Weeks and weeks fitting a drainage system

The car dumper is running but we are still fitting a multi million dollar drainage system.. Involves 10 men, a crane and weeks in a 3 EWP's (Elevated working platforms)... Mixed with a bit of dust as iron ore is being dumped from above... 3 different machines in the air. Each requires a spotter.. someone on the ground watching barricaded drop zones.. and making sure that you are not running over or crashing into anything and capable of lowering you down if you are hurt... Remembering that we cannot drop anything... or big trouble, possibly a 'window seat"

The Gym

The Gym.. Another big demountable building...

 Impressive large gym that gets crowded straight after work. I go at 3.30am about 3 days a week to beat the crowds.... Boot camp does not exist here, so it is a rowing machine or a bicycle....Kinda boring.. Cannot do the cross-trainer or treadmill... Too noisy for me..

These is not a proper Gyms. There are trainers running classes and will advise if needed, but, they will not write programs or explain much. They look after staff on camp. We just sign a disclaimer stating that we are fit and injury free and will not sue them if we hurt ourselves.

So, YouTube and observing ot5 hers and I am an instant expert... Warm up and then start lifting things.. I am getting there. After 5 months, I am almost comfortable being here.

Consumable run

The township of Wickham is only a few kilometres away from camp. A population of about 2000+. It

Every Laundry has one. A breath test machine.
A quick check in the morning before you head
off to work if you think you may be close.

has a small shopping centre with a chemist, Post office, 2 take away shops and a Safety clothing shop...! There is a proper Safeway supermarket with a BWS bottle shop attached. The only bottle shop for miles.... With 3000 cashed up miners nearby, it is a winner...
 I decided to join in with "the usual suspects" on the twice weekly run. The bus roster is reconfigured on Tuesday and Friday afternoon so one minibus is dedicated to the consumable run.  Absolute genius...... The reason is to beat the 6 other minibuses, plethora of utes and private cars and one coach loaded with thirsty miners. The moment the bus stops, we all walk quickly to the bottle shop which is similar in layout to any other. Clean and well lit. The only difference is the verandah is steel security meshed with a staff member who controls numbers like a night club bouncer letting a person in as one exits. Yellow shirts with cartons move through swiftly as the line outside grows. As we walk out, the line inside is 30 deep and the same outside with more to come. It is a little frantic but controlled as workers triumphantly exit with their spoils.
A few head in to the supermarket to grab small items as some knock back 3 cans & 2 cigarettes and we are back in the bus. The selection of boutique beer is not as broad as at home.
Not a place for Beer Snobs like me...
Beer, mixed cans & wine can be bought at the wet mess in camp. The wet mess is usually open from 7 to 8 am (Night Shift) and 5.30 to 9.00 (no alcohol is sold between 6.45 to 7.30 so drinkers will have a break and get some food in their stomach. The rule of thumb is 9 before 9 (mid strengths) and you will blow zeros in the morning. I have not tested it as I know I would not be able to stand up.....
The only down side of buying at the wet mess. A six pack a day limit... Costs do not come down if you buy a six pack... So it gets expensive....

Feels like a holiday in the Tropics



A steel work bench cooking up in the sun

 It is starting to warm up. A week of 30 degrees and getting hotter and the heat is radiating off the rock walls and steel work benches. After two months of sipping water it is time to start drinking again. No more yellow water......... Must be clear..

2 umbrellas. Pina Colada please....!

Moved again. 3rd time in 6 months.

I am in the Donga marked with
the Blue Dot...
 

Made another move. The company is consolidating all personnel to one camp, so we packed up and moved within a day. I can now pack up a room in 1 hour and unpack in half an hour. We have moved to Birrabira Camp. A Rio Tinto camp adjacent to the work site. No more 70km drives any more. This camp holds 2400 FIFO workers. It has 2 large gyms, 2 large canteens and 2 large wet messes. It has a Medic on site and is meant to have really tough security. Answer back or argue with staff, especially security then "Window seat" for you. And it happened on the Sunday after a typical RDO Saturday night. A drunk bloke gave security a mouthful. Out on the 1.30 flight.......... NASA will not looking to employ this Rocket Scientist.....!
Look at the real estate. I know that you are jealous...


My verandah with the door open.
 

 


Peek into my room



My desk

My bed and fridge



Typical Cabins.



Lunch.... (In WA it is called "Crib".. Don't know why...)

At breakfast time there is a separate area in the canteen to make lunch.

This are will normally be swarming
with workers getting lunch.

You have access to bread and bread rolls, and cold meats and cheeses. Frozen pies, pasties etc. There are different types of salads (of which some combinations are really odd) and leftover meats and vegetables from the night before. Some camps have leftovers already in plastic containers ready to go. Usually, there are cakes and sweets and of course, plenty of chopped up melons and whole fruit. It is pretty simple and does not vary a lot. After 4 weeks you get very tired of the same foods day after day. But, generally it is as healthy as you want it to be. Keeping in mind that all of this food travels from Perth, which is 2 days on the road. So things don't seem as crisp and fresh as hoped..

My Crib. Healthy in comparison to my fellow workers

Fly out day....

5 weeks and 3 days this time..... Too bloody long....! Trying to align my break with school holidays. I will be home for 10 days though. Most companies allow you to manipulate your length of roster a little. Some do not...
We work 4 weeks on and 1 week off, or 5 weeks on and 9 days off. We fly on our own time.
This is how my usual fly out day plays out.
3.30 am. Alarm... Usual breakfast, pack food and off to work.
4.45 am. Catch bus to work.
6.00 am. Prestart meeting and off to work Work until 9.00. Pack up.
9.30 am. Catch bus back to camp. Arrive 10.30 am. Final pack and shower
11.45 am. Pick up by bus to airport. Check baggage and time for a mid strength beer. First one in over a week. No heavy beer at Karratha airport. Just like the MCG. Too much trouble.....
1.15 pm board. 1.35 pm take off. 2 hr flight to Perth. Arrive 3.35pm
5.00 pm flight to Melbourne. 10.30 pm land.
11.30 pm - 12.00 am. Home in bed...
18.5 hours.....! But I am home...

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Thought I would throw in a picture of us core drilling into concrete.