18th - 22nd September 2006

Monday 18th September 2006

0600 start. I don’t mind starting early in the morning, but it irritates me having to pull up and wait for the electric gate to open, drive about 50 yards and unlock a small gate, drive another 100 yards and unlock a bigger gate, drive round the corner to park the car. Only then can I unlock he office to get my paperwork, unlock our yard gate pull the truck out and relock our yard gate before finally escaping to the road. This morning was worse as I needed some bits out of our container which is locked, and is inside a locked warehouse. Eventually at 0620 I left the place for round trip no. 12 to the Isle of Wight. On to the M25 it seems to be extra busy and is very slow round from the M40 to Heathrow (I know its no surprise, but it seems worse than normal OK) Things improve after Heathrow and round to the A3 at J10 and it’s all going well. Even the A3 at Hindhead was better than usual (although Northbound was another matter) Arrive in Portsmouth terminal at 0915 (booked for 1000) straight in for my ticket, and the loader is already calling me when I climb back in. Even get loaded up near the front, rather than relegated to behind the drop trailers. On the island its about a 5 minute run to our site at Binstead nr Ryde for a final clearance. There is a little 6 wheel tipper being loaded when I arrive, so I park outside and wander in to see whats what. I am here to collect DSU’s that have been used to support the ‘floating raft’ floors whilst the concrete hardens. Last week at Totland the slab crew had told me that they were all stacked ready for me to pick up, they just needed shrink wrapping but were spaced so I could get around them. In fairness they were stacked on the pallets but it was a bit of a squeeze (OK I’m not exactly skinny, but I ain’t exactly fat either) Where they had been left was another matter though, about half were within reach of the crane but the other half were a definite no go. Found the telehandler driver and persuaded him to dig them out for me, whilst I was wrapping the pallets the tipper was leaving and it didn’t look like there was a huge amount of space for him. I decided to give it a go and just managed to snake it around between the two buildings with only a couple of inches to spare. The telehandler driver offers to load the pallets straight on if I can get turned side on to him, but we decide that it is easier for him to load from the rear and boom them all the way to the front of the 30’ bed. Half hour later all 9 pallets, 1 stillage and 1 dumpy bag are all on with some loose bits for good measure. I shunt back to the rear of the site as the tipper is back, and strap everything down whilst he loads. 1145 and I’m ready to go, five minutes later I join the back of the queue at the ferry terminal and shortly afterwards I am loaded on the 1200 ready to be about 10th vehicle off after a couple of vans and a few cars. And I’m in front of a caravan, payback from the summer holidays when they kept loading them on first. Roll out into Portsmouth just before 1300 and after an uneventful run arrive back at the yard at 1545. All the straps off and rolled up, the forklift out and I set to work turning the 2 way pallets so I can lift them off the side. A quick bit of paperwork and I’m done by 1645.

Tuesday 19th September 2006

0645 start. Straight out empty for a run to Sutton Valence in Kent. Apart from the expected 20 minute delay at the Dartford crossing, the roads are well behaved and traffic running well. Arrive at 0845 and pull up outside the yard on the main road. Pump the air suspension to the max, engage the diff locks and wait for a gap. Lunge out into the middle of the road and start to reverse up the slope between the brick walls. Scraaaaaaaaaaape, obviously the air suspension was not playing ball and hadn’t fully risen causing the feet underneath the beaver tail to plough a nice furrow in the tarmac. Pull forward to sort out the air and let the traffic past before having another shot (this time successful) It is a poxy place to get into as you have to snake it backwards up a sharp slope, all the weight is off the drive axles and unless you lock the diffs you just scuff up the tarmac as well. In the yard it’s a tight reverse around a conifer hedge to get in position to collect the augers that were tipped off for refurb last week. Leaving this yard is not much better as you sit on the slope with your head almost touching the windscreen waiting for a gap. Once the gap appears you can pull out but have to shunt so as not to damage the wall. The road back to Maidstone can also be a bit hairy in places, as there are some places that where another truck goes the other way you tend to breathe in. Still it’s all good fun and an easy run back to the yard. Once back at the yard, we try and work out how to load the Klemm, pump, toolbox, augers etc. At least today we have got some space and time to come up with a successful solution. Running the augers underneath, with the toolbox up front between the tracks seems the best way of leaving the winch and rope free to do their bit. (regular readers will know that if this lot goes on normally, the winch jumps out of gear and the pump rolls off) So far so good, and with a bit of shuffling bits about the pump is winched up successfully on the tail. Keeping an unimpeded route for the winch rope has done the trick. Leave the yard in convoy with the rig driver and 2nd man behind in their vans. Blast round the M25 to the M4 and down into Windsor to the site, arriving at 1430. There’s not tons of space when I back in and the cab is overhanging the pavement but it seems like a better option than tracking it off on the busy road. The pump is first off followed by the Klemm, we turn the augers and roll them down the ramps. It’s a quick two lifts with the crane for the toolbox and diesel, then a whiz round with the brush before folding the ramps and stowing the straps, chains etc. Total time on site is 40 minutes and the rig is already drilling when I leave. As I am coming up to the M4 /M25 junction the signs are warning ‘Obstruction on Slip Road’ As I round the bend there is an 05 Scania and ejaculator waste trailer laying on its side. Well I assume it’s an ejaculator as it has shot it’s load out the top all over the verge. It’s not much of a surprise though as they do seem to get driven hard and fast. Back to the yard and reload with some stillages and bits for delivery tomorrow. Finish at 1715.

