I echo those who wish you warmth and a safe return to dry land. One hundred mph wind and 30 foot waves are beyond my ability to visualize, and way beyond any desire to be in the middle of. You're a brave man, Chippy.

 

Heard TSE took everyone off of Buchan Alpha Chippy - hope you were one of them

 

Back to work this morning and expecting the weather to be better but it isn't really. Still got winds over 70mph and the sea is even bigger with waves up to 14.8m high.

Sprock, they did empty one of the static platforms about 20 miles from me but we have to just sit it out.

I think the worse thing is that the temperature is dropping so with the wind chill factor it's getting bloody cold outside. Glad I have an indoor job.

 

Bloody hell Chippy, was it you rocking that rig around so much that it flooded my town out last night?
Being north Kent we caught the brunt of the storm surge last night. I went out in the car at around 12.30 to see what was going on and found water where there were normaly roads. Cops everywhere checking levels of tributaries coming off the creek which goes through town. Flooded houses and boats floating between buildings. We don't have nights like that very often.

Glad I'm not out on that rig mate.
Take care chippy. Happy Christmas, when we eventually get there.

 

Think you fellas got an expanded version of what we had a week ago here and she
just kept on her merry way across the pond picking up more and more ocean energy

Lot more devastation than we had Lads & a tough time and all this side of Crimbo for
those who suffered major property damage not to mention the poor souls that lost their
lives in lorry accidents etc.

 

Very true Mark. Given the battering we had yesterday and last night it's amazing there were not more loves lost. Sadly there are a few though. I couldn't help think of the poor buggers who'e been caught in the tsunamis and hurricanes in recent years. That's on a completely different level. Quite unimaginable.
Makes you feel pretty lucky really.

How's the sea behaving tonight Chippy?

 

Back to work again this morning and things have just about got to normal. The wind is down to a managable 30-40mph and the sea is starting to calm down, 4-6m waves.

All good for flying but now the temperature has dropped out here so the helicopters are prone to icing up...not good!!

Yet more delays for the guys going home but hopefully we will start getting people off.

I have the utmost sympathy for anyone who has lost people due to weather and water. Having been on the rigs now for 13years I have seen the back end of all sorted of things and until you actually see what strength and damage the sea can do first hand it is difficult to visualise. An unstopable force with so much power and energy it is frightening.

Hope everything is back to normal for you Henry.

Thanks for the well wishes, I'm home on Thursday...hopefully.