Continuing with our real life FIFO here is another fantastic FIFO life,
A FEW PERSONAL THINGS
I AM MARRIED WITH 3 TEENAGERS .DAUGHTER 19 STUDYING AT TAFE ,SON 15 AT A CATHOLIC COLLEGE AND THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER 13 ALSO AT A CATHOLIC COLLEGE.
FIRST STARTED OFFSHORE 2 ½ YEARS AGO AS THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF THINGS WERENT TOO GOOD AT TRHAT STAGE.NOT QUITE SURE IF RIGHT FOR THE FAMILY AS TOUGH TO BEGIN WITH BUT NOW I THINK THINGS HAVE SORTED THEMSELVES OUT.
THANKFULLY I HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MY PARTNER WHO DOES AS EXCEPTIONAL JOB WHIST I AM AWAY.DOING FIFO HAS GIVEN US FINANCIAL SECURITY FAR GREATER THAN A JOB ONSHORE AND HOPE TO CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER 14 YEARS UNTIL I RETIRE ,BODY AND MIND WILLING
Was there a reason you started FIFO? I.e. deposit for a house, lifestyle. Or where you single what was your reaction when telling women about your roster? Did you talk about it before starting FIFO (as a couple) or the relationship? How long has FIFO been part of your relationship? Was there a time limit? Has that happened?
I FIRST STARTED OFFSHORE APPROX 2 ½ YEARS AGO ON A SEMI SUB ON NW SHELF AND WHEN COMING IN TO LAND ON MY FIRST SWING I WONDERED WHAT ON EARTH WAS I DOING HERE AT MY AGE AS WASN’T FAR FROM FIFTY YEARS OF AGE.WE HAVE A VERY GOOD FRIEND WHO HAS WORKED OFFSHORE FOR APPROX 20 YEARS AND SHE HAD TOLD ME TOO MANY YEARS AGO TO GET OUT THERE AS MONEY WAS GOOD ETC ETC.
FINALLY DID IT BUT ABOUT 10 YEARS TOO LATE.IF I DIDN’T DO IT I WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT IT SITTING IN MY ROCKING CHAIR SAYING ‘WHAT IF’.MY FIRST JOB WASN’T IDEAL AND NOT AS WELL PAID AS MOST PEOPLE MAY THINK IN OFFSHORE TERMS BUT AS MY WIFE AND I DECIDED THAT IF I DIDN’T TAKE THE OPPURTUNITY NOW I MAY NEVER GET ANOTHER CHANCE.
OFFSHORE WAS THE CHOICE AS THE FINANCIAL FUTURE ONSHORE WAS PRETTY DISMAL TO SAY THE LEAST.IT DID TAKE ME 18 MONTHS TO GET MY FIRST JOB THOUGH AND DIDN’T HAVE SOMEONE WHO KNEW SOMEONE TO HELP ME LAND THAT FIRST JOB WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT OFFSHORE.
WE HAVE FRIENDS WHO ALWAYS ASK WILL I ONLY DO IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BUT THE REPLY IS AS LONG AS THE BODY CAN DO IT AND WORK AVAILABLE I WILL KEEP SHOWING UP AT THE HELI PAD.MAYBE A BIT LATE IN LIFE TO START BUT OFFSHORE HELPS ME SECURE MY PRESENT AND FUTURE .
What do you like best about FIFO?
WITHOUT A DOUBT THE BEST THING ABOUT FIFO IS THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF IT ALL AND OF COURSE THE MORE WE EARN THE MORE WE SPEND.PERSONALLY I THINK MY FAMILY HAS A PRETTY GOOD WAY OFF LIFE AT PRESENT AND HAVE NO REGRETS ABOUT CHANGING OUR WAY OF LIFE.IT ALSO GIVES ME MORE TIME AT HOME AND SO FAR HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO BE ON LEAVE THE SAME TIME AS MY 3 KIDS ARE ON SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.UNFORTUNATELY NOT HOME FOR XMAS BUT 28 DAYS AT HOME IN JANUARY WITH THE FAMILY IS NOT A BAD REWARD.HAD NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WORKING AS A COOK IN THE REAL WORLD
What do you find so-so/tricky/hilariously bad about FIFO? What would change if you had a magic wand?
THINGS THAT ARE SO SO /TRICKY AND HILARIUOSLY BAD ARE THINGS THAT ONE MUST KEEP UNDER ONES HAT AS I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT TELLING THE TRUTH OFFSHORE CAN LEAD TO FINDING THAT SOMETIMES THE TRUTH ISNT ALWAYS WHAT IS NEEDED TO BE HEARD.
