Hey guys, long time no talk I better dust this place down before posting eh its been far to long, I thought I better make a wee update post and get this going again it. So what's been happening here and what's coming up. We have all been busy with college with the usual outcome tests we have been flying through them and we only have 2 left and that's it all done and dusted and thankfully so far no resists which is nice. We are now spending our days turning up to classes getting marked in and being sent on our way, I have a feeling that is going to be what the next 2 weeks is going to be like. Easter isn't far away now, only down side is we are back in after Easter for a total of 7 days which is spread over 2 weeks, this is for plant workshop and electrical stuff I believe it is a bit frustrating but needs must as they say. So we are in Monday to Thursday then Tuesday to Thursday so a bit spread out but after that we are all done and ready to go to sea.
We have our sea briefings next week, was mean't to be today but it was moved, this is what everyone has been waiting for, to find out where we are going, what type of ship, when and who with so it's all exciting stuff it still hasn't sunk in properly in less than 2 months I will flying out to somewhere I have most likely never been, to join a ship which I never done to this scale. I think there are a few jealous people when I mention I go away soon, the old can I come in your suitcase line has been used a few times or "swap you" haha sorry to say but no chance lol.
So what else to talk about then, I have told you about college and how it's nearly done and that I get my ship soon and other people want to go to hmmm what else........ merchant navy wise that's it really when I get my ship etc I will put some info up on it I guess haha. In other news my car passed it's MOT first time which was a shock was expecting a nice bill so that's it ready to sell later next month before I go away and all that's left now is to start getting all the things I need this includes things like holdalls etc for going away with can't exactly turn up to the ship with my clothes in a black bin liner can I haha. Right that's it for now I think as really I have ran out of things to talk about slight mind blank so as soon as I think of more stuff to ramble on about I will get another post up soon I promise haha wont be as long as the last time anyway :) Cya
Monday 19 March 2012
Wednesday 8 February 2012
Visa trip fun........
Hey guys, so I thought I would do another post as I haven't done one in a while. I was thinking about talking about my trip to the USA Embassy in London. I am going to start by a quick overview for those who may not understand why I would go there. Cadets from my company and most others are sent for a USA Visa, this is so you can work and earn money in American waters, unlike all other countries you have to go down and have a interview with them (quick chat) just so that they can look at you I suppose. All other countries you fill out the paperwork and that's you done simple.
Anyway, so before you get to go on this wonderful trip you have to fill out an application, make an appointment with them, print out all sorts of different documents and take them with you. I hated filling out the paperwork, they want to know everything up to what you had for breakfast that morning, it had the usual stuff where your from, where you where born etc etc then it wanted to know allll of your education, allll the places you had worked, then it really got in depth the company sent us 4 A4 sheets with the info we needed to put into this form. I would have been lost without it there was so many different addresses and names and places and reasons and much more I can't even remember. So after that I made my appointment, the office sorted travel as I didn't have a clue and didn't want to go over spending. I went in May, my mum dropped me off at Glasgow Airport, I managed to find my way without to much trouble since I had not bags it was very easy. I got onto the plane and found myself to be the only one not wearing a suit, I was on a plane full of suits, I stuck out like a sore thumb oh great, I got myself to the back of the plane to try and hide away. Once I got to London, I didn't hang about I headed straight for the DLR this is basically a train service with no drives just a computer, then I got 2 different tube trains, it was rush hour 9am ish personal space doesn't come into it during this time. I can't even remember the place I got off to walk round to the actual building, so anyway I was walking round a very fancy looking place, there was shops with very expensive cars in the windows I stopped to stare in and dream for a minute then continued walking. Then found myself at the side of the building and noticed a very high police presence and not just any police, it was police armed to the teeth with guns, lots of them, this was new. You are not allowed any electronics in the building either you can only take you and your paperwork and a book if you are smart enough to have brought one (I didn't), so then I got ripped off and stored my stuff in a local chemist for £3 and I joined the queue to get in, there was a stand with some staff on it checking if you had everything with you before entering, they where sending people away who did not have what was required. Once you get past them you go through basically airport security again, though with more guards and again more police with guns. So finally I was in after flying down 1 train 2 tubes and a short walk round and through tighter security then at a airport.
Once you get inside you are given and number and its basically Argos all over again but much longer. You wait to be called up for the first time (this took over an hour). I spoke to the women, handed over my paperwork, she scanned my fingers asked a couple questions then gave me a new number and asked me to take a seat again. There was a small shop in there, I must have spent about £5 in it for drinks and chocolate, I think I resorted to reading the empty wrappers and cans I got that bored. I was sitting for hours, I arrived at 10am and was still there around 3pm my flight was 4pm if I remember correctly, safe to say I missed it, I waited around for hours to go back up answer 2 questions and have my visa granted. I was free. finally. Now I could go and get my phone and all my other stuff, I phoned the office and they moved me onto a later flight to get home and that was it, on the flight home it was all suits again, this time I didn't care I was going home I was shattered. So that was that, all for a small page to be put into my passport but it's done now, just gotta go do it again in 10 years when it expires oh joy.
Anyway, so before you get to go on this wonderful trip you have to fill out an application, make an appointment with them, print out all sorts of different documents and take them with you. I hated filling out the paperwork, they want to know everything up to what you had for breakfast that morning, it had the usual stuff where your from, where you where born etc etc then it wanted to know allll of your education, allll the places you had worked, then it really got in depth the company sent us 4 A4 sheets with the info we needed to put into this form. I would have been lost without it there was so many different addresses and names and places and reasons and much more I can't even remember. So after that I made my appointment, the office sorted travel as I didn't have a clue and didn't want to go over spending. I went in May, my mum dropped me off at Glasgow Airport, I managed to find my way without to much trouble since I had not bags it was very easy. I got onto the plane and found myself to be the only one not wearing a suit, I was on a plane full of suits, I stuck out like a sore thumb oh great, I got myself to the back of the plane to try and hide away. Once I got to London, I didn't hang about I headed straight for the DLR this is basically a train service with no drives just a computer, then I got 2 different tube trains, it was rush hour 9am ish personal space doesn't come into it during this time. I can't even remember the place I got off to walk round to the actual building, so anyway I was walking round a very fancy looking place, there was shops with very expensive cars in the windows I stopped to stare in and dream for a minute then continued walking. Then found myself at the side of the building and noticed a very high police presence and not just any police, it was police armed to the teeth with guns, lots of them, this was new. You are not allowed any electronics in the building either you can only take you and your paperwork and a book if you are smart enough to have brought one (I didn't), so then I got ripped off and stored my stuff in a local chemist for £3 and I joined the queue to get in, there was a stand with some staff on it checking if you had everything with you before entering, they where sending people away who did not have what was required. Once you get past them you go through basically airport security again, though with more guards and again more police with guns. So finally I was in after flying down 1 train 2 tubes and a short walk round and through tighter security then at a airport.