Wednesday 20th September 2006

0630 Start. It’s a quick nip around to Flackwell Heath, High Wycombe for first drop this morning, so off up the M40 to J3. A quick scan of the map before I left and I decided that of the two ways to get there, either seemed fine. I decided to take the Maidenhead road as it was familiar from previous work. Turned off by the Post Office and the road started to climb a bit. Then I noticed a blue sign saying ‘Escape lane for Runaway Vehicles’ all of a sudden this hill was becoming severe and ended up being a third gear assault. As I got to the top I notice a sign warning of the 20% (1 in 5) gradient downhill (Yeah thanks for the uphill warning)
Arrive at the my destination, it being a residential road of bungalows and a cul-de-sac to boot. As I had followed a bin lorry in, I stayed at the top and wandered down to find the site and check to see if I could get in. It was just passable, no thanks to cars parked here and there making a nice slalom course for me. Everything on board came off, 3 stillages, 1 pallet, 1 pack of ply, 1 dumpy bag, and a knackered old compressor that cannot be towed belonging to the crew. As I had arrived they were just drilling the last pile with a Kitten rig, which was then split from its power pack and lifted on along with 2 pallets of augers. Just over an hour after arriving, having done 11 lifts I am ready to leave. Having someone helping to hook and unhook has probably saved about half an hour over doing it single manned. Somehow managed to turn around and retrace my route back to the steep hill and the M40. Passed a road named ‘Straight Bit’ on the way, made me chuckle. Another good run around the M25 and I’m back at the yard just after 1100. Making a rare visit to our yard was our other FM12 based at the plant department in Basildon.

It is the sister vehicle to mine XYG & XYH but has a 39t/m fully remote crane on the back and a lightweight flat body. It is used for moving the Kittens and the larger Hutte rigs about. When mine was MOT’d a few weeks back I got loaned to drive it to cover for their driver who was sick. I didn’t enjoy that week as the crane was a nightmare to fathom (it likes to do things in a certain order, and will not work unless you do it exactly as per) The thing was filthy inside and out and full of rubbish. However today it was bright and sparkling, putting mine to shame (we have no steam cleaner) as it is now in the hands of a new driver who was rabbiting away to me as if he knew me. Turns out he used to work for a haulage company that the plant department uses, and I remembered seeing him there once and muttering ‘ alright driver’. Pulled alongside, and cross loaded the Kitten, power pack and augers for him to return to Basildon.

Once he had left I started to load some more stillages and ply for a site in Stanmore. The forklift was wallowing about with the full pack of ply and I told the boss that it might be in for yet another puncture.

Down to Stanmore and it’s a reverse off the main road down a little private road around a tight corner to get to the site. The only space on site for the materials is a no go area, as there is a grab lorry due in soon so I crane them off and the crew then resling them and move them with a digger. Half an hour is all it takes in the blazing sunshine to lift off 8 and move a generator for them into a site store. Todays original plan was also for a drop in Enfield and to collect a Kitten rig here but neither is happening so it’s a run back empty to the yard. There is nothing to load when I get back, good job as the forklift has now got a puncture! so I sort out my paperwork and leave about 1600.

Thursday 21st September 2006

0700 Start. No hurry this morning just a trundle round the M25 to Thurrock for a service at BRS. Traffic OK until off the motorway and stop by the entrance to the services for about five minutes without moving. The traffic then clears and I arrive at BRS at 0815, although I am booked for 0800 they maintain it’s actually 0930 and the mechanic will not be in until then as he’s on site in Kent. It’s not a problem though as the Atlas engineer is also on site to service the crane, so he gets first go and sets to work with his grease gun. The crane is given a clean bill of health, apart from a broken lug (has been broken since before I got it January) and a couple of hoses need replacing on the knuckle joint. The hose company are too busy to attend so I suggest maybe they could do it at our yard, perhaps tomorrow afternoon? (Well it’s one way of getting an early Friday). The mechanic has arrived and opened up and starts doing all his checks etc, before realising it’s due for an oil change service and some other bits meaning I’m going to be here a while. I wander around the yard looking to see if I can locate a ‘spare’ bulls eye lens for the marker light on the tail ramps. No luck, but at least it’s warm and sunny.

There’s no big problems to sort out, but I get him to see to a slight leak to the third axle diff and to pop the n/s mirror back onto it’s motor properly. I think he dreads me going there as I always give him a load of little jobs to do, still keeps him busy.
A phone call whilst waiting has given me a job to do, and I set off at 1315 to go to our Rochester yard on the Medway City Estate to collect their 7½t and piggyback it back to our yard. I’m running along the A289 about 5 minutes away when I get a call cancelling the job, so I come off at the next junction and head straight back to the yard. There’s a bit of activity at the yard, TJ Hammonds are in to collect a few bits destined for N.Wales tomorrow so I lend a hand and fork a few bits on, although have to be careful as the puncture repair is a temporary bodge before two new tyres arrive tomorrow. There’s potentially a couple of little jobs for tomorrow although not actually confirmed so I can’t load. How I escaped the N.Wales trip is another matter but it’s a Friday journey I could do without so am not going to grumble about it.

Friday 22nd September

0645 Start. I arrive to find half of a load had been put on since I left yesterday, I found the paperwork and moved the truck so I could load the other side with the remainder. Having thrown all the straps, I was just about to grab the first ratchet when the job gets cancelled and it all has to come off. The only job now is a couple of bits to go to Hampstead and collect some 450mm CFA augers whilst there. On route to Hampstead I have to call at Travis Perkins in Hoddesdon to collect 8 sheets of 18mm ply. These are loaded on and strapped and I walk out with the paperwork noticing that they cost £37 each, they are only going to be used to protect the tarmac when the rig is tracked out and on to the lowloader. They also have shuttering ply which is only £23 / sheet but they hadn’t bothered to offer me a choice. Straps off, posh ply off, cheapo on and restrapped, I’d have been hung for that one. It’s a short hop down to Hampstead and as none of our blokes are on site, I lug all their stuff in and leave by their container. As I can’t actually get in to the site I get the machine driver to load the augers on for me. Just before I leave I get a call asking if I could squeeze a Kitten rig on, from a site around the corner in Finchley. After about 20 minutes I get given the address and trundle off to Fortis Green where the rig is. It’s lashing down when I arrive and I have to stay out on the road and drop the ramps, as the only space is a little gap in the middle, flanked by the 2x 6m augers and the slope of the beaver tail. As is usually the case the Kitten is one with non adjustable width tracks, there’s no way it’s going to climb the ramps what with the mud and rain. The track motors are a bit sudden too, so even with the winch on it looks dicey. The best solution was to switch off the Kitten’s engine and pull it up with the winch whilst one of the drill crew kept the track levers pushed forward allowing the tracks to rotate rather than slide up the ramps. Onc on board (just fitted) there was a stillage of augers to lift on. I am now caked in sticky mud from the CFA augers and soaked through from the rain, and start to make my way across to Enfield to drop the Kitten off. The Enfield site is probably one of the worst locations I have been to yet, in the corner of a residential street where it goes around a 90 degree bend with cars parked on both sides. There’s no way of backing into the site so there’s nothing for it but to block the road and drop the ramps. Getting the Kitten off is no picnic, as we have the winch to control, the kittens own controls and gravity to contend with. Somehow it comes off safely and better news is that the augers for it are staying on, as they are a different size. Trying to get out up the road is not easy either, luckily a lady came out and moved her car or I’d have been faced with trying to reverse all the way back out round the corner etc or getting the crane out and shifting a skip. Back to the yard where the forklift is just being fitted with 2 new tyres and I waste no time in getting them in use when it’s done. Off come the augers and on goes the load from this morning, which is going to Enfield on Monday. Once I had sorted the load I parked up, unfolded the crane ready for the hose fitter and left just after 1600. Total distance 1267 km