The Staff (May 2008)

Anne began the business with Robert some twenty-something years ago and is available in the office Mondays, Tuesdays ad Wednesdays. Anne knows a rather scary amount about hujermaflips and pourer restrictors. Along with Sue, Anne is the memory and font of all knowledge for the business.

Robert aka Eco-warrior enjoys conversing with customers and suppliers about all things homeopathic, metaphysical, and his particular passion the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Amuses the office with his quotes of wisdom and stories of the good old days when he was at college, but no Tanya, you’re not getting a new kettle.

Sue has been with the HSC since 1986. What Sue doesn’t know about what caps fit which bottles, and how many thingamajigs there are in a whatsitsname is not worth knowing. Surrogate mother to Ben, she regularly appals him by eating fish “I’m not going to save you if you collapse even if I am a first aider”.

Denise first came one day a week in 2001 and loved it so much she now does three days! Denise’s greatest asset is how she allows life to flow through her. Her greatest failing is being a Suduko addict “I’m not addicted!”, hmm, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem Denise.

Ben aka Slave Boy works in the office full-time and keeps us wickedly entertained with his stories about the ‘yoof’ of today. Ben’s talents include a budding career as a photographer – check out the cover of our 2008 catalogue, and getting techie with our webshop development. Oh, and he makes a wicked cuppa too, eh Slave Boy.

Paul works two days a week keeping Ben entertained with his dry stories about the Saga generation and making us all jealous by eating his wife’s yummy cakes (that’s Sue!).

Tanya joined the team last year working four days a week. Sitting away from the main office in the staff room there still doesn’t seem to be much that she doesn’t over-hear! Her hound, Holly, provides a constant source of canine caper stories.

Alan is our IT specialist in the background. Alan works full-time elsewhere but can’t get enough opportunities to do all-things computer related so he regularly scares us with his second language ‘ITish’ and is the brains behind the forthcoming webshop.r IT specialist in the background.

Mark is the newest, and youngest (sorry Ben), member of the team working two days a week. Currently getting to grips with all the ‘stuff’ that goes on in the office, he will soon also be trained in how to make a perfect cuppa. Mark cycles to work so we’re praying for a good summer to make it pleasurable.

And if you’re wondering what happened to John…he finally left us to go travelling around Spain and Portugal in a campervan (a posh one mind!). We are regularly regaled on how he and his wife Mandy are getting on, although we suspect it’s more to make us jealous than anything else “It’s so hot here” Doh!.