IF I HAD THAT MAGIC WAND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WAVED TO GET THE TATTSLOTTO NUMBERS IN THE 100 MILLION DRAW.STILL WAITING FOR THEM TO RING.TILL THEY DO I WILL KEEP TURNING UP AT THE HELIPAd
How do you and your wife fit marriage into the balance? Do you think FIFO makes you be more romantic? Do you put more of an effort into your marriage? What do you do to maintain your marriage to keep it healthy? (ie communication, date nights)
FITTING A MARRIAGE INTO ALL THIS I SUPPOSE IS TAKEN FOR GRANTED.ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER[HOPEFULLY]I HAVE BEEN TOLD I DON’T HAVE A ROMANTIC BONE IN MY BODY,STOPPED BUYING ROSES ON VALENTINES DAY A LONG TIME AGO.AS MY WIFE WORKS FULL TIME ITS PRETTY DIFFICULT TO SPEND A GREAT DEAL OFF XTRA TIME TOGETHER WHEN ON LEAVE.KIDS STILL WANT TO COME WITH US TOO.TRY TO GET OUT FOR DINNER BY OURSELVES IF NOTHING ON WE HAVE TO ATTEND OR RUN SOMEONE HERE AND PICK THEM UP THERE.NOTHING CHANGES I GUESS WHEN IM HOME JUST AN XTRA PERSON TO DO THE TAXI RUN
Do you find you have trouble balancing your time off ie. You, wife and kids
TIME OFF DURING THE WEEK CAN BE SPENT WITH WHOEVER HASN’T GONE TOO SCHOOL,JOCK OUR JACK RUSSEL OR BY MYSELF AS I DON’T MIND MY OWN COMPANY.THE WEEKENDS ARE A DIFFERENT STORY OFCOURSE AND USUALLY A FEW XTRAS TO THROW IN AS WELL
How do you handle fitting back into routine? Dealing with discipline?
I FIND THAT I FIT INTO A ROUTINE VERY QUICKLY BUT FITTING IN SMOOTHLY TO THE FAMILIES ROUTINE IS A LITTLE BIT HARDER AS ITS THEIR ROUTINE FOR 28 DAYS OR SO THEN I APPEAR AND THROW A FAIRLY SIZABLE SPANNER IN THE WORKS.DISCIPLINE IS A TOUGH ONE -3 TEENAGERS WHO ARE GENERALLY PRETTY GOOD KIDS
How do you stay connected to your family when you’re away? Do you think the kids are okay with you going to work?
WHEN OFFSHORE I TRY AND KEEP MY ROUTINE AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE AND PHONE THE FAMILY AT LEAST ONCE A DAY AND WHEN AVAILABLE A COUPLE OF TIMES ON WEEKENDS.NOT ALWAYS MUCH TO SAY BUT HAVE TO KEEP OUR LIVES AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE.I DO LOOK FORWARD TO EMAILS FROM THE FAMILY BUT WORKING ON THAT ONE
Do you get lonely on the rig? What’s the toughest time for you? (If there is one)
THE LONELIEST I HAVE BEEN WAS ON MY FIRST SWING OFFSHORE AS I SURE DIDN’T KNOW IF I WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING BY LEAVING THE FAMILY AND BEING AWAY FOR 28 DAYS .TRHANKFULLY MY WIFE KNEW WHY I WAS DOING IT AND THE KIDS OLD ENOUGH TO HELP OUT AT HOME.I DON’T THINK ABOUT BEING AWAY FROM HOME UNTIL I GET TO HELIPORT AND THEN THERE IS NO WAY BACK.PLENTY OFF GOOD PEOPLE OFFSHORE TO KEEP US COMPANY.ITS TOUGH WHEN ANY OF KIDS ARE SICK AS IT THROWS A LOT OF PRESSURE ONTO MY WIFE WHO HANDLES IT VERY WELL .I DO MISS THE FAMILY EVERYDAY AND A PHONE CALL KEEPS ME ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW
How do you manage life away do you have a routine sleep, eating, exercise and personal space issues on the rig?
GENERALLY TAKES ME A COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET A ROUTINE BUT NOT QUITE SURE ABOUT A GOOD SLEEP PATTERN AS GENERALLY WORK NIGHTSHIFT.EXERCISE –YOU CAN KEEP THAT ONE
What’s the most surprising thing your partner has managed whilst you’re away? ( This question is very much optional but public bragging about your partner is such a nice thing..
MY WIFE DOES AS EXCEPTIONAL JOB WHILST I AM AWAY AS WORKING FULL TIME ,RUNNING A FAMILY AND KEEPING ALL ON AN EVEN KEEL AND STAYING SANE IS NO EASY TASK.IF I DIDN’T HAVE HER SUPPORT I WOULD HAVE TO RECONSIDER DOING FIFO AS HEALTH BEFORE WEALTH
What advice would you give to newbie’s about coping with FIFO.
MY ONLY ADVICE TO A NEWBIE IS GIVE IT YOUR BEST GO AND IF ITS NOT FOR YOU IT DOESN’T MATTER.DONT LET THE QUEST FOR RICHES CLOUD YOUR VISION.
Thank you
Debbie
