h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Dear Smudger,,


A terrifying tale most beautifully written. Congratulations. I had an idea that being on an oil rig was scary but this is the first time that I have actually KNOWN how terrifying it was.

I am going to send it to my son in law in Johannesburg. He worked on the rigs for nearly a year whilst he was in England. He now goes out into the wild in Africa!! When the children were small he and my daughter used to go to the Okavango Swamps and the children used to sleep inside their Land Rover and he and my daughter slept on top of it!!. They are very happily married, and my two granddaughters have already given me three great grandchildren. So obviously their diet of fear did them good!!

Congraulations again.

With great respect.

Also Ran1

Hi AR1, Thanks for that, your son in law sound like the adventerous type, I like that
Im a grandad myself now 4 grandchildren!, makes me feel old but I wouldnt change a thing if I had my time over again

As a mate of mine once said, "Its only when you come close to death, that you appreciate life itself" he was right of course, pity he is not with us any more

I had a similar experience with a chopper when I was being flown out to an oil rig in the Caspian Sea, when I wroked in Russia. Difference was this one never had any doors or seat belts!!

Was your son inlaw working out in the gas fields form Morcombe? or did he work in the North sea off Aberdeen? The flights from Aberdeen were a lot longer. Nice to hear from you any way
Smudger,

Dear Smudger,

I am sending him the copy of your writing asap and also with your reply so that he can tell us where he was working. As far as I know he worked on them for a year.

In haste

also Ran1

I look forward to his reply Also Ran1
I worked offshore for around 4 years off and on, conditions were at their worst in the early 80s which was my first time.The accommodation was "basic" to say the least! They did improve a lot later, and by the 90s the accommodation was luxery compared to the early days. The work and the risks stayed the same?
Smudger,