. We are preparing for a project that no-one in the world has ever done before. Loads of equipment coming on board or need to come on board and yep, it's my job to take care of that. One piece of equipment missing and we can't continue. It's a bit stressfull but I have done this sort of things many times before and I don't make many mistakes.
Wednesday my crewchange is coming up when i should be going home. However, a cold from, and a very strong one, i pushing southwards which may cause bad weather, just like two weeks ago when things didn't go really smooth!
Anyway, we'll have to wait and see how it goes. Tomorrow i'll post some photo's of something cause I know not everyone likes to only read . . . . . . . . .
Today I had a little arguement with our superintendent. Of course I lost and ended up apologizing. The good thing is he'll instantly pretend it never happened and business as usual.
The last few days have really been crazy. We are preparing for a project that no-one in the world has ever done before. Loads of equipment coming on board or need to come on board and yep, it's my job to take care of that. One piece of equipment missing and we can't continue. It's a bit stressfull but I have done this sort of things many times before and I don't make many mistakes.
Wednesday my crewchange is coming up when i should be going home. However, a cold from, and a very strong one, i pushing southwards which may cause bad weather, just like two weeks ago when things didn't go really smooth!
Anyway, we'll have to wait and see how it goes. Tomorrow i'll post some photo's of something cause I know not everyone likes to only read . . . . . . . . .
Sunday, November 26, 2006
26 November 2006
Where am I: USA - Gulf of Mexico (offshore). Sunny, 26C.
It's weekend :-) Nothing much here though, just worked the whole day and tomorrow as well.
Things i have been thinking of today:
- nothing
- absolutely nothing.
The weather in The Netherlands has been very warm this year, as last year. Today they had a record max temperature of 19C in the south. Don't forget, it's the autumn season now and it shouldn't be warmer then 8C. Meteorologists think it's because of the continuous winds from the South, warmer sea temperatures because of the hot summer, and of course the greenhouse effect. Why don't they just say they don't know?
Whatever it is, it is great isn't it?
In Thailand they are expecting a very dry season for the South. This again due to the El Nino effect which is simply said a warmer then usual water current in the Pacific Ocean. El Nino also caused the fact that there were hardly any Hurricanes in the Atlantic this year, as opposed to last year. El Nino originates at the North West of South America and causes strong upper level winds over the Atlantic Ocean, thus creating unfavourable conditions for hurricanes to develop.
In Chiang Mai they have some kind of Flora expo. The Tulips that are shown there come from Holland, at least the bulbs are. These bulbs were flown from Holland to New Zealand, grown there in the cool mountains, and then flown to Thailand. There they were put temporarily in airconditioned areas other they would have died too soon.
Now I have no more nonsense to share, so i am off.
It's weekend :-) Nothing much here though, just worked the whole day and tomorrow as well.
Things i have been thinking of today:
- nothing
- absolutely nothing.
The weather in The Netherlands has been very warm this year, as last year. Today they had a record max temperature of 19C in the south. Don't forget, it's the autumn season now and it shouldn't be warmer then 8C. Meteorologists think it's because of the continuous winds from the South, warmer sea temperatures because of the hot summer, and of course the greenhouse effect. Why don't they just say they don't know?
Whatever it is, it is great isn't it?
In Thailand they are expecting a very dry season for the South. This again due to the El Nino effect which is simply said a warmer then usual water current in the Pacific Ocean. El Nino also caused the fact that there were hardly any Hurricanes in the Atlantic this year, as opposed to last year. El Nino originates at the North West of South America and causes strong upper level winds over the Atlantic Ocean, thus creating unfavourable conditions for hurricanes to develop.
In Chiang Mai they have some kind of Flora expo. The Tulips that are shown there come from Holland, at least the bulbs are. These bulbs were flown from Holland to New Zealand, grown there in the cool mountains, and then flown to Thailand. There they were put temporarily in airconditioned areas other they would have died too soon.
Now I have no more nonsense to share, so i am off.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
25 November 2006
Where am I: USA - Gulf of Mexico (offshore). Sunny, 25C
I didn't get pissed off with someone for a while now (couple of weeks at least). Usually it doesn't take much or that person gets slammed with lots of my verbal aggression, in which i am very good by the way. I got many people scared and walking away but not daring to ask their questions any more.
But the last few weeks i have been kind, friendly, helpful to all people, answering the phone with a smile and replying emails kindly and patiently even if I find the question stupid (which doesn't necessarily mean it is a stupid question). At the daily vessel meetings i laugh if someone makes a joke and i even share one of mine, and everybody else laughs. If that is because the joke is good, or out of surprise to hear me tell a joke, i couldn't care less.
