Check Your Junk Email Folder If You Are Awaiting News On Your Visa Application

I have to be honest and say that I enjoy Blackpool. It has its place and I would never rule it. Blackpool before or after the Lake District is a good combination.

As we have discussed before, you really cannot go wrong with Blackpool, there is bound to be stuff there that a Filipina loves, bound to be.

We all know its a little tacky and all that buts its an all round winner in my book.

We wanted to go to Paris but the Shenaningans visa thing has put us off (we already have one to apply for, for Spain).

Nothing wrong with a bit of tacky now again. (Whoops should be in the NSFW section....) Yes. I agree.

You have plenty of time to do all that John, must admit I would like to do the same.

Do you not get a lot of time off? You not doing 2 on 2 off or the like?

Hows that offshore card working in the UK. The one that has your personal details on that they were going to keep a log of days spent offshore on?

Vantage card? With the Opito logo on it.

I only get the regular 25 days holiday, I only work on the rigs from time to time, would love to get a job full time offshore.

I get the jist. Shore based with occasional offshore trips.

The Vantage card is used all over the North Sea, not sure about Scandinavia though. It is also used at some onshore oil refineries I go to, not sure why. The Vantage card is a good idea, at least someone knows where you are and where you have been, also has contact details, next of kin and any notable medical conditions are on there.

Are your offshore trip records logged on it now? They hadn't got round to it when I was offshore last.

I still have mine, BTW.

Yes, all the trips are logged and when you check in at the Heliport you get the chance to review and update any personal information they hold on you for example the company you work for and emergency contact numbers.

By the way, they are updating the re-breather to one which has a little oxygen cylinder as opposed to re-breathing your own air, good idea I think as I found the re-breather hard to use. It will be rolled out in October I think and all the heliports will train you on the use just before you fly, no need to attend training centre.

I see. I did the rebreather and didnt enjoy it.

I struggled to use it, really wouldn't like to use it when I'm panic stricken, sat next to two huge rig workers knowing I had no chance to get past them when the helicopter goes down .

The new system is more akin to using a BA set which should be much easier to use and deploy, and to breathe of course.

They have recently restricted how many people can fly on certain models of helicopters theoretically making it easier to get out of the helicopter should it go down.

At the end of the day if the chopper does go down it is likely to be a Roy Orbison job regardless of breathing kit or how many people are aboard at the time of ditching.

You say restricted? Is there a restriction on size or numbers or both? I got the impression that some people might struggle to get out of some helicopter windows.

At the moment there are restrictions on numbers, I've noticed that a couple of seats are left empty now intentionally with "do not use these seats" signage on them. It is intended that everyone will sit next to a window which means that in the future the windows will be smaller thus there will be weight restrictions brought into force. At the moment the average oil worker weighs over 100kg which is quite a size, thankfully I'm less than that. You know what its like with the food offshore, may not be the best food but there's always plenty of it, in addition to that they are sat at home for three weeks in five.

You can use the Spain one for France too.

Yes. There were a few bigger chaps about. And yes, the copious quantities of food doesnt help when there isnt much else to do but eat.

Aye. But the last Schengen visa we got tied us down to fixed dates. So unless we planned it all well in advance then it would be hassle. Hopefully, when the Mrs gets citizenship this year or beginning of next we will then have the freedom to go as we please a bit more.

She is eligible for citizenship from October onwards. We probably will go for it nearer christmas.

I actually got to find out the result of my wifes visa application a couple of days before the UKBA released the info and issued the visa. Amazing but true.