Another lockdown… another commute

[Saint Willy]

Just getting there is a win. More than one win in fact.

I really miss travel, visiting friends and family. Then I look at these travelogues and I think I'll just stay here a bit longer.

ditto!

[Stumpy]

I really miss travel, visiting friends and family. Then I look at these travelogues and I think I'll just stay here a bit longer.

Good idea to stay put. Traveling is extremely challenging and stressful. The hardest part currently is the constant rules and requirement changes. Just got a new one today from Singapore Air. So now we have to double up on Covid test dates to make sure my wife and I have one that now covers the transit flight boarding. Before just needed it to board 1st leg of flight. So the 72 hrs has to cover your entire trip flight.

[OhOh]

I have one that now covers the transit flight boarding.

As well as the Bangkok arrival.

[Edmond]

Fok that sheet for stress, while traveling.


Got a wee 300-400km motorbike ride tomorrow in motorbiking heaven, warm oil 2 hour massage at the end. Those trips will do for this year. Fok swabs being rammed up me schnozzer and running for boarding gates in socks and sandals.

[Stumpy]

As well as the Bangkok arrival.

Only need the cert for arrival. Doesn't have to be within 72 hrs timing. We land and apparently from what my wife tells me, we will ride in an Ambulance van deal to our ASQ. This crap has gotten completely out of hand on so many levels.

For now, COE done and accepted. ASQ booked. Covid test in a few days then begin the journey back.

Won't be doing this again until this nonsense is under control. As much as a pain in the ass this has been, I walked my daughter down the aisle and watched her get married.

[panama hat]

I walked my daughter down the aisle and watched her get married.

Lots of happiness and a bit of sadness?
Good for you for making the effort

[Buckaroo Banzai]

Only need the cert for arrival. Doesn't have to be within 72 hrs timing. We land and apparently from what my wife tells me, we will ride in an Ambulance van deal to our ASQ. This crap has gotten completely out of hand on so many levels.

For now, COE done and accepted. ASQ booked. Covid test in a few days then begin the journey back.

Won't be doing this again until this nonsense is under control. As much as a pain in the ass this has been, I walked my daughter down the aisle and watched her get married.

Congratulations on your daughters wedding !!
This travel situation has gotten out of hand, especially for people like us who are spread out around the world and depend on the travel industry as much as we do.
My brother with who I am very close with , and have not seen for two years, just turned 74, I am 64, we dont have so many years left that we can waste them watching grass grow in our back yards. We talk on Skype every few days, but it's not the same.
I am sure you all have similar situations.
I can afford the traveling, and I don't mind (much) all the hoops to jump through . But 14 days quarantine there, and 14 days quarantine back on top of all the other covid travel restrictions is just too much.
I wish, we all stop this nonsense ,and everyone who can, gets vaccinated. If we get another variant that is vaccine resistant, It will be game over for many of us.
Very depressing, At least to me.

[Saint Willy]

Only need the cert for arrival. Doesn't have to be within 72 hrs timing. We land and apparently from what my wife tells me, we will ride in an Ambulance van deal to our ASQ. This crap has gotten completely out of hand on so many levels.

For now, COE done and accepted. ASQ booked. Covid test in a few days then begin the journey back.

Won't be doing this again until this nonsense is under control. As much as a pain in the ass this has been, I walked my daughter down the aisle and watched her get married.

congrats, a special moment.

[lom]

Got a wee 300-400km motorbike ride tomorrow in motorbiking heaven, warm oil 2 hour massage at the end. Those trips will do for this year. Fok swabs being rammed up me schnozzer and running for boarding gates in socks and sandals.

some have to work for their daily bread and some brag about not having to..

[Mendip]

(Also, why do you use 'boat', not 'ship'?)

I think it is to do with size…

As I seem to have spent my entire adult life explaining... it's not all about size!

Nah, I don't know why people generally use 'boat' rather than 'ship' for this work, but they do. I think 'vessel' is a better term but it's a lot of typing each time. Certainly in professional reports 'vessel' is used.

That cabin looks pretty nice.

You will soon be back into the swing of working but it must be hard to get going again after all that time off.

