Z/Yen is saddened to learn that a beloved temporary worker – Simon Strez – is returning to New Zealand. Even those who think the permanent employees should be better loved first (down! Ed.), are going to miss Simon’s always upbeat and bright approach to work, let alone life.

During his stay in London, Simon has been an enthusiast for London black cabs, ExtZy and trips round Europe. Simon is rather famous in the office for heading off, backpack shouldered, to some exotic (read “party”) location in Europe only to return to the office the next day, having discovered the air and rail transportation systems for which the UK is justly famous.

Like many underpaid workers in the City, Simon supplements his below-acceptable-earnings by gambling heavily on ExtZy. But unlike some, Simon was struck, Damascene-like, by a bolt of heartfelt philanthropy on his way home. In his own words, “With the dramatic and devastating events that have happened to my home town of Christchurch, New Zealand, over the past 6 months, I have found it difficult to come to terms with nature causing such hurt and suffering. I found myself struggling to sleep, feeling depressed and utterly useless trying to find ways of helping my ruined city whilst living so far away."