A few days ago I was asked a question by (Funny Boom), â€˜so is the Stig like the pump god or something?’ My reply was, ‘No the Stig isn’t like the pump god I’m just a normal guy who loves his work and has been doing it a long time now’. I must admit he brought the memories flooding back; one of them was when I was in my early twenties when I thought I was a god, I wanted the biggest boom, the biggest pours and I would rush about every day when I arrived on site. I wanted to be on my way to the next pour, I would work 24/7 with no breaks (if I could), and only grabbing sleep and food in-between sites, Then I had the absolute week from hell. It was the last day before a bank holiday weekend, a small pour then home. I was tired  when I arrived on site, the pour was put back until 1pm and the concrete gang spit they dummy out and said they wasn’t going to stay on site, so the company had they own boys lay the concrete. As you can imagine, they wasn’t the fastest in the world but anyway the pour went ahead, To cut a long story short I arrived home at 11pm that night absolutely exhausted I had a shower and went to bed I slept through Saturday and woke on Sunday morning at 06.30. I felt great when I woke then the wife said to me, ‘she had the doctor to me because I was unconscious. The doctor told her I was exhausted and to keep bringing me around to give me water, and keep me cool, as sweat was just pumping from me. She kept to the doctors instructions until I came around, she too was exhausted, all because of my pigheadedness, But she was back to her self later that Sunday and gave me a real tongue lashing for giving her such a fright I must admit I deserved it.

All I’m trying to say is, don’t make the same mistakes as I did, and I’m sure a lot of the older pump operators have they own similar recollections of this type of irresponsible behaviour.

All you young bucks out there try to remember when the old boy’s say to you ‘slow down’, just try to cruise through the day. When you get to site take control, stop the concrete gangs from rushing you. It’s your environment, you take control and most of all be safe.

Thank you Funny Boom, for bringing back these memories. 

A little common sense goes a long way.I always told the crews you handle your end I will handle mine,then just ignored them.

As for exhaustion,same thing applies.There was only one place I hurried around,chasing charlie and dodging lead.Once back in the states a normal life began.You can spot a pro from a long way off.They work with a purpose,only the "ricky racers" scurry around lost.At least your wife displayed good thinking,learn from it.

ya thanks for that many i learnt at very young age and your right about my wife she's a good woman

Nice story.. Yes its easy to get sucked into the "rush". Specially with a bunch of trucks lined up and a problem occurs. God knows its gonna happen sometime. I've had blown clamps in the turrett on priming, on a 42 with the pipes full and mud all over the cab and motor of my newly bought pump. You bloody your fingers fixing it just to have it happen a second time. (had a bad flange on the pipe). Or rock pack the whole system because you move too far with out sucking back. Concrete pumping"s a "RUSH" gotta love it.

You know Stig I only asked this question because in your first post the introduction you introduced yourself as someone well known but could not tell who you are. Then you Make these funny comments about the stig being everywhere you don't expect him to be like you are some sort of god.If you have truly been in this industry for some time and have all this experience and knowledge then I truly have the utmost respect for you and hope to maybe learn some things. I grew up around this industry but nothing beats years of hard knocks to teach you. Seems to me that you are like many of people on this site who will speak a lot from behind their little cover but cannot reveal who they are for what reason? Embarassment? Fear? Who knows but all I know is its not that serious. No need to hide identities you won't be assassinated. Just do me a favor there Stig, keep my name out of your mouth tell your stories which will hopefully teach us younger operators some things but don't try to use me as your punch line.

sorry about that no offence ment

No problem. I may be a young operator but I grew up with a father that worked his ass off and witnessed a lot of the hell of pumping concrete. That's why I frequent this site so much I use it as a learning tool I love hearing from all of you operators that have been doin it for as long or longer than I have been alive.

stig- you are right - sooner or later something will happen which makes you redjust your pace of life. Sat on the back of a pump on a sat. mornin after a friday dose of chemo, makes you sit there and think....

See youve become addicted to this site already then!!!!!

 Work to live, dont live to work!

 I talk to the pump Gods a few days a week, every monday morning for sure. They dont ever have anything to say in return just an occasional 'sign' once and a while, they do watch out for us. Sounds like they're keeping a close eye on Murf. Pump On brother and God speed.

Tootall -cheers that was 5 year ago, now we have 2 tiny clangers and one on the way, who now come first.