I finally got a Job . . . I MADE IT THRU THE 1st DAY

[ballaratdragons]

Wooooo-hoooooo!!!!!! :jump2:

I finally got a job. I recieved the answer this afternoon :cool: :party:



Now for the bad bit. I start on afternoon shift :sadeyes:

Oh well, I just have to think about the mount I can buy soon :lol:

The job is with a company called Imerys. It is an international mining company that mines and processes some of the finest white Kaolin clay in the world.

My job will be pressing clay to get the water out, grading quality, and generally processing the clay into a high grade product. The clay that is processed here (only 8k from home) is of such a high grade it is mainly for the Pharmacuetical industry, cosmetics and beverages.

This is them: http://www.imerys.com/scopi/group/imeryscom/imeryscorp.nsf

[Omaroo]

Congratulations Ken! :thumbsup:

I wonder if I'm using this clay, in suspension, when I add it to my wine that I brew to make it all the other impurities in the suspension sink to the bottom of the barrel - leaving crystal-clear wine. Is it your clay or am I using something else?

[xstream]

Congratulations Ken!
That's good news to hear.

Don't worry about the arvo shift you'll get used to it and at least it'll be dark when you get home. :)

[Ric]

Congratulations on the new job Ken, hope it's not a permanent arvo shift for your observings sake. But as you say keep thinking of the new mount and other goodies you will be able to get, also all those fantastic early morning DSO's that you will be able to image as well.

cheers

[spacezebra]

Excellent news :thumbsup:- enjoy the new job.

Cheers Petra

[janoskiss]

Congrats, Ken!! :) ... but there's always a but, isn't there?? Enjoy the morning skies!

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks all.

No, it's not permanent Arvo shift. It rotates. It's the night shift that will bug me the most! Missing out on all that midnight sky. Unless it's cloudy :lol:

[jase]

Congratulations Ken.:thumbsup:

Was a little concerned about clay in beverages. Might be a little hard to swallow.:lol:

Take care and above all enjoy it.

[Starkler]

Congrats Ken :)

Is this going to interfere with the star camp ?

[ballaratdragons]

Nope :)

I told them up front at my interview about Camp and it's fine with them. :thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

And here I am thinking you were just plain potty when all this time you were the claymaker! Congratulations Ken, well done

[acropolite]

Congratulations Ken, sounds like a good job and as you said the money will come in very handy.:thumbsup:

[Dennis]

That is excellent news Ken - congratulations and good luck. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Cheers

Dennis

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks.

Yep Phil, the money will come in handy. For a new mount . . . . after the new fridge, washing machine and everything else I have been told we NEED first! :lol:

[leon]

Congrats Ken, well done, hope you enjoy your new job, it wont interfer with your observing, as your such a night owl anyway..........
When do you start?

leon

[janoskiss]

:doh: Some people have their priorities all upside-down and back-to-front. :rolleyes:

[Astroman]

Now I know why wine tastes like dirt :)

Congrats Ken, good luck with it.

[ballaratdragons]

Tomorrow! 2:30pm afternoon shift. :eyepop:

[mick pinner]

buy a solar filter Ken, all those daylight hours.

[ballaratdragons]

Got one Mick. :thumbsup: Looks like it might get used even more! :lol:

[danielsun]

Well done Ken!!:thumbsup:
Maybe your first purchase should be a coronado so if you miss out on the nights you can still view during the day.;)

New jobs must be in fashion, i just started a new one myself!

[ballaratdragons]

Cool about your new job Daniel! :thumbsup:

I don't need a coronado. I have a full apature solar filter for the ED80. :)

[gaa_ian]

Good on you Ken ... well done mate :thumbsup:
You know what they say, "no mun no fun", welcome dack to the workforce :)

[jjjnettie]

Congratulations Ken!
I hope the people you work with are nice and the work not too hard. You don't want to come home to exhausted to observe.
You'll have to set up your scope before heading off to work so it will be ready for when you get home.

[ballaratdragons]

Good idea Jeanette! :lol:

It is going to be so good to be working again.

Thanks Ian.

