offshore diaries ----- "WOW"
August 26, 2008
It has been a couple of months since I saw the real glow of the sun, something what people call ‘sunshine’ back in my country. But where the sun doesn’t shine, the sea rises and fall, reminding me of the fact that the force of sun is still having its effect on me. 20m of heave in the sea, 80 knots of wind and the rain almost falling up to the sky makes me feel so small, scary and nauseated. The small oil rig (commonly known as floater) somewhere in North Sea sways back and forth as the pendulum upside down, reaching almost the limits of its design. And all these events lead to just one word on the mouth of every working person on the rig -- “WOW”. I know you must be thinking what so amazing about being trapped in the middle of sea in such horribly bad weather. You are right, it’s not amazing. The truth is that ‘WOW’ is just an abbreviation for ‘Waiting On Weather’, quite ironic! I guess someone with a sarcastically great sense of humor must have invented it. But the whole situation also leads to some hilarious events, but only a person like me is worthy enough to even notice them. Let me illustrate with some examples. Like this old person in the galley (eating place) finished his food and gets up to put down the dirty plates near the washer and the trajectory of the path that he takes is almost what a snake would take or a drunken moron. Thanks to the sway of the rig back and forth. I mean leave the old man for god sake. Second event: Some people who are WOW, decide to pass their time by playing dart board. Here is the turn of the guy with big belly (and look what! He is wearing these slippery bathroom slippers). He takes the stance, ready to throw the dart to the board and by the look on the faces of his teammates; I bet they are counting on him. But the sea has its own thought about it. Here comes the great wave throwing the rig almost out of its place. Though the rig is good enough to hold itself but this guy with slippery slippers is not. He moves his arm to throw but at the same instant he is slipping backward as if the dart board is saying “Come on fat guy take a step back. You ain’t good enough to throw anything at me” And before anybody could do anything, his back leg hits the hand rail of the sofa and the inevitable fall happens. Laughter ensues. Third event: Bunch of guys are taking a coffee break. Everybody has its own cup of coffee on the table. But two of the guys are really spellbound by this news on the TV. Here comes the heave again, the guys cup moves to the other end of the table where I am sitting. His eyes still on the tv, and his hand trying to grab the cup. He tries twice J but no success, the cup has betrayed him and has walked to the other side. He is surprised and I am laughing with what just happened. He doesn’t understand and shakes his head and pours himself another cup of coffee. Fourth incident: This one involves me. I am watching this nice movie in my room. The TV in the room is mounted on the wall. There is a nice action scene going and the final battle is about to end and suddenly the TV sway, rotates on its pivot against my viewing angle. Don’t need to mention why this happened, but for a moment it seemed that the TV doesn’t want me to see the climax as if it is saying to me that he has seen enough of my stupid face. Later that evening I was laughing at the childishness of my mind but it was then that I realized that howsoever dull and lull the world of oil rig is, I have the capability to enjoy the tiniest hint of laughter that surrounds me. Evolution does exist!!
It has been a couple of months since I saw the real glow of the sun, something what people call ‘sunshine’ back in my country. But where the sun doesn’t shine, the sea rises and fall, reminding me of the fact that the force of sun is still having its effect on me. 20m of heave in the sea, 80 knots of wind and the rain almost falling up to the sky makes me feel so small, scary and nauseated. The small oil rig (commonly known as floater) somewhere in North Sea sways back and forth as the pendulum upside down, reaching almost the limits of its design. And all these events lead to just one word on the mouth of every working person on the rig -- “WOW”. I know you must be thinking what so amazing about being trapped in the middle of sea in such horribly bad weather. You are right, it’s not amazing. The truth is that ‘WOW’ is just an abbreviation for ‘Waiting On Weather’, quite ironic! I guess someone with a sarcastically great sense of humor must have invented it. But the whole situation also leads to some hilarious events, but only a person like me is worthy enough to even notice them. Let me illustrate with some examples. Like this old person in the galley (eating place) finished his food and gets up to put down the dirty plates near the washer and the trajectory of the path that he takes is almost what a snake would take or a drunken moron. Thanks to the sway of the rig back and forth. I mean leave the old man for god sake. Second event: Some people who are WOW, decide to pass their time by playing dart board. Here is the turn of the guy with big belly (and look what! He is wearing these slippery bathroom slippers). He takes the stance, ready to throw the dart to the board and by the look on the faces of his teammates; I bet they are counting on him. But the sea has its own thought about it. Here comes the great wave throwing the rig almost out of its place. Though the rig is good enough to hold itself but this guy with slippery slippers is not. He moves his arm to throw but at the same instant he is slipping backward as if the dart board is saying “Come on fat guy take a step back. You ain’t good enough to throw anything at me” And before anybody could do anything, his back leg hits the hand rail of the sofa and the inevitable fall happens. Laughter ensues. Third event: Bunch of guys are taking a coffee break. Everybody has its own cup of coffee on the table. But two of the guys are really spellbound by this news on the TV. Here comes the heave again, the guys cup moves to the other end of the table where I am sitting. His eyes still on the tv, and his hand trying to grab the cup. He tries twice J but no success, the cup has betrayed him and has walked to the other side. He is surprised and I am laughing with what just happened. He doesn’t understand and shakes his head and pours himself another cup of coffee. Fourth incident: This one involves me. I am watching this nice movie in my room. The TV in the room is mounted on the wall. There is a nice action scene going and the final battle is about to end and suddenly the TV sway, rotates on its pivot against my viewing angle. Don’t need to mention why this happened, but for a moment it seemed that the TV doesn’t want me to see the climax as if it is saying to me that he has seen enough of my stupid face. Later that evening I was laughing at the childishness of my mind but it was then that I realized that howsoever dull and lull the world of oil rig is, I have the capability to enjoy the tiniest hint of laughter that surrounds me. Evolution does exist!!
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8:13 AM
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