I've never been scared to call in sick. Sounds like I've been rather fortunate.

Although sick days now are working from home days unless I'm too ill to sit in front of a laptop.

I've just noticed you are the official forum cat lady. Congratulations, I think anyway.

I've also never been concerned about calling in sick and count myself fortunate that I have (and have had) bosses who are okay about it. It helps that I'm not usually ill very often.
Unfortunately I do know people who have managed to hit the arbitrary 'Bradford Factor' limits and been hauled in front of their departmental management and HR for what can be quite stressful meetings even when they have legitimate reasons and long term conditions. Despite there usually being no sanctions the whole thing just makes people paranoid and come in when they really shouldn't.

I should share that title with Zippy

You should

I don't think they (well, this particular 'her') are afraid to call in sick, she is just too full of her own sense of self-importance to believe that calling in sick is the right thing to do, she has a mis-guided idea that the company just can't function without her and therefore spreads it around even more people who then *do* call in sick and it has a far worse knock-on effect in the long run.

my french homonym who register a new mummy gift list using my email address can go to the far end of [LIFTED] off!

If you have a malevolent streak, you might want to change the gift list for non-suitable items.

How malevolent are we speaking? Condoms or Coat hangers?

I've never had a day of work due to sickness. Though for the first time ever I'm tempted to pull a sicky on Saturday. Haven't had a weekend day of since I started this job.

Do you find yourself ALWAYS paying customs fees? I know people who never get hit for it when ordering tech and all sorts...

I haven't been hit since I stopped ordering from Play.com.

The post used to collect tax from me from every order they sent out that was more than one DVD in an envelope or when i bought new films or boxed sets (everything over 15€ from IoM and other non-EU lands was taxable). Nowadays I make a point of ensuring the sellers are within the EU, it is less hassle.

Yes, I get it, it's foggy out.

Have a little sense people. If the fog is light on the motorway and you can see the normal rear lights of the car 2 miles in front of you TURN OFF YOUR SODDING FOG LIGHTS!!

Just because you turned them on when you started driving, doesn't mean you have to leave them on for the entire journey, or that you can't turn them back on again later. A bit of consideration for the driver behind you might be nice!

I've posted it before and I'll post it again:

It does amuse and anger me that people will drive in light mist and suddenly decide to put all their fog lights on (with some sticking on highbeam!). Worse, they leave them on whilst driving and the mist clears.

I've driven through patches of fog where it's so dense, you can vaguely make out the tail lights of the car in front yet they decide not to use fog lights!

I can see the first 3, but unfortunately I'm nowhere near the A505, so I'd better leave mine on.

In broad daylight people use fog lights 'coz it's cool innit' and in the actual fog there are no buggers to be seen!