[astroron]

:hi: Ken, Great newsI hope it all works out for you, look forward to your first working report:thumbsup:

[ballaratdragons]

I can give you a work report right now Ron, in advance!

Went to work, did some stuff, had smoko, did a bit more, had lunch (or tea), did some more then came home . . . . .


AND GOT THE SCOPE AIMED ON THE FORNAX CLUSTER, NGC2....................

:lol:

[33South]

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

:lol:
Just like most of us.

[cahullian]

Good onya Ken

Remember all work and no play make Ken a dull boy..

Gazz

[ballaratdragons]

I have arrived home from my first day (night) at my new job.

Man!!! I am knackered

8 hour shift with no lunch breaks!! Don't get time for a lunch break but we managed to squeeze in 2 x 10 minute coffee breaks. The job is physically demanding (just what I need to get rid if my belly) and by the end of the night I was ready to collapse. By the time I got home I was feeling fine again.

Only 2 of us in the whole section I am in and the area and all the machinery takes up the area of about 4 footy fields, and is 2 levels.

I don't know how many stairs I climbed tonight but my legs can feel it. Up, down, up again, set up the machines, down, control the grade quality, upstairs unload the machines, open this valve, shut that valve, down stairs etc etc etc for the full 8 hours.

Actually, I don't mind the job. It's not Rocket Science but takes quite a bit of maths (which I am no good at) and a lot of precision, mixed in with a heap of heavy physical work.

Will do my mind and body good!

I enjoyed it, but like I said, I am knackered.

[ballaratdragons]

Oh, and for the scientific minded folk, I get to play with Hydrochloric Acid, Caustic Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium Dithionite and a few other exciting chemicals I haven't learnt the names of yet :thumbsup:

:P Just call me Proffessor Ken :rofl:

[johnno]

Hi Ken,

Well done,landing a job.
Hope it goes well for you.

Regards.
John

[janoskiss]

Wow Ken, those chemicals sound dangerous. :scared: And the way you describe the place reminds me of Charlie Chaplin in Modern Times. :lol:

8 hour shift, no lunch break?? I thought once upon a time that used to be illegal. :confuse3:

[tornado33]

It still is I think
http://www.ablawyers.com.au/documents/WCRegulations-WhatEmployersneedtoknow158474_2.PDF page 16


I think theres a health issue in expecting anyone to work 8 hours every day with nothing to eat, or a decent rest break. They really should have extra staff to cover for ppl when taking breaks.
Scott

[[1ponders]]

Great to hear you will be able to start funding further Astronomical Expansions Ken ;) :thumbsup:


That's right Scott, its called Workplace Health and Safety up here in Qld and Occupational Health and Safety and Work Safe etc elsewhere. An 8 hour shift with no break would definately constitute a safety hazard.

[fringe_dweller]

Not unless they have agreed to waive it or trade it away in a AWA :scared: :screwy: :mad2: :eyepop: :shrug: :doh: :whistle:

congrats Ken, they have made a wise choice :)

EDIT: whoops that awa thing is in the previous quote :doh:

[ballaratdragons]

Nah, we are entitled to 4 breaks during the day, but we don't often get to have them. If one of the machines shuts down we have to wait 5 minutes for it to start up again and that makes us miss a break. But meanwhile, while the machine is broken down we do nothing! The machines shut down a lot so we get LOTS of 5 minute breaks.
The machines aren't faulty. Why they shut down is when the product backs up and the sensors turn it off. Then someone else clears the back-up and then it's all go again. Actually, today we had a 40 minutes shut down so we benefitted with a BIG break! Geez it was boring.

Sometimes the breaks are annoying. We just want to get on with it. Food isn't a problem either as we can eat on the job.

Anyway, day 2 has gone well. Knackered again but starting to come good. :thumbsup:

[ballaratdragons]

Yep, that's it. 80% of it is sent to Tasmania for shipping all over the world, but the other 20% goes to chemical companies all around Australia for many uses.

1 use is as a seperating agent :thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

well now, Mr Dragons, will you only be able to survive with weekend viewings? I somehow don't see you contemplating your navel whilest on the job?? Surely you get a meal break, your only supposed to work 5 hours straight MAX then a break of some description. at least 30min outside with the knockies!!!