It has been very hard to get into work mode again after 7 months in Isaan spending most of my time with a 10 year-old and a pack of dogs... and they're not the brightest of dogs either. However it's amazing how quickly you adapt and now that I'm gradually catching up on sleep it's all coming back to me. I may even be productive this shift and after only 5 days since leaving home it's already a distant memory... and the feeling of being baking hot and constantly sweating my balls off is already hard to imagine.

And the cabin is fine!

Single man cabin, single bunk, couch, coffee table, a fucking tv and an ensuite. Even scored a window!

Nice digs man, tough at the top...

Is that a single berth this time Mendip? Think last time you were sharing?

Sadly my single cabin isn't due to any status and I'm far from the top... freelancers generally get the worst of accommodation. Shared cabins are no longer allowed due to Covid measures so I guess that's one good consequence.

New onsigners have to wear a mask around the boat apart from at work stations and are banned from the gym for the first week (oh dear...). We also have a separate table in the mess and are not allowed to use 'public' toilets but have to go back to our cabin each time. There really is no escaping the effects of Covid.

All said and done though I've fallen on my feet here... there are two senior staff geos onboard, one of whom I've known for around 25 years and the other I helped train up in the early 2000s. This has given me some latitude for a slow start while my brain gradually cranks itself into gear.

I used to work on this boat fairly regularly up until 2019 and I probably know around half the crew well... and I worked a lot with the Client rep back in the 90s so all in all it's good to catch up.

I also found a mug I'd left in an office draw a couple of years ago. I bought this in Tesco Lotus in Korat and it was a real bonus to find as I forgot to bring one with me. The mugs on boats are never big enough.

I'll try and take on board the mug's message as I start each night shift for the many weeks to come...

[Joe 90]

Nice one Mendip!

[David48atTD]

As I seem to have spent my entire adult life explaining... it's not all about size!

My sister used to say, "short and thick does the trick" ... maybe that's why Luigi was moderately successful with the Lassies?

Praise Jesus

[David48atTD]

New onsigners have to wear a mask around the boat apart from at work stations and are banned from the gym for the first week (oh dear...).

Speaking of which ... the initial weigh-in to be completed (and photoed) within your first week

[ootai]

Won't be doing this again until this nonsense is under control. As much as a pain in the ass this has been, I walked my daughter down the aisle and watched her get married.

JPPR2
I absolutely agree that this whole thing has got out of control but kudos to you for jumping through the hoops to be present at your daughter's wedding.
It is (hopefully) only a once in a lifetime event and you would have never forgiven yourself if you hadn't been there with/for her.

I have nothing but admiration for both you and Mendip being able to put up with the stress of travelling under the current conditions and requirements.
I just do not have the tolerance for being able to be in such a stressful environment.
I haven't been back to Australia for 2.5 years and my grandkids are growing so fast that I am starting to think they might be teenagers (now 5 and 7) before I get to see them again.

Hopefully you have a safe an uneventful trip albeit long trip home.

[ootai]

Mendip
Sounds like you have scored with this work in that you are working for/with a couple of people you know well.
What has been their reaction to you sorry state regarding your toes?

As for it being hot here well yesterday not so much it rained, heavily at times, all day yesterday so if it also rained at your place I am sure the pond is now truly full if not overflowing.
Have to watch out if there is lot's of water around as the fish start migrating and the pla chon end up back in your pond.

I hope it is all worth it in the end.

Also you mentioned that you are trying to decide whether to stay on the vessel/boat/ship when they transport it to the Black sea or go and see your Mum.
Do they plan on stopping at a port along the way? If they do maybe you can do both i.e. short trip to see your Mum and then rejoin the boat when they call into the port .

Keep up the posting it gives me something to read and smile about while I sit here with my morning coffee.

[Stumpy]

Lots of happiness and a bit of sadness?

Congratulations on your daughters wedding !!

congrats, a special moment.

jumping through the hoops to be present at your daughter's wedding.
It is (hopefully) only a once in a lifetime event and you would have never forgiven yourself if you hadn't been there with/for her.

Thanks you guys. It was a special moment and as ootai said, had I opted out, I would have carried a huge regret. So the pain and stress was absolutely worth it. Once in a lifetime.



What is such a contrast is I am seeing my Mom who was diagnosed with stage 3 Pancreatic cancer. 3 months ago. So I have been balancing my time between both with very different emotions....

[lom]

I think 'vessel' is a better term but it's a lot of typing each time.

easier to type, look at your keyboard. esse

[Mendip]

^ True... but look where the 'v' and 'l' are!

