One of the most interesting parts about working out on the rigs is the crazy/hilarious/random/unexpected things people say.
Here are a few of the gems...
NB: In the interests of privacy and what-not, I have referred to individuals as Old Mate, or OM for short.
Also, by way of announcement: I've joined the instagram bandwagon!
There are loads of rig photos that will be going up, so join me on the adventure...
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OM1 (speaking to a group of the rig fellas): Ohhhh we saw Yassmin pissed off last night! You should have seen the scowl on her face! She was talkin' all serious maaaan!
Me: Aw nah man, yeah I haven't gotten annoyed at anyone before, but I just had to say a few things.
OM1: Oh now you gotta be careful pissing you off ay! I wouldn't be messing with someone of your background, you're from all sorts of volatile places! (Turns to the crew). Oh I tell ya, you know you piss her off, then get in the car and it's like BOOM you're gooone!
(laughs)
OM1: Or it's like a bunch of IED's on the road back to camp or something to take care of ya hay...Nah, I wouldn't be wanting to be messing with Yassmin. Got that Egyptian and all that sorta crazy stuff in ya.
Everyone turns to look at me.
Me (at a little bit of a loss for a smart witty comment...): Ah, indeed. We be crazy...?
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One of my colleagues is a very Eastern European man who has lots of bits of wisdom to impart on everyone around him. This was a particularly funny piece of wisdom he imparted to a younger colleague on life, love and women...
OM: Look let me tell you something about marriage aye?
First three years is the fight for the boss, the second three years is the fight for equality (in the household, between the wife and the husband), and after that you just fight for survival! If any man tells you he wears the pants he is delusional. Women know us too well! They just somehow know. You know, if my wife comes in the room and says "we have to talk", well! It's not we who have to talk its she who has to talk! When women say they are the weaker sex, rubbish! They are winning! They are winning I tell you!
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OM: You know what I don't like? When people say things about life that sound great and hippy but don't actually mean anything. It's like that saying from Forest Gump. "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get..." or whatever it is.
Me: Yeah, it's a nice enough saying...?
OM: No! You never know what you're gona get maybe if you're illiterate! All you have to do is turn the box over and look at the map on the back and figure out which one you want! How does that saying make ANY sense?
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OM: I think I was a good dad. I said to my daughter: you do drugs, I kill you. Simple!
Hmm, I think a few 'CALD' (culturally and linguistically diverse) daughters could probably relate...
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'Tripping pipe' is the process of building up the drill string, or sending pipe down a hole that has been drilled (in or out, depending on what is going on). It's the essence of being a roughneck (one of the rig crew members). This particular old mate was trying to reinforce the fact that he thought I was a little too young.
OM: I used to trip pipe in Baghdad before you were in your dad's bag!
Very clever, I see what you did there...
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Have you heard any interesting bits of conversation lately?