Once you get inside you are given and number and its basically Argos all over again but much longer. You wait to be called up for the first time (this took over an hour). I spoke to the women, handed over my paperwork, she scanned my fingers asked a couple questions then gave me a new number and asked me to take a seat again. There was a small shop in there, I must have spent about £5 in it for drinks and chocolate, I think I resorted to reading the empty wrappers and cans I got that bored. I was sitting for hours, I arrived at 10am and was still there around 3pm my flight was 4pm if I remember correctly, safe to say I missed it, I waited around for hours to go back up answer 2 questions and have my visa granted. I was free. finally. Now I could go and get my phone and all my other stuff, I phoned the office and they moved me onto a later flight to get home and that was it, on the flight home it was all suits again, this time I didn't care I was going home I was shattered. So that was that, all for a small page to be put into my passport but it's done now, just gotta go do it again in 10 years when it expires oh joy.
Thursday 2 February 2012
College and Halls
Right so I thought I would talk about the college for a bit, as I mentioned before I am at South Shields college, the college has a history of 150 years of maritime excellence which was celebrated last year which is great. The college is a fair size, I was still trying to work out how to get to places 2-3 weeks after starting or in other words I followed the group (still do). The college doesn't just teach marine students either, you see all sorts of other classes going on. The teaching quality is good, if you don't understand anything it is easy to get help either from the lecturer or your class tutor who you get a hour with each week and from what I can tell they are all ex merchant navy to and can answer most questions. I am in every day, 4 days in class and 1 day in workshop, lessons are 90 minutes long with 15 minutes breaks between then and you get a hour for lunch. The college has good facilities, I don't know actual figures but I know there's a good few workshops, bridge simulator, engine control room simulator and a marine plant workshop. When I arrived they where busy finishing off a refurbishment they had just carried out over the summer so the place is still nice and fresh from that.
Ok the halls, I want to try and cover the basics and talk about things I wanted to know before getting here. The halls are named the Dr Winterbottom halls and have been here a long long time I believe, it is split into blocks A through to F, in my block we have a room each (they used to be doubles) there is 8 rooms on each floor with a common room in the middle, there is 2 showers which some people would think isn't enough for 8, well I have never had to wait for a shower so it works ok and there is toilets on every floor. These all got refurbished recently to. The common room has a kettle, microwave, fridge and a T.V. In the rooms you get a single bed, desk, sink and enough space to store everything and a mini safe if you choose to use it. The doors are key card entry so is the main door on the block, rooms are cleaned daily and hoovered weekly. There is wifi but it can drop out at times and has a filter running all the time.
Food: Depends on what your used to really, I hear people complaining all the time and yes I have had a few dodgy meals but some nice ones to its all down to your taste I think, they do a decent breakfast aswell you can have a fried breakfast or the healthy option.
Around the college: On the campus there is the 1861 club it has a quiz on a Wednesday which I can be popular, it also has darts and pool and football on the when there's a game. Locally there is 2 pubs the Westoe and the County, the County does good food at good prices. There is also a sandwich shop close by, it does big stotties for £2 and will fill you up. The town centre is about a 15 minute walk and you will find everything you usually find in a town centre.
Ok the halls, I want to try and cover the basics and talk about things I wanted to know before getting here. The halls are named the Dr Winterbottom halls and have been here a long long time I believe, it is split into blocks A through to F, in my block we have a room each (they used to be doubles) there is 8 rooms on each floor with a common room in the middle, there is 2 showers which some people would think isn't enough for 8, well I have never had to wait for a shower so it works ok and there is toilets on every floor. These all got refurbished recently to. The common room has a kettle, microwave, fridge and a T.V. In the rooms you get a single bed, desk, sink and enough space to store everything and a mini safe if you choose to use it. The doors are key card entry so is the main door on the block, rooms are cleaned daily and hoovered weekly. There is wifi but it can drop out at times and has a filter running all the time.
Food: Depends on what your used to really, I hear people complaining all the time and yes I have had a few dodgy meals but some nice ones to its all down to your taste I think, they do a decent breakfast aswell you can have a fried breakfast or the healthy option.
Around the college: On the campus there is the 1861 club it has a quiz on a Wednesday which I can be popular, it also has darts and pool and football on the when there's a game. Locally there is 2 pubs the Westoe and the County, the County does good food at good prices. There is also a sandwich shop close by, it does big stotties for £2 and will fill you up. The town centre is about a 15 minute walk and you will find everything you usually find in a town centre.
Wednesday 1 February 2012
Spelling and all that
Ok, so it has been brought to my attention by a few college friends that I have commas and full stops in the wrong places, well they are right, I am hopeless at punctuation and my spelling isn't great either. I try my best to proof read these and still find myself going back to them to sort faults already had to remove 3 extra e's that I had added to the word story. I am now about to try and re proof read my blog posts and fix these errors to the best of my ability. I also find it hard to type and think at the same time, you have all probably all experienced this, your brain races you have lots you want to say and everything else flies out the window, only to return once you have finished bashing at your keyboard. So bare with me and if you find any faults please let me know so I can fix them. English was never a strong point anyway it goes as far as standard grade english and even then I was bad at spelling and punctuation. Now to fix everything well try to and still have it a mess. Enjoy. :) .,?:;@'"!*#
Many Thanks
Duncan
Many Thanks
Duncan
Why Engineering
Hey folks, thought it was time for a bit of a side story to add to what I have told you so far. As the post title suggests I am going to talk about why I picked Engineering or as some people would tell me off, it's Marine Engineering and not just Engineering. Anyway this is a bit of a weird one really. To start with I had no interest in Engineering. The Sea Cadets offer it as an area you can learn, but I wasn't bothered with it well not to start with anyway. I wanted to be a Warfare Officer in the Royal Navy, so why would I need to know about engines. Then one night when I was in the unit a bunch of my mates where booking a Marine Engineering 3rd class course at H.M.S Gannet (This is where the Northern Area Marine Engineering school was) and I had my arm twisted and said I would go to. I went along thinking I would be quite bored, I wasn't interested in this field but I went along with it anyway. I think this is the point the interest started, I scored well on the course, even though the course was very basic it was still interesting. Though I still left it thinking I wasn't fussed with it all. Then everyone decided to book onto the 2nd class course the next level up, again my arm was twisted to go.
