So how is your Saturday going ?

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sat Nov 21, 2020 10:45 am

Well this has been a solidly fun week ...

And has been a real fun day so far. Anyone else having this much fun ?

more fun on the waves

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sat Nov 21, 2020 11:00 am

And here's one sent by a colleague on a Romanian rig site . They appear to be having a good week to.

Look closely, see if you can see the obvious problem ......

Post by **Megacruncher** » Sat Nov 21, 2020 11:48 am

Well it's a little bit chilly & slightly breezey with a light drizzle in Edinburgh. My wee dog was not at all keen on his morning walk. He really should learn to count his blessings.
Stay safe Alez & I hope you get back to Terra Firma soon.

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Sat Nov 21, 2020 1:00 pm

If I were there I'd need to be on scopolamine, dramamine and a few other 'amine meds.

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sat Nov 21, 2020 2:09 pm

scole of TSBT wrote: ↑Sat Nov 21, 2020 1:00 pm If I were there I'd need to be on scopolamine, dramamine and a few other 'amine meds.

It's really picked up some more now. Somewhere around 50 odd feet waves. You can really feel the G force as you walk, stagger and bounce down the corridors when the rig is on the rise. I'd post another vid but there's too much spray on the windows now to be able to see much. Plus it's getting dark. Bloody noisy when a big one hits as well. Yo ho ho and all that pirate milarky

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Sat Nov 21, 2020 3:11 pm

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 5:13 pm

I now currently have the pleasure of being trapped outside the UK in Romania. Think I'm going to be here quite a while. The joys of life.

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 8:23 pm

Did you fail quarantine?

Post by **Dirk Broer** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 8:37 pm

Alez wrote: ↑Wed Jan 06, 2021 5:13 pm I now currently have the pleasure of being trapped outside the UK in Romania. Think I'm going to be here quite a while. The joys of life.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Romania,....

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Thu Jan 07, 2021 9:31 am

scole of TSBT wrote: ↑Wed Jan 06, 2021 8:23 pm Did you fail quarantine?

No, quarantine in the designated hotel was horrendous as you know. Currently offshore. All forms of problems on rig is delaying job.
Due to ' covid ' UK is subject to multiple travel bans both into and out of the country. It's a mess. I doubt I'll see home before end February. Currently I have been home for 2 weeks in the last 9.

Post by **Miklos M** » Thu Jan 07, 2021 3:41 pm

How are the vaccinations progressing in Romania? Just curious since here in FL it is more of a joke than progress.

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Thu Jan 07, 2021 3:43 pm

Miklos M wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 3:41 pm How are the vaccinations progressing in Romania? Just curious since here in FL it is more of a joke than progress.

No idea. Don't think they have started as they have pretty much not started in any EU country.

Post by **Dirk Broer** » Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:01 pm

Alez wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 3:43 pm
Miklos M wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 3:41 pm How are the vaccinations progressing in Romania? Just curious since here in FL it is more of a joke than progress.
No idea. Don't think they have started as they have pretty much not started in any EU country.

Vaccination has started in almost all EU countries and in the UK. Israel leads however, at least on January 4th:

Post by **Miklos M** » Sat Jan 09, 2021 10:36 pm

Thank you for the post.

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 6:35 am

The Romanian odyssey continues. They flipped one of my tools off the crane, into concrete at -10 deg C almost hitting one of their guys with said 600kg tool. Couple of hundred thousand dollars tool wrecked, their guy very lucky and I'm fielding questions on why there is not a replacement tool out on the rig site !!!! PRIORITIES GUYS .

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 3:25 pm

This rather shiny dude on his equally shiny steed is Micheal the Brave .

Real name Mihai Viteazu(l) or Mihai Bravu in English Micheal the Brave

He was the last of the line of House of Drăculești,
The third ruler of that house was one Vlad III Drăculea, otherwise known as Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula.
There you go, a history lesson on a Saturday.

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 4:11 pm

Cool! Met any vampires while you've been there? How do they feel about that story?

Post by **Miklos M** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 4:24 pm

Much more peaceful here, no tools are getting dropped, but the monarch butterflies are coming back since it is getting warmer. We had a deer family here in the back yard last night. Bambi had been coming here all alone for a long time each morning and evening, but I guess the older folks want to see if it was safe where she hangs out. Will try to post picture in a couple of days.

