The first event of Season 5 has been announced (with the rest to follow forthwith). I adore APAT events and I especially loved the Coventry leg last year. However the date of this one (26th/27th March) causes me a problem. There are two people who support our Supply Chain applications me and one other (Keith). The rule is we cannot take holidays at the same time etc etc. One of us is always on 24hr call in an alternate week rota. Being on call demands being available to respond to support calls.
Keith has been extremely accommodating over the years, swapping on calls etc to let me attend APAT events. However Keith is on holiday over that weekend and I am on call. I know that I can support remotely if required and indeed I do from home. However if I was away on that weekend and for some reason could not respond (poor connection, no phone coverage to receive the call etc) the company would not be best pleased.
I love my job and it enables me to indulge in these weekends when possible. Upshot is I cannot make this weekend and I am gutted.
It doesn't matter when this was announced as Keith is on holiday and I would have been in the same boat if I knew months ago.
I await the rest of the schedule and hope to make every single one of the other events in S5.