the fifo wife

 

I don’t do a lot for myself; I am the mother to three boys after all, however, there is one thing that I have done since the birth of my first baby for myself because financial independence and security is my thing.

It’s superannuation. I know yawn.

Now for disclosure reasons I am not a financial planner so there for this is an experience not advice and you should always seek council before taking advice from anyone. blah.

Now because my boys were or are essentially my employer they paid me in great benefits of love, kisses, snot and the unmeasurable amount of happiness, but they did not pay my super.

Super has always been my thing. When I was working I made extra payments and my husband has done the same. Making sure we have enough superannuation for when we retire has been important to us right from the beginning of us becoming a couple, we don’t want to struggle like our parents. It was one of the things we had in common when we met which sound so nerdy now but women on average have $92,000.00 less than men because we usually stay home and take care of the babies which is great but women are known for living longer also, the gap in our super can create a few problems with that.

So when I become steadily employed by boys incorporated I continued paying my super via my husbands wage into a simple cash managed online account. {back then you couldn’t just pay into an account}. It wasn’t a massive amount just $10 a fortnight but that $10 has accumulated and well you know how it works.

These days there is no reason not to do super while at home looking after the most important things in life. You can continue paying into your own established Super via B-Pay or you can start a simple cash super with someone like Ing. {No affiliation it’s just who I use. It was no fuss to set up and its easy to use}. Your partner can make contributions on your behalf and receive a tax benefit as can you for being a low-income earner.

So find your super details. Head to your online banking and set up a continual direct deposit of your given amount into your superannuation account because something is better than nothing.

xxDeb

In the 2000’s I was working at my local Nickel refinery as an operator, I had been there four years and had progressed my way up to a certain level where my next step was to have a go at learning the control room duties, but like so many other places I had heard about, this place had an old boys club, and that old boys club was blocking me from progressing, I didn’t fit in with most guys there as I don’t generally fit in with most people in life (bit of a loner), and that probably had something to do with it, but these guys had been there for 25 odd years and were set in their ways, and how dare a young fella come in and rustle our feathers.  So that set me thinking that I needed a new job.  Problem was I never really had any “skills” as in a trade, I left school early after walking out of detention and having a row with the deputy principal, grabbed my bike and went home, that was the last I ever saw of school and I never turned up for year 12 the following year.

So I began looking around on the internet at operator jobs, Townsville where I’m from has a large fly in fly out industry however I was constantly getting knock backs, then I saw a job for a nickel mine in WA, 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off and I thought yep I’m going to apply for that.  Much to my surprise about 6 months later I got the call and ended up getting the position, this meant relocation to Perth with my wife, moving interstate for me was not a big problem as I had moved a lot as a kid including international, and thankfully my wife who is a born and bred local was up for the move too, something I will be forever grateful for to her, she will follow me anywhere this girl.

The big move happened and here we were two Nth Qlders in WA, big city stuff, a bit daunting actually.  We had a week or maybe less to get settled into our company supplied short term accommodation, then I was off to work, Leaving Nik all by herself in what may as well been a foreign country to find us a house, get everything settled arrange the delivery of all our belongings etc, she did marvellous.

My first day arrived, we managed to find our way to the national jet terminal in Perth, gave her a hug and a kiss and said cya in 2 weeks, was I nervous? Yep, was Nik? You bet, how cool, im flying to work, got to the airport at site and everyone knew what they were doing except me, I got told Bear would be meeting me……..ok, Bear, really, I figured it was a nickname, but who was bear, what should I look for? anyway I made sure I was last off the plane as I figured whoever was there for me would stand out like dogs balls just waiting for me, well Bear was there, he was a big guy with an even bigger moustache, a little intimidating actually.  Bear was the nicest guy and still ranks up there in the nicest people I’ve met doing FIFO, had all my PPE, my jacket as it was an unusually cold goldfields day, he took me to my temporary accommodation and gave me the tour of camp and showed me where my permanent room would be once available.  It was seriously the best introduction to FIFO camp life one could get.  I gave Nik a call that night and we chatted for some time.

Work the next day and I was as nervous as one gets, but my crew (D Crew) was awesome, I still to this day some 10 years on say it was the best bunch of people I’ve worked for, my boss was a Nth Qlder (Bowen to be precise) and we hit it off, the rest of the boys and 1 girl were awesome and I had the best time in the 2 years I was there. I made my way from the new guy to the control room as id discussed with my boss when I arrived and he asked me my goals.

