We have been asked to help in the removal of a small garden to enable a sensory memorial garden to be re-built.In remembrance of pupils who have passed away.
Posters are put up at work requesting volunteers to attend. Several dates are listed and to bring a spade.Monday is listed as removal of bedding plants,re-planting and general garden work.
Monday morning arrives with the rain. Myself and four colleagues armed with spades set off for St.Luke's, now none of us are quite sure where it is but we have a vague idea.The lady whom usually deals with our PR is off work ill.So we arrive at St.Hugh's school. Armed with our spades and wellies we march into the reception.We are met with some very curious stares,whereby our appointed leader asks if they are expecting us.With a look of sheer puzzlement they realize that we have turned up at the wrong school.Easy mistake to make at the moment with all the local schools currently being renamed.After being given the correct address and directions we set off again laughing at our mistake.
On arrival at St.Luke's we are met with a joyful hello come this way.We are taken to the garden only to find out that,our agenda for today has changed as the school had managed to start on Friday.Today we are expected to remove the raised beds and the soil contained within.Ok so one member of staff has just returned to work from having a back injury.We all look to one another,it's still pouring with rain and these beds that stand proudly before us must contain at least three tonnes of soil each!
We set to moving potted plants from harms way.Now who is going to swing the lump hammer,as to get to the soil we need to remove posts a meter high by twelve Cm's thick.A manager takes the first swing and the hammer just bounces back,this is a demolition crew job.Well after some heavy swinging and the obvious who are you thinking of with a big grin to match,we manage to make some head way.The soil is now reachable and we start to barrow it up and remove it to, yes you guessed right,the other side of the school.
The rain is still pouring down and we are determined to make our mark.All the time plotting not to tell the next crew of colleagues what they are really in for.From what we are able to decipher the Boss is bringing a crew of high ranking managers,later today.The camera comes out and several pictures are taken to catalogue our progress.
We stop for a brew and our thanked immensely by the school volunteers who are pottering around doing small jobs.We are shown the plans for the new garden and it looks great.
After another hour we call it a day due to work commitments,some of us are required to start our own shifts.We have managed to demolish one bed halfway.
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| Charity Dig |
The rain is still pouring down and the school volunteers decide that they are also going to call it a day.
We can't believe our high ranking managers are going to get away with it.We slowly make our way back to work,feeling that we have done our bit even if we were misled.Knowing now what we do, we are all eager to volunteer again as the project gets moving.Just awaiting the rain to disappear.
Muddy and wet I make my way home for a hot bath, before returning to work to start my nine hour shift.
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