The Day after the Fall, I was Aching like Hell all day long, we had our breakfast and then it was over to the Main meeting Area to be told about where we were Working and Living for the next Fortnight!
I was allocated to the Contractors side of the Rig, which meant me and the Steward were looking after about 20 Blokes, who did not work on the Platform full-Time, but now and then.
I had my own Smaller Kitchen/Galley and eating area, to look after, which was Great, we were then shown to our own Sleeping Area/Cabin, it was a lot Better than the place where we had Slept the Night before and the Bad Memories from last night!
We got all our Stuff into our Rooms then we were off to Work, as it turned out, the Staff who were Leaving the Company (who I worked for) were staying on 1 more day to show us the ropes!
The Old Boy I was replacing was about 55 years old, (actually I still see him sometimes in the Town where I Live now) he showed me what to do and what to expect, it seemed straight forward enough!
I helped him Cook Lunch and Supper/Dinner and about 6pm that night, he was on the Helicopter and gone (back Home)!
I worked 7am to 7pm with a couple of Hours off in the Afternoon, it was not to strict on Hours, as long as you got the Job done!
That night after Dinner, I went back to our Cabin, which I was sharing with the Steward "Peter" he told me about His day, as I told him about mine, after which we got all our Clothes/Belongings etc etc unpacked and put away and went over to the main section of the Rig to see all the other Rig Workers for a Chat and play Pool.
Our First Day was over at about 11pm and we went back to our Cabin for some Sleep, I forgot to mention, in my First 24 Hours on the Rig, the fire Alarm had gone off at least 6 Times!
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As for some Great Soul Music, back in 1987, Glenn Jones Released his Self-Titled Forth Album on Jive Records, it contained a Fantastic Track called "At Last" it was written by Glenn Jones and Timmy Allen (he also Produced the Track) it was Surprisingly Never Released as a Single, in my Opinion its the Best Track Glenn Jones ever Recorded!
Incidentally Timmy Allen used to be in the Group "Change" it also Featured some Great Backing Singer's including Timmy Allen, Genobia Jeter and BJ Nelson.
As I said previously we went to Bed about 22.30 hrs, by this time we had already had about 2 or 3 Alarms, so we were already getting used to them!
When the main lights were turned off in our 6 man Cabin, we all had our own light's above our Beds, so I had mine on to Read a Book, for about an Hour!
But slowly one by one all the Lights went out, and about 23.30 hrs the Cabin was Pitch Black, you could not even see your Hand in front of your Face!
We had not worked all day but with all that had gone on, we were all exhausted, so I soon fell asleep..............................
Don't forget I was in the Top Bunk about 10 foot from the Floor! I was having a Great Sleep, It was Pitch Black and Very Quiet, when all of a Sudden (at around 2 am) .................THE ALARM WENT OFF!!!!!!!!!!
I opened my Eyes...Startled (as it was really quiet) by the Alarm Racket it was making, and pulled my sheets back and Jumped straight out of Bed to get Dressed!
Well I fell straight to the Floor, passing 3 Bunks (including mine) on the way Down and landed on the Cabin Floor on my Ar*e, I was in Absolute Agony, but I had no time to spare, I had to get Dressed (in my Safety Gear) and out to the Muster Point as soon as Possible!
When I got to the Muster Point, I was still in Agony and in Shock I think, it was Pouring with Rain and Blowing a Gale, (if any of you Reading this, have been on a Rig in the middle of North Sea, you will know what I mean about the Wind, its 10 times Worse out there than Onshore Winds) after a few minutes and being Wet through, as usual it was called a False Alarm and we were on our way back to our Cabins!
By the time we all got back to the Cabin, everybody was taking the micky, and falling about Laughing at my 10 feet dive from my Bunk, it was the Funniest thing that ever happened to me Working out there!
What was amazing about the whole incident was, how I never Hit any of the other Worker's on the way down, as 5 other Blokes were in there, getting out of Bed, all at the same time!
Anyway the next day I felt Terrible, I had bruises all over me and of course I never hardly Slept the night before after what happened, so I was still Shaken, Tired and Stiff all over and this was the Day when we were going to be Allocated our New Work Areas, our Jobs and New Cabins!
What a day I had in Front of me! ==============================================
As for Music, back in 1976 a Great Dance/Disco Track was Released by The Motown Vocal Group "The Originals" they were Known for their Soulful Ballads, so this was something completely different for them.
It was a Great Track Produced by Frank Wilson and Michael Sutton and taken from the album "Communique" it Reached Number One in the US Dance Chart!
During the Late 60's and early 70's The Originals had worked with Marvin Gaye (amongst other's) and during this Collaboration, Marvin Gaye had Wrote and Produced a couple of Ballads, which also went on to be 2 of their Biggest Hits.
The first night on the platform, we were given a Cabin just for that Night and told we would be Allocated our Permanent Cabin's the following Day.
So myself and the Steward Peter were shown to a Cabin along with some other Blokes, it turned out there were 6 Bunks/Beds in a very Small Cabin, and they were 3 either side of the cabin.
As the other Worker's were already in there and sorted out, me and Peter had what was left, the top 2 Bunks, you have imagine this, the Top Bunks must have been about 8 or 9 Feet off the ground, they were that High, we even had a Ladder to get to them!
Any way we settled in, as this was November time (1983) it was dark outside by about 15.30 hrs, so we didn't do to much Sight-Seeing that first Day, but around about 16.00 hrs, something happened I had never experienced before!
The Alarm went off, what a Panic that was, we were still in the Cabin, so we had to get all out Safety Gear on, Overalls , Boots, Life jacket etc etc, so then it was just a matter of getting to the Muster Point Asap, I remember that First Alarm like it was Yesterday!
The whole process took about 30 minutes and as soon as everybody was accounted for, we were all off back to our Cabins.
I found out around this point, from other Experienced Workers, that Gas Platform Alarms go off on a Regular Basis and at all times, obviously because of the Fumes!
After we got back to the cabin, we got sorted out and then went to get something to eat for Tea.
I played Pool that night and met some of the other Worker's, all of them seemed alright, we went back to the Cabin around 22.00 hrs and got ready for bed!
It felt like Climbing Everest getting into that Bunk, as I said it was at least 8/9 feet off the Ground, but eventually I made to the Top!
I then had talk with Peter, about the Job and then a nice relaxing Read of a Book (for about 60 minutes) before I decided to go to Sleep, it must have been around 23.30 hrs.
Little did I know what was instore for myself in about a Couple of Hours Time, around 2 am the following Morning ! ==============================================
As for Music around this period, what about Herbie Hancock, he generally up until then Produced Jazz Music, but his Single Release "Rockit" was a Big Change for Him.
It was released in June of 1983, and was from the forthcoming Album "Future Shock" which was Released in August of '83.
It was the first Record to use Scratching and other turntable Techniques, they were Performed by GrandMixer D.ST
It was Produced by Bill Laswell and was a WorldWide Hit.
It was a Great Record, I remember buying the 7 in, 12 in and Album (on Tape)
