Well, the good times never stop in the drilling world! This last week has included travelling to three different rig sites, driving for too many hours and even a rodeo somewhere in the middle! Spending all this time in this world does expose one to interesting conversations and lines though...and I thought they might be worth sharing :)
NB: Generally, each person is referred to as 'old mate', or OM for short. 'Old Mate' is Australian for 'that random dude', or someone whose name you have forgotten.
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Over the two way radio, two of my colleagues are catching up on the public truckers' channel:
OM 1: Where did you put the [xx piece of equipment]
OM 2: Oh I duno, do you want me to come and show you?
OM 1: Yeah, you should probably get over here.
OM 2: Do you miss me already do ya?
Random Truck Driver Sounding Annoyed: Do you guys want to get a channel?
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The explanation of the Pope-selection system:
Old Mate: When they get together to pick the pope, they just have a bit of the smoke, and then when it's really good and they've decided, they'll have a bit of that white smoke... that's what you see.
Me: Oh, that...makes perfect sense... (!)
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I work with an Arab looking man who was on the rig floor. One roughneck decided to call him from my shack.
Roughneck: Rig floor, do you copy? [No reply]
He looks at me and grins. Oh dear, I thought.
Roughneck: Rig Floor? Durka Durka Jihad Jihad! [Looks over and laughs. I'm confused. Does he know I am Arab too? Am I supposed to reply?]
Me: You got it wrong; I think you mean Durka Durka Mohammed Jihad...?
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Another lady visited the site, a lovely blonde engineer. It was hilarious watching all the guys register a woman on site. Later on, I had a conversation to one of the crew about the whole 'affair'...
OM 1: Oh did you see the chick come on site? There were eyes popping out everywhere!
Me: Ha! That's great. Did you guys get a good look did you?
OM 1 (seemingly a little dismayed): No, I didn't get a good enough look. I will next time though...
Me: It's getting crazy now there are two of us women on site ay!
OM 1 (looks at me with a slightly worried expression): I know. It's so distracting. All of us just go a bit silly really. Even when you came on we went a little silly.
Me: Don't you guys get over it once you know who we are and that?
The two crew members looked at each other.
OM 1 and 2: Nope.
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While at the Rodeo (this isn't a rig conversation, but it was funny...)
Announcer: Racing is not discriminiative, it's speedway.
and lastly...
OM 1: Oh I wish I didn't have a heart problem.
Me: Oh dear, that's terrible. What's up?
OM 2: Love is a real killer you know!
Me: -.-
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