TVB op vakansie na Gough Eiland

[ChrisL - DUSTRIDERS]

Hoop jy het darem so klein burnoutjie gemaak Tom?!!

[Tom van Brits]

Hoop jy het darem so klein burnoutjie gemaak Tom?!!

  Nope, I walk the line Chris   

[Tom van Brits]

Thanksgiving

We got Turkeys at work, a while 13pound and I decided to grill it in the Pit Boss smoker for 6 hours @ 225 degrees Fahrenheit
Those of you that don't like turkey or may think it is 'dry' may want to try this - simply delicious!! 

[woody1]

Baie chicken mayo broodjies volgende week
Lyk lekker

[EssBee]

Awesome experiences you're having there, Tom.  That pic of the grain silo's in the pink light....jissie, flippin beaut!!!

[Tom van Brits]

October 2018 when we left Gough Island Kate took this picture of me. It is never easy to say good-bye, and I had no idea of what was lying ahead of me.
Often during the past 16 years I've been in this situation, yet I could never get used to that whirlpool of emotions.
Today while I was packing most of my stuff in tope bins to be stored at my bosses house for the 2 month brake between contracts I got a bit of that.
You know nothing is certain in life, life is filled with variables and constant change.
I would love to be back next year, and like I have recently announced I was confirmed officially by the company to return.
Sadly today I am loosing a day of work loading train, and although I'm not too bothered about the money I could have made extra I am still bruised.
My back somehow recovered quite fine and I was doing ok for a while, and then yesterday I had to do quite a fair bit of shovelling and climbing fixed ladders up and down and this back got into a spasm that almost made my eyes water.
Pok people I hope this will be okish so I can complete the last 2 weeks of work without any issues, I think there are still another 3 trains to be loaded in this time and I'm part of a team, if one guy doesn't pitch the whole team feels that.
Got a consiltation the 19th of January with a specialist at Wilgers Hospital Pretoria, let's hope he can diagnose and fix this asap. 

[Tom van Brits]

Sometimes you in a bit of a hurry, and then there is a 3mile long coal train  keeping you a bit.
So much to do in the last 2 weeks of the contract 😅🎸

[Tom van Brits]

 

[Tom van Brits]

Although I am getting used to degrees farenheit now I have set my cellphone app to degrees Celsius for quick reference and in case I feel like sharing with someone back home.
It is slowly getting colder now, and even after 3 inches of rain last week we manage to spread dry fertilizer mainly because the soil is frozen,  because you then ride on top and dont sink in and cause damage to the fields.
Today starts at minus 6 and max will be six, but currently it feels like minus 11 they say.
It doesn't bother me much while running the semi, only when I need to get out and work the augur and transfer fertilizer.
Marysville is just Christmas lights, actually all the towns. Even the municipality has put up overhead lights that stretch over the streets and so on. People being creative, maybe I'll bear the cold one night and go take a couple pictures

[EssBee]

That pic of you standing on the back of the boat....the mood is almost tangible.

[Tom van Brits]

So we got this message today of HR telling us that they are going to be brutally honest with us; there maybe issues from the government and that might be the end of the contract.

We are asked not to leave anything behind, to ship all valuable items back home with us.

I did hear this may happen, was not expecting it to happen so fast.

I am not going to let grass grow under my feet; direct translation, sorry if it doesn't work 

Anyone out there that may need a guy like me please give me a shout:
1) Housekeeping management - remote sites and tented camps etc (Guest houses, anything similar)
2) I dont have a code 14 in SA, but I am now a fairly good driver (Commercial drivers license States)
3) farming - I am by no means a farmer but I have a good understanding of farming and did a fair bit of hands on farming now; silage, grain etc and can do a fair bit of maintenance.
4) Arch welding and general maintenance - handyman
5) I can run a forklift, tele handler and CAT 955 payloader and skid steer.
And I am 52 years of age and not lazy.