Now remember within the Sea Cadets it was based on Marine Engineering and not just Engineering so its more relevant, so I attended this course, well the two weekends as it was a longer course and was split into Mechanical and Electrical sections and I passed with good marks again, so now I was really interested in what was going on as we got more in depth and I wanted to know more, along with the 2nd class we also got our RYA Diesel Engine course as we covered the same stuff so that was another string to my bow. So when we got back, me and my mate booked onto the 1st class mechanical course as I was more interested the mechanical and since it was a higher level again each section was a week long course and it became 2 qualifications, so we spent a whole week learning the mechanical workings of an engine, got to take bigger engines apart and where given projects to either fix or report on which was very interesting stuff I was loving it. After starting out not bothered, then to being really into it and fairly confident with it as well. I didn't manage to do the 1st class electrical course as it was cancelled due to low numbers.
As for engineering after this, when I did the car mechanics course it was mainly on engines and the systems that feed them like cooling, fuel, lubrication etc, I remember we where put into pairs and given a work bench and on this work bench was a 4 cylinder car engine that had been cut out a scrapped car, our job was to take off all the hoses and rubbish that comes with them and get it to the bare bones. Once we had completed that we had to strip off the parts as if we where going to do a repair job (so this means remove the belt without just flicking it off with a screw driver as someone had decided to do (not me)). We took it totally apart, further than I had ever got to with the cadets, we removed the cylinders to, completed measurements on things like the cam shaft and crank shaft then put them together again. Although we put our pistons back in and had to strip it again 3 out of 4 pistons where round the wrong way. Yes they had arrows showing you what way then where put in and yes we didn't notice them and yes we messed it up everyone does at some point. The arrows should have been pointing 180 degrees in the other direction.
So this brought me to the choice of wanting to do engineering, I love getting stuck in. I like to take things apart and fix or clean them and put it back together, I like to see I have made something work after it being broken or faulty. Although on top of this, it is a good thing I picked the engineering department over the deck side as I can work round my eyesight weakness, with deck I would have no chance so I am just glad I can still do the job I picked.
Now remember within the Sea Cadets it was based on Marine Engineering and not just Engineering so its more relevant, so I attended this course, well the two weekends as it was a longer course and was split into Mechanical and Electrical sections and I passed with good marks again, so now I was really interested in what was going on as we got more in depth and I wanted to know more, along with the 2nd class we also got our RYA Diesel Engine course as we covered the same stuff so that was another string to my bow. So when we got back, me and my mate booked onto the 1st class mechanical course as I was more interested the mechanical and since it was a higher level again each section was a week long course and it became 2 qualifications, so we spent a whole week learning the mechanical workings of an engine, got to take bigger engines apart and where given projects to either fix or report on which was very interesting stuff I was loving it. After starting out not bothered, then to being really into it and fairly confident with it as well. I didn't manage to do the 1st class electrical course as it was cancelled due to low numbers.
As for engineering after this, when I did the car mechanics course it was mainly on engines and the systems that feed them like cooling, fuel, lubrication etc, I remember we where put into pairs and given a work bench and on this work bench was a 4 cylinder car engine that had been cut out a scrapped car, our job was to take off all the hoses and rubbish that comes with them and get it to the bare bones. Once we had completed that we had to strip off the parts as if we where going to do a repair job (so this means remove the belt without just flicking it off with a screw driver as someone had decided to do (not me)). We took it totally apart, further than I had ever got to with the cadets, we removed the cylinders to, completed measurements on things like the cam shaft and crank shaft then put them together again. Although we put our pistons back in and had to strip it again 3 out of 4 pistons where round the wrong way. Yes they had arrows showing you what way then where put in and yes we didn't notice them and yes we messed it up everyone does at some point. The arrows should have been pointing 180 degrees in the other direction.
So this brought me to the choice of wanting to do engineering, I love getting stuck in. I like to take things apart and fix or clean them and put it back together, I like to see I have made something work after it being broken or faulty. Although on top of this, it is a good thing I picked the engineering department over the deck side as I can work round my eyesight weakness, with deck I would have no chance so I am just glad I can still do the job I picked.
Tuesday 31 January 2012
Arriving at the halls
Right, as I spoke about earlier. I have just arrived at the halls for South Shields College, well not exactly to start with. The sat nav I borrowed from my mum (thanks mum) to get there without getting totally and utterly lost decided to take me round to the back of the halls onto the street behind them. This confused me slightly I could see the halls, but I could not get to the halls, then I clicked and realized what had happened and turned the sat nav off, then followed my nose out the street and round and went down 1 block as such and turned right. This brought the college to my right hand side, and found the side road down to the halls car park. So first task completed.
I found a parking space after avoiding lots of people moving boxes and suitcases around, I decided to leave all my bags and stuff behind and just take my paperwork. I headed over to the security office, and joined the queue and as I stood waiting to be seen to I watched people come and go. I thought I had brought a lot of stuff, as people passed I saw all sorts of items TVs, mini fridges, scanners, printers all sorts. There was a lot of parents kicking about to, they had come to see there kids off and to see where they would be living or the more logical thinking is they where making sure they are getting rid of the kids with no chance of them coming back haha. Anyway I was finally seen to and given my room number and a key card to get in and told to fill stuff out and sign my life away.
