Public holidays: No rest for some of us

Working on a holiday seems a dire way to cap off a long weekend but Peter Sykes yesterday had more reason than most to stay at home with his feet up.
Constable Sykes has been the sole Greytown police officer for the past two years, after serving in the force now for a decade, and he yesterday celebrated his 44th birthday ? on the beat.
His presents had been unwrapped soon after he woke at 7am, he said, and he was looking forward to a quiet afternoon after an uneventful morning patrol as sole charge officer in the small Wairarapa town.
"I know I shouldn't be working today. It's my birthday. But I'm looking forward to a home-cooked roast dinner tonight and we get paid to work holidays now ? so it's all good in a roundabout way."
Summit Cafe owners and brothers Mike and Tom Landreth both piled reluctantly out of bed soon after dawn broke through the snow clouds gathering yesterday morning over the Rimutaka Hill.
Both say they would have preferred to stay under the covers on a public holiday but the cold snap and snow predicted for the day meant there were ovens to fire, a fire to light and hot drinks to brew for any travellers passing over the Wairarapa ? Wellington road.
"My girlfriend stayed in bed ? she still refuses to get up. Maybe she had the right idea," said Mike Landreth.
Mr Landreth said the snow had started soon after the pair woke this morning and trade had been steady with passing motorists stopping in to taste their fare and shelter from the elements as their children played outdoors in the snow.
There was a public expectation the cafe would be open on a public holiday, Mr Landreth said, and it made good business sense to not disappoint that hope.
Jo Nyssen, manager of the Marquis Hotel in Carterton, had a tag team approach to the day yesterday morning with husband Greg first out of bed and down at the hotel to light the fire and turn on the bar lights.
"I got a little sleep in and started just before opening time at 11. Just a bit of luxury ? I am on call seven days a week," she said.
Mrs Nyssen has worked as hotel manager for the past two years and her husband was home with their three children just before lunchtime seeing out the rest of his side of their negotiated holiday.
She said trade was usually steady on public holidays with the favoured beverage being beer although "I'm sure a few Tullamore Dews (whiskey) will go out this afternoon if it doesn't get any warmer".
Gina Richards, bakery and cafe owner in Featherston, said she has risen from bed at 4.30am almost every morning, seven days a week, for the past eight years. Public holidays are a forbidden delight for her, she said, and the reason for such industry is simple.
"Four kids and madness ? but oh I could have quite happily stayed in bed this morning. It was freezing. I feel quite sorry for myself actually."
She said trade up to lunchtime had been "quite quiet as people have stayed at home out of the cold ? and I can't really blame them".