The Civils Side of Life

This time last month I had just started a most enjoyable 2 week break in Brittany, France with my family. With my Aunt & Uncle having the enviable job of spending several months each year as reps for holiday camp, we got to spend our time in the Yelloh! Village Camping in Bénodet – Le Port de Plaisance.

Bénodet is situated on the mouth of the river Odet, with a large sweeping beach. With a strong sense of tradition this town is everything you can imagine about Brittany. We spent many an evening strolling along the river into the town, soaking in the relaxed and friendly surroundings. It was impossible not to unwind and let yourself forget all the deadlines and hectic lifestyle that we take as the norm in our daily work lives.

Although we had a couple of days of changable weather we were lucky enough to have the majority of our break basking in glorious sunshine and clear blue skies. Yes, one of us forgot to apply the correct dosage of sun cream but to save any embarrasment I shall not be naming him, he knows who he is.

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Over the previous week I’ve had the pleasure of doing two jobs instead of just one. With my site manager on holiday I was left holding the reins. It was an interesting week with a simple aim, to pour the structural floor slab to block C.

Thankfully being a bank holiday I only had to cope for 4 days. It all started with blustery showers and a sense that all could be achieved if only the weather treated us kindly. I knew that I could cope with having to do both the engineer work and also do enough planning and organising to keep the job progressing.

All I had to do was to tell people to wait and if necessary to stop until I had time for them. This may seem a little odd but I know that I can handle the pressure of multiple tasks as long as I keep in mind the end goal. I tend to treat each task with the same priority unless something is going to lose us time and/or money. This strategy usually keeps me sane and in control.

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Having spent several years at university to learn all I needed to know when it comes to civil engineering. That is when it involved structural design and hydrodynamics. In the real world of working on site I knew that I had no more knowledge than an apprentice on their first day. 

With this in mind I always approached my work with confidence but also with an open mind. All around me on site I was working with people easily twice my age and with 20 years of experience. Whenever a better method was suggested I would gladly accept it as standard. If I thought I could improve something I would speak up even if I was shot down to be told when a certain method was longer but more practical.

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