So I headed over to my room, I got a ground floor room which is a bonus when you gotta lug bags in, though I decided to go for a look before moving anything anywhere. I got in and was happy with the room with it still sinking in that I had just arrived, I sat at my desk with my paperwork and looked around, it was bigger than I had expected so I was happy enough. I filled out everything and went back over to finish off the paperwork which was quickly sorted and I was put onto the college system and given an ID card with a lovely mug shot on it and that was it really. Then I started the many trips back and forth to get my stuff from my car into my room. I am not looking forward to packing up to go back home before I go to sea.
That's it now really from then on I have been living in the halls, so a good 5 months now due to go to sea in a few months which is the next big thing. As for this blog, now that I have finished the story about how I got here, I will probably add stories from before, that I didn't put in through this, along with what's going on here etc. I will try and do a 1st day at college post to will see how it goes.
Cheers
I found a parking space after avoiding lots of people moving boxes and suitcases around, I decided to leave all my bags and stuff behind and just take my paperwork. I headed over to the security office, and joined the queue and as I stood waiting to be seen to I watched people come and go. I thought I had brought a lot of stuff, as people passed I saw all sorts of items TVs, mini fridges, scanners, printers all sorts. There was a lot of parents kicking about to, they had come to see there kids off and to see where they would be living or the more logical thinking is they where making sure they are getting rid of the kids with no chance of them coming back haha. Anyway I was finally seen to and given my room number and a key card to get in and told to fill stuff out and sign my life away.
So I headed over to my room, I got a ground floor room which is a bonus when you gotta lug bags in, though I decided to go for a look before moving anything anywhere. I got in and was happy with the room with it still sinking in that I had just arrived, I sat at my desk with my paperwork and looked around, it was bigger than I had expected so I was happy enough. I filled out everything and went back over to finish off the paperwork which was quickly sorted and I was put onto the college system and given an ID card with a lovely mug shot on it and that was it really. Then I started the many trips back and forth to get my stuff from my car into my room. I am not looking forward to packing up to go back home before I go to sea.
That's it now really from then on I have been living in the halls, so a good 5 months now due to go to sea in a few months which is the next big thing. As for this blog, now that I have finished the story about how I got here, I will probably add stories from before, that I didn't put in through this, along with what's going on here etc. I will try and do a 1st day at college post to will see how it goes.
Cheers
The week before
So college, it came eventually, thankfully, thought I was going to go mad waiting. I quit my job a week early to "pack" when I say pack I mean a week of sitting doing very little saying to myself "I should really pack" and my mum saying "make a list of things you want to take with you." I eventually made this list and left it sitting like I usually do. Then finally took action in the last few days. If I remember correctly I started packing and my mum took over because mums know best, it's always that way, I am told to pack as she refused to do it for me so I am fine with that, I start packing and when I am nearly finished my mum will have a look and say no you've done it all wrong and pull out all my work and do it for me all over again. What happened to your packing your own bag!! I have packed many bags and nothing went wrong, it didn't explode but if it isn't how your mum thinks it should be it isn't right and must be fixed or you may get to many wrinkles in your clothes!!!
I should really tell you what college I am at and in relation to my home, I live in the south west of Scotland, just south of Glasgow. I was heading for South Shields which is just east of Newcastle. Don't assume a person from South Shields is from Newcastle or say to them that they are, you may get into a bit of bother and for your health don't confuse people from Newcastle with people from Sunderland again it causes trouble. Anyway, this college is around about 170-180 miles away from my house well my parents house as such, who knows! I don't know what home is now. So its a fair drive so because of this I changed car from a wee 1.4 petrol Seat Ibiza to a much larger 1.9 Turbo Diesel Seat Toledo or as some of my mates here call it, the old mans car. I choose this for the size/comfort/diesel it's cheaper for the trips up and down than the petrol. It isn't a car I love but I don't hate it, its good for what I need it for.
So this car has a boot big enough that I can fit into, so I packed it full of my gear I had a fair amount. The boot was full with stuff on the back seat. Then I got ready to leave, this was weird, I was moving out but I wasn't moving out, I rent a room in the college halls, not quite a place of my own but I am not in my house, so its in the middle. So I said my goodbyes another weird one really and left for the 3 hour trip down. What I do remember of the trip is it was a very nice day but there was so many cars on the motorway full to the roof with peoples stuff, it seemed like alot of people where heading for colleges/unis down south. I enjoyed the drive anyway and arrived around 3pm and at that I will stop here, and will tell you all about arriving in the next post, drink time can you guess what am going to get.
I should really tell you what college I am at and in relation to my home, I live in the south west of Scotland, just south of Glasgow. I was heading for South Shields which is just east of Newcastle. Don't assume a person from South Shields is from Newcastle or say to them that they are, you may get into a bit of bother and for your health don't confuse people from Newcastle with people from Sunderland again it causes trouble. Anyway, this college is around about 170-180 miles away from my house well my parents house as such, who knows! I don't know what home is now. So its a fair drive so because of this I changed car from a wee 1.4 petrol Seat Ibiza to a much larger 1.9 Turbo Diesel Seat Toledo or as some of my mates here call it, the old mans car. I choose this for the size/comfort/diesel it's cheaper for the trips up and down than the petrol. It isn't a car I love but I don't hate it, its good for what I need it for.
So this car has a boot big enough that I can fit into, so I packed it full of my gear I had a fair amount. The boot was full with stuff on the back seat. Then I got ready to leave, this was weird, I was moving out but I wasn't moving out, I rent a room in the college halls, not quite a place of my own but I am not in my house, so its in the middle. So I said my goodbyes another weird one really and left for the 3 hour trip down. What I do remember of the trip is it was a very nice day but there was so many cars on the motorway full to the roof with peoples stuff, it seemed like alot of people where heading for colleges/unis down south. I enjoyed the drive anyway and arrived around 3pm and at that I will stop here, and will tell you all about arriving in the next post, drink time can you guess what am going to get.
