Got a contract job, there was no work but i still got paid - iin?

Last year, after returning home jobless from a 3 month holiday to Hawaii and New Zealand I was offered a 6 month contract job working on the wharves as a MIG and oxy welder repairing shipping containers that come in off the container ships.

For the first 3 months there was actually no work, yet I was still getting paid around $1400 a week for doing pretty much... nothing.

Those first 3 months we mostly sat around drinking coffee, reading books and soft core porn mags, playing cards and on Fridays drink a few beers.

The first week I couldn't believe they would actually employ me and pay me to do nothing. I thought maybe it was a practical joke and I was about to be punkd on a TV show. I was half expecting a camera crew to turn up in the middle of me browsing Penthouse, Playboy etc. I'd walk around scratching my head and laugh to myself, 'This can't be for real"

If the 'big boss' happened to turn up from the town my line manager said, "Just look busy, bang on a container with a 5 pound hammer or something"

After 3 months, work started to come in and I worked pretty hard.

Is it normal to get employed on what was (for me) good money and not have to do any work for 3 months?

Anyone experienced something like this?

Do tell your story.