Monday 18 December - Work Xmas Dinner at Las Iguanas Belvior Street Leicester

The whole team turned out for a mexican afternoon of munching followed by a later afternoon of imbibing next door at Yates Wine Lodge. Some people, who shall remain nameless, didn't like the food but I thought it was grand. just like ne old non-existant mexican grand used to make. We what remained to frequent Yates was the tough ones and finally when only Ash, Dawn, Carol and Myself remained Dawn's better half Terry picked us up and drove us all home. What an absolutely spiffing chap he was to do such a kind thing...if I ever meet him again I must remember to say thanks, that is, if I haven't turned into Bertie Worcester by then! Before I sayhere are the photos...I must remember to add that Sara paid for everything, what a girl she is, now, here's the photos:

Birthday Girl - Six Years Old Today

Another year has flown and Han has reached the ripe old age of Six; here are her birthday morning photos.

December 8 – Han’s Birthday Party At Bumpies

Deb booked Bumpies, a kind of Whacky Warehouse place, which is located at the Meridian Pleasure Park in Leicester. It Think it’s since closed which is what seems to happen to most of these businesses. It’s a shame if it has because Han and her friends had a great time there!

Sunday 12 November - Man of the Match

Nat final lands the Man of the Match trophy after putting in a brilliant effort at this morning game; unfortunately I can't recall who they were playing...Never Mind!

From Vipers Man of the Match

From Vipers Man of the Match

From Vipers Man of the Match

Halloween - Trick or Treat with Henry and Amelia

Nat and Han dressed up in their best Mummy and Witches costumes respectively and we drove to Henry's house on Cleveleys Avenue. There they joined Henry and Amelia Trick or Treating around the avenue. It was very dark and I was armed only with a phone camera with an LED flash so the pictures aren't great but they're all we've got.

Nat's Ninth Birthday MegaZone Leicester

Nat's Ninth birthday party which was held at MegaZone (Laser Quest) in Leicester.

14 October - Nat's Ninth Birthday - Alton Towers

Nat was nine years old today, where the heck does the time do, and after he had opened his presents we set off for Alton Towers for the day. From the photos it would appear that we spent most of our time in the kiddie areas; NOTHING could be further from the truth. Nat and I rode everything it's just that Deb didn't photograph us doing so. Deb and Han came on a few of the rides but Nat and I did them ALL, well apart from one ride at the entrance that broke down while we were queuing. We rode on, Oblivion, Nemesis, Rita Queen of Speed, Air and many, many more!!! We had a whale of a time, I've been hooked on wild rides since we went to Orlando and so has Nat so it was like we'd died and gone to heaven. We must do it again when Han's bigger so that she can ride with us; wimp Deborah will stay on the ground in order to hold our coats no doubt!

Saturday 7 October - It's All Going Swimmingly

Here's a couple of photos I took of Han this morning when she had her swimming lesson at Winstanley College. She used to be very hesitant of the water; when Nat had a birthday party at Saffron Lane Baths a few years ago she adamantly refused to enter the water. Through out the whole time there she clung to granddad who was obliged to sit with her for the whole time at the edge of, but not in, the pool. Everything has changed since we went to Florida. when we stayed in Naples you couldn't keep her out of the pool whenever we were at the hotel. She was jumping in, swimming under water and in alls ways acting part dolphin.

From 2006-10-07-1634-40

From 2006-10-07-1634-40

Saturday 7 October - It's All Going Swimmingly

Here's a couple of photos I took of Han this morning when she had her swimming lesson at Winstanley College. She used to be very hesitant of the water; when Nat had a birthday party at Saffron Lane Baths a few years ago she adamantly refused to enter the water. Through out the whole time there she clung to granddad who was obliged to sit with her for the whole time at the edge of, but not in, the pool. Everything has changed since we went to Florida. when we stayed in Naples you couldn't keep her out of the pool whenever we were at the hotel. She was jumping in, swimming under water and in alls ways acting part dolphin.

From 2006-10-07-1634-40

From 2006-10-07-1634-40

Duncan Committed Suicide

Unbelieveable news when we came into work this evening. Our collegue, and someone who I've worked with elsewhere AND KNOWN SINCE 1997,  Duncan Hastie HANGED himnself today. No one could quiet believe it when JDM broke the news to us (he was virtually in tears doing so) and it was only months later, when I attended his inquest, that we finally got some insight into what caused him to take this drastic and final course of action. I had a wonderful collection of emails I'd exchanged with Dunc over the years especially during the time when he had joined the night shift and I was still working in day. Unfortunately these were somehow deleted when the company erased his email account so I've only a few left that I'd saved externally...such a shame

Here are the few I managed to save

Ooh, the plot thickens...

-----Original Message-----
From: Hastie, Duncan
Sent: 07 June 2006 00:57
To: xxxx
Subject: RE: Team meeting.

Gotta be honest John, NO!

Every opinion Carol has is forced onto everyone else and unfortunately, you (and I think Sara) back her. I'm sick of it.

Your comment at the beginning was actually quite positive, about us all being individuals, but after she'd started ranting, you back tracked and agreed with her. We have to be individuals who do exactly the same, i.e what she wants.

I don't listen to MP3's or watch DVD's because it puts me to sleep. That's why I always ask the Manuals Wallah for lots of writing up. The reason I do all the writing up on my own when I do Manuals is...her! I cant stand her complaining about every aspect of the writing up, so I do it. It's purely to avoid arguments.

If someone wants to sit with an earplug listening to a film, ready to put it on hold and take a call (we're here to work, remember?) I don't see a problem with it.