So that was that
Ok I'm back again, as I say I'm trying to get this up to present time. I can't half waffle on though, got my drink yes diet cola again, this is much easier than a thought it would be.Well I think so it could be a pile of rubbish that everyone is laughing at who knows, but hey I will keep going anyway sooooo where was I ah yes. I had just told my parents and partner I had been accepted, it is safe to say I didn't appear at college that day, I wasn't interested anyway it was stuff I had done at school and well I was to excited. My next move go to my work, to show my manager he had stood by me on what I wanted to do, he wanted me to get it as much as I did. Now to give you an idea how me and my manager got on, yes he was my boss, but he helped me before he took over from the previous manager. When I was between college courses I was the guy he phoned and I would appear 10 minutes later, I needed the money and he needed the help. One of the other assistant managers was convinced I slept in my uniform. As he took over he put me full time and made me a supervisor, but he still came to me with all sorts of jobs, since I had a car he would pay me on my days off to nip to other places for stock, I didn't mind I like driving and I like extra pay, everyone does. He of course was happy for me to, another person asked as a joke, so when do we get rid of you, well that was a good question I had 8 or so months to go before I went anywhere and a college course to finish.
So that was that, sorted my paperwork, uniform, went for my visa (whole other story which I will try to tell some other time) and went for an induction. During all this I finished at college finally, with a few jealous class mates. Then I worked the summer in Burger King, if anything else it helped pass the weeks. During this time my partner had left for South Korea to join her ship and I was at home, working full time with mates also working full time so I didn't see them much. I was also the boats officer for my local Sea Cadet unit, though it didn't go to plan as I wasn't experienced enough and well a hole pile of rubbish I won't be going into as it's boring and I am trying to avoid boring stuff.
So I had to trundle along, counting weeks hours days for my partner to come home and for starting college, I did have one mate who was always there for me though. Do you remember the instructor I mentioned in a earlier post that was also Merchant Navy? Well it is his Partner, she is also an older friend, I seem to hang about with adults much older than me now. Anyway she knew and understood my situation with my partner being away so it was good to talk to her, compared to others who didn't know what it was like. I didn't go on about it, but I had the odd comment "I wish my gf or bf would go away for 4 months" etc etc, this annoyed me as they had no idea what it's like. Anyway I would pop round to hers as much as I could, I was always and still am always welcome round. She has 3 kids as well, 1 is a teenager and 2 young ones, so you always got a laugh. We sometimes talked rubbish about other stuff, or about the Merchant Navy and people being away because at the time my mate was also away on ship so we where exactly the same. So thanks mate for your time and patience.
One of the only bonus features of my partner being away was being able to work all sorts of shifts and not worry about trying to see her. So it stopped me worrying about sorting time for her and work as much as I could so it worked well I guess. Right time for a rest and sort my notes out for college, will probably do a couple more soon plus I have ran out of Diet Cola!!!!!!!
So that was that, sorted my paperwork, uniform, went for my visa (whole other story which I will try to tell some other time) and went for an induction. During all this I finished at college finally, with a few jealous class mates. Then I worked the summer in Burger King, if anything else it helped pass the weeks. During this time my partner had left for South Korea to join her ship and I was at home, working full time with mates also working full time so I didn't see them much. I was also the boats officer for my local Sea Cadet unit, though it didn't go to plan as I wasn't experienced enough and well a hole pile of rubbish I won't be going into as it's boring and I am trying to avoid boring stuff.
So I had to trundle along, counting weeks hours days for my partner to come home and for starting college, I did have one mate who was always there for me though. Do you remember the instructor I mentioned in a earlier post that was also Merchant Navy? Well it is his Partner, she is also an older friend, I seem to hang about with adults much older than me now. Anyway she knew and understood my situation with my partner being away so it was good to talk to her, compared to others who didn't know what it was like. I didn't go on about it, but I had the odd comment "I wish my gf or bf would go away for 4 months" etc etc, this annoyed me as they had no idea what it's like. Anyway I would pop round to hers as much as I could, I was always and still am always welcome round. She has 3 kids as well, 1 is a teenager and 2 young ones, so you always got a laugh. We sometimes talked rubbish about other stuff, or about the Merchant Navy and people being away because at the time my mate was also away on ship so we where exactly the same. So thanks mate for your time and patience.
One of the only bonus features of my partner being away was being able to work all sorts of shifts and not worry about trying to see her. So it stopped me worrying about sorting time for her and work as much as I could so it worked well I guess. Right time for a rest and sort my notes out for college, will probably do a couple more soon plus I have ran out of Diet Cola!!!!!!!
The Letter
Hey, well last night I didn't manage to get another post done, as I ended up going to bed but I am back to continue the story. Trying to get up to date with your own life takes a while even when trying to shorten out the dull bits. So I am back with another drink to continue. I had just sat my interview and the wait began. I was waiting for a single letter none of the other post mattered I wanted MY letter. I was still at college so I would text my mum around 11-12 every day to check if it had came. We had been told up to two weeks before we hear anything. I started asking my mum two days after the interview. I had heard of guys finding out that quick, so I thought I might be lucky enough to hear just as quick. Time started to frustrate me, it was the old waiting for the kettle to boil idea, why isn't coming. Days felt so much longer I mean the run up to Christmas is quicker when your young compared to how this felt.
Even though I had college we were only in 3 days maximum 2 full days and 2 half days and Friday was my half day in the afternoon at this point. So I had a lie in, when I eventually got up, I stumbled down stairs as I was still half asleep, but I had one goal check if the post had come, it had, it was a single white letter about A5 sized it was face down so you couldn't tell who it was for or who it was from. I thought I wonder if it is, so of course I picked it up and turned it over to be faced with a letter with my name on the front and the companies name written on the top right hand side, it was, I went to run to my room with it, not that it mattered the house was empty any way, though I didn't make it to my room. I stopped on the top 2 steps and sat down, I didn't want to hang about so I opened it and started reading, I read it so fast trying to find what I wanted to see I missed it, I jumped the paragraph I had to stop myself, go back to the start and read it again to find out, it said it. I was accepted for the HND Engineering route as a trainee officer, it was one of those I can't believe it moments, one of those moments you sit dreaming about deciding what your going to do when it happens. Of course none of what I had dreamt up happened, I reacted more when I got the job in Burger King, I think I was in shock or to stunned to properly react straight away. My next move was to text my mum to find out where she was, I didn't want to just text her to tell her I wanted to proudly show her my letter.
