Saturday 21 February 2009

WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 45


Different Perceptions


Six blind men were discussing exactly what they believed an elephant to be, since each had heard how strange the creature was, yet none had ever seen one before. So the blind men agreed to find an elephant and discover what the animal was really like.

It didn't take the blind men long to find an elephant at a nearby market. The first blind man approached the beast and felt the animal's firm flat side. "It seems to me that the elephant is just like a wall," he said to his friends.


The second blind man reached out and touched one of the elephant's tusks. "No, this is round and smooth and sharp - the elephant is like a spear."


Intrigued, the third blind man stepped up to the elephant and touched its trunk. "Well, I can't agree with either of you; I feel a squirming writhing thing - surely the elephant is just like a snake."


The fourth blind man was of course by now quite puzzled. So he reached out, and felt the elephant's leg. "You are all talking complete nonsense," he said, "because clearly the elephant is just like a tree."


Utterly confused, the fifth blind man stepped forward and grabbed one of the elephant's ears. "You must all be mad - an elephant is exactly like a fan."


Duly, the sixth man approached, and, holding the beast's tail, disagreed again. "It's nothing like any of your descriptions - the elephant is just like a rope."


And all six blind men continued to argue, based on their own particular experiences, as to what they thought an elephant was like. It was an argument that they were never able to resolve. Each of them was concerned only with their own idea. None of them had the full picture, and none could see any of the other's point of view. Each man saw the elephant as something quite different, and while in part each blind man was right, none was wholly correct.


There is never just one way to look at something - there are always different perspectives, meanings, and perceptions, depending on who is looking.

5 MINUTES WITH - FRANKIE VELDMAN


Frankie Veldman is originally from Letterkenny and has spent the last 14 years offshore working on Oilrigs. He started at the bottom as a labourer and moved up to the pipe deck before trying a hand at the drill floor. Frankie then studied Health and Safety in his time off and completed a Health and Safety Course in Aberdeen University. After stints working as a Safety Coach and advisor for a drilling company Frankie was offered a contract offshore on a fleet of Offshore Flotels (accommodation Barges), where he was responsible for the health and safety of 580 staff. Frankie has worked out of Ireland, UK, Holland, Denmark, and Norway and was onboard the Sedco 711 when they first discovered gas in the Corrib field back in 1999. In June last year Frankie came home full-time and set up a training centre to cater for personnel wishing to seek employment in the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry. With all the doom and gloom in the country at the moment Frankie feels that the best way forward is training and has opened up the Feidhm Mara Teoranta Training Centre. The future plans for the centre will be to run more and more offshore courses so personnel will not have to leave the country to do these. Frankie feels, that this will benefit the county as a whole and put Donegal firmly on the map up there along with Aberdeen, Huston, and Dubai.

What music are you listening to at the moment?
I am not listening to anything as the phones are constantly ringing….I like most kinds of music and I suppose in my younger days I liked AC/DC a lot. I would loved to have gotten tickets for the concert this year in Ireland but unfortunately they sold out very quickly.

What book are you reading?
I don’t really have much time on my hands these days to read books. I can tell you the last book I read was Roy Keane’s. I read it 3 times, I enjoyed it that much. It’s the first thing I pack in my suitcase before I go on holiday.

What was your favourite childhood game?
If you are talking about board games then it would have to be Escape from Colditz. I remember my mum bought it at the market in Strabane many years ago for a pound. Ours disappeared and I remember looking for it in many game shops over the years and could never find it. Then one day offshore in the games room and snooker hall I spotted a familiar box….You now know what I was playing for the rest of my offshore hitch.

Have you been to the cinema recently?
Yes. The last film I saw was James Bond Quantum of Solace. I suppose it was fine. I would like to have seen more of the Aston Martin DB9 though.

What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
It has got to be the sports pages first.

What would you never throw away?
The telephone numbers of good-looking girls. (Laughing).

Most embarrassing moment.
Getting off on the wrong oil-rig. I had to listen to that for years from the crews I work with.

Favourite TV programme?
I like comedy on TV and my favourite is Father Ted. I have the DVD box collection and my favourite two favourite episodes are a Song for Europe where they sing about My Lovely Horse. (I am humming it to myself just now LOL) and the book signing episode where Mrs Doyle swears a lot at Father Ted. Brilliant

What job did I want to do when I was a child?
Well my father spent 25 years of his life Offshore and I always wanted to be a sailor, just like my Dad. I got my childhood wish 15 years ago but on an oil rig and not a supply boat. So in a way I have followed my father’s footsteps.

What was my best holiday and what made it special?
My best holiday was in 2002 where I went to the World Cup in Japan and Korea. I travelled with my younger brother Dennis and Brendan Dunnion from Letterkenny. Things that made it special for me was sitting next to Packie Bonner all night in the team’s hotel. I was starving, as I am a very fussy eater and said this to Packie. He popped up to his room and landed back with a box of Tayto Cheese and Onion crisps. No doubt Dennis, Brendan, and I ate most of them. Later in the night he gave me his Irish training jersey.

What famous people would you invite around for dinner and why?
Firstly I would have invite Jamie Oliver. He would do the cooking. If Pope John Paul were still alive he would be top of the guest list as he could say the grace and have good stories to tell. I think there might be a seat for JR Ewing (Larry Hagman, Dallas) just for a few pointers. Shaun Gallagher would also be there I think he is doing a brilliant job rallying all over the world and putting Donegal on the Map. It would be good to have chat with him. Elvis would be there for a few tunes and I suppose one of the Pussycat Dolls for dessert….. I would have an Irish polititan to do the cleaning up but I’m not certain who would be the best person for the job….

What do you do for a special treat?
Well, with working offshore I have plenty of time off, so treats are always on the menu. I like going to the Indian restaurants and other activities include swimming with sharks and rally school. For a special treat I like going to the hairdressers…….

Favourite animal
Dog.

Biggest Thrill?
Being on an oil rig on a little ledge throwing in drill pipe to the travelling blocks. This means that you are standing 90 feet up in the air on a bit of metal, throwing things.

Biggest Challenge?
That would have to be getting the training centre up and running. Our backs were put to the walls more times than enough but we have come through. I have been working solidly on this project for the last 10 months. (It has not been easy)

What was the best present you ever got?
My dad is a dab hand at the carpentry work and one time he made me a 3 foot model of an oil rig. I still remember to this day pushing toys around the decks of it. I don’t think it was a present for a special occasion though.

What was the last thing you bought yourself?
I honestly can’t remember it’s been that long since I treated myself to a new pair of jeans or trainers. If it’s any item, then that would have to be a litre of milk.

What charities do you support?
I sponsor Whales and Dolphins and receive an update on my Dolphin in the Moray Firth Scotland.

The world’s most Irritating Invention/Most useful Invention?
Most irritating would have to be the mobile phone especially if you are sitting on a train and you want some chill time.
The most useful invention would have to be the Iron Roughneck. The Iron Roughneck is a robot, which is used for making up drill pipe on the rig floor. When it breaks down you know you are in for a hard shift ahead. It’s a Roughneck’s best friend and it is always the first piece of machinery you should check before your shift.

Favourite pastime?
I used to swim a lot but have not had the chance recently.

What do you have for breakfast?
That depends, mostly 2 cups of coffee. When I get up in the morning the last thing on my mind is breakfast and it is about lunchtime before I even think about food. Maybe once a month I might have a big fry.

What was your first job?
My first job was selling the Donegal Democrat on a Thursday afternoon after school. I would get 1p per paper I sold. I usually ended up selling 40 of them. I would normally pocket a pound for the evening’s work that is including tips.

Best/Worst household chore?
I do not really mind any chores about the house. I live alone and am quite a tidy person so there are not many chores to be done.

What is the best advice you have been given?
My dad told me before I went offshore for the first time that, any job I do make sure you do it to a standard you would expect if you were inspecting the job yourself. I have never had anyone over the past 14 offshore years complain about my work.