With all this i am ruining my long build-up repuation, of being a bad tempered (especially in the morning) unapproachable unsocial guy.
Now i can smile without people thinking "what's wrong with Robert, he smiles!"
I am feeling good, I had some good talks with people up the hierarchy, taking their advise after they did really listen to me. Another part, the last two weeks were high profile weeks, especially logistically, and when it gets crazy then i get the best out my self. I just felt so confident, and now that it's over and seeing that everything went perfect, Well it just makes me happy. The people that work for me are happy too, cuz they know how i can be at previous occasions.
Well it's hard to explain, but i'm feeling happy. Good in my skin. Hope this will last for a long time
For the good of myself!
I didn't get pissed off with someone for a while now (couple of weeks at least). Usually it doesn't take much or that person gets slammed with lots of my verbal aggression, in which i am very good by the way. I got many people scared and walking away but not daring to ask their questions any more.
But the last few weeks i have been kind, friendly, helpful to all people, answering the phone with a smile and replying emails kindly and patiently even if I find the question stupid (which doesn't necessarily mean it is a stupid question). At the daily vessel meetings i laugh if someone makes a joke and i even share one of mine, and everybody else laughs. If that is because the joke is good, or out of surprise to hear me tell a joke, i couldn't care less.
With all this i am ruining my long build-up repuation, of being a bad tempered (especially in the morning) unapproachable unsocial guy.
Now i can smile without people thinking "what's wrong with Robert, he smiles!"
I am feeling good, I had some good talks with people up the hierarchy, taking their advise after they did really listen to me. Another part, the last two weeks were high profile weeks, especially logistically, and when it gets crazy then i get the best out my self. I just felt so confident, and now that it's over and seeing that everything went perfect, Well it just makes me happy. The people that work for me are happy too, cuz they know how i can be at previous occasions.
Well it's hard to explain, but i'm feeling happy. Good in my skin. Hope this will last for a long time
For the good of myself!
Pregnant Men
Where am I: USA - Gulf of Mexico (offshore)
If you think you have read everything .. Today i read this on the news ;
SANTIAGO, Chile - A boy has been born in Chile with a fetus in his stomach in what doctors said was a rare case of "fetus in fetu" in which one twin becomes trapped inside another during pregnancy and continues to grow inside it.
Doctors carried out a scan on the boy's mother shortly before she gave birth on Nov. 15 in the southern city of Temuco and noticed the 4-inch-long fetus inside the boy's abdomen.
It had limbs and a partially developed spinal cord but no head and stood no chance of survival, doctors said.
If you think you have read everything .. Today i read this on the news ;
SANTIAGO, Chile - A boy has been born in Chile with a fetus in his stomach in what doctors said was a rare case of "fetus in fetu" in which one twin becomes trapped inside another during pregnancy and continues to grow inside it.
Doctors carried out a scan on the boy's mother shortly before she gave birth on Nov. 15 in the southern city of Temuco and noticed the 4-inch-long fetus inside the boy's abdomen.
It had limbs and a partially developed spinal cord but no head and stood no chance of survival, doctors said.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
23 November 2006
Where am I: USA - Gulf of Mexico (offshore)
As i promised in my blog of the 21st, i would tell you how i would fly back to Holland. I should never have said i preferred to fly through Minneapolis, because I am flying through Houston.
The elections where held today in Holland and the results are that I know you don't care and neither do I, isn't that great.
No more politics in this blog. After the results it has become clear that the formation of a new govervment will take months!
I'd like to learn something new each day. Sometimes it's hard, sometimes it's easy.
Well, today it was simply amusing to see how someone taught me how not to do something. When some-one, at the top of the hierarchy at any kind of organization, makes a wrong decision with incidents as a result, but won't admit to it, he will loose all his credibilty and respect. In order to avoid loosing face, which unavoidably he does anyway, he will use any means to justify his actions. He is therefor the looser of the day!
As i promised in my blog of the 21st, i would tell you how i would fly back to Holland. I should never have said i preferred to fly through Minneapolis, because I am flying through Houston.
DUH!
The elections where held today in Holland and the results are that I know you don't care and neither do I, isn't that great.
No more politics in this blog. After the results it has become clear that the formation of a new govervment will take months!
I'd like to learn something new each day. Sometimes it's hard, sometimes it's easy.