^^ Difficult time's I'm sure JP, but congrats on your daughter.

Living the other side of the world from elderly parents is difficult enough at the best of times... but when there's sickness involved along with trying to travel under Covid restrictions it must be awful.

Hang in there...

[lom]

What has been their reaction to you sorry state regarding your toes?

I guess they keep distance

[OhOh]

I walked my daughter down the aisle and watched her get married

An impossible day to miss.

Congratulations to your daughter and new son-in-law.

May all you travellers, physically and throughout life's journey, find "fair winds and following seas".

[OhOh]

New onsigners have to wear a mask around the boat apart from at work stations and are banned from the gym for the first week (oh dear...). We also have a separate table in the mess and are not allowed to use 'public' toilets but have to go back to our cabin each time. There really is no escaping the effects of Covid.

Has the ship's surgeon signed you off yet?

[Mendip]

My sister used to say, "short and thick does the trick" ...

Wow... that's quite an admission mate! Are you sure you haven't got some Welsh blood in you?

Speaking of which ... the initial weigh-in to be completed (and photoed) within your first week

Yeah... I can play along. I'm so certain that I'm gonna lose a truckload of weight this trip that I have no problem showing a start of trip weigh-in.

But lockdown hasn't been kind to me...

We had a gentle rolling swell this morning so I got meself up to the scales outside of the heli-lounge.

The scales seemed to think my weight ranged between this on the downward roll...



But sadly this on the upward roll...



I'll take the mid-point as 107kg. I was wearing heavy clothes today and I had a load of stuff in my pockets but I guess that doesn't matter so long as I wear the same stuff for the end of trip weigh-in. I'm hoping for low 90s.

[Mendip]

Mendip
Sounds like you have scored with this work in that you are working for/with a couple of people you know well.
What has been their reaction to you sorry state regarding your toes?

Also you mentioned that you are trying to decide whether to stay on the vessel/boat/ship when they transport it to the Black sea or go and see your Mum.
Do they plan on stopping at a port along the way? If they do maybe you can do both i.e. short trip to see your Mum and then rejoin the boat when they call into the port .

Ootai, it's always good to join a boat and find there's a few old mates to catch up with... softens the blow a bit.

I mentioned my poor toes at breakfast this morning but no-one seemed all that interested...

Staying on for the transit to the Black Sea may not may not be an option. The boat will spend a couple of days in her Norwegian home port for some maintenance and then head direct to Istanbul. I either stay on for the duration or leave and rejoin in Turkey. The pros of staying onboard are obviously an extra couple of weeks money and avoiding flights during Covid and also avoiding the potential of a sudden lockdown stranding me in the UK and missing out on the Black Sea work... I don't take anything for granted at the moment. The cons of staying onboard are missing out on a visit to see my mum in the UK and hopefully getting a Pfizer jab... also staying onboard would turn this into a 14 week trip which is an awfully long time on a boat.

I'll see how I feel... I'll probably fly back to the UK anyway at the end of this trip as I can't imagine trying to sort out a CoE from Turkey straight from demob.

Has the ship's surgeon signed you off yet?

No ship's surgeon these days OhOh but we do have a medic. I decided against causing any problems and neglected to tell him about my toe, or rather toes, as I don't think the right big toe nail will be staying attached much longer. If it does come off I'll probably bury it at sea rather than take it home with me.


This campaign of work started at the Heidrun Field, 175km off the coast of mid-Norway. Heidrun was the world's first floating, concrete hulled, tension leg platform and has been producing since 1995. We have 350m water depth at the Heidrun Field.

That's Heidrun off our stern early this morning.



We were surveying infield flowlines connecting an array of satellite wells to Heidrun's risers.

And off our bows was this drilling rig... there's still more development happening at this 26 year-old field.



We had to break off work some distance from the drilling rig... they're a lot bigger and more expensive than us and don't like anything coming too close.



So off we went to Heidrun to make use of such good weather to complete our workscope within the platform 500 metre safety zone.



There really is no escaping work when you're on a boat... this was the view from the mess this morning. Alternate chairs are bagged off as a Covid measure during meal times.

[bsnub]

Oh yes, I like to see more pics inside the ship.

[Saint Willy]

Pretty pics, but it’s still summer, eh? If it were me id skip the uk and take the work…