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Call me paranoid, but I do not feel very safe with all the striking going on in the security industry - not so much because I pay a monthly fee to be able to get help if I should need it, but more because of the violence that has been reported taking place during the strike.

I fully agree that they have dangerous jobs and that they deserve decent remuneration for what they do, but I certainly do not believe that violence and intimidation towards fellow workers who are not participating in the strike display the kind of character I would want to see in a person coming to my aid in an emergency situation.

I admire those who did not participate in the violent action and had to go to work in civilian clothes - among other measures - so as not to be recognised as working security staff and risk intimidation and in some cases violence and even death.

On the subject of security guards, am I the only person who gets regular phone calls from companies representing armed response companies and asking if I am interested in the services of the company they are representing. I am not, I already have a company that I pay good money to, but somehow this message has clearly not been passed on to the representative company, because they all seem to be representing the company I am linked to... there has to be some way to prevent existing clients from being pestered to the point of serious irritation, which is where I was heading after averaging about three of these calls a week not so long ago.

That was my beef for this month, but I have a bouquet too - for risk manager Wilf Upton and the staff at Makro Strubens Valley who went way above and beyond the call of duty when I got into a spot of trouble in the store the other day and ended up in a diabetic coma. By the time I came around, my other half had been contacted and I had an energy drink in my hand. I have never experienced such unflappable professionalism; the way in which they handled the situation was remarkable and totally unexpected - thanks to all of you!

Till next month,

Lynne Larsen

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