Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Posting via email
OK, so last time I lied...
but this time i mean it. Time to start posting again from this increasingly wierd country (assuming i can work out how to post via email).
First up - water. There's tons of it here. It pisses down regularly. Sydney has more rainfall than London. Ignore any Australian who tells you there's a drought - there's just a lack of brainpower.
but this time i mean it. Time to start posting again from this increasingly wierd country (assuming i can work out how to post via email).
First up - water. There's tons of it here. It pisses down regularly. Sydney has more rainfall than London. Ignore any Australian who tells you there's a drought - there's just a lack of brainpower.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
AND WE'RE BACK (for a while at least)
I thought it's about time I had another stab at this blogging malarky, especially as the natives downunder have provided a few crumbs which I hope may enlighten and/or amuse my reader, assuming (s)he is still alive of course.
I'll scribble a few notes tomorrow and update the sidebars etc over time (basically once i can remember how you do that) but in the meantime would any non-australians care to take a stab at defining the following common australian words...
rort
stoush
They crop up all the time down here and I had never heard of either of them before.
I thought it's about time I had another stab at this blogging malarky, especially as the natives downunder have provided a few crumbs which I hope may enlighten and/or amuse my reader, assuming (s)he is still alive of course.
I'll scribble a few notes tomorrow and update the sidebars etc over time (basically once i can remember how you do that) but in the meantime would any non-australians care to take a stab at defining the following common australian words...
rort
stoush
They crop up all the time down here and I had never heard of either of them before.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Friday, August 12, 2005
YOU CAN'T TOUCH ME, I'M PART OF THE UNION....
To - Tony Woodley, General Secretary, Transport and General Workers Union – tgwu@tgwu.org.uk
Dear Sir,
I would like to congratulate you on your decision to take strike action against Gate Gourmet and, by default, British Airways.
I do not for one minute believe the cynics who are pointing out that this is the third August in a row that British Airways has been affected by strike action and are claiming that your members are simply a bunch of lazy shirkers who fancied a few extra days off in the summer, but totally accept your assertion that it is the fault of Gate Gourmet and their “intransigent” management.
I also whole heartedly agree with your support of the “low-paid Asian” workers who walked out on Gate Gourmet and then were sacked as a result, and who clearly would be unable to find any other work in the UK, despite the current unemployment rate currently standing at 2.80%, a level many economists believe is below a sustainable full-employment level.
Unfortunately your action has meant however that myself, my wife, and our 2 children, who were all booked in business class on BA0025 to Hong Kong tonight are now going to be flying on Qantas instead. This unfortunately means that the profits from the flight will now be going to Australia instead of the UK (indeed I see estimates of as high as GBP40 million are being mentioned as the losses BA – and thus the UK - will face from this action) but I am sure it is a small price to pay to safeguard the jobs of the people who put the little plastic covers on top of the boxes of “food” that were prepared several days earlier.
This is also the second time in 3 years that our BA flights have been affected by strike action from your members.
Sadly, despite my whole-hearted support for your position and actions, I actually do have a job which I have to be back in Hong Kong for on Monday, and my “intransigent” management does not seem to understand my support for you and your brothers in arms. As a result this does mean that we will never be booking flights on British Airways again and will in future always use Cathay Pacific or Qantas. I do hope that no other regular passengers are as small-minded as we are being and continue to be loyal to BA despite the repeated problems, as obviously this could materially impact the airline, and hence the number of your members they are able to employ.
Good luck with the struggle comrade.
Yours in Solidarity
Giles
To - Tony Woodley, General Secretary, Transport and General Workers Union – tgwu@tgwu.org.uk
Dear Sir,
I would like to congratulate you on your decision to take strike action against Gate Gourmet and, by default, British Airways.
I do not for one minute believe the cynics who are pointing out that this is the third August in a row that British Airways has been affected by strike action and are claiming that your members are simply a bunch of lazy shirkers who fancied a few extra days off in the summer, but totally accept your assertion that it is the fault of Gate Gourmet and their “intransigent” management.
I also whole heartedly agree with your support of the “low-paid Asian” workers who walked out on Gate Gourmet and then were sacked as a result, and who clearly would be unable to find any other work in the UK, despite the current unemployment rate currently standing at 2.80%, a level many economists believe is below a sustainable full-employment level.
Unfortunately your action has meant however that myself, my wife, and our 2 children, who were all booked in business class on BA0025 to Hong Kong tonight are now going to be flying on Qantas instead. This unfortunately means that the profits from the flight will now be going to Australia instead of the UK (indeed I see estimates of as high as GBP40 million are being mentioned as the losses BA – and thus the UK - will face from this action) but I am sure it is a small price to pay to safeguard the jobs of the people who put the little plastic covers on top of the boxes of “food” that were prepared several days earlier.
This is also the second time in 3 years that our BA flights have been affected by strike action from your members.
Sadly, despite my whole-hearted support for your position and actions, I actually do have a job which I have to be back in Hong Kong for on Monday, and my “intransigent” management does not seem to understand my support for you and your brothers in arms. As a result this does mean that we will never be booking flights on British Airways again and will in future always use Cathay Pacific or Qantas. I do hope that no other regular passengers are as small-minded as we are being and continue to be loyal to BA despite the repeated problems, as obviously this could materially impact the airline, and hence the number of your members they are able to employ.
Good luck with the struggle comrade.
Yours in Solidarity
Giles
Friday, August 05, 2005
MUD ISLAND UPDATE
Alarm went off at 6.30. It was raining. It's now 9.30. It's still raining.
Still at least it is raining here and hopefully not in Edgbaston. A long lunch in front of the TV in the pub beckons I think.
Alarm went off at 6.30. It was raining. It's now 9.30. It's still raining.
Still at least it is raining here and hopefully not in Edgbaston. A long lunch in front of the TV in the pub beckons I think.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
JOBS
Decision made.
Sydney here we come....
will be there late oct / early nov I think.
Have to make sure I buy a barbie big enough for a turkey.
Meanwhile in London... it's raining again. Does the sun never shine in this place.
Decision made.
Sydney here we come....
will be there late oct / early nov I think.
Have to make sure I buy a barbie big enough for a turkey.
Meanwhile in London... it's raining again. Does the sun never shine in this place.