Life in Perth for us was a bit lonely though we did make a few friends but we found Perth people to be a bit clicky and being outsiders it was hard to break in to established groups, although we did eventually make friends it was a battle.  My wife got work that she enjoyed and she is still in contact with some of the girls she worked with which is great.  The time came where we decided we had had enough of the Perth life and so we packed up and headed home (I wish now we had of stayed a bit longer, but we can’t dwell on that now).

I then finally managed to get a role in one of the mines back home in Nth Qld, I never fitted in, the crew were immature in my mind, very clicky and didn’t make the effort with me although I tried, it wasn’t good enough for them and so I left.  It’s a shame as I don’t feel you should be made to feel like you have to leave, that job would have been perfect for me, 1.5 HR flight from home,  1 week on and 1 week off, long term mine site and a good reputable company, but it wasn’t to be.

But as always when one door closes and another opens, and that’s certainly what happened, I received contact from my former 2IC from the WA job, as he was now working on an overseas project in New Caledonia, the opportunity came up and it was perfect, so off I went and started working over there….WOW, what a cultural difference but also the experience I got was phenomenal, I met some amazing people, saw some amazing things, drank way to much alcohol but we got the job done and although I left on bad terms with my supervisor it is certainly an experience I will never forget.  I also met a fella called Tom on that project, some of you may remember Tom from one of my previous writings for Deb, and he’s a true friend, one of my few.

Moving on from New Caledonia, I moved Nik and our new and only daughter to Karratha for my first LNG project, this was a great project to be on, we lived local, had a boat, went camping, met some amazing people, although I had my problems in Karratha it will still be a fond time I hold with some ever lasting memories.  But as all construction projects do, they come to an end and I was demobilised, so we took some time and travelled across the top end of Australia on our way home to Townsville and to our surprise prepare for the birth of our second child……

Nik – Kieran I have sore boobs,

Kieran- you’re probably pregnant,

Nik- No chance,

Kieran – go do a test,

Nik – I’m not pregnant,

Kieran – go do a test…

Nik- I’m pregnant,

Kieran – I told you so!

in the meantime while Nik was busy falling pregnant, I was busy lining up my next gig out in the coal seam gas fields of South Western Queensland, this role lasted a good 6-8 months when I got the call from WA again back up in the Pilbara where I love it, this was a small domestic gas plant construction job in Onslow, which was perfect as it is literally next door to where I wanted to end up and that was Wheatstone, it was 3 months and although they wanted me to stay I decided to move on to Wheatstone where I had been asked to come to and that is where I remain 2.5 years later, just doing my thing, looking after my wife and kids, they are who I work away for, it’s not easy, it never will be but it’s what we do currently, FIFO is not a forever thing for me, but it is working for now, and now is what I live in.

Onto friends or are they mates – I won’t be long I promise.

How many people have I been in contact with in this industry? Thousands….yep literally thousands, and people will say oh you must have so many friends working in this industry? Nope, I have plenty of people I would call associates and mates but true friends, well this may shock you, but I have 5 true friends that I have come away with from physically being on the same sites, plenty of mates who if I ever see them again we will hit it off and have a chat or whatever and then go our separate ways, but true friends from being away on site, it’s just 5, Im ok with that because these 5 and I really are so good together, and plus I don’t have the personality to satisfy that many people.

I have so many things to write about but this will do for today, happy reading or at least put a pillow down so you don’t knock yourself out doing the noddy doddy trying to stay awake reading my ramblings.

Keiran can be followed via his facebook page here.

Kieran

How do I stop him from missing dad she asked.

Well umm you can’t I said and why would you want to I answered.

Because it hurts, she retorted back to me.

I often wonder if I am cold and heartless or if I have been doing this far to long, but I believe missing someone is a good thing.Providing it’s not detrimental to someone’s way of being especially a child then it’s becomes a problem. Missing them shows how important they are to you.

So what do you suppose I do she said pouting. The cafe was noisy and windy and she was pouting all the things annoying me.

Well, I said what I have found is all my boy started missing dad at four years old its when they are becoming aware of things and how you I said how you handle it will make all the difference to them.

She leaned in closer so crying with him isn’t helpful she said. I didn’t know he well enough to know if she was joking.

Ah well, I don’t think it’s a bad thing but doing it too often isn’t great I said. And if you are then you need to reconsider what you’re doing. I followed up with if you make a fuss then so will they. We are their teachers.

I hovered over taking another sip of coffee but put it down and started with the stuff I knew what I have learnt along the way about kids and dads working away because essentially that what we had met for coffee for.

First off acknowledge that it’s okay to miss dad, in fact, it’s a good thing. Being told to stop sooking or stop crying is never a good thing in my book. Acknowledge how they are feeling and comfort them in that. Talk to them about it encourage them to do so.

Explain to them why you are doing what you are doing. Why is dad working in a mine? Why is dad working on a boat vessel or rig. Why is Dad driving a truck or flying a plane? Is it to be able to afford a home deposit is it because of a good roster? Is it because that is what he has to do?

Have them understand and encourage them that as a part of the family part of the team that they must help make this work. Kids love being part of a team they love being part of something bigger than them.

Don’t use the words away if you can help it Dad is at work not away from you. Everyone has to work, and this is what your family is doing for now. Going away and going to work bring to mind to different things. Going away makes it feel like it is done intentional without purpose going to work gives it purpose and a bigger picture, one that includes them in it.

Talk about dad like he is there. What he is doing or how his day was. He isn’t away from the family he is at work.

Plan adventures for when dad gets home from work. Have them plan one for one on one time and again as a family.

Create a draw or a special memory box where dad can see all their school artwork certificates or alike. Place any letters they may want to write or special drawings they want to do in there and when dad returns go through it.

Sleep with one of the dads worn shirts or one sprayed with their after shave.

If need be sleep together. Night time is often the hardest part for them but everything seems harder in the dark no matter the issue.

Make a video of their day just for dad.

Create a countdown calendar for countdown have them get involved in readying the house for dads arrival home. Mow lawns buy dads favourite food etc.

Read some FIFO children’s books, google the mine or rig daddy works on. For offshore check out Marine Traffic, you can follow the vessel all over the world. Daddy could make a video or send pictures every day.

I picked up my coffee and sipped it.

She sighed and said that’s a lot of work

but its worth it I said anything is for the ones you love.

xDeb

As I held the bucket to my eldest boys mouth at 1am the other morning I muttered I to myself I ain’t got time for this. No one ever does but the thing with illness in a family of small children it generally spreads from one to other faster than Justine Bieber can spit a dummy. However I have learnt a few things over the years on being sick, how to be prepared for it and deal with it easier especially when your flying solo.

• Always have the med basics of Phenergen, Nurofen and Panadol on hand (or equivalent). For babies, I used suppository Panadol (not nice but when they can’t keep it down it’s faster and more effective). Panadol is good for pain, Nurofen great for inflammation {not great for tummy bugs it inflams the tummy more} and Phenergan is great for everything from bee stings, nausea to helping kids sleep.
• Always have hydrolyte on hand. Always! Have the kids drink it or suck on it for dehydration. My kids love the frozen ones and I give them one if it’s been a really hot day. Use this instead of sports drinks and the old wives’ tale of flat lemonade. Buy them from a chemist.
• Buy a hospital 10ml syringe to squirt medicines down the throat in one go instead of numerous attempts with a 5ml syringe or spoon. You can get these at the chemist for about $1.50. Administer medicines only as directed and often by weight, not age.
• Have a sick kit ready like you have a first aid kit that includes towels, baby wipes, disinfectant wipes for wiping down hands, bacterial wipes, your meds and syringes and a stainless steel bowl. Keep it all in one spot keep the meds out of the reach of little hands, of course. I literally place it on a tray and have it in the room of the sick one.
• Make up the bed with a flannelette mattress protector and towels. Easy washing and the flannelette is better should they have high temps. It’s also less noisy than a plastic protector, which is annoying when you’re sick. Use towels over pillows and under bottoms.
• Prepare healthy frozen meals, because the last thing you want to do is cook for the other kids.
• Start yourself on Inner Health Plus or equivalent. It helps to ward off any bugs or shortens the illness time if you do get sick (a tip from my GP).
• Rest when they rest. My eldest vomits in his sleep, so I sleep little and it’s the only time I have learnt to rest and not feel guilty about it. I have to be well for them. If you have other children, ask friends or family to look after them, even just for a few short hours. I find it makes all the difference.
• Don’t stress about housework. As long as the ‘sick bay’ is clean that’s all you need to worry about.
• Allocate a sick room . My boys share a room so I literally set up the guest room with the bedside med kit, sick bowl and TV (we don’t have TVs in bedrooms except the guest room). This helps prevent transmission and better healing. I don’t isolate them common sense here but have the other kids use the bacterial wash on exiting etc. If its a baby then baby wear if you dont have a sling make one out of a sarong or sheet. Tied right they are just as safe as the $200 from the store.
• Always call a doctor if you are scared or unsure. I used to worry that people would think I was always taking my children to the GP, but now I just don’t fret about what anyone thinks. My children are still alive and that’s the main thing.

And enjoy them. I found the only true time they want me for me and not for food or to tell me about the latest lego set at Big W is when they are sick. When they are sick nothing but giving them cuddles and love is all that matters.

xxDeb

{image with thanks to here}