We have just had a really quick weekend up in Northam, around 90 minutes from Perth and a faded old Wheatbelt farming town. It was a weekend of walking along the river, eating good food, drinking dodgy coffee and relaxing a lot. Sitting out on the balcony of an old, beautifully refurbished hotel, drinking rose … Continue reading End of a unit (nearly) & Northam →

I think it's been five years since I went offshore, as I really wasn't capable of the physical exertions of the helicopter escape training and general walking around/climbing up and down ladders/ narrow stairs that are inherent in that type of location. This week, I spent two days offshore, on the Ningaloo Vision. Sitting on … Continue reading And offshore again, after 5 years →

As an engineer in the offshore industry, a course you have to do is called the TBOSIET, basically an offshore survival skills course. This is needed before you are allowed to fly onto a platform or rig. It’s pretty physical, there’s climbing into helicopters, being inverted and having to escape while underwater. There’s escaping from … Continue reading Completing my offshore training →

More beaches, Coconut Wells this time which is a lovely, largely deserted tidal lagoon and wild, windy beach. It's been crazy cold for Broome, the wind hasn't helped, so we've been wearing jumpers and a scarf much of the time. This place was lovely, a wander around for a few hours watching how the lagoon … Continue reading Beaches and moonrise in Broome →

Four days we have now been in Broome, and it's a peaceful, mellow place. Lots of clean, empty beaches with dinosaur footprints, lovely sunsets to watch while eating curry at the surf club, remote capes to explore followed by a pearl farm tour and a rather lovely pearl necklace ... Sunset and beach colours The … Continue reading First days in Broome →

I am sitting in the plane, on the way to Broome, after my first six weeks of working at Santos. The holiday was booked before I started work, and it feels like a good time to take a break and just consider the job. It’s a day to day support role, keeping an oil facility … Continue reading Six weeks of work, and my first holiday →

So I start my new job tomorrow, at Santos which is an Australian energy company. They mainly work in the oil and gas area at the moment, but are very focussed on the transition to green energy solutions. I don't know how my Masters will align with the company, however they are well aware of … Continue reading New job ! →

Just some more photographs from this area, so close ( well, close in Australian terms) to Perth. It’s a mosaic of beaches, cliffs, trees, wineries and distilleries, waves and sun, rain and wind. This week has been a quiet week, and a chance to catch my breath before starting work again. Having time, and the … Continue reading More from our beautiful SouthWest →

Well, I’ve reached the end of my first unit of study. Hopefully I have a job to go to soon, and I’m on holiday in our beautiful South West of WA. Below a few photographs, and I’ve been relishing a few days of really not doing a great deal. Swimming, hiking, eating has been the … Continue reading End of the first stage →

I loved this image of a river, meandering and changing it's course, so many paths to be taken and explored. I have started on a different path. It's close to my profession and industry, but this time out of the workplace has given me the courage to take a pathway I've long debated. The first … Continue reading A change in path →