Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

So I haven’t blogged for a couple of weeks, although I have maintained a heckling watch on posts, due to Lisa giving birth and our lives being a bit crazy with the change that baby Harrison has brought with him.  Time is tight, so I will be brief, but also there is very little to report in terms of “work”.

Week 7 was the 2nd week without Barry the Package Leader and our work had slowly dried up. We got to a stage where we (me and the 2 junior engineers) had done as much as we could without input from the PL and the PM didn’t really want to know.  The resultant was that we trudged through as much as we could in terms of work and had started to try to re-work some of our previous efforts.  Luckily though an opportunity arose for the end of the week to complete a lift planning package that would mean we could plan and execute the lifting of the piles on the Jetty project. As a bonus it also meant that we got a late start as the course was on the mainland and a free lunch on the company!

Before the course though was Anzac Day, 25th April.  After trying to get some sort of response from BDLS as to what was expected of us, attendance requirements, protocol (of course I received nothing as usual) I decided to attend the dawn service to pay my respects to our allied troops.  My neighbour (works for JHG on the MOF and is a veteran) took me down and I was glad that I experienced part of the Australian culture with him, although I respectfully declined the opportunity to drink many a rum toddy and indulge in the games of 2up afterwards for fear of the pain that Lisa  (39 wks, 4 days pregnant) would have unleashed on me. Well worth attending – just wish that BDLS would send some advice out on significant events in the calendar such as this).

Thursday 26th was day 1 of the lift planning course. It was split into 2 parts; Part 2 – Lift planning overview and part 3 – lift planning tool. For those clever enough to have noticed that there is no part 1, this is covered in the JHG induction and thus I’d already passed.  Part 2 was covered in the morning and was just a safety induction in greater detail.  It was interesting and gave more meat on the bones as well as a greater overall awareness. Part 3 however involved the use of a scientific calculator, determining load paths and other exciting structures mathematics so the brain got going.  The afternoon was when the learning started but the real meat was to be on the Friday.

Friday 27th did not run according to my diary and at about 0130 Lisa woke me to tell me that her contractions had started.  Immediate concern was that I was going to have a steak for lunch (JHG were paying) to make up for the healthy salad option I had embarrassingly chosen on the Thursday and that I would miss out.  Apart from this, I called the hospital whilst Lisa completed her nesting, booked us in for the morning and went back to bed (on Lisa’s instruction) as I needed my rest.

Shortly after 0600 I got up, sorted out the 2 boys, deposited them with a friend for the day and then took Lisa to the hospital at 0800.  No detail necessary for the next few hours but at 1153 Harrison was born! Weighed in at 8lbs 8oz.  After the post birth admin was completed I left Lisa and Harrison to get some rest and went for a celebratory Hungry Jacks (Burger King) which didn’t make up for the missed steak opportunity, picked up the boys and then went home before returning to the hospital at 1800 to pick up Lisa. We were home by 1930 just in time to watch the Broncos on Friday night football! So a busy day all in all.

3 brothers – Future England three-quarter combo?

Week 8 – Paternity Leave – little sleep, madness, need I say more….same again for week 9 no doubt!