I found out where she was and quickly jumped in the car and drove to her friends house as that's where she was, my dad was with her to. In between this I text my partner saying "I GOT IN" the reply I got was what? what did you get in? I think she thought it was something else to do with a different college, she hadn't thought properly I don't think it helped she was in class trying to learn, once I explained she was overjoyed for me and of course told me "see I told you so" typical eh Anyway I arrived at my mums mates, I calmed myself down a bit and walked in normally no reaction no emotion, I wanted to play this a bit so the serious face went on, I handed her the letter with a very stern look on my face, I could see her trying to read my face for clues she actually looked twice. I had to fight the urge to smile so she took the letter and started to read she quickly saw I had been accepted and jumped up to give me a hug, then tried to claim she could see it all along but I think she didn't, my stern face was to good, everybody was so happy, I had achieved what looked out of reach a few weeks ago. It still didn't feel real of course, it took until I arrived at college to sink in 100%, right drink time I think and then I will get another post going.
Even though I had college we were only in 3 days maximum 2 full days and 2 half days and Friday was my half day in the afternoon at this point. So I had a lie in, when I eventually got up, I stumbled down stairs as I was still half asleep, but I had one goal check if the post had come, it had, it was a single white letter about A5 sized it was face down so you couldn't tell who it was for or who it was from. I thought I wonder if it is, so of course I picked it up and turned it over to be faced with a letter with my name on the front and the companies name written on the top right hand side, it was, I went to run to my room with it, not that it mattered the house was empty any way, though I didn't make it to my room. I stopped on the top 2 steps and sat down, I didn't want to hang about so I opened it and started reading, I read it so fast trying to find what I wanted to see I missed it, I jumped the paragraph I had to stop myself, go back to the start and read it again to find out, it said it. I was accepted for the HND Engineering route as a trainee officer, it was one of those I can't believe it moments, one of those moments you sit dreaming about deciding what your going to do when it happens. Of course none of what I had dreamt up happened, I reacted more when I got the job in Burger King, I think I was in shock or to stunned to properly react straight away. My next move was to text my mum to find out where she was, I didn't want to just text her to tell her I wanted to proudly show her my letter.
I found out where she was and quickly jumped in the car and drove to her friends house as that's where she was, my dad was with her to. In between this I text my partner saying "I GOT IN" the reply I got was what? what did you get in? I think she thought it was something else to do with a different college, she hadn't thought properly I don't think it helped she was in class trying to learn, once I explained she was overjoyed for me and of course told me "see I told you so" typical eh Anyway I arrived at my mums mates, I calmed myself down a bit and walked in normally no reaction no emotion, I wanted to play this a bit so the serious face went on, I handed her the letter with a very stern look on my face, I could see her trying to read my face for clues she actually looked twice. I had to fight the urge to smile so she took the letter and started to read she quickly saw I had been accepted and jumped up to give me a hug, then tried to claim she could see it all along but I think she didn't, my stern face was to good, everybody was so happy, I had achieved what looked out of reach a few weeks ago. It still didn't feel real of course, it took until I arrived at college to sink in 100%, right drink time I think and then I will get another post going.
Monday 30 January 2012
The interview and all that
So, as I was saying I had just told my mum, she was more excited than me because as quickly as I had told her, it had sunk in, I have to now go and sit an interview, my first one for this type of thing. I had sat interviews before, but they weren't as serious as this, they where for part time jobs not a career. One bonus was my mum had got me to get a suit months before any of this, I think she was trying to keep me going when it was rough. It was a nice suit, was a good price £130 I think down from £250. Thanks mum haha.Now if you look on the forum there is a whole load of people asking about interviews, what do they ask? how does it go? I read through these and noticed a trend. I had two weeks and had a rough idea of how it was going to go, I started to learn about the company. Thankfully I knew a lot about the Merchant Navy from my partner and the hours of research I had done, so I concentrated on the company and me, on why I wanted this and what I have done that would help me in this career. I watched the company video over and over with the key facts, I would say it to myself when I was in my work. By this stage I was a trainee supervisor in work, working full time and doing college. My manager at the time was very supportive of my situation and wanted me to do well, and helped me a lot it also helped I would drop him home after a late shift which took a good 20 minutes so we had plenty time to chat. I took the week off work, it was a Wednesday so I wanted the time to prepare then relax. I went up on the train so I knew I wouldn't break down, saved their number in my phone so if I did get stuck I could get in touch. I arrived, feeling over dressed during the trip up, but feeling well dressed for the situation. We where all invited in a fairly sized room with a large round table there was around 16-18 of us I think then we all watched a DVD the exact video I had been studying when I was studying the company, we then all sat a maths and english test, 11 minutes 50 questions, you aren't mean't to finish. I didn't think I did that great, can't even remember the question I got to. I just remember thinking that was a quick 11minutes. We where all then given a time to return for our interview, I choose to sit outside with some others, I started to chat to some of the guys, I could tell everyone was pretty nervous naturally, so I made a few jokes to try and relax, we spoke about techniques, all with hand shakes and stuff. I decided to just be myself, some of the guys went in and left again, then my name was shouted. I think my heart skipped a beat it was my turn to go in, at this point I thought here we go.
It was the same room as we had been in but now it was just 2 of us. We started by confirming who I was and my details, then it started, the onslaught of questions. I managed to answer questions with confidence, using past experience as a good template, and of course used jokes and got a few laughs thankfully. There was some questions I was expecting and some caught me off guard for example"You have just joined your first ever ship what happens next as you step on". My brain raced what the, how the, who's mean't to know that kinda thing. Thankfully once I stopped it, I reverted to cadet instructor mode and listed all the things that is taught when joining T.S Royalist the square rig sailing ship the cadets have and she was pleased with my answer. I also remember sitting up right with my hands clasped in front of me on the table during the full thing, that is about the only thing I remember being aware of in respect to technique. I didn't bother with the whole silence after question stuff, if I knew the answer I would start to answer. Once she was happy with the questions she asked, she then took my copies of my results and a copy of my medical since I already had one and that was it. Many questions later and a handshake and goodbye it was done finished. I thought the interview went well, better than I expected really, I had my doubts on my test though, but now it was out of my hands. I then met up with my partner in the city for a hot chocolate, she felt quite under dressed standing next to me in my suit, though again I just felt overdressed. I headed home to try and relax and wait for my letter saying yes or no. Before I go any further I would like to say a massive thank you to my partner, she stood by me during my lowest times and never gave up on me and a thank you to my parents for being there for me aswell. Right well time for another top up and maybe write another before bed.