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 6:05 pm

@Miklos M Seen quite a few deer in the forest round the current rigsite which is cool, lots of abandoned dogs too, which is definitely not cool. Last site I was on I basically just fed the dogs all my lunch every day. Dumping doggo's is not cool.
@scole of TSBT pretty safe from the vampires in Targoviste, don't think they venture this far south anymore. Now when I was up in Transylvania it was a different story. Churches every couple of hundred meters. They take having shelter from vampires very seriously in that province

Post by **Miklos M** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 8:05 pm

When I was growing up in Hungary it was not the vampires we were worried about, but the AVO(Hungarian Secret Police) and the Russians, lol.

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 8:20 pm

@Miklos M I lived in Russia for 3 years, in Siberia of all places.

Post by **Miklos M** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 10:40 pm

Alez wrote: ↑Sat Feb 06, 2021 8:20 pm @Miklos M I lived in Russia for 3 years, in Siberia of all places.

I assume that was your choosing?

I hope so, but I would still prefer Florida instead, lol.

Where in Siberia?

Post by **SolidAir79** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 11:34 pm

Crap in Forfar at the moment weather wise, temp's keep bouncing so pish sleet lol ,Still working as we make masks/ppe.

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sun Feb 07, 2021 9:35 am

Miklos M wrote: ↑Sat Feb 06, 2021 10:40 pm
Alez wrote: ↑Sat Feb 06, 2021 8:20 pm @Miklos M I lived in Russia for 3 years, in Siberia of all places.
I assume that was your choosing? I hope so, but I would still prefer Florida instead, lol.
Where in Siberia?

Mainly in Kogalym with some time in Surgut, Tyumen etc.

@SolidAir79 looks like I'm getting better weather here at the moment than home then. That said, I've seen my family for 10 days now since mid November.

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sat Apr 03, 2021 4:20 pm

Well another Saturday, another day in paradise that is the Romanian oil fields.

Post by **SolidAir79** » Sat Apr 03, 2021 4:37 pm

Sunny here but a bit chilly expecting snow in the coming week, just been out in the park training with one of my students since it was nice out

Post by **pinhodecarlos** » Sat Apr 03, 2021 6:17 pm

Cleaning house in the morning. Walk on the park afternoon and now reading Robert Harris “An Officer and a Spy”.
Tomorrow morning collect an apple cake for the Sunday Easter lunch.

Post by **Miklos M** » Sat Apr 03, 2021 6:55 pm

Got up early and got in a 63 mile exercise bike ride. Worked in the butterfly garden and then got good help from my guru. Now eating pizza and watching Tank Commandos on Tubi.

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 7:17 am

It would appear that spending 12 hours parked in front of a computer screen on a Romanian rigsite is not a popular way to spend Saturday.

A happy and peaceful Easter Sunday to you all.

Post by **SolidAir79** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 7:25 am

I'm off to work in a textile factory for 12 hrs i suppose I do get to come home at the end of the day

Happy Easter all.

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 7:45 am

SolidAir79 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 7:25 am I'm off to work in a textile factory for 12 hrs i suppose I do get to come home at the end of the day
Happy Easter all.

I hope that gig is on double time

Post by **SolidAir79** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 9:48 am

I'm afraid not

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 1:20 pm

Oh , and in 2 hours time it's my 29th wedding anniversary. I'd have got far less for murder etc ....

Post by **Miklos M** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 1:27 pm

Alez wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 1:20 pm Oh , and in 2 hours time it's my 29th wedding anniversary. I'd have got far less for murder etc ....

Congratulations Alez. 29 years, that is very impressive. When you get home take her

Post by **Miklos M** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 1:30 pm

I just got done with my bike ride and now heading to see how my monarch butterflies and caterpillars are doing. Hopefully doing a little good for pollination.

Post by **SolidAir79** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 1:48 pm

Congratulations Alez

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 2:45 pm

Alez wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 1:20 pm Oh , and in 2 hours time it's my 29th wedding anniversary. I'd have got far less for murder etc ....

I cried on my 20th anniversary and my wife ask why. I told her about the time her father caught me sneaking out of her room early one morning and told me if I didn't marry her he would have me put away for 20 years. I would have been freed that day.

Post by **Miklos M** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 5:27 pm

scole of TSBT wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 2:45 pm
Alez wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 1:20 pm Oh , and in 2 hours time it's my 29th wedding anniversary. I'd have got far less for murder etc ....
I cried on my 20th anniversary and my wife ask why. I told her about the time her father caught me sneaking out of her room early one morning and told me if I didn't marry her he would have me put away for 20 years. I would have been freed that day.

How did your wife take that?

Post by **PecosRiverM** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 8:27 pm

I like that one (even tho it hits close to home)

My wife has been married 32 years.. (Heck I'm not even that old)..

j/k I'm almost as Old as David..

