30 March, Fire Fighting

Okay so I know that it's taken me 4 days to get my first entry (please note that this is my second entry, my first one is the other one :) ) up but a combination of tiredness, computer hogs, spazzy computer and at least 32 other very important factors are to blame. In fact any second now a very angry looking German girl is going to barge in here and tell me it is her turn. She's new at the hostel, so I think that's very cheeky of her! But alas she is right. So for the sake of making sure that I do not fall behind on my blogging responsibilities I am going to make a quick entry about what has gone on in the last few days, carefully organized under very clever headings.

Missed Photo Opportunities

1. Coloured hobo fight at V&A water front.
2. Super size daddy seal swimming at V & A waterfront.
3. Me dressed in super cool fire fighting equipment.
4. The awesome view along the beachfront.
5. My foreign friends (Italy, Lebanon, Finland, Belgium, etc.)

Firefighting

So the first week of my course is called the STCW '95. It is the standard basic safety course that everyone around the world is required to do if they are going to be working offshore. So for the past three days I've been doing firefighting and let me just say this... AAAAAHHHHHHH! Man it's so much fun. I don't have time so let me just explain the main simulation we did yesterday.

So they have these containers stacked to two stories high and completely sealed of. Inside the containers they start 3 fires. The containers get so hot that the boots of the support team (who stand on the first storey to feed you the hose) melt and if water touches the container it immediately starts to boil. So basically this contraption becomes like an oven. Now you and your team of 5 or 6, all fully dressed in proper fire-retardant fire-fighting equipment, with breathing apparatus, have to enter from the very top with the fire fighting hose and put out all the fires. The floor on which you are kneeling when you are in there is approx 100 degrees celsius and you cannot see anything apart from the man in front of you. It was crazy!!! One guy quite twice because he couldn't handle it.

Last Notes

1. Got some photos but can't upload due to spazy computer:( Will upload later.
2. Will give more details of my hostel and the area I'm staying (fantastic as they say in the classics).
3. Angry German here now have to leave.
4. Love you all;)