Well, today it was simply amusing to see how someone taught me how not to do something. When some-one, at the top of the hierarchy at any kind of organization, makes a wrong decision with incidents as a result, but won't admit to it, he will loose all his credibilty and respect. In order to avoid loosing face, which unavoidably he does anyway, he will use any means to justify his actions. He is therefor the looser of the day!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
22 November 2006 (I learned a lot today!)
Where am I: USA - Gulf of Mexico (offshore)
Today I learned that when people grow older, they don't want to be called Johnny any more, so I got it, John!
Today I also learned that a guy named Nico wants to be called Niek. Asking him why, just learned me that his name has always been Niek. I didn't get it, but whatever! I keep on calling him Nico.
In politics things which are non-negotiable today, can be negotiable tomorrow. This all because we live in a democracy. I didn't get it but whatever! I negotiate all the time just for my own benefits and i'll keep on doing it!
I do chat a lot on MSN Messenger. Occasionally i block someone and I always think no-one will ever block me. I am a nice guy after all. Just wondering why some people just never seem to be online while they always used to be :-)
Celtic beat Manchester United and Ruud van Nistelrooij missed a penalty for Real Madrid and prooved why he is not in the Dutch National Soccer Team. He is the only one who thinks differently! Whatever!
This morning one train crashed into another one at Rotterdam, The Netherlands. There were no casualties so we should not worry. Later that morning one train crashed into another train at Arnhem and 23 people got injured. Still we shouldn't worry because the Dutch railway system is the busiest in Europe and very safe! I guess i don't need to tell you that i am not getting it!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
21 November 2006
Where am I: USA - Gulf of Mexico (offshore)
God was today a boring day. And I think tomorrow is gonna be another one. And the day after that .. well i can't really speculate but i think that is also gonna be boring.
This week's highlight will actually be that I receive my flight details for the next week. That just gives me the feeling that i'll be going home soon. There are several options, i may fly from New Orleans to Minneapolis, Memphis, Houston, or even Detroit, and thereafter to Amsterdam.
I am guessing Minneapolis (MSP) but lately they book the people through Houston. I just hate flying through Houston, so please please let me go via MSP.
So you see, my highlight of the week just tells you how exiting my life here is ...... I'll let you know how I fly when i know, either tomorrow or the day after :-)
God was today a boring day. And I think tomorrow is gonna be another one. And the day after that .. well i can't really speculate but i think that is also gonna be boring.
This week's highlight will actually be that I receive my flight details for the next week. That just gives me the feeling that i'll be going home soon. There are several options, i may fly from New Orleans to Minneapolis, Memphis, Houston, or even Detroit, and thereafter to Amsterdam.
I am guessing Minneapolis (MSP) but lately they book the people through Houston. I just hate flying through Houston, so please please let me go via MSP.
So you see, my highlight of the week just tells you how exiting my life here is ...... I'll let you know how I fly when i know, either tomorrow or the day after :-)
Monday, November 20, 2006
Harry Potter for President!
Where am I: USA - Gulf of Mexico (offshore)
Elections are up in Holland on the 22nd of November. I won't vote, I can't because I am offshore and if i could, i probably wouldn't.
There is not much to choose. We have Harry Potter as prime minister and he'll probably be back again.
Jan Peter, Good Luck!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Another Thought on Thailand
Where am I: USA - Gulf of Mexico (offshore)
It's just 10 more days and i won’t have to work till January 9!
- Next week Friday I'll need to go see my dentist (in Holland), a small piece of one of my teeth broke off.
- The weekend I’ll visit my parents, still got to buy a present for my mum it was her birthday two weeks ago.
- On Monday i need to have my Medical Check in Rotterdam, which should be a piece of cake since i still seem to be very healthy.
And then, Tuesday December 5th, on Thailand's King birthday, i fly to Bangkok.
It may be my last time for a while since i want to focus more on my studies and near future. In January i am becoming 35 and soon i am passing a point of no return. With study, hard work, i can push that point a bit forward.
So my intention is to enjoy Bangkok the fullest in December and then say goodbye to it for a while, just maybe fly for 10 days or so if i needed a small break!
My main focus will be on my study. I will still do a little this month and in December, but in January I take the big hit.
I feel confident I can do that. I need to be ready to make a big jump forward in my life. Not necessary leave this company though, as it is a very moving ahead company. I can’t tell you now, but at it looks like, this company is here to stay for a very long time! And I talked it over with someone that with the new projects coming I should be assigned to one of those. That will be be sooner as the end of next year and then I will have a choice, because I have my study almost finished.