It's only because Carol has one or two people less to tell her sad stories to or inflict her opinions on, that she has a problem. Let's not forget that Amit brought his DVD player in on this shift and when he and Carol were bestest buddies that was fine. She even watched a few films and some episode of 24 with Amit and Meyrick. Since they've had a falling out (and since Meyrick had the nerve to ask her not to shout as he was doing something) she's made it her mission to stop it. Where's the sense in that? It's unbelievably one-sided and unfair.

We sit apart as a "team" because no-one wants to sit next to her. Even her 2 closest friends here (Ash and Amit) sat away from her last night because of the incessant noise coming out of her. I cant sit near her.

:-(

Dunk

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx
Sent: 07 June 2006 00:29
To: Hastie, Duncan
Subject: RE: Team meeting.

Hi Dunc,

Thank you for your comments so do think that there are any positives to come out of the meeting, I guess not?

Regards

John 

-----Original Message-----
From: Hastie, Duncan
Sent: 06 June 2006 23:58
To: xxxxx
Subject: Team meeting.

John,

        I have to say that meeting was a shambles. Carol has gone too far and I think what she said and did was disgusting. The reason there is any animosity in the "team" is down solely to her. That's not just my opinion, most of the others feel that way but are afraid to speak up.

The reason I sit on my own is that I am sick and tired of her rubbish. She's mouthy to the extreme, rude, belligerent to customers and her "team mates" and is the most opinionated person I've ever had the misfortune to meet. Most of the others feel the same, that's why we all sit so spread apart. All this nonsense from her that she wants us all to sit together and chat is ridiculous. She just wants a platform with a captive audience to listen to her regurgitate her boring old stories AND arguments she's had over and over again.

The way she spoke to Meyrick, Me, Prashant, Sue and anyone else who DARED to disagree with her was nothing short of disgusting.

 

Unless you confront the people one-to-one I don't think they'd have the bottle to speak up like this.

She is bringing the team down with her attitude, viciousness and "holier than thou" attitude. From now on, I will be sitting on my own and will not be attending anymore "team" meetings. Sorry to be so blunt, but if she thinks she's got problems, she should have a look at my life! My problems run rings round hers, but I don't sit there bleating about it in "team" meetings. It's unprofessional and unnecessary.

As for making Meyrick feel that he had to tell a group of 16 or so people about his dead daughter, I really felt for him. I was at Powergen in late 1999 on the same team as him and was there when he announced that his daughter had died that morning inside Deb at 8 months of her pregnancy.

Sorry to be the bringer of doom and gloom but I cant let this go. I've had enough.

Dunk

Duncan "The Instigator" Hastie

Extn 21639

Night Shift - Leicester ASC

Hi Meyrick,

                hope you don't mind, but I felt compelled to send this to John after that meeting.

Solidanosch!!!

-----Original Message-----
From: Hastie, Duncan
Sent: 06 June 2006 23:58
To:xxxxx

Subject: Team meeting.

John,

        I have to say that meeting was a shambles. Carol has gone too far and I think what she said and did was disgusting. The reason there is any animosity in the "team" is down solely to her. That's not just my opinion, most of the others feel that way but are afraid to speak up.

The reason I sit on my own is that I am sick and tired of her rubbish. She's mouthy to the extreme, rude, belligerent to customers and her "team mates" and is the most opinionated person I've ever had the misfortune to meet. Most of the others feel the same, that's why we all sit so spread apart. All this nonsense from her that she wants us all to sit together and chat is ridiculous. She just wants a platform with a captive audience to listen to her regurgitate her boring old stories AND arguments she's had over and over again.

The way she spoke to Meyrick, Me, Prashant, Sue and anyone else who DARED to disagree with her was nothing short of disgusting.

 

Unless you confront the people one-to-one I don't think they'd have the bottle to speak up like this.

She is bringing the team down with her attitude, viciousness and "holier than thou" attitude. From now on, I will be sitting on my own and will not be attending anymore "team" meetings. Sorry to be so blunt, but if she thinks she's got problems, she should have a look at my life! My problems run rings round hers, but I don't sit there bleating about it in "team" meetings. It's unprofessional and unnecessary.

As for making Meyrick feel that he had to tell a group of 16 or so people about his dead daughter, I really felt for him. I was at Powergen in late 1999 on the same team as him and was there when he announced that his daughter had died .

Sorry to be the bringer of doom and gloom but I cant let this go. I've had enough.

Dunk

Duncan "The Instigator" Hastie

Extn 21639

Night Shift - Leicester ASC

Snap Happy with the Nokia N73 - The Start of the Addiction.

Having recently received a Nokia N73 (a smart phone sporting a decent camera) I went a bit wild photographing any and everything. Here are a selection of these random snaps for posterity. This was the start of my addition to photographing everything I come across. an addition that has only worstened since I also started keeping a blog.

Sunday 27 August - A Day of History in Castle View Park

There was a history and crafts day being held in the Castle View park today and we decided to go along and take a look. We've been to a number of events here over the years and they've always been pretty good. We weren't disappointed it was great fun and we enjoyed it immensely. It was fun watching the solidiers load and fire their matchlocks and also to use the craft tools. I just can't believe I thought I had a good phone camera!!!

A History Day in Castle (park) View - Filmed on my Crap Motorola Phone I Bought in Florida

There was a history and crafts day being held in the Castle View park today and we decided to go along and take a look. We've been to a number of events here over the years and they've always been pretty good. We weren't disappointed it was great fun and we enjoyed it immensely. It was fun watching the solidiers load and fire their matchlocks and also to use the craft tools. I just can't believe I thought I had a good phone camera!!!

Florida Holiday Photos

		Florida VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

21st July 2006

		21st July 2006 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL