Thursday 4 November 2004

4 November - My First Night of Nights on Nights!

Tonight I joined the JDM overnight team at BGS. We work four nights on followed by four nights off; yes that does mean you can get 12 days off  every time you book four days holiday. If you want longer it doesn't work out quite so well because to go to 16 days requires you to take 8 days leave although of course this then automatically becomes 20 days because at the end of the 16 days you start your four days off1 Keeping track of holiday, I'm told, can get confusing. As I've just returned from one I think I'll leave this subject now to another day.
The teams is comprised of:
John - The Manager
Starkey
Duncan
Amit
Carol
Jane
Hasmukh
Ash
Bharat
Prash
and
Myself,
We work from 10PM through the night until 8AM next morning dealing, in the main, with overnight emergencies involving water leaks and such like. There are two specialist jobs overnight that we take turns doing. One is known as manuals, the IT system goes off-line after 10PM to update so all calls afterward until 6AM are recorded in ink on manual worksheets. These need to be collected sorted and eventually faxed to the appropriate centre before 7AM. In winter this is apparently a big job. The other special job is dealing with issuing emergency jobs to over night stand by engineers. This can involve a lot of diplomacy if you wish to avoid getting your ear chewed off by an irate engineer. I enjoyed my first night and everyone brokre me in gently. I will shadow the special jobs quite a few times before going solo. The team seem to be a good bunch although I haven't met hasmuhk yet as he is away on holiday.

Tuesday 12 October 2004

October 16 – Nov 4 2004 – Holiday in Fuerteventura, Death of John Peel, Joining the Over-Night Team

I've had to date this entry a little early because I was having problems uploading from Windows live Writer
We spent two weeks in a time-share in Fuerteventura prior to my changing my shift at work. During the time we were there the shook news of the daeth of radio presenter John Peel was announced, he died of a massive heart attack whilst on holiday in South America on 25/10/2004. I remember reading about his death while at the pool and because of this these two events reinforce themselves in my memory so that if i think of one I invariably recall the other also. The photos we took on this holiday are probably somewhere on disc at home and If I ever locate them I’ll upload them here.  Where were we staying: HERE


Here's a close up on Google Maps

And here’s a map of the town – Caleta de Fuste – with photos and videos that other people have tagged on Google Maps
We had a great holiday and because this was our second visit to this Time-share we were already familiar with the area; however Nat was terribly disappointed that Hippo Land, which had been located at the bottom of the hill leading into town, had closed since our last visit two years before. Blond haired three year old  Han was the toast of all the waiters in all of the restaurants  we ate in and managed to wangle herself a quite a few free ice-creams. We ate out most nights and often caught the Road Train to and from town; when we did stay on site we frequented the local entertainment mall and the bar opposite the resort; unlike the last time we were there Nat when asked refused to join the Brazilian (female) dancers on stage, after all he was now seven years old and had to maintain his dignity.

We returned home on the Saturday; the following Thursday 4 November  I joined the over-night team where I remain to this day!


The resort of Caleta de Fuste is located halfway down the east coast of Fueteventura, approximately 6 miles south of the airport. Caleta de Fuste is situated around a partly natural, partly man-made sandy beach. It is sometimes known as El Castillo de Fuste, the ‘Castillo’ (Castle) refers to the 18th Century watchtower by the Harbour, near a small marina and lighthouse. The Resort has grown up either side of the coast road, a tunnel that runs beneath that road links the two halves. Caleta de Fuste is suitable for anyone in search of an effortless beach holiday and good bars and restaurants for evening entertainment. Caleta de Fuste is good for families and keen golfers. The beach, Playa Caleta de Fuste is the focal point of the resort. It has good sand and thatched parasols, and a breakwater, making it safe for young children and weak 
swimmers, protects it. A new golf course with a driving range and club hire facilities is just a five minute drive away. It is an 18 hole par 70 course which has three large lakes connected by a stream all of which come into play at several holes.
For those not so serious golfers Caleta de Fuste has three mini crazy-golf courses. Our duplex houses are located just beside the main commercial areas directly across the road from the 4* Hotel Barcelo Fuerteventura.