Not a wind up mate. Used to work for them when they were just a scumbag operations. But we all knew what we were getting ourselves into flying from one war zone to another in a couple of broken TriStars.
Unfortunately it still is a scumbag outfit disguised as an airline with nicely painted aircraft. The maintainance has not changed. The mentality of the management has not changed. There is not one original crew (Orient Express, Kampuchea) left (last one left in 2001).
It was fun while it lasted. and it lasted for as long as it could. None of us expect much from it except as mentioned above. Just an excuse to have a good time. Some were low time jet pilots, some were no time pilots who wanted to fly a jet, some were retired from the majors and just looking for good times before they hang up their wings, some were just losers with nowhere elses to go. But we all knew the company's limitaions. You just can't bleed a crab and we knew that.
Get what you came for and get out. If they can't give you what you want then don't go there.
If you have financial obligations then bite the bullet mate. We have all been there trying to make ends meet. No one put a gun up to anyone's head. If one don't like it then one leaves. Period.
Don't let the shiny paint job fool you...