The end, or the beginning

So this is the first time I've told you in this blog that I work at an oil refinery. This may be the last time you hear me use present tense.

Unfortunately the refinery is closing down.
This weekend we begin shutting down the rest of the main processing units for the last time.
It will be turned into an oil terminal. If you have not heard about it here it is. 

Lots of really good people will lose their jobs come 1st of July. They are great at what they do and they are great people to work with. All these years of work that these people have devoted to the place, the hundreds of millions of dollars, will be turned into scrap metal. Just like in the Ariely experiment,  some people feel a bit deflated at present.

I heard on Triple J this morning a line that stuck: (this is what I remember anyway)

Life is like photos, you develop it from the negatives.

Needs a bit of revision now that we're in the digital era. But this reminds me of the classical stuff from Romans 5.

The prospect of being out of work, then job hunting, knocked back for a kickass job, then more job hunting - all this takes a toll on you. In hindsight, NOT getting what I wanted first time has been immensely good for me. 

First, it made me realise how much a job meant to me.
Second, it made me go and chase the bone a lot more.
Third, probably most importantly, it did good to break down my pride.
Fourth, the past year has made me appreciate how awesome this job has been, and why I've enjoyed working here.

Working at the refinery as and engineer has been the most kick ass job I've ever had. I've had opportunities to travel. To learn from people from across the world. To try new ideas. To see ideas come to life. To tweak and to play. 

(Yes, I've only had one real job really. But talking to lots of people I've had it real good for so long.)


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If you are a parent, and your kid asks about what a refinery looks like, take a look at this video that my mate made.

A bit like Ender Wiggins and the buggers, I feel it's my duty to tell the universe about the story of this refinery.