lynehamwife, I apologise for the mickey take, childish etc, I am more than aware of the lack of time available to work never mind sleep whilst on shift.
I can remember one horrible day, very strong, cold winds and lots of rain, when I had just one available towing team to sort the aircraft out, they guys didn't whinge, were out constantly for over six hours and were wringing wet when they finally got back in.
The eng guys are unable to have a work to rule, to follow the instructions to the letter, because proffesional pride is their biggest enemy. If it takes 6 guys a shift to get a Herc serviceable, and one guy is lumbered for gate guard etc, then 5 guys will do the job and get the aircraft out on time. The Bean counters see this, and say that 5 men are obviously enough, and chop 1. Next time the bean counters look, some other bod is stuffed for guard and 4 men are now doing the work of 6, Ah! thay say, this job only needs 4 men and away goes another. And no matter what the circumstances are, the aircraft get generated.
As aircrew may now jump in and say "This or that was missed, or not done properly" there is no excuse in the real world, but the world is no longer real, it is fashioned by Messrs B-Liar, Brown and Buff Hoon, but at least the aircraft departs within the allotted time.
For the work we have to do, we need more MEN not Network connected computers, but we have no chance of that.
For the guys on shift in this cold time of year, Thanks guys for a job well done. I hope the HLS gets sorted SOON.