It was the same room as we had been in but now it was just 2 of us. We started by confirming who I was and my details, then it started, the onslaught of questions. I managed to answer questions with confidence, using past experience as a good template, and of course used jokes and got a few laughs thankfully. There was some questions I was expecting and some caught me off guard for example"You have just joined your first ever ship what happens next as you step on". My brain raced what the, how the, who's mean't to know that kinda thing. Thankfully once I stopped it, I reverted to cadet instructor mode and listed all the things that is taught when joining T.S Royalist the square rig sailing ship the cadets have and she was pleased with my answer. I also remember sitting up right with my hands clasped in front of me on the table during the full thing, that is about the only thing I remember being aware of in respect to technique. I didn't bother with the whole silence after question stuff, if I knew the answer I would start to answer. Once she was happy with the questions she asked, she then took my copies of my results and a copy of my medical since I already had one and that was it. Many questions later and a handshake and goodbye it was done finished. I thought the interview went well, better than I expected really, I had my doubts on my test though, but now it was out of my hands. I then met up with my partner in the city for a hot chocolate, she felt quite under dressed standing next to me in my suit, though again I just felt overdressed. I headed home to try and relax and wait for my letter saying yes or no. Before I go any further I would like to say a massive thank you to my partner, she stood by me during my lowest times and never gave up on me and a thank you to my parents for being there for me aswell. Right well time for another top up and maybe write another before bed.
Where was I
Ok, I got my drink (Diet cola of course) anyone who knows me will know that is what I drink, yes I am addicted like people are addicted to coffee though I don't mind a wee mug of tea now and then. So I had just dropped out of college, it wasn't the best, I worked in Burger King at the time, it got me money and meant I could have a car and cash in my pocket. At this time it kicked up with the Merchant Navy, until then I had never really bothered about it, I spent time on the Royal Navy website when in class in my failed attempt at my A levels, again not plucking up the courage to do anything about it. Then my partner took her choice and decided on the Merchant Navy, she had trouble deciding on which one she wanted to do and resorted to putting the two at the top of a blank sheet of paper and writing pros and cons and the Merchant Navy won. So I looked into it and decided I wanted a bash at it to. As I turned 18 I became best friends with another instructor in the Sea Cadets he had just returned, he had left when I was 14ish to join the Merchant Navy but now he was back and we are quite alike and we got on well and had the same interests, so he got me into it. My partner and I both applied to a company (not naming anyone to save any trouble) they where interested in us both she applied for deck and I applied for engine, though there was a BUT. I have a colour weakness in my eyes, in normal terms I am colour blind and on your medical it restricts you so long story short here, my partner was accepted by the company and it all collapsed under me, as this company didn't take restricted medicals. So after this I gave up, I wasn't aware of the long list of other companies out there, my partner had to finish school and then summer before starting her course in Glasgow, I didn't think I was bothered, I thought I still had the Royal Navy. I stumbled into a mechanics course at college it was a January start type course and I found it interesting enough, it has come in handy enough with my own car and my mums, I took in it all in and retained most of it. Which is unusual for me.
So there I am, on this course, seeing my partner lots which is always good, working weekends and enjoying cadets thinking I was happy. I wasn't, not really, and when my partner started college, it caught me off guard, it hurt inside I wanted to do it to, I wanted the life, not just the job but the life. I always enjoyed travelling, I saw it part of my holiday when we went, so it flared up again, I had many questions could I, would they, will I ever. One evening I was using my partners laptop and noticed she had visited an officer cadet website forum type thing, I was curious so I took a note of the site and when I got home, I went on and quickly saw it was a place of information, people with information and willing to share. So I signed up and before even saying hello I asked all my questions I put it all out there. I got all sorts of answers back which boosted me, there was a cadet on there who was the same as me who had got in. So I went back to the doctor who put me through my medical. I booked extra tests at the uni but things weren't looking good, the tests just cemented the restrictions, I was at a low. A company who had tried to help me couldn't which didn't help. I had nothing on the table at this point it had fallen away again. I then asked someone in my work, his brother was a phase 3 cadet, if there was anywhere that would consider me with my eyesight, he gave me a name. That night when I got in I looked them up, it said no colour blindness on their website that didn't put me off I phoned to ask, they said no its fine. So I applied, then bugged them, asked them if they got my application, went to a open day again to make myself known, phoned again about the eyesight. During this time I changed college course as the college year had ended and a new one started. I went into a engineering systems class thinking it was better related to help me get in. Then people started getting invited for interviews and I hadn't heard it was mid December, I started to give up again, another blow I thought great. Then in January I had just got in from college for my lunch, my phone rang, I thought weird who could this be, no one phones me unless it's urgent, not thinking of the obvious, I picked up the phone it went a little like this Them "Hey, is that Duncan?" Me "Hello yes it is" Them " Hey it's .......... from .......... can I just confirm your restriction please is it just the cables one?" Me" Yes it is along with watch keeping but that's deck side" Them " That's fine we would like to invite you to a interview in January what date suits you...." We sorted out dates. I hung up and went through to my mum and told her I had a interview, she nearly jumped on me, finally my chance to prove what I was worth, this was the furthest I had got, and I wasn't about to mess it up. Ok time for another drink and I will tell you what happens next.
So there I am, on this course, seeing my partner lots which is always good, working weekends and enjoying cadets thinking I was happy. I wasn't, not really, and when my partner started college, it caught me off guard, it hurt inside I wanted to do it to, I wanted the life, not just the job but the life. I always enjoyed travelling, I saw it part of my holiday when we went, so it flared up again, I had many questions could I, would they, will I ever. One evening I was using my partners laptop and noticed she had visited an officer cadet website forum type thing, I was curious so I took a note of the site and when I got home, I went on and quickly saw it was a place of information, people with information and willing to share. So I signed up and before even saying hello I asked all my questions I put it all out there. I got all sorts of answers back which boosted me, there was a cadet on there who was the same as me who had got in. So I went back to the doctor who put me through my medical. I booked extra tests at the uni but things weren't looking good, the tests just cemented the restrictions, I was at a low. A company who had tried to help me couldn't which didn't help. I had nothing on the table at this point it had fallen away again. I then asked someone in my work, his brother was a phase 3 cadet, if there was anywhere that would consider me with my eyesight, he gave me a name. That night when I got in I looked them up, it said no colour blindness on their website that didn't put me off I phoned to ask, they said no its fine. So I applied, then bugged them, asked them if they got my application, went to a open day again to make myself known, phoned again about the eyesight. During this time I changed college course as the college year had ended and a new one started. I went into a engineering systems class thinking it was better related to help me get in. Then people started getting invited for interviews and I hadn't heard it was mid December, I started to give up again, another blow I thought great. Then in January I had just got in from college for my lunch, my phone rang, I thought weird who could this be, no one phones me unless it's urgent, not thinking of the obvious, I picked up the phone it went a little like this Them "Hey, is that Duncan?" Me "Hello yes it is" Them " Hey it's .......... from .......... can I just confirm your restriction please is it just the cables one?" Me" Yes it is along with watch keeping but that's deck side" Them " That's fine we would like to invite you to a interview in January what date suits you...." We sorted out dates. I hung up and went through to my mum and told her I had a interview, she nearly jumped on me, finally my chance to prove what I was worth, this was the furthest I had got, and I wasn't about to mess it up. Ok time for another drink and I will tell you what happens next.
Ok here we go
Ok, so I thought I would start with a little about my history so you have an idea where I'm coming from. Though please bare with me as it's my first post I am pretty new on this whole writing thing. Ok anyway, where to begin. Now with my family history you could say it is where my roots are and you could say it isn't, my father was in the RAF and I had a uncle in the Army (Maritime Section), although one of my uncles joined the Royal Navy and his son is also serving though my mum and her brothers never went into anything like that, so its half and half. Though where in my interest for the sea was started was when I was 10, my best friend at the time was part of the Sea Cadets and asked if I wanted to go with him. I became curious to what this was all about, so I asked my mum if I could go with him, to my disappointment she refused, so the nagging started from there, it took weeks of asking, you know what parents are like nag enough and you usually win. Anyway I went with my friend the first night I could and well I have been stuck there ever since and experienced a whole list of different things from going to the USA to meeting my partner to teaching kids to sail.
If you are unsure on what the Sea Cadets are it is a youth organisation for kids between 10 and 17 to go along and they learn a whole list of skills like rope work, cook stewards, engineering and much more, along with boating skills like kayaking and sailing being two favourites. I am now an adult instructor and when I can I will teach the kids the skills I learnt as a cadet. I loved being a cadet, I went right through the system and glad I did so. If you where wondering where my mate had gone, he left after our leading hands course it wasn't for him. My parents admitted many years later that they are glad they let me go along as I have gained so much out of it and directed me to where I am now. So with that you are now probably thinking why I didn't join the Royal Navy, that seems to be the obvious choice. I was tempted, I went to the office in Glasgow spoke to a leading hand about joining, I was with my partner as well, as she wanted to join. Though I crapped out it in the end, after the video he asked me so do you want to fill out the application now then, ehhhhhhhhh I thought and thought and when I got over the quick shock I said I think I will come back to it. I wasn't ready I was at college at the time, I wasn't fit and well to busy enjoying myself so that was that I left it there. I was at college at the time doing outdoor pursuits it was my second year, I loved it it was my type of thing after all, since that's all the stuff I had learned with the cadets, I got a lot from the 2 years.
I then made a silly move I think, I went back to college to try and get my A levels. I had left school at 15 for college, I wasn't interested in sitting in school, so when my mates continued with school I was off sailing or skiing or something like that.Then I decided I might need them I lasted 3 months maybe not even that, I then got onto the trail of the merchant navy, but getting into it is a whole different story so I shall leave it for another post, which I may do in 5 minutes once I fetch myself a drink. Though I think that's it really. There are a few stories I could write from this time but right now I will leave it brief and can come back to those at a later date, hope you aren't asleep yet.
If you are unsure on what the Sea Cadets are it is a youth organisation for kids between 10 and 17 to go along and they learn a whole list of skills like rope work, cook stewards, engineering and much more, along with boating skills like kayaking and sailing being two favourites. I am now an adult instructor and when I can I will teach the kids the skills I learnt as a cadet. I loved being a cadet, I went right through the system and glad I did so. If you where wondering where my mate had gone, he left after our leading hands course it wasn't for him. My parents admitted many years later that they are glad they let me go along as I have gained so much out of it and directed me to where I am now. So with that you are now probably thinking why I didn't join the Royal Navy, that seems to be the obvious choice. I was tempted, I went to the office in Glasgow spoke to a leading hand about joining, I was with my partner as well, as she wanted to join. Though I crapped out it in the end, after the video he asked me so do you want to fill out the application now then, ehhhhhhhhh I thought and thought and when I got over the quick shock I said I think I will come back to it. I wasn't ready I was at college at the time, I wasn't fit and well to busy enjoying myself so that was that I left it there. I was at college at the time doing outdoor pursuits it was my second year, I loved it it was my type of thing after all, since that's all the stuff I had learned with the cadets, I got a lot from the 2 years.
I then made a silly move I think, I went back to college to try and get my A levels. I had left school at 15 for college, I wasn't interested in sitting in school, so when my mates continued with school I was off sailing or skiing or something like that.Then I decided I might need them I lasted 3 months maybe not even that, I then got onto the trail of the merchant navy, but getting into it is a whole different story so I shall leave it for another post, which I may do in 5 minutes once I fetch myself a drink. Though I think that's it really. There are a few stories I could write from this time but right now I will leave it brief and can come back to those at a later date, hope you aren't asleep yet.
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