Personal Philosophy?
I suppose it would be Live Life to The Pepsi Max. That reminded me of a storm we had on a rig west of Shetland back in 1999 or 1998 Hurricane Mitch. They asked for volunteers to go down to the spider deck to unlatch the Blow-Out Preventer as the weather was seriously rough. My pal Craig from Aberdeen and I headed down. We were frightened as there were big waves hitting the underside of the rig. It was the time the Pepsi Max ads were on telly and we just kept say Pepsi Max to each other

JR AUTOS IN BRIDGEND




“Regular servicing is vital to keep your car in top condition; saving the you money in the long run as potentially expensive problems can be avoided.” James

“We offer a complimentary mini valet and wash with every service.” Ruairi


JR AUTOS BRIDGEND – FOR ALL YOUR MOTOR REPAIRS

A new, state of the art, motor repair shop has opened in Bridgend offering full servicing, repairs, pre NCT/MOT and diagnostics. Conveniently located on the Elaghbeg Industrial Estate on the main Derry to Letterkenny Road, JR Auto’s combine mechanical and technical know-how with good business practice. Partners, James Lavelle and Ruairi O’Reilly have twenty-five years relevant experience between them and are passionate about their business. James, originally from Meath, is not put off by the recession.


Regular Servicing
“I feel it is a good time to be setting up a new motor repair business,” James tells us, “With the change in the economy, people are keeping their cars for longer. This means that regular servicing is vital to keep cars in top condition; saving the customer money in the long run as potentially expensive problems can be avoided.

As cars get older, they require important preventative maintenance like new timing belts. Sometimes they need to be changed every 30,000 miles like in the Corsa, so it’s important to get them checked.” James advises. “We also realise that there is a need for taxi drivers to have cars that are faultless as they get so much wear. Regular servicing can also reduce the amount of petrol you use by up to 40%.”



Recovery and Breakdown Service
Ruairi, from Derry is, like James, a time served mechanic and has spent the last four years working both in garages and on the road dealing with breakdowns for the AA and RAC. “We have a 24/7 breakdown and recovery service in operation” James tell us. “Logistically, Bridgend is a great area for us as we are accessible to road networks for Inishowen, Derry and Letterkenny. This is handy; not only for our breakdown and recovery service, but for our free collection and return of the vehicles into the workshop which is very convenient for our customers.


Diagnostics
Modern cars need a lot more diagnostic electronic work. James and Ruairi are up to speed with the latest technology and have invested in all of the software. “We have two systems running in the workshop and we use portable laptops so the information is to hand when we are working on the car. The first system is Auto Data; this is a general check that narrows down the potential problem areas where the fault lies. Then we have the Diagnostic Software that will pinpoint the problem, enabling us to fix it quickly. Technology such as this is vital as you couldn’t even switch a warning light off without it.”

Customer Service
James and Ruairi ensure their customers are getting the best price and are keen to offer a personal service. They realise that a vehicle is important to a family or business and work long hours to get the car on the road again. “We offer a complimentary mini valet and wash with every service as well.” Ruairi says.

The large premises have all of the tools to hand for coping with every eventuality in car repair and the shop area stocks general parts for most vehicles. So if your car needs a service and you want mechanics that are up to date with all of the latest techniques, then pop into JR Autos in Bridgend and talk to James and Ruairi, or give them a ring on 086 8894290 (James) or 004479 22345336 (Ruairi)

James’s Safety tip
“As soon as you feel there is something wrong with your car like any kind of irregular noise, vibration, shimmer, or you note some leak or any warning light comes on while driving or anything that seems to be irregular – let us know as it might be unsafe to drive. It's definitely better to check any small problem straight away”

Does your car need a service?

Have you gone over the manufacturers recommended servicing time or miles?
Is the car not running as well as it did and is slow to pull away?
Is there wheel wobble?
Is the servicing warning light on?
Is there knocking and banging when you go over a bump?


If you answer YES to any of these then take your car into JR Auto’s for a check.

Tips for safer and more efficient driving.

Keep your tyres inflated at the right pressure. This can save fuel, give a better ride and lengthen the life of the tyres.
Check your windscreen wipers and replace them if worn and check the screen wash regularly.
Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving can shorten the life of the engine and increase fuel consumption by up to 30%
Don’t wait until a problem occurs, get down to JR Autos for a service…..

Other stories

Related Posts with Thumbnails