I WILL HAVE A CHOICE WHICH WAY I WANNA GO,
Friday, November 17, 2006
Some Thoughts
Which Country am I today : USA
Specific Location : Gulf of Mexico (offshore)
I am really considering to stop this work.
Why don't I?
I am a "need to feel secure" kind of person. I got a job now, so why risk giving it up for the unknown? It pays quite ok. I am on a 5 weeks on 5 weeks off schedule, and those 5 weeks off (holidays) is just superb. Theoretically it means i just don't work half of a year!! But that's about it (and sometimes i have to do something anyway during those holidays...)
Why do I want to stop?
Well, those 5 weeks on board, they really suck. If you want to destroy your social life, any chance for a decent relationship, come join me in working offshore. It's tough. Working 7 days a week, at least 12 hours a day, always in the same office, seeing the same faces every day, you get fed up with it! But really, the worst part is my social life. I am doing this work now for almost 10 years, and i lost more friends then i made, i have been in and out a few relationships, they just won't work the way i would like them to.
I so much regret the fact i didn’t finish my university education when i had the chance to. Actually i am lucky to have ended up the way I did, it could have been much worse. At least i make a decent living, don't have to fly the cheapest airlines to Thailand, and can afford to have an apartment in Holland as well as in Bangkok.
But apparently I had the brains to go to University. And it now works in my disadvantage because the job i am doing doesn't satisfy me any more, and i truly can't believe i have to do this for the rest of my active working life, which would be some more 30 years, if i don't win the lottery...
I am trying to do some studying at this moment, logistics management, but it's hard after 12 hours of work to still study.
So it is difficult to get out of here. But if I really want to, i have to do it myself. I notice i am feeling so sorry for myself lately ("why don't they appreciate the work i do, why don't i make more money, why don't i get offered a wonderful job) that it makes me sick.
But more and more i get the feeling, it is now or never, and if i don't do anything soon, i will be stuck here for the rest of my life, feeling sorry for myself, and becoming the person that i swore i would never become!
Specific Location : Gulf of Mexico (offshore)
I am really considering to stop this work.
Why don't I?
I am a "need to feel secure" kind of person. I got a job now, so why risk giving it up for the unknown? It pays quite ok. I am on a 5 weeks on 5 weeks off schedule, and those 5 weeks off (holidays) is just superb. Theoretically it means i just don't work half of a year!! But that's about it (and sometimes i have to do something anyway during those holidays...)
Why do I want to stop?
Well, those 5 weeks on board, they really suck. If you want to destroy your social life, any chance for a decent relationship, come join me in working offshore. It's tough. Working 7 days a week, at least 12 hours a day, always in the same office, seeing the same faces every day, you get fed up with it! But really, the worst part is my social life. I am doing this work now for almost 10 years, and i lost more friends then i made, i have been in and out a few relationships, they just won't work the way i would like them to.
I so much regret the fact i didn’t finish my university education when i had the chance to. Actually i am lucky to have ended up the way I did, it could have been much worse. At least i make a decent living, don't have to fly the cheapest airlines to Thailand, and can afford to have an apartment in Holland as well as in Bangkok.
But apparently I had the brains to go to University. And it now works in my disadvantage because the job i am doing doesn't satisfy me any more, and i truly can't believe i have to do this for the rest of my active working life, which would be some more 30 years, if i don't win the lottery...
I am trying to do some studying at this moment, logistics management, but it's hard after 12 hours of work to still study.
So it is difficult to get out of here. But if I really want to, i have to do it myself. I notice i am feeling so sorry for myself lately ("why don't they appreciate the work i do, why don't i make more money, why don't i get offered a wonderful job) that it makes me sick.
But more and more i get the feeling, it is now or never, and if i don't do anything soon, i will be stuck here for the rest of my life, feeling sorry for myself, and becoming the person that i swore i would never become!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Crewchange day
Which Country am I today : USA
Specific Location : Gulf of Mexico (offshore)
Wednesdays are crewchange days. People that have been on board, usually for around 5 weeks, go home and their relieves are coming on board. So, for the people that go home it's an exciting day.
But today wasn't. Unfortunately, the crewchange was cancelled because of bad weather. A cold front pushed all the way into the Gulf of Mexico, creating Tornado warnings, stormy weather (gusts upto 70mph) and lots of rain.
Crewchanges go by helicopter and they just don't fly with this kind of weather. So tomorrow another chance.
Myself, i will be going off in two weeks, on November 29th, so let's hope it will be much better then :-)
Today also received a photo of the vessel i work on. It's really beautiful (at least i think so) and it just looks like someone is watching us from above.
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