If anyone hear of anything please contact me right away, I'll be available January 1st.

[Rough Rider]

Find a local barmaid and get married, problems solved.

[Philemon]

Thanks not good news Tom.

I will keep my eyes and ears open for you?

It should not be too difficult for you to get your code 14 here in S'efikah.

Another option is to be daring and look for a poppie and rush off to Vegas and get married. 

Then with a bit of paperwork you can stay there in the "Yoo-ess-of aye"

Take it easy.

[Tom van Brits]

Thanks not good news Tom.

I will keep my eyes and ears open for you?

Thanks 

Forgot to add to the list that I can run a grain elevator now. Knows how it works, good understanding of the mechanical side and how to take care of grain - hotspots and so on.
Though I will not loose sleep about this but I am wide awake in the middle of the night, maybe because I really love the people here and the job.
Thought this would be my last stop
Will try and stay positive,  see this as another adventure and move forward  😅

[ChrisL - DUSTRIDERS]

Any openings at the other Co-op in your area or transport of grain company? While you there find out.

[Tom van Brits]

Any openings at the other Co-op in your area or transport of grain company? While you there find out.

Chris this issue the Coop has run into is apparently a government decision and it will not affect farmers and the H2A agriculture program wrt farming and harvesting but it does affect some agricultural institutions in the Coop and food packing sector, that if I interpret it correctly.
The agency's don't want to touch you if you are over 40 now for normal farmwork except if the farmers calls for you through a reference.
I may get work with my CDL only in harvesting time which means towards the second half of the year, employment for 3 to 3.5 months.
I would prefer some sort of stability in life at this stage, hence my hope to find new permanent or more permanent employment elsewhere.

[Tom van Brits]

One of our guys talked to our direct opposition in the grain industry, 'CVA'
They have received the same concern - the unemployment rate is at a record high and the Gov wants to force some industries to take care of citizens.....it makes sense, I don't blame them. 

I take a picture ever so often in the field, but there is nothing much too see in an harvested and cleaned up cornfield other than my truck 
Hope to go on a looooooooong motorcycle ride once back in SA and hope to bring you some good pictures!
I was planing on a trip to Colorado next year, one of my friends said I can use his Harley because it's just standing gathering dust.
Colorado is still a bucket-list item if I ever make it back to the USA. 

[Tom van Brits]

Have a good weekend! 

[WheelieDog]

Great photos, but some very shit news.

Is there no possibility of finding work as a truck driver while you are still there?

[Tom van Brits]

Great photos, but some very shit news.

Is there no possibility of finding work as a truck driver while you are still there?

Thanks Wheeliedog!
In order to drive trucks for anything other than grain, let's say for any commercial companies you need a green card.
That is for liability reasons and insurance.
So my only option is to work as a truck driver for a silage or grain harvest company, and I have met many South Africans withing as such. I have also started out that way in the United States last year with silage.
Nothing wrong with that albeit a short three and a half month to 5 month contract.
So the CDL will surely (may) help to get me employment for at least a quarter of the year.

Greencard is not an easy one, 2 options which most guys follows is an immigration lawyer and you start by putting usd 8k on his table, and then the process starts which is not always successful.
The other is to fall in love and marry a local citizen but although they say love is blind I doubt a local woman will be that blind to fall for an ugly old Saffer like me 👀🤣 , but on a more serious note; I wouldn't use a woman and go halfheartedly into a relationship or complicate my life more than it already is so I dont see that as an option.
At this stage to gamble with usd 8k and immigration lawyer and having to leave in anyway without work is not a good idea, some guys wait more that 3 years for approval and some don't get approval and end up losing that money.

I would rather job hunt now, and use the harvest as a lifeline if I end up needing it because my CDL gives me a big advantage.
I am sure even last year's silage harvester will welcome me for 3.5 months since he did call for me this year but then I was happy at the Coop. 

Have a great weekend!  I need to go work till noon today, dumping trucks since we are picking up some piles.