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 9:15 pm

scole of TSBT wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 2:45 pm
Alez wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 1:20 pm Oh , and in 2 hours time it's my 29th wedding anniversary. I'd have got far less for murder etc ....
I cried on my 20th anniversary and my wife ask why. I told her about the time her father caught me sneaking out of her room early one morning and told me if I didn't marry her he would have me put away for 20 years. I would have been freed that day.

Yeah, men can be funny about their daughters. I remember one date night I had the wife home 10 minutes late. The father marched out the house, ripped the car door open, ordered the missus into the house and slammed the car door shut. What was strange was he was the Flight Sergeant in charge of the armory and that morning had signed me out my personal firearm and 200 rounds. I was left sitting in the car quite disconcerted that he trusted me with a lethal firearm but not his daughter

Post by **Miklos M** » Sun Apr 04, 2021 10:31 pm

Yeah, men can be funny about their daughters. I remember one date night I had the wife home 10 minutes late. The father marched out the house, ripped the car door open, ordered the missus into the house and slammed the car door shut. What was strange was he was the Flight Sergeant in charge of the armory and that morning had signed me out my personal firearm and 200 rounds. I was left sitting in the car quite disconcerted that he trusted me with a lethal firearm but not his daughter

Loved that one.

Post by **Dirk Broer** » Wed Apr 07, 2021 11:07 pm

PecosRiverM wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 8:27 pmMy wife has been married 32 years.. (Heck I'm not even that old)..

My wife has just been married a month, but I feel older....

P.S. We're living together for almost 40 years now, children (36 and 32 now) were witness for the wedding last month..

Post by **SolidAir79** » Wed Apr 07, 2021 11:34 pm

Dirk Broer wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 11:07 pm
PecosRiverM wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 8:27 pmMy wife has been married 32 years.. (Heck I'm not even that old)..
My wife has just been married a month, but I feel older....

P.S. We're living together for almost 40 years now, children (36 and 32 now) were witness for the wedding last month..

Did 4 die

hope they didn't

Awesome congratulations I'm in a non married relationship 21 years now we might bite the bullet yet

Post by **Miklos M** » Sun Apr 11, 2021 3:35 pm

I know it is a lighter fare than a marriage, but I had 1 butterfly born yesterday and she is happily in the butterfly garden.
Also THREE more today, monarch triplets. They are getting ready to join in the fun as soon as their wings dry. They were born an hour ago.

Post by **Dirk Broer** » Sun Apr 11, 2021 9:01 pm

I opened a butterfly hotel last summer. So far, no guests...
I had better luck with one for bees, ladybirds and earwigs.

Post by **Miklos M** » Sun Apr 11, 2021 10:27 pm

Dirk Broer wrote: ↑Sun Apr 11, 2021 9:01 pm I opened a butterfly hotel last summer. So far, no guests...
I had better luck with one for bees, ladybirds and earwigs.

I had 60 milkweed plants planted in my front yard and I have 4 monarchs, also I take in the weak looking caterpillars and raise them in my caterpillar hospital one by one. I have currently 4 in chrysalis stage and two are thinking about it.
We are having a thunderstorm so afterwards I will check the grounds and plants for new patients. But they are very hardy except for the predators that like to eat them.
What kind of plants do you have?

Post by **SolidAir79** » Sun Apr 11, 2021 10:44 pm

I get Monarch's every year in my dojo i try to set them free i guess they like the enviroment?

Post by **Miklos M** » Sun Apr 11, 2021 11:08 pm

SolidAir79 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 11, 2021 10:44 pm I get Monarch's every year in my dojo i try to set them free i guess they like the enviroment?

I think it is the training they like,

with all the predators they want to be ready.

We need monarchs and bees to pollinate. No pollination no food.
With the storm almost over I found a tiny caterpillar, must have been born this morning from the egg I saw 3 days ago layed by her Momma.

Post by **scole of TSBT** » Sun Apr 11, 2021 11:25 pm

@Miklos M you should post pics in your blog thread of all the butterflies and other wildlife in your yard.
Miklos' Place

Alez · Post by **Alez** » Mon Apr 12, 2021 1:57 am

I normally have a ton of monarchs from the huge nettle patch next to the horse school. We also normally have a decent selection of cabbage whites as well, though as a kid I must admit to slaughtering thousands of caterpillars from the cabbage patch . The Buddlia ( butterfly ) bushes seem to help a lot in my garden. Of course the butterflys do have to run the gauntlet of the large amounts of freeloader birds I seem to support and all the bats that live in my loft. My favourite though are the jewel wasps that hatch out of the crevices in the house walls every year.
On an other note, it's past Saturday, but that was spent traveling. This may be a damp and dreary island, but after 4 months, by god it feels good to be home !!!